Chris Wujek

R. Steele wrote:Hello Chris!

Im interested to learm more about this property. Would this years lease payment be pro-rated? Would use of deadwood or some sustainable timber harvest be alowed for building those structures? Is there any springs on the property or water rights that come with the lease? Feel free to send me a PM if thats easier.

Thanks

Pasture leases are based on AUMs, but since I was doing rotational grazing they let me graze as much as I wanted to keep the weeds at bay (mostly scotch thistle, which cattle, sheep and goats all eat readily). The growing season is just getting going, with none of the pasture/aum being used I'll wait for someone to just pay the $460 either here or on craigslist if it comes to that, as there are always people looking for pasture through the growing season.

We harvest lots of dead and live trees, no one cares as long as you don't do anything too crazy or greedy. There are some springs on the north side of the river that can be used, but we maintain good relationships with the neighbors and just use the a well/hose. I used an IBC tote to fill up the animals water as needed. There is an old homestead on the property that has a well that is capped, might be able to get that up and going, as the water table is real shallow in the valley.  

Kyrt Ryder wrote:I am interested as well. Right now I'm working with sheep and pigs doing fast rotations [daily mobs with the sheep, about the same with the pigs this time of year on the wet side of the mountains but a bit more lax with drier soils.

I'm uploading some quick shitty videos just briefly going over the property. Will try to get more up within the week. Most of it is located on the north side of the river, with some nice basalt cliffs that goats LOVE to climb all over. But there is a nice big sections along the south side of the river, and thats where we have camp setup. Blackberry grows and stays high in protein year round here, we don't have to feed any hay through the winter for the goats. And with enough tall native bunchgrasses on the other side, we can do no hay cattle/sheep as well but never quite got that far before getting rid of the cattle. Never ran pigs, but that was going to be the next species to add to the mix. Lots of roots they would like, there is wild onions, camas, salsify, arrowleaf balsamroot, etc.






video from last year with the cattle grazing:

jim dee wrote:Sounds Great!
Don't let it go back to the ranchers...

If no one does it I will send you the cash so no one else gets it.
Heck, even part time, as I have family in Central Oregon.

Can the land be used for other things as well?

group lease? probably not practical but what the heck.

Out here in the country, as long as you are respectful and a halfway decent neighbor you can really do as you please. We live in tents that everyone knows about, do gardening, controlled burns, bonfires, and tree harvest with no issues. As long as you dont go crazy with heavy equipment or start taking more than the land can provide you should be just fine. Is there something specific you had in mind? And if you want it just let me know, no one has committed yet so its all yours if no one steps up. If people want to group lease it that works fine for me too, but I'm not going to organize that. One name on the lease would just be easiest.

Chris

I have been leasing land along the Umatilla river 13 miles outside of Pendleton, OR. Its a cute little cowboy town with a hip coffee shop, brewery, etc. I'm currently living there with two friends, we live out of a tipi and a tent with a bunch of goats. We are going mobile this summer living on public land, and are considering passing our lease off to someone else. The lease is 140 acres of really prime riverfront and hills. Lots of hardwood trees such as locust, hawthrone, willow, and cottonwood. We usually camp along the river, and walk the animals to the other side to graze. Using electric fencing is ideal, as you can leave them without having to be right with them all day. We have run cattle, sheep, and goats all with great success.

If I would have known leasing land and tent culture was so cheap and fun, I would have done this years ago when I first started. You can get into it without owing the bank anything, and spend less per year on the lease than you would on taxes if you owned it outright. Sure you can't bulldoze it and cut down all the trees for lumber, but its better that way anyway. Stops all the eager novice permacultists from doing damage in the naive early days : ) It's a fantastic deal and has worked out really well for us. We would like to find another person/party that wants to continue doing what we are doing, otherwise it just goes to the highest bidder who will probably hit it way to hard with cattle and never move them until the grass is gone. This is prime pasture, with lots of native bunchgrasses and wildflowers. I can take a video of the property if there is interest, otherwise like I said it just goes back to the government center where it will be auctioned off to a local rancher.

8 years left on the lease, and fairly easy to renew at the end of those years if you settle down here in a tipi, yurt, or wall tent. You are allowed to build structures, but they become part of the property at the end of the lease. Had a dream of a little timber framed tiny home up on the hill that could be disassembled, but never happened. Post here if you're interested and we can go from there. $460/year due at the end of each year.

Chris

Looking for 50-100 seeds, happy to pay for shipping and a modest fee. Would also trade for Russian Comfrey cuttings, Black Locust seeds, or goat milk if you're local.

We are a young couple (late 20s) operating a small cattle farm in NE Oregon outside Pendleton. 35 head on organic pasture (plus 7 goats and 6 chickens). We do intensive rotational grazing, so we move the cattle every day using electric fencing. Live in a large but weathered farm house with plenty of extra room, and we are looking for 1 or 2 people to join us. Some of the cattle are owned by the landowner (my parents), who are still coming onboard with this whole permaculture thing. We both did our first PDC last year with Skeeter in Spokane, but we are still relatively new to this as well. Parents live about an hour away, and will come visit a couple times a month to spend time in the orchard or with the animals. We are paid a small stipend to cover food in exchange for basic upkeep and animal management.

Due to the daily moving and water needs of the cattle, someone needs to be at the farm every day. While it is a nice place to live and work, we would like to be able to get away to hike with our two dogs or go visit friends. We would like to have 1 or 2 people live with us (we can provide you a bedroom), and show you how to do intensive grazing. Once you feel comfortable doing the basic management (about 2 hours of work per day), we could start doing a rotating shift of duties. You would work for half the week, we would work for the other half. That would allow both of us to enjoy life away from the farm. Could even work for a week or two at a time for longer trips, we could probably work out a pretty kick ass arrangement that allows for longer journeys for both of us. Even when on the farm working, you will have a lot of free time to do as you please, whatever that may be.

Plenty of space on the farm for anything you want to grow, so if you want to try veggies, mushrooms, trees or whatever, feel free. Ideally, you would be an active outdoors person/couple that would like to have a home base, small income, and learn about animal care and rotational grazing in exchange for a minimal amount of work.  Oh yeah, income. We are willing to pay $400 a month ($200 at the end of every two weeks) for 1 or 2 people. If you want to bring 3 or 4 people thats fine, but we can only pay $400. Length of your stay is rather open ended, if you can only do a couple months that could work, but now through October would be best. Who knows, you could end up staying the winter with us, just get it touch with me and we will go from there.

Attached a few photos showing some of the animals. If you think you're a good fit send me a message, look forward to hearing from people.

Chris

How many pounds can you get in a regional flat rate box? And how much would that max weight cost to ship to Oregon? Might just do a full large flat rate box, just thought I would check on pricing first. How soon can you ship, Oregon is warm enough to plant right now..,". Thank you!

Chris

I'll take 10, plus 60 of the large comfrey roots shipped to Oregon. Shoot me your PayPal and a shipped total and I'll get you paid. Can send a check as well. Thanks!

Chris