Strix Terrarium is a vegan, organic, off-grid permaculture community. The vision: live it up without destroying the land. Grow your own medicine, grow your own food. The land is 5 acres of pristine old-growth mixed conifer forest in the unbelievable pacific northwest, about 30 miles from Olympia. There is a large wetland on the property. This area is home to several threatened species and ongoing ecological restorations are in progress to protect and improve habitat. The forest floor is home to a myriad of delicate fungi, reptiles, and amphibians. There are also owls, elk, wolves, bears, deer, squirrels, flying squirrels, and incredible plant and fungus diversity and probably much more that I don't know about including the microbiome and other things we can't see with our eyes. Yes, there are some strange spirits out here - this is an incredibly high energy area but is completely fragile. Because of this fragility, I have a few ecological rules that I have been commonly asked about. These are:
1.) Dogs are allowed in the dog-heaven playground, but cannot run around outside of it unless they are on a leash. (Dogs are expected to be able to get along with other dogs and owners are expected to clean up this area daily)
2.) No cats allowed unless they are contained in a domicile
3.) No off-trail hiking is allowed
4.) No drunkenness or hard drugs
This is a paradise and a pocket of freedom. We progressively confront the oldest and most difficult problems of human ecology: how to live in harmony with nature. That is the only reason I have these rules.
Of the 5 acres, only about 2 acres total will be utilized for our goals of a few small hagrid-esque cabins, food forests, and some non-intensive staple crop agriculture. I have laid a foundation for the first small cabin. I have a shipping crate for storage that will be converted to a wood shop this year. I also want to do an earthbag structure, a treehouse, a sauna, a wood-fired hot-tub, outdoor kitchen, and an axe throwing range by the end of the year. We will harvest rain and ground water and generate our own electricity.
Work will involve planting, harvesting, sustainable building, off-grid technology, and ecological restoration. Work expectation is 20 hours a week but I cannot feed you everything you may need. I will feed everyone as much as I possibly can but be prepared to have to get your own food. We do cook as a community out here on propane grills and stoves. If you do eat meat that's fine, I grew up as a bow-hunter, but we are all vegans here. Carnivorous waste is dealt with much differently. You must supply and cook your own meat, and deal with the waste yourself. I don't know how to compost it, so I will ask it to be taken off the land.
Right now nothing is out there. No power, no water, no septic. If you come out, you will need your own camping supplies. Parking is limited so I cant have more than one or two van-lifers / RVs. But we can figure it out. There is no internet connection, but on a clear day I can send and receive texts. But, we are only about 5 miles from good cell service.
We are a tribe of gatherers and this place is a load of fun. Respecting the ecology is the primary concern, then comes our individual needs, but that is not as hard as it seems. I am an ecologist by trade and want to show people how easy it is to respect the ecology and still have all of your needs met. This is not a religious community, but all are welcome.
Look forward to hearing back about the interest. I would like to have a max of 10 people out there at a time just based on infrastructure. I like to have people come for at least 2 weeks but you can stay for as long as you want. Hit me up and we can figure it all out a good time.
Looking to start up around mid-may when the weather starts getting nicer. Much love.
-Ianeha
