SWF with 330 acres in Arizona looking for single male permie

Hi!

I'm on 330 acres, near a lake, good solar well, and 60 miles off the grid, which makes me hard to get...to.    I'm a very fit  50's with an MA in spiritual leadership and finishing a PhD in spiritual practice.  I have my permaculture certification from Zaytuna College.  I work on the land as a wilderness retreat guide. I bought a ghost town 5 years ago and I'm finally getting around to greening my desert.

I'm looking for a desert enthusiast, spiritual (doesn't matter which religion), permie knowledgeable and kind person for a possible long term relationship.

Hello Jen,

Curious what made you buy that land? Are you looking to establish a community there, or just working the land to be self sufficient?
A lot of people dream about going off the grid. Too many articles written on that subject making it sound great and easy. I am off grid for the last 10 years, It was not planned, I just needed a financial brake for a while. It was a struggle to survive the first Winter. Minus 40 C turns propane into a jelly. Not much gas evaporates to keep the furnace supplied at - 40 C.  Within two years I was back on my feet looking to buy another home until I realized this is home, my freedom.
Sorry for the rumbling, just want to say I know what it takes to live off grid. So if you want to chat or If I can help you in any way let me know. Please don't worry I now have a super modified Rocket mass heater so -40 is no longer a problem. lol

jogunlo@aol.com

Gunther

Hi Gunther,

I have dreamed of having a place in the desert since I grew up in the desert outside of Tucson as a child.   I wanted to create a space where people can come for contemplative/spiritual/solitude experiences.  I got very very lucky on a land purchase.  I have been looking for a caretaker (or caretaker couple) who wants to live on the land...but I have been striking out.  I need more permie type community vs the folks who have been responding to ads I have placed.  There is space for community, I am just a little gun shy after my first few experiences with having other people living out here.  

Jen

Do you have a website?

Do you know about Wwoofers?
https://wwoof.net/

Do you know about Dome Gaia.
https://domegaia.com/en-ca

Get wwoofers and host them to assist you

Offer courses to learn to build Dome Homes.

Or Adobe brick, or sandbag courses

Basically people will pay to do a course to learn to build a home.

You host, and pay for a team to come give a course. You pay the team and buy the materials from the funds you raise from Members taking the course.


$3k per Member get 10 to 20 Members make $30k to $60k

You buy the food, buy the materials, pay the crew. And build together.

Host 4 or 6 classes a year.  

You can do the same with Yoga or meditation courses. 2 weeks stay, teach work and play and build community.

Some will return year after year.

As you grow, host more courses to attract more people.

You can build simple shelters or tents to start. canvas tents and Glamping

Start small and grow.

Hi Jen

I understand your concern and know the challenge you face. Going off grid attracts also individuals looking for a free ride. One reason I have not opened my place for others to join. Hope things work out for you, keep in touch.

Gunther

This sounds amazing. I grew up in the Mohave desert in California. I know some parts of AZ. Lived in Laughlin Nv for 5 years. One of my dreams has always been to take folks on wilderness tracks through the desert. Time to reflect and re-align with those energies we’ve lost.

My people are from Sonora and New Mexico.
I’m a contractor of sorts and landscaper. There’s so much potential in the desert especially around monsoon season. Would love to chat and learn more about your place.

Wow sounds amazing.  I purchased 140 acres with a similar goal in mind. I too have had little to no luck on finding help as wel. I have tried all kinds of work programs as well as just posting help wanted ads. I originally hoped to meet someone with similar dreams to build something together. No such luck. I'd love to see your ghost town. I've been here 5 years and feel ready to move on, to what, I'm not sure yet.

Hi Jen,
I’m interested in coming down and lending a hand . I founded and live with my ex at the wild cooperative in western Colorado .
Wildcooperative.Wordpress.com we have a Facebook page as well . We are an intentional community and permaculture education and demonstration site .Been at it for 12 yrs ,built everything here including all the infustucture … looking to experience other communities and projects
Stanley
Moyessport at gmail

Interested!
pattiofrain@gmail.com

Dear Jennifer

I expected your post to draw a massive crowd. Where are all the Captain America, swooping in and take you too happily ever after. I do not understand. Your very smart, passion-ed about your dream. You look great, have a lot going for you. I believe you will succeed with hard work and determination. Oops I just answered my own question. (Hard work) seams to be a stumbling block.

Jennifer, I am self-employed 35 years and counting, financially secure, in good condition physically and mentally. I spend many years in project management. Strong problem-solving skills. Handyman type, jack of all trades. Work well and safe with others, alone and without supervision. No stranger to hard labour. I sounds like I am applying for a job.  No Jennifer I am going to donate my time to your dream. Sort off paying it forward.  I have a few projects that I need to complete here before I can leave. Could fly out early February, must return by March 20th, I already booked and paid for a trip to Japan on March 25. I am in Zone 3 so January to March year after year I get cabin fever, so I travel a lot. This spring I visited Austria, Italy, France and Monaco. Got some awesome photos, great history there. Before that a few trips to Thailand among other destinations. So, if that works for you, connect with me to work out details. If you are wondering why I waited, I had to make sure I want to do this. Will see how this works out. Perhaps you find a reason to keep me on this continent.

Apologies, I left quite a few blanks to fill in. Well, this is a public forum you understand. A little mystery will keep them coming back to your post to see what will happen. Curiosity is a powerful thing.

Gunther

Jen Anderson wrote:Hi Gunther,

I have dreamed of having a place in the desert since I grew up in the desert outside of Tucson as a child.   I wanted to create a space where people can come for contemplative/spiritual/solitude experiences.  I got very very lucky on a land purchase.  I have been looking for a caretaker (or caretaker couple) who wants to live on the land...but I have been striking out.  I need more permie type community vs the folks who have been responding to ads I have placed.  There is space for community, I am just a little gun shy after my first few experiences with having other people living out here.  

Jen

I know exactly what you mean!  My searches which have included friends and family members have almost all ended with less-than-desirable circumstances. It's insane that people don't want to live for free, eat for free, and all they have to do is a little bit of work, contribute and be good people.  I had ONE fantastic experience recently that has given me hope again.  

Oh well, here's to doing it by ourselves!  We are in NM, just two miles over the border from AZ, but I spend most of my time at my business in AZ.  I have tried looking for other like-minded folks on Permies, WWOOF, FIC and Facebook.  The Facebook experience was so awful, I rarely even look at Facebook anymore.  

I hope you find what you are looking for.  

Hey reach out ,
I’m interested ,I live and co founded the wildcooperative in western Colorado , been here for 12 yrs….still searching for a third partner ,but in the meantime I would love to help others esp in the winter , Im snowed out
moyessport@gmail.com

Hello
My name is John. I am a single 46 year old male looking to live a simpler life homesteading. I would enjoy getting to know more about you and chatting about myself with you. Would you have interest in a phone call or private messaging.
Hope you have a great holiday season.
 I am not great with this site yet to figure out how to send pictures here.  

Hope this helps

Jen,

I see that you have a fairly substantial number of men vying for your attention so if you have made a choice I respect that. I am not going to write you paragraphs on myself as even though I am good with my prose, I am a man of few words and prefer actions. If you are interested in finding out more I would love to speak with you either via email, text, or in person. I have a lot to contribute.
jimberry3@yahoo.com, I hope to hear from you one way or the other, be safe and keep on keeping on.

Hi Jen!
Great work you're doing. I sent you a PM and look forward to connecting.

Hi! My name is Erik and I am drawn to your post. Birds of a feather flock together. I find myself alone now and days. It seems like there's no birds of my feather. It's depressing.and time goes by fast to fast. I moved to AZ from San Jose CA to AZ to buy land for a homestead. Growing up in big cities all my life didn't match who I am as I got older. I look ahead and plan for the future. I love nature and find it beautiful. Long story short after doing my do diligence on some properties in AZ it seemed like there was to many rules and laws that make it feel like you don't own your own property to feel free to be in control of your own home. Add the drought and Colorado river shrinking was the straw that broke the camel's back. You can't have a homestead without water. So I went to the drawing board looked at land for sale. I didn't want anything dependant on the Colorado river and I heard there's a lot of crime in NM I looked and found something that matched in the ad what sounds perfect. So I bought it. It's in Texas. I've never been to Texas, never heaven drivin through it. Fast forward it's  been 4 years ago as of Jan 30 that I purchased it and I still haven't gone to it. I bought it when I had a relationship life was complete it was for our future home to build together. I wasn't her dream ànd she already in the past lived in Texas didn't want to live there so she left. In my heart's and belief home is where the heart is. No heart no home so I haven't gone to it. Nevertheless I need to go and make sure there's no squatters on the property before 5 years or I risk loosing it. It sounds like your on the way. I would be nice to talk. I would love to hear your adventures and beliefs and thoughts dreams. Msg me if you have some time.  

Hello.

Desert.  Have you seen this?
https://youtu.be/WCli0gyNwL0?si=b29oUxEm-fMXxred

I don't know how well it would work... But it would be a joy to pick up a shovel and try.

I also wish to point out, I am not here vying for affection.
I simply see a problem, and enjoy finding creative solutions.

Let me know what you think, young lady.
~Ian Westercamp

Hey J
What’s your most-exciting facet in greening your desert?
Z

Here's an updated version.