Craig Barrett

Welcome to Valhalla Village. Currently working on a blog and website and a brainstorm area for members. Still looking for like minded people.

Hi Jeff,
Glad to hear you are still interested and that you are planning floor layouts for a cabin, that is wonderful, and fun at the same time. Please feel free to share any of your ideas. The main specs that I am concerned with as far as size, is that it is moveable, should you wish to leave at any point, or want to move it to a different location on the property. Moveable can mean a lot of different things, whether on skids, or screwed together in sections, or built on a trailer like a tiny home. Probably one of the cheapest options would be to just buy a premade garden shed from lowes or home depot, dress it up a bit, insulate it, and call it a day. My only concern is that it looks nice and isn't an eye sore for the surrounding landscape, which I don't think would be a problem with the type of people this idea would attract in the first place. Also, I am completely fine with people using tents for the summer, or teepees, or all of us crashing in the community building while we all help build. This is becoming more and more exciting every day. The research has been done, the dream has been dreamt, and some of the construction has begun. All we need is people, imagination, and hard work at this point. Let me know if I can do anything to help. Thanks. -Craig

Jeff,
I am very happy to hear that we share the same thoughts. A splitting maul is a great tool, but alot of work. Koodos to you my friend for all of that hard work. I would love to hear more about the manual wood spitter that you plan to build.

As to your two questions.
1. Water supply. Currently on the 53 acres we plan to use for Valhalla-Village, the water supply is either water from the 3000ft stream which has a fantastic place where it leaves a huge natural filter of peat moss, or rainwater collection. Rainwater collection is very doable up here, it rains plenty, and those 250 gallon tanks are available almost free all over the state. My dream for all of the small cabins to set everyone up with rainwater collection for use with cooking, washing, bathing, and watering of personal plants being grown at the cabin. I would like to install a hand pump well near the community building for everyones drinking water if they wish. The stream is drinkable, but you never know. Foxgreen Farm already has an amazing well installed and produces some of the cleanest water in the state, according to the University of Maine. That is also an option for drinking water, and could be accomplished by using the blue plastic 5 gal water jugs from Walmart. But the long term plan is to install a well closer to the cabins for drinking water. The cost of such a project was semi-quoted by a professional at around $3000.

2. Pictures of the main building. I actually had an entire folder of pictures of the building, taken in timelapse during the entire construction phase. Unfortunately, I redeployed to Afghanistan last fall (Still here at the moment) and my macbook bit the dust, along with all my pictures of the building. The current state of the building is a shell. The roof however has tarps on it, but is doing well. The first project for when the snow melts is to finish the roof with metal roofing and close in the gable ends. Tom may have a picture of the building, I will check with him. Foxgreen Farms currently has a finished log cabin sitting on a walk out basement. The cabin has full off grid utilities.

Thanks for your interest and I look forward to meeting you. We have alot of great plans for the future and are in a perfect place as far as the dream goes. We have enough infrastructure to live full time out there, yet there is still enough of a blank slate to make it into whatever we want. Maybe we can get lucky and Tom will post a couple pictures, hopefully of the cabin at Foxgreen Farms, and of the in progress community building at Valhalla-Village.

Jeff,

Thanks for your interest. The Catskills area is gorgeous, im sure you feel the same type of obsession with Autumn and the color of the woods as I do. Below is a picture of the trees lining our stream, taken in the fall. I appreciate your outlook on ideals and structure, that is also a very important perspective to me. First and foremost, I want to have a laid back, happy feeling at our place. This place is the essence of peace and happiness to me, and I want it to remain that way. An open mind, team oriented attitude, love for nature, and fun loving personality are the only prerequisites here. To me, extremism seems to accomplish about the same thing as ignorance...absolutely nothing. Most extremists just spend more time sitting around preaching about their beliefs and persecutions than actually accomplishing work.

An example: Collecting firewood for winter. A group sits down, argues over whether to take standing trees, down trees, live trees that might be in the way, whether to expend gas using a chainsaw,or to use only hand tools. Then the argument usually moves to habitat, animals, and insects. Then it moves to lets not burn wood. Eventually, the group accomplishes nothing, or they end up having to leave the off-grid idea and high tail it back to town where there is a gas furnace to keep them warm. Arguments can be made for all of these schools of thought, but the idea is to come to a mutual group agreement, and get the mission accomplished.

My view on such things is common sense. First, the woods. I don't want to cut down standing live trees unless there is a benefit to it. One benefit here in Maine is the fact that thinning smaller trees helps the large trees grow bigger and stronger, and heading back towards an old growth forest. Also, cutting smaller trees creates saplings and chutes that the moose love to eat. If someone is planning a cabin site, then that site can be select cut and used for firewood. Chainsaws make the job easier, especially if our numbers are small. I am all for different opinions and ways of doing things, and I will by no means stomp my feet and say "we are doing it this way." The main issue here is to get the goal accomplished, and that goal is to become self sufficient, as fast and respectfully to the environment as possible.

I hope some of this made sense to you, and to everyone else. I am open to all schools of thought, but at the same time, the people who dry their own feces to cook with might want to keep that business to themselves lol.

I look forward to hearing more from you, and hopefully you will plan to come visit, or even stay. Please feel free to offer your opinions too. This is not just my dream, it's everyone's who wants to participate.

Tom,

Thanks so much for participating in this forum, and I love your ideas for the future. I have been burried in Ben Faulk's book and I can't wait to implement more wonderful things at the farm.

Everyone and anyone,

Please feel free to add any thoughts. We are looking for anyone who wants to come visit, stay, or just chat. It's going to be an amazing summer!

A picture of the "bog" mentioned above.

Hey everyone, just a little update on some of the projects so far. Our permaculture farm "Foxgreen Farms" is already up and running, although currently under 7 1/2 feet of snow. The main focus crop of the farm to this point has been seabuckthorn, or seaberries. Currently, at least to our knowledge, Foxgreen Farms is the largest seabuckthorn orchard in the USA. Seaberries, to put it mildly are a Super Food and are also used for many other organic beauty products and holistic medicine. You can learn more about seabuckthorn on our blog at http://seaberry-hippophaerhamnoides.blogspot.com/

Valhalla-Village, the name that we came up with for our wilderness cabin eco-village is well on its way. Currently, we have a 3 acre open area with a 16x24 community building. The building was built with 12 foot high sidewalls, a half loft, and 18ft high vaulted ceilings. The south facing wall is made up of 8 foot high windows. It is a good sized space, and best of all, 75% of it was built with recycled materials. Outside of the community building, there is a small gravel parking area/turn around, a rock fire pit, and multiple walking paths that lead to all ends of the property. The rest of the property is currently made up of small walking paths that lead to numerous flat, semi clear, possible building spots. The paths also lead to the 5 wilderness ponds and the stream. One of the ponds is actually a 5 acre "bog," is what we call them in Maine. This bog is not mud and stagnent water like most people associate with the word bog. This magical ecosystem is home to a type of soft, blanket like moss that is packed with blueberries, wild strawberries, and I believe elderberries. There is a family of bald eagles that call this particular ecosystem home, and it is truly a magnificent place. During certain times of the year, and when the beavers get busy, this area fills with about 2-3 feet of water and becomes even more beautiful. Many a morning I have walked down the trail, cup of coffee in hand, and watched the forest open up into these "gates of heaven." Sometimes if I'm lucky, I can even catch the mother moose and her twin calves playing and eating. This area gave me such a sense of peace, that it played a major role in the name Valhalla-Village. Valhalla is the name that the Vikings used for heaven. This place, is my heaven.

Below is a picture of a moose in the field at Foxgreen Farm. Enjoy, and please feel free to join and dream with me.

Thanks Dan,
I think we are well on our way! Prepare for an adventure! This is going to be an exciting summer!

Well Tom,
If you want to sing out, sing out.
And if you want to be free, be free.
'cause there's a million things to be,
You know that there are.

I hope that you recognize this song, it is from a fantastic movie.

The truth is Tom, there is already a beginning. Let me catch you up to here. I have been planning on living off-grid in a cabin, in the woods, for as long as I can possibly remember. In the past 10 years, I became serious, looking for remote land, researching off grid systems from the super simple (my favorite) to the super complex, learning about permaculture and whole systems design, but most of all, learning that this experience would be much more fun and much more sustainable long term if I can work together with friends to meet this goal. 2 Years ago, I found this piece of property in Central Maine, and like most first time land buyers with our mentality, I was ecstatic just to be on this undeveloped piece of land, be able to reach down pick up a handful of dirt, and have the realization of what that meant. Last year, I moved everything I had, for the most part, in an enclosed trailer up to the land with the intentions of building a cabin. This turned into an experience of a lifetime, where I met some people who now have become the closest people in my lives. These people also share the same vision. One of them is a little more extreme, owns 47 acres 200 yards down the road, and is in the process to trying to build a stacked log and earth hut, with only hand tools, and his spare time. He has been living there full time (warm season) in a tent. Another person, my very best friend, also owns 47 acres, about 400 yards as the crow flies from my place. He has a log cabin with off grid utilities, and has started a farm, with permaculture and whole systems design being the main focus. My place is directly in the middle of these pieces of property. We all share the same vision of an eco-village/permaculture/whole systems design type of lifestyle.

We are hoping that my place can be the starting point as far as housing goes, where everyone can have their own place, and share the community buildings. The farm, can be a community work farm, where we can all work together to grow food, raise animals, and set an example for sustainable living. My place, with the community building up front and in the center, would be the gathering area, entertainment area, parking area, meeting area, cooking area, and dining area. The individual living cabins would fan out, like branches on a tree, to the back edges of the property, where you eventually run into the stream (3000 ft) and 5 wilderness, seasonal ponds. As far as living quarters, this can be up to the people living in them. I would like to keep the cabins small 10x12ish up to 10x20 MAX, and on skids, so that they can be moved around, or taken with the person should they wish to leave. Now if people want to live 1,2,3 or more to a cabin, that is their choice. However, 1-2 people to a cabin with at least an acre of woods per cabin, would provide enough privacy for each person, as well as room for adventure. The entire property will be usable by all, to do what they like as far as hiking, meditation, jogging, writing, or anything else. The community buildings and areas will be there so that we can have a close bond as a community, doing community things. If people want to shack up together for the winters, that is also an option, and would use less resources. I like the idea of a communal cooking and dining area because I feel that meals together are a great bond creator.

The whole eco-village will be based primarily around growing food and living light on the earth. However, that doesn't mean you can't have your own life. I understand people will have jobs, lives, and activities that aren't centered around the community. But if we all do our part in gardening, we all can benefit from it. I'm sure everyone understands this concept. The details of how big a system we have can be left up to the group. I want to belong to this group as well, as an equal, not be the dictator just because I own the land. Think of this as renting a cabin or space for your cabin, on a farm in the woods, with a whole bunch of friends.

First impressions, well hopefully we will be lucky enough to find enough likeminded people just on this page that would like to join. If not, we can reach out to the community. I would like to eventually reach out to the community and do good deeds wherever we can. However, this is starting, or is started already, and will continue whether it is just us three, or many, many more. If people would like to come up during the pre-construction phase they are welcome to do so. People can come up and be a part in this in whatever way they like. These people can be of all ages and physical capacity. Just because someone is older and not as physically fit for work, does not mean that they aren't bringing a lifetime of experience with them. I am open to all arrangements, full-time, seasonal, weekends, occasional, and experimental. This will be OUR (the group's) Earth Loving, People Loving, Future Predicting, Star Gazing CLUB.

As far as religion and dogma of communes go, there will not be any of that here. People will be free to believe whatever they like, however: church building, animal sacrifices, crucifictions, and any other over the top activities will be frowned upon. I am not discriminating against any religion, I just don't want people to feel that they have the right to choke it down anyone else's throats. I am hoping that we have a religion, if any, based upon loving the human race, friendship, the earth, and just being good people.

A touch about visions, hopes, and dreams. We will be an equal group, all with an equal say. I am open to all topics and decisions, as long as it is a group decision. However, because of the separate living quarters and the huge expanse of wilderness, people essentially have the right to do as they please.

Thanks for all the great questions Tom, and I hope that you may come to be a big part of this. Please feel free to make any suggestions, because if you are going to be part of the group, this is your baby too.

Hi everyone! What you are all dreaming of sounds great! In fact, I am doing the exact same thing in Maine. I already have the land, and you can read more about it on my post

https://permies.com/t/34181/community/Dream-starting-permie-homestead-ecovillage

Maine is a lot like the UP, except not as remote, no landfills, and not many code issues. Not sure if anyone is willing to relocate, but I am looking for like minded dreamers. Could kick this off as soon as this spring.

Well, well, well. These are some very good questions, some that I may have to give some serious thought to.
First of all, I would like for this to be a year round community, although I will be the first to tell you that you will need some intestinal fortitude to live up here year round. People do it, we can do it. It would be much easier as a group, and I can assure you, it is very possible. However, if some people only want to live here seasonally, that can be their decision. Maine is one of the last wild places in the US, and the type of people that enjoy the activities that Maine offers (hiking, backpacking, fishing, boating, canoeing, mountain biking, wildlife, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and many more) are the type of people I am looking for. Active, freethinking people who love outdoor activities, but can also enjoy stopping and staring at the night sky, contemplating our existence.
As for community property, this is a tricky question. I would love to provide a place and environment that people feel free, safe, and stable. However, I need to also keep control, to some extent, of the property. In my mind, this can be a dream come true for a lucky number of people who can get along in perfect harmony, sharing thoughts, working together, enjoying each other's company, and living simply and sustainably. The reality is that there may be a situation that develops down the road where someone sneaks through the cracks and makes life hell for everyone else. It would be this example where I would want the ability to talk to this person as the owner, or worst case scenario, have to evict this person. At the end of the day, I am the one who made the financial commitment to purchasing, paying for, and maintaining 53 acres. I plan to live here happily for the rest of my life, and I would be happy to help others achieve the same dream, whether at my place for the long haul, or whether at my place for a test of the lifestyle. The financial costs of the community buildings and infrastructure would be paid for by me, and maintained as a group. The taxes, road maintenance fees, and other costs would be paid by me. The garden, plants, animals, poultry, animal feed, canning supplies, and labor associated with these types of things would be shared by the group, as would the benefits of having such things. If the group wants to work harder to grow more garden, then the group will share the rewards of selling produce. If the group wants to use the community building to make and sell soap, then the group would share the monetary rewards of such. Same would go with any other bright idea that the group might come up with.
I am trying to make a place where someone can invest 2000-3000 dollars in a small, easy to maintain, simple cabin. This idea would give someone the ability to live with no house payment, no utility bills, hopefully a very small grocery bill, and at the same time gain the skills and knowledge to live off grid, sustainably, and have a great time with great people while doing it. The rent or lease fee, is small enough that it could easily be paid for by a part time job, leaving the person freedom to enjoy life and spend their life energy on things that matter. Again, people can plan to live here forever, or plan to live here short term until they can save the monetary funds to buy their own place. Either way, we will all be learning what works and what doesn't, and hopefully make life long friendships.
I don't really have any specific "core" idea for the eco-village, other than freedom. Freedom to me is paramount. Freedom from slaving at a dead end job to pay for all the things that society has made us believe are must haves. Freedom to think how they want. Freedom to engage in intelligent adult conversations without prejudice. Freedom to be whoever they want. Freedom to enjoy life. Freedom to believe in whatever religion or not believe in whatever religion...without having someone else's beliefs rammed down their throat. Freedom of sexual orientation. Freedom to wear clothes or not, however please wear them when you go to town. But most of all, freedom to sit around a camp fire at night, with great friends, enjoying the hundreds of millions of stars and milky way that are above us. The one thing that I do not want is weapon and ammo crazies, poachers, or dudes running around in camo constantly. I am all for right to bear arms, military, and things associated with that. I am not looking for a militia or anything associated with that. We will also not be making meth, lol. I am fine with guns, however you don't need to carry one constantly on your hip like Rambo. If you have your concealed carry, fine, but this is not Detroit.
Im not looking to be an extremist, however we will be environmentally conscious. I am okay with having one or two community ATV's for work, or one or two snowmobiles for transportation in the winter. However, I would like to see bikes, skis, canoes, and our two legs used more for transportation. I don't mind if you have a car, but carpooling would be encouraged. If the group would rather have horses to replace the atv and snowmobile, then that can be a group decision. If the group would like to operate a canoe livery for split proceeds to the group, then so be it. As for work in this area, we are 15 minutes from town, biking distance from a lake resort, 45 minutes to a Walmart, restaurants, ect, and 1 hour from Bangor. We are also a little over an hour from Acadia National Park, 30 miles from the Appalachian Trail, surrounded by multitudes of fresh water wilderness lakes, and 2 miles from a major river/stream system that can take you to the ocean.
As far as education, we all will be learning every day. Therefore, eventually we may be able to educate the permies. Other villages like this get paid big bucks to have seminars. These are all options. In the future, we may have the ability to make all the money we need just off of our brains and expertise. I hope this helps some, and I appreciate your interest. Please, any and all interested in living this kind of lifestyle, whether full or part-time, please feel free to contact me. -Craig