I am in beautiful North Idaho with 10 paid for acres. I have been wanting very badly to start some kind of ecovillage and/or live an alternative lifestyle for a long time now... My original goal was to develop this property,
sell it and then use that money to buy a larger parcel that my friends and family or others could join me on for an
intentional community/ecovillage that my kids could live on when I was gone if they still wanted to.
Unfortunately/fortunately a lot of unforseen events and learning has happened since then. Haha.
I have 4 toddlers, 3 of which are 2yr old triplets (which was an unexpected pregnancy), and my primary job and hobby these days is being a mom, plus a few side jobs babysitting, housecleaning, window painting, and starting photography for a modest income. I stay very busy and it's kind of overwhelming. My ex husband wasn't ever really into the alternative lifestyle (more of a videogamer). I have a boyfriend now, but between him wanting to help me with the kids, his job that calls for a lot of overtime, and him not really having building
experience, conventional or otherwise, progress still isn't really being made. He says he would feel better about it if he had help out there, which I do understand as he really doesn't have any building experience and having help makes a big difference. But when I go out there with all of the kids, I am still basically just dealing with them the whole time at this stage in their development. Haha.
I have a rubble trench foundation and started earthbag stemwalls and was thinking to finish the walls with cordwood masonry on my experimental unfinished barn that I started before I had the triplets. I am still considering developing this
land a bit before selling it and using the money from that sale to move elsewhere. I am not really sure yet. If I had help, my helpers could live on the land (off grid) rent free with a little cabin or a trailer, and could get the first opportunity to buy it when we sold (at a reduced price roughly equivalent to the work they put into it) or they could get a cut from the sale money. They would also be invited to come with us if we buy land elsewhere to continue our pursuit of an intentional community or ecovillage. I am seriously considering Oregon, but I can't say for sure yet what we will do as the future is anything but certain.
If it was something we all agreed with, there is also the possibility that we could start a mini community right there, but I would want for it to be something we all agreed to and, as previously mentioned, the future is so uncertain. If I didn't want to stay the above 2 options would be the primary ones, and if you didn't want to stay I would sell so you could get compensation for your work.
Whatever happened, my helper/s would have their opinions and preferences heard. I strive to be fair and I am pretty laid back and like to make things work for everyone if it's possible. I am in a position now where I need some help and I am very open to input or suggestions.
Looking forward to seeing your responses. Thanks for your time reading and/or replying.
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