I was on an abandoned homestead the day before making the offer for the
land in contract. The homestead was adjacent to the town's (rural) septic
sewage sludge dump. I DID seriously consider it, since it had more land
to leave alone. What I found out from the Soil Conservation Service
helped my leave that bit of land alone.
I also researched eco-communities in Maine and Ohio. The organizer in
Maine seemed to me to be more concerned with property values than with
impact. The meetings in Ohio seemed to go nowhere. I lost hope when one
regular said "I can't wait two years I have cacatoos that need an aviary
NOW."
An earlier post mentioned "land in conflict with values" and there is a
point there. The point misses the mark by a bit since the location offers
communities (physical, not virtual) in walking, cycling, and rowing
distances that I have not found elsewhere. There is a high concentration
of organic growers in the area. I am on good terms with a surprisingly
large number of people there (surprises me because I'm not very outgoing).
I didn't ask for advice in that group because the seller is in the group
and I am still "from away".
Dave
On Fri, 6 Oct 2000, Gene GeRue wrote:
> >From my research I know that there are thousands of abandoned old
> homesteads of an acre or two up to small farm size. Most have wells, many
> have usable buildings. These make ideal spots for those wishing to live an
> eco-friendly rural life. For new habitations, the ecovillage design is
> superior to individual new homesteads carved out of forests. As you know,
> that design clumps dwellings close together yet retains most of the land
> for common garden and natural areas.
>
> Abandoned homesteads are less likely to exist in the East. We can move. You
> did. Would it not be more eco-sensible to reinhabit abandoned places before
> we carve new ones out of the few forests we have left?
Dave Evans [EMAIL PROTECTED] At home.
