Christopher Kyprianos

Hi Jess,

I got a note but can't find it after the first glance. Something about a new battle cry...

What's cookin'? Did you want to talk?

Christopher

Hey Jessi,

Christopher here... I'm located in North Central Mass.

Like you, I try to find comfort in the best of both worlds, rural and urban. I've begun establishing a home here that has very productive gardens. The lot is not huge but can provide more than enough food for multiple people. The home is somewhat larger but quite efficient. New state-of-the-art heat pumps with mini splits provide year-round comfort. The house also has a few extra bedrooms, bathrooms, and a nice fireplace in the den.

The outside has several raised beds for veggies although I do slip in some flowers. I like the pop and it contributes well to some pest control. Flower gardens are also rich with color and various varieties of plants, mostly perennials. This is a limited about of lawn and it is nicely wooded in the rear. Composting is in a Keyhole raised bed garden.

I'm open to an assortment of arrangements depending on the individual and their needs and desires. Of course, contributing to helping support the homestead both economically and labor would be the best balance. Relationship-wise, I practice ENM, but another person may practice what works for them. I am a straight cis male but am also open-minded regarding LBGT, BDSM, race, religion, etc. So long as no one pushes their agenda, everyone should remain happy.

I also like to travel in a small motorhome occasionally, ride motorcycles when time permits, and enjoy the great outdoors doing an assortment of activities. That doesn't mean someone has to accompany me nor does it prevent them from doing so. Often things shared are a tad more fun... Whether that involves working, playing, or pretty much anything else, at this point in my life enjoying what I am doing means the world to me.

If you are curious to learn more feel free to drop me a note or post it here. I check in every once in a while but not daily or sometimes weekly.

Regardless of where you land I wish you all the best!

Jessi Vasquez wrote:Hey there! I'm Jessi. I'm 38 years old and currently dabbling in urban gardening in Atlanta, GA. The older I get, the more it annoys me how many resources I waste from day to day. I'm coming to terms with the limits of my location and thinking about some of my long-term goals like:

Growing as much of my own food as possible.
Using as many renewable resources as possible.

I like the idea of striking a balance between urban and rural living and am looking for a like-minded, male partner. I'd like to live as sustainably as possible without compromising the things that a city offers. So I could see settling down either inside or outside of a metro, but being close enough to enjoy the conveniences (airports, doctors, etc.) and entertainment a city offers. I really admire all the folks on here who live several hours away from a metro area, but I'm not interested in committing to that level of remote living.

Personality-wise, I tend to be chatty, silly, and playful. But I also love discussing and debating serious topics as well. I'm left on the political spectrum, agnostic on the religious spectrum, and sterilized on the fertility spectrum. I'm not one for old traditions, but I enjoy making new ones. =)

Some of my outdoor interests are:

Gardening - Composting - Rainwater collection - Building - Animals - Solar Cooking - Hiking - Swimming - Bike Riding - Picnics - Star Gazing

Some of my urban interests are:

Live music - Standup comedy - Volunteer work - Lectures

And some of my personal interests are:

Making lists...haha =) - Traveling (different cultures, yeah!) - Meditation - Mindful intimacy (think karma sutra, karezza, tantra) - Astronomy - Science - Politics - Psychology - Philosophy - Listening to podcasts/NPR/music/standup - Psychedelics/spirituality - DIY projects - Hydroponics/indoor gardening - Learning new languages or new skills/hobbies in general - Board and card games

I'm open to talking to anyone regardless of age or location at the moment, so don't be shy if you feel like we have common goals and interests. And if you made it this far, thanks for taking the time! =)

Hello Heather,

I am from North Central Mass. I came across your post today and wanted to chime in.

The major struggle I have had is time. The days are not long enough to get everything done that I would like to do. Bear in mind that I don't have animals but I have had some fairly large gardens. A couple of years ago I canned about 400 jars of veggies, jams, sauces, etc. This season I have planted more perennial flowers and fewer veggies as I give away most of what I grow to family and friends.

I'm living in a fair good size home with only 3/4 of an acre currently. Everything here is adequate given it's just me.  Even if I had a partner or companion I don't see it being too small. I could get some chickens but at the moment I choose to do more recreational activities and don't want to have to run home to feed critters. The home is very efficient energy wise so it is not overwhelming economically even by myself. I currently have two 5 x 20 raised beds, and a few smaller gardens scattered about.

I have been harvesting zucchini, summer squashes, lots of herbs, kale, spinach, lettuce, eggplants, radishes, and a few other items. I also enjoy cooking and eating so I eat fairly well and as often as I can from the fruits of my labors. I have also been involved in the prepper scene over the years and have established a good foundation of emergency gear and supplies. It's good training to have, especially as the supply chain faulters.

I would enjoy chatting with you if you are interested. We are local enough too so if you wanted to see how I do things here and compare notes we could do that.

Heather Staas wrote:Really great points about the trials and struggles with our situation.   I figured that's where we could really use a discussion thread like this rather than just an "ad" posting.   We might not find our "match" but it's still nice to connect and know we aren't alone with our struggles.  And hey,  sometimes friendships lead to compromises, or someone's situation changes and down the road things work out in a way we didn't expect.   Maybe now we are each in love with our own property or not looking to relocate but that isn't to say that will still be the case in 2 or 5 years.  

I had a great farm that I loved and ran for several years.   Then it was time to let it go to someone younger and focus on my small business.  

Now I'm in the city and my small business is downsized and I'm considering selling it next year if I can again find a young buyer looking to get into the industry.

Then I'm thinking I might be done with our long/cold winters here and considering letting my sweet little urban permaculture plot go in favor of paying cash somewhere a little warmer with a longer growing season and "retiring" early with no more home/land monthly expense.  

Who knows.  For me, I embrace change and I haven't been a settle down in one place and stay there kind of person.   I always really enjoy where I am, but also am open to new opportunities and improvements.  But that's just me.   It's part of why I'm divorced.   My ex is a nice guy, loyal, helpful.   We are friends after 15 years apart.   BUT.   He's a hunker down and make the best of it kind of guy.   I'm a stepping stone to the next chapter kind of girl.   If something isn't working I don't mind letting it go.  

Just in case anyone wants to still reach me I can be found at cckyps@gmail.com now...

susan vita wrote:Question---is your place suitable for poly families with members who work off site--specifically are you located within a do-able commute to Boston?

As just noted, sorry for teh delay in replying.

There is no housing on site at this point. I have not been able to find others that share the vision who are willing to invest the time and energy to get this off the ground.

It is about an hour ride to Boston, depending on the time of day you are driving in. If you drove about 10 miles you can pick up teh commuter train which take you in so that is a great option too.

Thomas Bruce Shearer wrote:Is this vision still alive? Greenfire Barnstead NH.

Sorry for the delay in responding. Having been checking in to often.

Yes, the vision is still alive though unfortunately I haven't met any more people that share it. This past year the gardens did well and lots of canning resulted. Now working off site to build an indoor hydroponic farm in a warehouse i have about 7 miles from this site. That has been consuming my time this year.

If you are interested in talking more about it let me know and we can connect to share some ideas.

I have to agree that chickens are a great option. I just edited my post to reflect the fact that I do not live near my gardens and that the gardens are set in the woods, where chickens would be a nice mean for teh foxes and other local critters. If the wild turkeys didn't do so much other damage I would like them do the work, but unfortunately they too cause more problems than they resolve.

alex Keenan wrote:What you have is protein That several type of poultry will eat for you.
My chickens keep the grasshoppers down as do the turkeys.
Guineafowl will also do this.
I like the Muscovy idea, they eat insects or animal protein they can catch. I remember a large male with a chipmunk tail hanging from its mouth.
Grasshopper tend to have a breeding cycle you just need to time your poultry around their life cycle.

I am located in Massachusetts and this spring we seem to have grasshoppers in our strawberries. Last year we had some in some of our leafy greens. They are little right now and before they grow I would like to get rid of them. Our gardens are organic and I would prefer to keep them that way. Any suggestions on what to do to take care of these pests?

Chickens are not an option for me as my gardens are in the woods in a place where I do not live, otherwise I would use them. I'm thinking I need some other way to treat the problem.

Hi Joshua,

Thanks for piping in.

Can you give me more information on Morehouse? I would like to check into what they offer.

I have been to a few intentional communities in Mass. and have spoke with many people about both poly living and community living. Yes, I agree that there are challenges in starting up a new community, but that is something I am willing to undertake. I would not be interested in cutting up the property and selling off pieces. That is not the style of community I am proposing. Are you aware of Sirius Community, http://www.siriuscommunity.org/. I have been there many times for a variety of reason and like the general style of how they operate. I also like there main co-housing structure. This is very similar to the model I would like to pursue. I might be interested in living there for a bit, but the main obstacle for me is that it is not near other things I already have some commitments to, thus it is important for me to work with what I have.

I do appreciate your speaking up and sharing your ideas. If you would like to come out for a visit and some conversation feel free to touch base.

Kind regards,

Christopher

Christopher Kyprianos wrote:Many thanks to the great support folks here. They were able to update the thread title. I am optimistically curious to see if this improves the volume and tone of the responses.

Oddly enough since the title change the thread has quieted down. Nonetheless, I want to thank those who shared in 2014 and invite all to share their feeling about how to proceed in 2015.

This past year's veggie and flower gardens were a huge success. The herb gardens did fantastic too. Was able to begin canning, making jams, sauces, relishes and more. Share them with many friends and have a pantry that is fairly well stocked with the winter.

Best to all and well wishes for a safe, healthy and successful new year!

Peace, out...

Christopher