Judith Thompson

Than I could let the neighbors harvest stuff for a small fee (so that it would be cheaper than grocery store produce) and I wouldn't have to worry about thieves

Great idea, but I want to share with you from experience. Our urban ministry had a community garden. The object was to give away the produce to the neighbors at NO COST. Amazingly enough, people still came in the middle of the night to harvest. (We don't call it stealing because how can you steal what would be given to you free anyhow?) Typically, they chose the vegetables they were familiar with and ignored those that we new to them. Rule of thumb for other community gardens in our city: Don't plant anywhere there is not a more or less continuous caretaker presence (such as a community center.)
*sigh*

Hi, Just a thought. I have rural property that I've been working on finding a way to use more productively. You (anyone interested in this idea) might want to look into eco-tourism or eco-educational tourism. It is the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry. An international movement of people who travel to various locales to experience and learn about the various ecosystems. Check it out. I had a local development agency get me a marketing study through marketing classes at a University. I do think that there would have to be some investment capital to start, though. Intriguing idea, don't you think?

Let's continue, Krystina. Right now I am in the Saginaw area for another week or two. Then I will up at my place up North. Would you like to come and visit? I s'pose summertime is hard for you to get away...
I don't have any work scheduled for the fall so I don't know if I will be in the area or not come Sept. I'm sort of thinking it might be a good time to go volunteer at some community or other.

You skills and interests would be s good compliment to mine. I have never had animals (um... well, a cat... and a dog that ran away) nor am I am accomplished gardener. I have a pretty good set of construction and mechanical skills (don't do electricity, though) and a variety of other ways I can (sometimes) be useful: canning, sewing, that sort of thing.

I am new to this type of communication. You may have noticed! So you tell me..what is the next step for keeping in touch? Hope to hear from you.

I will be going to Detroit Metro from the SW part to hang out and look at the urban farming going on there. The inspection begins after breakfast on Sat.

Maybe this is too late, but I think you'd find the Earth Works Urban Farm (part of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen/ St. Bonaventure Monestary, believe it or not) worth your time. You can check it out a www.cskdetroit.org/EWG/‎ These guys are all Franciscan. I could never make MapQuest give me directions, but they will be happy to help if you call. Doing some amazing stuff and linked with a lot of other like minded people and groups in the Detroit area. (I used to serve on their Peace, Justice and Ecology committee. That is how I know them.)

Hi, Brad,
Re: apple trees. I have loads, all sizes. You are welcome to come and dig up as many as you can use. (Trust me, I will have dozens left.) My only requirement is that you fill in the holes completly. It's a long drive. I work during the academic year in central Michigan (Saginaw) and am in the UP (Munising, east of Marquette on the Lake Superior shore) from May to mid-August. Would love to have you visit. I can also show you how to prune an apple tree if that would help. Jude

Sorry, Dakota/Vincent. I realize I got off topic when telling you about my place in the UP. If you think this sounds like an option you'd like to explore short-term or long-term, let me know. Jude

Hi,

I have some property in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. 39 acres, dozens of apple trees, 3 springs, one big beaver pond, lots of maple and a house that I designed and built (wood stove, solar panels, both modern plumbing and a hand pump..). It's been sitting vacant while I was off getting a grad degree and traveling, but now I am fixing it up, with the idea that I could rent it as an eco-educational vacation spot. Stay tuned! Right now I am working on a Weebly site that would tell a person a whole lot more. I'm open to ideas and possibilites are pretty endless.. If any of this strikes a cord with you, write back. Jude

Hi, Krystina!
I did pretty much what you did, only in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Have a 39 acre "wilderness farm" and a full time job. One person no can do. Right now I am teaching college in Saginaw, MI and looking towards retirement. My family in in Fenton (about an hour north of Monroe, I'd guess) and I'd like to be in that area. Like you, I can just buy a small home and live alone, but I think some sort of intentional community would be better. Also, (like you ) I want to travel and sharing resources just makes so much sense. Let me know how your ideas and options progress.... Jude

Hello, everyone!

Finding this forum was really a gift. Just this week, as I considered my options for retirement, I realized that some sort of community was a really important part of that.

I have been part of a Catholic Worker community in the past and I could do that. I would be interested in being on one of the CW Farms.

Or I could relocate. (I'd like to be close to a University, but not necessarily).

Then there is the option of trying to help a community form on the land I already own. 39 acres near Lake Superior with 80,000 acres of wilderness all around. There are 3 springs, pond(s), dozens of bearing apple trees, wild strawberries and raspberries and about 20 acres of rolling maple. I designed and built a house off the grid- wood stove, modern plumbing inside/hand pump out, solar panels. I've been thinking that I could put it on the market as an eco-educational rental.

At this point, I will be going up there for the summer and if you think you would like to come visit, let me know. We can correspond and maybe work something out. It is really beautiful up there...

Jude

Hello, everyone!

You all sound like just the kind of people I was hoping to locate. I own a gorgeous piece of wilderness land (39 acres) with pond(s), springs, a beautiful stand of maple and 4 or 5 dozen bearing apple trees -badly in need of pruning, I must say. I bought this property about 30 years ago and, after a fire, I designed and built a place on it. Off the grid, hand pump outside, modern plumbing inside, wood stove, (and gas furnace on one floor). The house also has a solar system, though it is really small. It is located behind Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior. 40,000 acres of Federal wilderness and another 40,000 of mostly State and corporate timber lands. I am working on a Weebly site because I have been thinking that I'd try putting it on the market as an eco-educational vacation rental. One idea....

I am approaching retirement and (loooong story short) have been thinking that an intentional community might be the way to go. I have been a Catholic Worker and they have CW Farms around the country and the world, too, I guess. A couple of you might like to check that out, based on what you've written. I could relocate, too. I'd sort of like to be in roughly the eastern/central part of Michigan because my family is here.

I'll be leaving central Michigan in about three weeks to spend the summer up there. I wonder if any of you would like to continue the conversation and possibly come and visit? Camp or throw a mattress on the floor.... Summers are usually beautiful and Munising (Alger Co.) has a really neat bunch of people who are interested in all of the things we are. They are on the web, too, but I'd have to look up the address.

Jude