Where do you plan to Replant Paradise?? Tropical? Boreal Forest? Desert? Why??

[Alexandra Maw]

Just curious about what people are feeling about location...Have we considered a long term water supply? Neighbors? Climate? Geopolitics?Food Storage?  We are ultimately planning for NO electricity just in case...we are thinking GENERATIONS here..not just the next few decades. Who knows what access we will have to electricity 75 years from now? We will definitely use and enjoy it now, but we'll be able to get along very comfortably without it. Its all about thinking it out and taking the steps.  We have the Blackbird Food Forest in Phoenix, Arizona in the United States and also the one in Minnesota. I feel long term the Minnesota one has the viability especially in terms of water. To plan for 50-100 or even 500 years, there has to be serious planning around water and waste disposal. With Minnesota, its dealing with the winter cold...and storing food. There is plenty of biomass nearby for warmth, but staying there in the winter would be a last resort. Ideally, something in a nice northern area from April to October and then something either tropical or very mild in the winter. Being able to escape the winter cold saves so much energy thats not needed to keep your toes toasty at night! Hawaii year round would be a wonderful choice as well.  Of course this decision plays into our relationships as well...will we team up with family? FRIENDS? Do we have what it takes to build a small eco-village? I think and know we do. Thats how we've lived for EONS and thats how we will live again.  Teaming up makes things move so much faster, once everyone can agree on who does what!  So...let us know...we are curious. Where will you do it? What sounds best?

[Maddie]

Hello!

Thanks for setting this forum up for likeminded people :D.

I am from NZ and would ideally like to be part of an "Anastasia" type eco-village in NZ. I would love to meet like-minded ppl here in NZ (well from anywhere) but obviously ppl who are keen to do something like this in NZ. I am starting to meet some ppl who are into sustainability etc but nobody (yet) on the Anastasia wavelength - looking forward to discovering more.

Worst-case scenario for me - I will set up a place just for me and my (future) family, if no other ppl keen to do this type of thing appear. I am just at the stage of saving for land now, envisioning how my space will be and learning about all the things that will be required to set this up.

Re water supply, am planning on buying land with a spring, and would also harvest rain water.

Housing - I am drawn to earth housing (cob) - I like the earthships in the US and the fact that they are so self sufficient. I do love wood too… I would also like to know it could work without electricity :) but of course use it while it is available.

Neighbours.... Well if I do end up just buying land for myself and not as part of an ecovillage I plan on steering clear of market gardeners/large-scale farmers etc… If I can afford it I will buy more land than I need in case I can find other people to take up plots next to me who want to create their own kin's domains.

Climate - am thinking the north of NZ as it is warmer.

Re the land itself – I have ideas of buying land where the soil has been depleted so I can restore it and show it can be done….

[Richard Osorio]

Hey, my paradise re-planting is about to begin within in a few month and I have been thinking about documenting the process beginning from scratch. And just while I've been thinking about the kind of platform to share it on, I found your brand-new page her. Feels right to share a brand-new project in a brand-new place.

I heard about permaculture just about 2 years ago and it pretty much changed the course of my life. It took until now to make all the necessary arrangements and to actually know where I wanted to go. I am in Belize now and this is the country I will re-establish a piece of paradise. Specifically in the Maya Mountain Region of the Cayo District, the area that has first risen above sea level- it was the first island when the rest of Central America was still a water-world. This region was first populated by the Mayans some 2000 years ago.

I knew I wanted to be in tropics to begin with, the reason for this is simple: I don't like cold-weather. Of course, despite some specific problems the tropics bring with them, farming in an ever-warm climate is a big advantage, too.

I am currently looking for land and the key-point to look for is of course water. Even-though it rains plenty to use it for irrigation it's a big advantage to have access to natural fresh potable water or a stream or river of water to filter drinkable water from.

Next to that, since my knowledge is mainly theoretic and gained from books, I'm about to intern at the Maya Mountain Research Farm to get the necessary direct experience before I get started.

There are many things to consider when choosing location and it has been constantly on my mind for the past two years. And especially when the choice is not only between regions of a specific country, but between entire countries or even continents, it is not always an easy decision to make. What crystallized for me, now that I have almost reached the end of the beginning of my journey, is that the location has to provide not only a natural and climatic, but also cultural and social setting that I feel comfortable to live in. The search for land will of course again demand totally different questions to be asked, I will give my point of view on that later.

What do you think, should I use an individual thread here specifically to report my personal process?

[Debbie Young]

Hi Sweet Dolly!
I would say Hawaii is awesome but it has it's issues.. as most locales do. The central valley of CA is very rich in farms, but probably, depleted chemically treated soil. What about an island like Catalina?
xoxo
deb

[Becca B]

We are in central Oklahoma - I come from the los angeles area with plentiful fruit trees and an amazing growing season and my partner lived in Hawaii for 5 years on an organic farm so we have had an easier time of it (year round/tropicals) than we do now. We do however have the ability to live on family land, amazing soil, few neighbors, a good water supply, woods, lots of wild greens, persimmons, pears, pecans, blackberries, sand plums, passion fruit, grapes, currants & mushrooms. The weather gets really warm in the summer & compared to much of the country, has a pretty mild winter. Root cellars and basements or even chest freezers that aren't plugged in are good for storage from nov-march.

I started a garden here by an old farm house a few years back and decided to move out here. We are in a small cabin we built in 2009 heated with wood from the property while we plan our earth-bermed house, orchards and greenhouses/gardens. We have planted some apple trees and berries, herbs and our veggie/fruit garden but are really gearing up for more long term edibles and superfoods.

Our biggest issues are time and deciding where to do things. We also don't have much if any physical help. Some of our family believes in what we are doing and come out and help us clear, cut wood and clean up - and watch the baby while we work. We don't find too many like minded people even though there are a lot of people living off the land out here. We do have some neighbors that will be moving in across the dirt road from us - they garden and come out on the weekends but haven't moved in full time yet. This is something we talk about frequently though. Finding others who want to have their own areas here on the land and then combined areas that we work on together. Help with preserving/storing/drying/building etc would be so amazing but it seems to always get so complicated when it comes to legal/money issues. We are very open to suggestions on how to get around this or by this hurdle and then, of course, finding people who want to join us.

I really am so glad to see so many who enjoy live food moving back to the land and growing their own & making sure they have the best source for food/water during these times.

Thank you Alexandra & Anthony :)

[Mark Brady]

I think I'm going to move to Costa Rica and live here http://ranchomargot.org/

I just wanna go where there are no chemtrails!

[Grazers Edge]

Hello,

I am currently in the midst of a wonderful life adventure...

After losing my job and selling my house in Mass, I found myself with a beautiful blank canvas on which I can create my life anyway I want to.

I am currently renting for the short term in Southwestern Virginia. I have been exploring this area as well as areas in Western North Carolina. I was drawn to the mountain areas and decided to just go with it and see where it leads me.

I want to consult with various builders to see what's feasible within my budget. I just don't think I'll find an existing property that satisfies enough of my requirements. I'm looking for small home with a well designed, open layout, super efficient with a decent amount of land and privacy, without being in the middle of nowhere. I'd like to incorporate some alternative energy..or at least design for future expansions. I'd also like to have additional living space for either family members to live if needed or as a source of additional income if needed.
But first I need to figure out the "where"...then I can really start planning the "what".

I took a beginner workshop in Permaculture and am reading Gaia's Garden. The whole philosophy resonates with me. I am looking into groups in this area to join and any classes that I can take to further my knowledge.
The only experience I have is with traditional gardening, so I have a lot to learn!

I am continually adding to my own preparedness plan, but am limited while I'm apartment bound. I found a natural spring less than 10 miles from me, and have harvested water there for the past few months.
Ideally any property I buy will have a spring or other water source on site.

Of course a source of income has yet to be determined....but first things first. :)

[Mark Brady]

Anthony, If I don't make it to Costa Rica in time, I can hang out in Minnesota, right?


Anthony Anderson said:

Mark I feel ya man...Im thinking remoteness and stocking up bigtime just in case is the key to longevity. Clean air and water is an absolute must. Luckily no thick fat white lines crossing the sky in LA today...we can see the sun! Thanks for the link

Mark Brady said:

I think I'm going to move to Costa Rica and live here http://ranchomargot.org/

I just wanna go where there are no chemtrails!

[Jeremiah Temple]

For natural building, I can recommend Earthbag Building, The Hand-Sculpted House, and Building with Cob. The Earthbag domes can be quickly set up and remind me of a beehive!!

[Bryan]

Have you seen the movie Garbage Warrior by any chance? You might be able to draw some inspiration from it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLbd4x7mbQY

[Jeremiah Temple]

Watching it now, thanks for the link!

[Jeremiah Temple]

Just finished it. I am still amazed that I can be told from what I have to build my shelter!

[Jeremiah Temple]

I leave for the US tomorrow. My parents have 2 acres that aren't doing anything really. I plan to give them some info and help to get started when I get back. J