Permie Town Revival! -Nor. Cal. Southern Humbolt

Hello, this is a shout out to all those seeking to relocate and proactively practice Permaculture. In case you are not aware of the current political climate in Nor.Cal. one could say that the recent Canabis Legalization has instigated drastic change for local communities there which are now in recovery. The exciting news is the real estate market reflects this and is near the bottom of a 'buyers market.' If your interested and in the market to purchase rural land for consider joining in a community spirit for a town revival. Little towns like Garberville, CA. have long since served as a hub for surrounding horticulturalist properties on large rural acreage which is now transitioning to new property stewardship. Check it out. The year round growing climate is ideal for cultivation with ecological diversity in mind and some properties have an abundance of water with irrigation that include 'water rights.'

I second your endorsement of this region and the opportunity presented by the cratering of the cannabis market following over production with legalization. I took advantage of a similar dynamic up here in Del Norte County in 2020, getting my off grid property for less than 2/3 of peak asking price, and am very glad I did. The Humboldt Permaculture Guild seems to be a good, productive group. Up further north, our Wild Rivers Permaculture Guild is also happy to help permies find their footing here in far NW CA and SW OR. One member is a neighbor of mine and a realtor specializing in off-grid properties, often getting former grows cleaned up and into ownership by future stewards. PM if you would like his contact info.

Bioregional New Localism is a context that one may subscribe to just 'sustainable principle' is within sustainable culture. It acts as Stewardship principle [working together to achieve a common goal] in the power law of immediacy. [By introducing the power law of immediacy to the power laws of diversity and multiplicity one can be accountble to retain the agency of autonomy.]

Excellent video on Humbolt County by Peter Santenello and how they are rebuilding the community after the loss of their other income.  

Don't forget northern Mendicino County.

I'd like to hear any specific examples of "town revival" in the region tied to sustainable local production and land stewardship - in my experience (on the eastern periphery) most if not all smaller towns are experiencing significant, steady decline, losing population and capital. There is certainly attractive opportunity for newcomers to try and get established and turn the tide with new energy and ideas, however local politics and attitudes can be a real barrier, to say nothing of the economic challenge of startup rural enterprise and things like home insurance being out of reach with rising wildfire risk.

Not that it can't be done, but I'd really like to see some tangible examples and help people figure out what it takes to make it work, so we don't wind up with another rush of starry eyed opportunists who leave things worse off in short order! Final word here should be that there is significant and complex Indigenous/Tribal presence and interests in much of this landscape, many of whom are determinedly working to repair and recover damaged ancestral lands, with understandably little patience or favor for uninformed short-sighted hobby homesteaders elbowing into the mix. There are respectful ways to go about it, but a 'buyers market' land rush is not the tone to set, in my opinion.

Kat Wilson wrote:Excellent video on Humbolt County by Peter Santenello and how they are rebuilding the community after the loss of their other income.

Here's another pretty interesting show & tell vid from the region by the same guy, about life and legacies in a veeeerry rural rugged interior mountain community and one small family's efforts to revitalize things over the years - also an open invite for dedicated collaborators!