Couple With Tiny Home Looking For Land or Community MICHIGAN

Hello, thank you for looking.

My fiance and I are looking for a new place to move our tiny home to and a place to farm. We have a small Bio-Intensive farm that we are leasing in Oakland County Michigan. We are young, motivated, and well educated (in farming, not college).

We really want to stay in the area because we are trying to save up money staying with our in-town jobs. Eventually we want to purchase land of our own to host an eco-village and build earthen housing. For now we have our wood heated tiny home to help us continue to grow in experience and to continue to build a nest egg.

I grew up in construction and managed to build our 200 sq ft tiny home in 4 months pretty much by myself and for under 6k. It has on demand hot water and compost toilet. This summer I will add rain catchment and solar bank. 3 years ago I had a 100 sq ft garden in my yard, living in an overpriced trailer park with no idea how I was going to ever start farming or following this long time dream I had. When I put my mind to it it took little over 2 years to find a location to farm, and to build my own home and start a 30 member CSA. I have 37 100 sq ft double dug beds, and a 28 ft greenhouse.

We are serious, we are motivated, and we know how to get shit done. I have the pictures and the website to prove it. This year I am scaling back the CSA and starting to sell at markets and wholesale overages to other CSA's.

Why move? I have plenty of customers close by, the soil is great, the garden is established. But currently there is a mansion being built right next door, other very wealthy people in the area have already expressed their dissapproval of me setting up shop like this in such a nice neighborhood. I am in one of the wealthiest areas in the country, sure they all love spending lots of money on quality food, but still want no connection with the people who grow it. I am constantly wondering when one of them is going to get the city to run me out. So this is why I am searching now to find a home for the future.

We will be getting married in October, and if possible I would like to move after October but before winter hits.

Thank you so much for taking to time to read this.

Any leads would be great.

Aw, that is a little sad they don't want involvement with the people growing their food. I live in an average suburb, and I dislike the fact that there aren't any farms nearby. Also, the Home Owner's Association is a pain in the butt, threatening people with liens on their homes for violating the contract signed when buying the home. Grrr!

I think the Permaculture Global, Transition, and Ecovillage Networks may be useful in finding places that are more open-minded and welcoming.

And that is so sweet to hear you two are getting married! Best wishes! Live long and prosper!

this is why we moved to the Keweenaw to get away from the attitude of others
if you can handle 300''+ of snow,its a great place to live
lots of free range berries, apples for the picking and there are lots of people looking for good home grown produce
fresh fish out of Lake Superior
land prices and houses are reasonable with a little work

Mike

Orland, we will keep you in our thoughts. Unfortunately I cannot offer you any information that you are seeking. It truly is a shame that those people want to be fed, but have no desire to be anywhere near the ones who provide for them. Tis a strange world that has been built around us, one I seem to lose more and more understanding of every day that passes.

Orland, My wife and I live in Three Rivers, MI. It is about 25 miles south of Kalamazoo in the lower SW corner. I may be able to help you if you are interested in living in our area. I have lived here for 22 years now so I know quite a few people. Please email me at jeffreylouisloucks at gmail.com. BTW, I don't check my email every day so if you email me please be patient. I will respond. Sincerely, Jeff

In the Classifieds on ic.org, there is an ad that you should check out, if you haven't already. The headline reads, "We have land and plans". The people who posted it are in Spruce, MI, and they want people who have tiny homes to join them. It was posted on March 30.

Good Luck,
Marie