(This has been updated)
Hey Everybody,
My family and I purchased some
land two summers ago in the Northern Colorado mountains. This is 70 acres in total, but really two neighboring plots of 35 acres each with Roosevelt National Forest bordering. We are looking for someone to purchase one of them to become a mountain homesteader with us.
Thus far we have focused on bringing infrastructure up there (a couple large greenhouses, small shed, amending soil) and developing observations. The opportunities are endless here as it borders national forest on two sides, has a 'spring' running through it, a creek within 5 minutes walking, and 5 lakes within 20 minutes walking. Being so close to the forest has allowed for a large amount of wild foraging of medicines and food. The spring is really a creek that runs on the edge of property. I am certain it dries up many years, but it has not in the two years I have been here (we do not have
irrigation rights to either creek, but animals...). Not too mention quite a bit of beetle kill
wood (on-site lumber), great sun exposure (just below 8000ft. elevation), gently sloping grassland, and fairly decent soil depth/fertility considering we are in the Rocky Mountains. I would say about 75% of both plots are prairie with 25% Ponderosa Pine/Douglas Fir forest with a few rock outcroppings.
What/how etc. are all still in the works as to how it will all look in the long run. What we have agreed upon thus far is that we are very interested in having a relatively
intentional community living there and developing it into a permaculture/re-wilding education center.
I have an Advanced
PDC, Soil Food Web Certification, actively learning about wild plants (along with many other courses and self-teachings) and have been active in the
permie world for a handful of years now. With that written, there are still many areas I would like to engage in more. In particular, I would like to be apart of the creation and holding of space for people to come and be inspired.
So, back to the land. My family and I have worked very hard to be able to meet the financial responsibility that we have accepted and have succeeded. Unfortunately, this has forced more stream-lined efforts to develop the educational center to be put on the back burner. We are looking to
sell the front 35 acres as is, or would consider dividing various sections of the land for smaller investments of 'ownership.' The preferred goal is to have community members (permaculturists, naturalists, woodsy folk) that will be working together on various projects so that the lines of ownership do not run black or white.
Potential rotational grazing, A large food forest already in the works,
Mushroom cultivation, Natural Home-building, Wild-crafting, Fermentation Kitchen, and many other ideas are all possible here.
I have also developed a network in this part of the state of other Earth minded folks who also have or are acquiring space. These people will be able to coordinate, arrive and help with bigger projects. EX. home-building, big planting day, watering for a weekend. Not too mention, they provide the opportunity for you to have access to their space for other projects.
Also, there are a few in the nearby community who already have established sites with goats'
milk, eggs, etc. that would love to increase the food exchange network.
The site itself is over an hour away from any real civilization (Fort Collins, CO), 20 minutes away from a very small town, nestled in the national forest. There is no HOA. And you get my brother and me as your neighbors. Hard working 20 year olds with a lot of knowledge and two years growing
experience in this climate.
Keep in mind this is in the Rockies, so plenty of wind, sun, temperature fluctuations, and critters of the wild sort are frequent design problutions. I also believe that for some of the farming that you would do at a lower elevation, you would trade that for more wild-crafting and learning how to work with the plants and animals already here. With that written, I do have a very healthy crop of garlic and cilantro going right now (without a
greenhouse) and have had some great success with peppers (inside). Also, the air is clean, mountains call to be played on, and there is top-of-the-watershed water nearby, one doesn't get that too often in CO.
Let me know when you want to come see it.
Please include any specific questions as well as who you are, what you may be interested in. Remember no question is not worth asking and very few answers are simple. So phone would be preferred. A price is not so fixed as potential for us to talk about getting a well (already have a permit for it) and/or building a home is a possibility if you are looking for a summer get-away. We are putting it on the market for $209,000. Please send me your contact information and I will definitely get back to you.
Take Care,
Kc
PS A rent to own type situation is a possibility too to the right person.
That course is offered during summers out there at CRMPI. In regards to strait farming, this is probably not the most ideal setting CO has to offer. As Kyrt mentioned, there is a good amount of hail (especially in June)(side note: at that elevation it usually doesn't get too big, but it is somewhat frequent certain years), wind, and at 8000ft, the sun can be excessive for a number of plants. With that said, this part of the state has reminded me of Alaska more than most anywhere else I have visited in the lower 48. Moose, snow, cold, and privacy. All of course miniature compared to AK. So if you are looking for a BIG leap, might not be the spot. But if you are looking for a smaller leap, with vast amounts more sun, then you're on the right track.
