Br. Curt Beardsley

The WOFATI is looking magnificent! I don't believe I have ever seen any construction that looks more like my dream than this. Thank you for keeping us updated. Oh, how I would love to be a part of this project.

It would be great to be able to come out to Missoula and be a part of the community out there but it doesn't seem possible right now. Though, things are always subject to change. I would like to know if there are any Permies in Ohio that are working on forming a community there. I don't have the opportunity to get out much. That's partly due to my physical condition and, also because I don't have any wheels to drive around in.

It's been a dream of mine to have a group of folks to live with on a piece of land and be as self-sustaining as possible. I don't seem it as something I could do on my own for health and financial reason. Always seems to be better to have companions along the way, especially when it comes to purchasing land. So, I'd really be interested in communicating with folks in Ohio who have already started a group or who might be interested in moving in that direction.

It would sure be great to hear from you.

Br. Curt

I have not been reading and viewing the blog for quite some time. It makes me yearn to be out there doing this amazing project with you. The WOFATI is beautiful! I hope that I will be able to visit you guys some day and see first hand what you are doing.

The picture of the dog is absolutely precious, too. What's the old biblical saying? "Raise a dog up in the way it should be and it will not soon depart from it." LOL

I'm going to spend more time on the blog and keep my dream genes revved up.

Br. Curt

Hi! My name is Br. Curt. I moved back to Columbus to be close to family after living in Phoenix, AZ for 26 years. Even though it colder, I am sure glad to be where there are four seasons.

I had to stop being a priest for an independent Orthodox church because of fibromyalgia and sciatica. Been taking morphine for pain for almost ten years. Nice thing is, since I moved back to Ohio and got into more natural eating, my intake is half what it was and next month I'll be going to a practitioner who will do acupuncture, body manipulation (not chiropractic) and dietary healing involving fermented foods. He's had good results and I'm looking forward to being drug free. My mind will probably work better then.

wofati is extremely interesting to me but I wonder about finding land that I can garden on and build such a house here in Ohio. I have Mike O's book and really enjoyed it. I like a man who says what he thinks in the way he feels like saying it. Kind of like Paul. I hope there are folks here from Ohio that are interested in simple living and using permiculture principals. Please excuse my spelling. Geoff is going to be giving classes on line now and I'm thinking of taking those if they aren't too expensive. Since I'm on disability I have plenty of time, so why not.

I hope to purchase land here within the next year and build a tiny wofati or tiny house on a trailer. The trailer house would keep me from having to pay attention to codes because it would be considered a travel trailer. I don't care to have electricity except for a small solar panel to charge my laptop and cell phone. Codes here probably will not permit me to have the type of earth sheltered home I want. It's not looking good anyway.

I've been reading as much of the posts as my back allows. (Sitting at the computer can get painful.) Enjoyed most of them. I'm pretty free and open minded and am not the typical Orthodox or Christian. That's one reason I ordained in an independent church. Studied Tibetan Buddhism for three years and learned a great deal to carry over into my life as a monk.

There's a lot to tell about myself, but I'll hold off for now. Just wanted to put a little info out there. I'm glad I found Permies and am looking forward to "visiting" with you.

Peace

Anti tobacco folks kind of rile me up. Though, I do understand that they would not to live IN a house where others smoke tobacco. When outside it should be the right of folks to smoke. If someone who doesn't smoke doesn't like it, they can stand out of the way of the smoke or be at a distance. One needs to respect the rights of everyone. I agree with Paul that to allow pot at this time is only inviting trouble. Don't know much about Montana lawmakers, but until pot is legal it should be discouraged, especially when your trying to get the rest of the World on track to save our planet from destructive agricultural practices.

It would be a shame to me if a community get some good people simply because he does not want pot on the property, at this time. I haven't smoked it in 35 years but I would like to try it to see if it help chronic pain from fibromyalgia and sciatica. I thought of moving to New Mexico so I could find out. Can't do that right now.

Anyway, I'm ramblin' so will close.

Br. Curt

Being rather new to Premies, I have been trying to read up from past postings in order to get a good idea of what the overall mission is for buying land and forming a community. Being in a community is something I have wanted for quite some time but have not been able to find one that isn't out to get your money. And, they are not truly interested in any real kind of mission. Many remind me of the 60's and the Hippie era where everyone was in to free love and all sorts of drug. Nothing really to do with reality. I was a very young teenager then who wanted to be a hippie but my parents would have none of it and I couldn't even wear a pair of bell bottoms!!

I like much of what you have stated about the mission . In fact, I like all of it except for 20 people living under one roof. I could not survive that! Not because I don't like people but because I am a retired priest (don't hold that against me, I'm not the typical Christian.) and monk, so prefer the solitude for times of meditation and prayer. So, I guess one question would be: Will people be able to live in their own tiny house?

I don't know much about Missoula or Montana for that matter--that is except for pictures and videos. When the land is purchased I would be interested in flying out for a visit.

I'll close this post for now. And, I'll keep reading. A lot of interesting folks here.

Oh, what a set of dream courses and dream presenters! If only I could afford it. I'm new to Permies so I'm not sure when this was announced. If there had been more time, I would have been able to save for it. Well, I'll just have to keep my eyes open, won't I?

Animals have been big on my mind. I don't own land yet, but I want to have a lot of knowledge before I get started. Are there going to be any courses closer to Columbus, OH? I've been thinking of asking some of our local farmers who use permaculture methods (If there are any.) and see if I can visit and possibly help out in return for their teaching. Hoping for the same type of situation as far as crops, also. One can learn a lot through books, but hands-on is the only way to put that knowledge to the test. I'd rather not learn after I have animals.

Permies is becoming addictive. I haven't written in the forums much, but I'm sure I will.

Br. Curt

Good news on the land Paul! I'm new to the group and haven't had much of a change to "talk" with anyone yet. Community has always been something I've been interested in. I wish you were in a part of the Country that I would like to live in. I'd visit and have you see if I'd be a fit. I'm in Ohio so that I can be close to family. I'm also in the process of starting natural healing of fibromyalgia and sciatica. I'd like to come out to your neck of the woods and see what you will be up to, though.

I'd suggest setting up some simple composting toilets like the buckets in the Humanure book. That's what I plan on having here and it would also be equipment that initial visitors could bring along with them until you can set up something more permanent.

I've really enjoyed permies so far and I look forward to news as your progress.

Br. Curt