Couple relocating to WA...looking for contacts, place to live, inspiring people

Hi to everyone,

My name is Edward, and I'm relocating to the PNW in the next few weeks with my partner, Kara, and our dog Chompsky. We're leaving upstate NY, where we've spent the last few years building a timber frame, cordwood masonry shelter. We put in a rocket stove floor and completed an earth roof just recently. We milled the structural lumber for the structure ourselves with a chainsaw mill, and we harvested all the cordwood onsite. This gives you an idea about our interests, mode of living, etc. We've been most interested in the Olympic Peninsula area of WA, but we're definitely open to other adventures.

We're looking for a cabin/shelter with access to land for growing food, building community, playing music, and continuing our progress through the vastness of skills to learn. We're open to being a part of a farm, communal work type of situation. While we have a focus to our intentions, we're flexible enough to see what opportunities present themselves. We're interested in learning more permaculture practices. We're not seasoned permaculture folks by any stretch, but our interest and curiosity in this area is definitely present. I've been without musical companions for the last little bit of my life. I'm interested in rekindling that aspect of my life and making it a primary focus again. Creative and technically ambitious, sometimes raucous, sometimes beautiful music...I'd say that's good as far as generalizations go.

As far as shelter/living situation...we've pretty much decided that we don't want to camp in a tent throughout the winter. We've done some gnarly enough tent camping in the past, and we've decided that something that'll keep us dry for sure is the direction we're heading in. We're not afraid of off grid living. Electricity is convenient but not necessary. A wood stove being present would be nice... or even better, a place to build another rocket stove. We have a self contained solar panel setup with a sealed battery if the situation is right.

We're interested in doing some more natural building and learning more woodworking skills. We've got the experience of our first building under our belts at this point, and we're anxious to keep learning. What projects are out there? We're interested in doing more with cob, treehouses, whatever sounds fun, inspiring, and interesting. I guess that's a good starting point. I'm looking forward to hearing about whatever opportunities, friends, contacts, homes, etc. come from this post. If you have something to offer, don't hesitate. We're moving to a new area, and I think every bit of input will be helpful to our decision making process. Thanks for reading.

Edward

I've tried posting on here and can't seem to get it right, but here goes. I have 13 acres near Redding, CA. I am looking for well.. People like you to come and help work the land with me. I've just started the process off designing the land for food forest type production, but there is a lot of work to be done. I do not have a secondary living space at the moment, but am open to whatever works. As far as I know dwellings for "ag workers" are permit exempt in my county. I am building a legally permitted tiny home in spring we have oak and pine lumber on property plus many mills in town to get seconds from to build a winter cabin. I am currently living in an 8x12 with my dog Rusty. I play most stringed instruments especially banjo and guitar. Would love to jam out. Let me know if any of this sounds good to you.

Edward,
Really appreciated your post and want to share a little about us to see if this might be an opportunity worth exploring!

Who we are:
A couple in our 50's-Healthy, happy, family oriented and committed to a peaceful life (peaceful is different than quiet). We have established a community of friends who enjoy joining us quite often for food, beer, wine, music, conversation... We do occasionally have bands play up here and even plug them in...
He (Rick)= Semi-retired from construction trades, artist, builder of beautiful gardens, NOT a plant person,sometimes a bit brusque, visionary, amazing cook, very handy guy... He has an interest in building a cob/cordwood (cobwood?) cabin.
She (Elizabeth)= Fulfilling work as an energy, agriculture and natural resources consultant, small business owner and employer of amazing people, loves to garden when home and preserve food, nurturing, exceptionally busy, amazing cook, local food fanatic...

What we have:
20 acres in the forest - deciduous/fir
Off-grid w/ solar
Spring gravity-fed water system and additional undeveloped springs
Columbia Gorge area (OR)
Old garden area
Old orchard
Dogs and cats (a couple of each)
Amazing opportunity for creating a space that sustains a more self-sufficient lifestyle
Large house w/ additional future green building opportunities.
Lot's of house projects
Great existing wood shop and metal shop in development w/ potential living/guest quarters above shop - already partially finished

What we need/want:
A plant person(s) w/ some experience growing food
Someone(s) looking to grow food and animals for personal consumption (with a potential to produce for sale)
We love to share meals, chores...
Someone(s) with energy and drive - must be interested, engaged and able to work hard
Someone(s) looking to establish a home
Someone(s) who can develop and maintain gardens, orchard and possible livestock / animal care (chickens, ducks, rabbits, ?)
Someone(s) with energy to put towards developing the land in a respectful, caring, connected way
Someone(s) with the ability, at least initially, to have an outside income source while
Your thoughts, ideas, energy to make this an amazing endeavor

What we offer:
Opportunity to form a true partnership in community
Opportunity to pursue your business ideas that might utilize property, shop, surrounding area...
Possible opportunity to pursue business ideas collectively w/ our joint efforts
We have experience starting and operating successful, very diverse businesses
A warm, dry place to live (private sleeping, communal kitchen...)
Supportive environment to try different "things"

When:
As soon as we find the right fit

Let me know if you would like to have a conversation!!

Cheers,
Elizabeth