S. Brown

Mark, thanks for chatting with me today. Please feel free to track the progress as we move along. You might find it closer to what you're looking for than you imagined.

Either way, best of luck to your adventures!

Respectfully,
Scott

[quote=Mark Steagall]I have 5+ years of gardening and livestock experience as well as having a library of information on many different trades that I have experience in. I currently own my own landscaping, garden, and tree service business. My wife and I desperately want to move out of the desert here in Arizona. We are pursuing a live on-site work/trade position. I specialize in low-budget survival gardening. If interested, please call/text Mark at Mowers&Growers 928-641-8565. Thank you for your time and consideration.

[quote=S. Brown]Update:
We're making progress on the road. .2 of the 1 mile drivable. Some massive holes that had crawdads living in them are nearly filled. The crawfish moved to the ditches. Later the ponds will be stocked with them, as well as fish and other things.

Spotted the first alligators! That was pretty cool. We'll be fencing the swim pond, so no concerns there.

One of the neighbors has offered to bring his tractor over and help with the road repairs. We're going to try to get it completed by the end of the month. At that point we'll be opening up the first camping spots as well.

We can definitely use some extra hands with road repairs! Dragging branches and brush to help fill in the larger holes, while they're being backfilled with soil.  You'll see in the photos the road repairs.

A couple of tree trimming companies have offered to dump loads of wood chips and branches when they're able. This will help with the composting for the beds.

Things are moving forward![/quote][/quote]

Eric Jenson wrote:Hello My name is Eric. I live in Maryland I'm highly interested in homesteading and learning about the lifestyle from people who live it themselves. earning meaningful life skills and having more experience in self-sustainability. I believe you have this , Are you willing to take a Apprentice would love to learn your craft.
I think the Ecovillage Project is wonderful. Would love to talk more ,trust the process.

Email: ericjenson20@gmail.com

Hello Eric,
Yes, we do both mentoring and take volunteers. I'll reach out by email and we can discuss it further at that point.

Respectfully,
Scott

Update:
We're making progress on the road. .2 of the 1 mile drivable. Some massive holes that had crawdads living in them are nearly filled. The crawfish moved to the ditches. Later the ponds will be stocked with them, as well as fish and other things.

Spotted the first alligators! That was pretty cool. We'll be fencing the swim pond, so no concerns there.

One of the neighbors has offered to bring his tractor over and help with the road repairs. We're going to try to get it completed by the end of the month. At that point we'll be opening up the first camping spots as well.

We can definitely use some extra hands with road repairs! Dragging branches and brush to help fill in the larger holes, while they're being backfilled with soil.  You'll see in the photos the road repairs.

A couple of tree trimming companies have offered to dump loads of wood chips and branches when they're able. This will help with the composting for the beds.

Things are moving forward!

Matt Walton wrote:I am in the Houston area and would love to get involved. I  current work with veterans and previously worked with kids that were in CPS custody. The website link on this post does not work, is there another way to get in touch with you?

Hello Matt,
We can always use another set of hands! Message me on Instagram at @FarmerBrownGrows and I'll send you my email. I've noticed that posting it in here gets a lot of spam from bots.

Respectfully,
Scott

We have the first 5+ acres secured!!! Things are going to start picking up pace quickly now.

The first thing we're going to be working on is repairing the road going to the property. It has a few fallen trees blocking it, needs a good trimming of the brush along part of it and then serious tractor work to fill in the holes and elevate it to reduce the mud situation. I expect it'll take about 2 weeks for those phase.

Once the road is repaired and we can get the equipment to the property the focus will be to start the first of the Chinampas. These will be 50'x150' with canals on all sides and a single driveway entrance. The canals that separate them will be 10' wide and lead to the main holding pond. We'll be using the tree, stumps, brush and mud to elevate the height of the Chinampas to above the flood level.

The idea is that the flooding will refill the waterways and by pumping out the mud to use on the Chinampas it will increase the volume of water we can capture. Providing a sustainable water supply for both fish and plants.

Reach out if you're interested in learning more or would like to volunteer!

The Texas Ecovillage Project' thread is now up. You'll find some recent photos and current updates. Please respond over there if you're still interested in becoming a part of the project!

Well, it has been a crazy few years since I started putting this project together. Had the land in another state and fought the various organizations and pieces only to realize they only talk about wanting to make things better, but actually don't care about anyone except that bottom dollar.

$17 billion to only end up housing a couple of hundred people is not my form of sustainable thinking or progress. I like capitalism, but not by grinding an entire population under foot. So I have changed locations to a place I've lived before and enjoyed. Texas! Houston to be more accurate!

This past week I submitted offers on the first 5 acres of 200+ acres ecovillage project that will help veterans and those that are transitioning out of foster care. Giving them a chance to build a new life. And the will be plenty of work to go around for those that haven't served and weren't in the foster care system!

The properties are timbered land, giving us resources onsite to build a collection of mobile tiny houses and infrastructure. I'll be moving the majority of my business operations to the area and will be using that to help fund the operation.

The focus will be a Chinampas format agricultural system and backed by my partners and myself. We'll be creating a series of educational programs for trade crafts. Many of these will be actual certifications by various organizations and universities.

I've spent the last several years collecting up much of the needed equipment and connections to get started, so this isn't some guy with just a dream.

The offers are in on the first 2 properties that total 5 acres and we should have confirmation at the end of February. We're also working on the funding to close on another 200+ acres before the end of the year.

Currently the properties flood seasonal, which for the Chinampas side of this project, is actually a good thing, minus getting the road up to grade. Over time the canals and levies will get dug and built out that will creating what is known as the most efficient and productive form of agriculture in human history. No, this isn't hand labor, though there will be plenty of that going on. I actually own the equipment already to do the necessary earth work and many other pieces that will get this operation off the ground, or in this case, out of the water.

My partner's and I will be focused on giving those interested the opportunity to create and build a new life and become entrepreneurs themselves. Not simply create more minions for the mega-corporations. That means we're putting actual money behind this project as well.

If you're interested in learning how you can help out and in return end up with your own tiny house and the skills to make a good living, without killing the planet, then follow this thread and get engaged in the conversation. Because this conversation is going to become a lot of action very soon!

Enjoy the photos of the new property, some of the wildlife, a tiny bit of the equipment and then picture yourself as part of something real.

Thanks Everyone for your interest in my ecovillage project that I was trying to get going in California, your support and understanding the challenges that California created to not allow it to happen.

Good news though! I've just made offers on 2 properties just outside of Houston, Texas. 5 beautiful acres of timbered land.

I'll be closing this thread to open a new one that will discuss that project and not confuse people in the long run on where the project is and how they can be a part of it.

Watch for a 'Texas Ecovillage Project' thread to be posted today! It'll have some of the details and a few photos. I look forward to seeing you all over there!

Respectfully,
Scott

Hello Bodhi,
I'll reach out through Whatsapp later today.

Respectfully,
Scott

[quote=Bodhi Tree][hey Scott, I'd be curious to chat a bit more about your vision in Texas, I was recently thinking about buying a little off grid plot of land in new Mexico to start the process of creating a little community and education center for residencies focusing on Thai bodywork, movement, food, natural building, community emotional health, relational practices etc.


Im curious about your plots of land in Texas, as I'd much rather be in the context of a larger project (my mini project in a bigger community project context)

Feel free to email me at
bodhitree90@gmail.com

Or send me a message on WhatsApp +19136719563



quote=S. Brown]Things have changed with regards to the Ecovillages in both California and South Carolina. South Carolina isn't happening because the family of the person that was going to sell us the land decided to suddenly get involved when they thought they could make a massive pile of money. California gave me so much grief in trying to make it happen that I'm relocating everything to Texas. California claims to be all about environmental, but it is only true when they can make a ton of money on it or just claiming it.

Watch for a post on Houston, Texas! We're working to close on a very large piece of land with a lot of potential. More resources onsite, including water & timber! My goal is to open up a selection of individual acreages up for non-permanent housing (RV, travel trailers, Yurts, etc) to be brought in but those that would like to be a part of the project. Each person would have X amount of land to use for themselves, while donating part of their time to help build out the main project and teaching center.

If anyone is interested, I've 2 - 2.5 acres properties west of Barstow for sale. Beautiful desert areas. Close to a dry lake and a man made lagoon. Very affordable!  I'll carry the payments as well. Owner financed. One is on a paved road and one is off a county maintained dirt road.

[quote=S. Brown]Hello Everyone,
Over the last few years I've been developing a beyond sustainable project on a large residential property in Riverside, which I'm now getting ready to move forward with expanding into the Temecula/Hemet area. Looking at a minimum of 20 acres and hopefully much larger.

Along with this, I've access to 25 acres in South Carolina as part of the project. Beautiful property with a stream, well and cooperation of some of the local government.

My goal is a long-term, beyond sustainable ecovillages with a focus on helping the homeless get back on their feet.

I'm currently looking for others that are interested in moving onto the current property and the property I'll be acquiring.

In exchange for helping with the project and greatly reducer cost of living you'd receive access to both properties and all the resources and knowledge that will be made available. This ranges from an ever expanding food forest, private gardening spaces, sustainable living space and much more!

Over the last 3 years of this 5 year install, I've planted over 1K edible & medicinal plants and trees to create a food forest in what was 99.5% sand and aggregate. With a water bill for the entire property of only $40 per month, but produces thousands of pounds of food a year.

Biogas, Earth Bag, alternative energy, Permaculture design and much more is already happening here.

Tours are currently available for the Beta Test property in Riverside, California to start seeing what can be done in a short period of time by myself and the occasional volunteer.

This is not just someone's dream. This is a Ecovillage already in the works and it is getting ready to take the next step.

If you're interested in living and working on changing the future for yourself and those in need, feel free to drop me a message with your contact information to discuss how you're like to be involved.

Attached is a photo of what the current property looked like and 2 years later. Now working towards the 4th year, so it's grown A LOT since those photos were taken.

Carpe Diem,
Scott[/quote][/quote][/quote]

Hello Stephanie,
I'm actually just getting ready to head back to California from a couple of weeks in Texas putting together the offer on the first 2 properties just outside of Houston! Very exciting times!

I delayed responding until I had closed these pieces, as to make sure I wasn't just blowing smoke. Should know next month if they be accepting the offers. Really shouldn't be any issues, but there's a lot for them to review and approve.

I've also spent the past few months liquidating a lot of the resources I had collected for the California projects, that are now not going to be happening. Still have a lot of things to get rid of, including the 2 properties.

Drop me a note on when you'd like to visit.

Respectfully,
Scott