34yo Single Male seeking permaculture living/working opportunity

Hi Permies

I'm 34yo living in suburbia South CA and it is sooooo depressing! hahaha I need to be on some land designing, digging swales, building hugels, tiny houses, food forests, etc... It's what makes me happy!

I don't ask for much. I just want a place to live and work. I want to live and work ecologically. I'd like to build my own little shelter and live in a teepee or a tiny house or something.. maybe you want me to build a yurt to live in temporaily while i build your food forest before I move on to my next big adventure? I could also bring a camper van and stay in that while I am there. There are a lot of potentials we could work something out.

I'm basically just looking for any opportunities where I can live off the land and work doing permaculture. I don't need to make much $ either. I prefer to live on a little money as possible. I want to be productive tho! I want to build a food forest, or a eco-village! I don't want to create trash or buy products wrapped in plastic. I am looking for a natural ecological way of life.

I am concerned about the political climate here in the USA, due to all the new world shifting that is taking place, so I'd like to get OUT of CA, and preferably out of the US/UN territories, or at least to duck out somewhere rural where I can work hard to secure our survival through the collapse that is apparently coming.

Does anyone know of any place where I can go live and work doing permaculture? A place that would be ideal for avoiding the collapse that is somewhat eminent in the US? I really need to find a home where I can go do what I love which is permaculture. I'm 34 and living at home with mom and dad and my whole life has come to a standstill because I simply don't have a place to practice permaculture and live a real ecological lifestyle. I feel so guilty everytime I unwrap a vegetable from a plastic package and put it in the recycling bin.. But I'm absolutely obsessed with the permaculture lifestyle, and sustainable development. Lately I've been getting my fix by helping a friend down the street build a food forest in his backyard, but here I am still in the city, it's all still so in conflict with personal values and beliefs about what it means to life sustainable and ecologically.

So I want to get out into the world and use all this awesome creativity and energy to build something that will benefit the people living in that space long after I am gone. I want to use my hands and my body to do this good wholesome work. I don't even care about being paid I just need to make enough to survive and see me off on to next adventure one way or another.

I'd LIKE to find a place more permanent to live and work, A place where I really feel I belong, but I feel like that just doesn't exist anymore... Maybe I'm wrong! Please prove me wrong! Is there any opportunity worth seizing out there for a energetic, creative, able bodied man like myself? I don't want to waste my life living under my mom and dads roof forever please friends help point me in the right direction here I feel like I'm running out of options and stuck here living with my mom and dad for the rest of my life it's really depressing. Is there any land owner out there who could use my muscle and creativity? I'm really not asking for much. I have so much value to bring to the table.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions offered.

Here's some stuff that I think you may be interested in:

The Permaculture Research Institute has global information on permaculture, and Permaculture Global has a map of permaculture projects around the world.

Ecovillage has many projects listed around the world, too.

If you are worried about moving places, visit this thread that gives a brief intro to what global/world citizenship is. I do not quite share the collapse inevitability idea (better for discussion in the Ulcer Factory or Politics); I like to stay optimistic; however, I do plan/hope to claim world citizenship and a world passport as soon as I can.

To get a job, Twitter has a permaculture job page.

Wow what a great response. Thank you for all the resources and info. I had no idea about the World Government/World Citizens thing... I'm surprised I had never heard of this before. Still kinda fishy since is a UN program but very interesting none-the-less, so not sure what to think of any of that new world stuff yet, I'm also quite optimistic and serene by nature Attitude is everything as they say ... but I'm getting pretty desperate for an alternative so this just may be the solution that is intended for the growing population of people in my position. Thanks again. I still hope I can find a place where I can live and work, earn money doing permaculture, but if not, I think I might actually be happier just living as a volunteer Wwoofer so I'll just have to keep considering these options and make a decision soon enough. I have way too much energy and desire to GIVE, for this to all go to waste one day at a time here at mom and dads house. Time for me to get out into the world and support myself hands on with the earth. So thank you again so much for these resources Dave Bless you.

No problem!

Here are some more resources that you may want to look into:

Permaculture Paths lists a toooooon of places that one can go to for permaculture educations, internships, and WWOOFing.

Since you've heard of WWOOFing, you may also be interested in HelpX. It is a work exchange that functions like WWOOF, just not as well known. HelpStay is another work exchange except it is more broad spectrum than just farming. You may also find SharedEarth to be interesting; it connects people with land to people who like to garden. you never know who you'll meet, maybe some of them will lead to jobs or just a fun time.

Oh, forgot to mention! The Transition Network is community of people dedicating to making cities and the world more resilient and sustainable.

You might look at the WWOPFer program at PermaEthos.com in WV.

Vincent,Hello
There's a great place in NE Missouri....The Possibility Alliance/Stillwater Sanctuary...with a Peace and Permaculture Learning Center... 28408 Frontier Lane, La Plata,MO 63549.....they have a few sister projects,too.
They are electricity free/fossil fuel free...so no internet websites,ect but there is at least one article also podcasts out on the web...through Mother Earth News and Scott Mann's permaculture podcast site.
I believe one of the sister projects is in California...hang on I'll get my book with the info...
I'm not sure sure if this one is up and running yet....Loving Life Farm..Atascadero,Ca..Dori Stone
also one in Reno, Nevada...Be the Change homestead..Kyle and Katy Chandler Isacksen
All the best with your quest.
Kate

Vincent Alexander wrote:Hi Permies

I'm 34yo living in suburbia South CA and it is sooooo depressing! hahaha I need to be on some land designing, digging swales, building hugels, tiny houses, food forests, etc... It's what makes me happy!

Hello Mr Monk. Can you make it all the way down to Victoria, Australia? Is 165 acres challenging enough for you? Let's chat.

regards
Helen

Hi Vincent.

I have been told by a PCD that my place is ideal for Permaculture because of its varying elevations, water courses, and southern exposure.

It's a 16 year old Homestead of 32.5 acres; bush to pasture, enough cedar, rock, clay and manure to build most anything. I have copies of the original Land Patent Grants (bonus) and By-laws here aren't enough to chock ones creativity, or permaculture activities. I have livestock, not as a business but to sustain the homestead. Living here is cheap, and easy work can be found doing seasonal jobs off the Homestead. The Mennonites have taken a shine to this area and continue to move in. It's quiet and friendly, it's also in Ontario, Canada. A might chilly for a California boy, but an experience you'd be proud to pass on. There is nothing like cooking on a wood stove, and enjoying the warmth it gives off on a cold winter's night. I could use the muscle to get through projects that much faster, there is plenty to do and implement; from furthering the outdoor kitchen, to gleying ponds, gardening, animal husbandry, methane digesters, and the list goes on.

My end game is to be 100% off grid and, although I am not totally there yet, I am well on my way in reducing dependency with each passing season. While my neighbors' electricity bills went up, mine came down. It's a matter of simple sweat equity rather than the almighty dollar, as I am land rich but $ poor by conventional standards.

I hope to hear from you sooner rather than later.

Cheers! K

Vincent,
Check out my offer in the intentional community section posted today. Let me know if you wanna talk more.
john