Crazy Thought

[thestartupman]

How many on here would be interested in something like this. I know this may sound a little strange, but I will throw it out there for everyone to think about. I have tossed around the thought of buying 250, to 300 acres, and dividing off twenty, to twenty five, 5 acre plots. There would also be 50 to 100 acres that would either be joint owned among all land owners including myself, or owned buy myself, with others allowed to use. This piece of property would have a large pond, or lake (5+ acres), several small covered picnic acres, plus a much larger covered area with a large fireplace. It would have hiking/horse riding trails. The shared portion of this property would be mostly wooded. I would raise enough beef, pork, turkeys, chickens, for eggs,and meat, and cow milk. All these animals would be raised as naturally as possible, but not organic certified. The purchase price of the 5 acres would allow each owner, 25-50% of their first years meat milk and eggs. The reason for the discount in the first year would be to make sure that everyone at least tries this system to start with. It would be set up on a per share type of a set up. This would also allow them to get fruit from fruit trees, strawberry patch, blueberry plants, and possibly other items like asparagus, and pupkins. The farm part that I own would be off limits to other owners use, accept to pick up their meat, milk, and eggs. The milk from the cows would be by cow share. There would be a monthly fee that would include the upkeep of the shared property, garbage, and possibly well water. Please don't respond telling me about zoning problems, I have already done some checking, and I know that this is something that would have to be checked out completly. I know this has gotten a little long, but I still have a lot more details that I have thought through, but will hold them back for now. Please try and give your feed back without simply telling me it won't work. Oh, one more thing, the reason I didn't include normal vegtables, is because each person would have 5 acres, they should be able to grow there own. I might provide some shares for those without a green thumb.

[Ed Norman]

What if somebody picks all the asparagus or apricots for themselves?

If they had 5 acres for themselves, couldn't they raise a beef, pork, chickens, turkeys, garden, etc, without being a part of your deal?

[thestartupman]

They would be able to grow their own garden as I stated, the kind of animals that could be raised, would be restricted by deed restrictions when they buy the property. Its true, they would not have to be part of the farm share, but the discount given for the first year would encourage it. I would be giving a fair deal for the shares, because I wouldn't have to have the problem of delivering shares to drop off points. The amount of asparugus, or fruit would be by share.

[Ed Norman]

What I am saying is what is the advantage to them with buying your land and living by your rules instead of buying a chunk of land for themselves and doing whatever they want with it, as much as they want?

[thestartupman]

The big advantage for them would be that they would have a much larger property that they would have use of. They would have a nice lake to swim, fish, or take a row boat on. I also think there are many people that would like to eat better, and get out in a country setting, but can't do it because they still have to work for a living. This would give many the country setting, without having to do the country work. That is one reason I don't plan to provide vegtables, because if they long for this type of life style, I figure that would be one thing they would want to do for them selves. I could still help them out with running a tiller over their garden area for them at the start of the garden season.

[craftnkids]

It almost sounds like you want to build a community surrounded by the farm. Why not make it just that- they are apart of the larger farm, helping make it work. Each person has his own strength, maybe someone could help with marketing if they do not want to partake in farming. It frees you up from farming alone and brings a sense of oneness to the property.
I know I sound like a hippie, but I was born in the 70's but it is something I have been toying with in my mind too.
I want to farm, but it would be nice to share the duties- How big does a farm have to be to sustain several families? I think that might be the question to ask.
Angela

[ChristieAcres]

I think that type of a planned homesteading type of community would appeal to those who don't want to raise cows, but most folks like their chickens. Wouldn't you allow them to have chickens? I think this would be appealing to people who also like to travel, especially, and would like to come back to a homesteading lifestyle. If they don't have pets and just have a garden, that could be managed. They could get away for a few days or a week at a time. They wouldn't be as tied down if they didn't have cows, chickens, and other livestock to take care of. We have a neighbor who is getting cattle and we have considered it. DH & I like to go camping and right now, we can. We have people who feed and care for our chickens/rabbits. Our garden is set up with auto-timers set to valves and we are on our own well. I already spoke to our neighbor about getting a cow share (for the milk). He is a Firefighter and a really good guy. We would also be able to check out their facility and help care for the milk cow, which insures less concern about milk safety.

Back to the other types of people who would find this appealing- those who are on fixed incomes, retired, and some who enjoy the lifestyle but aren't physically capable of caring for livestock, chopping wood, etc... Otherwise, the occasional travelers, as I mentioned already. It would be wise to have a diverse group, so they could barter services to each other (mechanic, machinist, welder, etc...).

[naturelover]

What you're describing sounds like what is called an "intentional community" - not such a crazy idea and people have been doing intentional communities, some with ecovillages in them (ecovillage sounds like what you're thinking of), for decades, much as you are describing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intentional_community

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecovillage

Here is the Intentional Communities.org website, you can get a lot of helpful information and advice from others with the same mindset and long time experience, plus lists of other intentional communities, properties for sale, etc. on this site: http://www.ic.org/

.

[thestartupman]

Angela, the only reason I don't go the route you are saying, is because I wouldn't want to lose the control of my property. I wouldn't be working off the property, so I wouldn't need as much help as others that may be trying to do something like this as others that might be trying to work a 9-5 job. I think there may be room for others to help out on the farm in some ways to maybe help cover part of their shares, or to get extra to go with their share. As far as how big a farm might have to be to support several families (20-22), I am thinking that you would have to butcher a cow every month, or two cows every 2 months. Two hogs per month, and 80-100 chickens per month. You would need 50 laying hens. You would have 2-3 milk cows. These would all be rotationally graised. You would end up with 20-30 head of cattle on the property at any gien time. 80-100 acres would be more than enough as long as you have good grass lands.

[thestartupman]

Christie, you have much of the same thoughts as I do about the type of people that might enjoy this type of set up. You are correct, I may need to allow people to raise their own chickens. I think this situation would allow for teens, or myself to help watch animals, or gardens for those that are traveling.

[thestartupman]

One other thought on this idea would be for those that wanted to do it, they would buy in bulk on things like flour, salt, sugar, and maybe even feed for horses.

[ChristieAcres]

There are a lot of people who feel stuck where they are due to opportunities you are describing not being available. My Len thought us getting chickens meant we couldn't go camping, fishing, hiking, etc... I made sure there were a number of folks who would take care of them, and we would pay them or barter in return. The only reason we don't have more animals is the issue of others caring for them (rabbits and chickens are one thing). That is why we want a cow share instead of having our own milk cow. The individual families would enjoy lower risk and more freedom in a planned community.

My MIL and FIL are great examples. They bought 2.5 acres of view property, built a custom home (MIL designed it), and they live a very simple lifestyle there. Both enjoy gardening and they have a nice orchard. Every winter they take off to go traveling in their motorhome. They just left yesterday and won't be back until early Spring. People like this? They would be thrilled knowing their home would be safe, and they could pay if care was needed for their property. My in-laws only have two cats, who travel with them, but leave a great garden and orchard every Winter.

I have a friend who busy through a local CSA, to get everything she doesn't grow or can't produce herself. This is no different and very convenient via the planned community.

[pheasantplucker]

This sounds so much like what I wanted to do when I got out of college. Problem, is...at least among my acquaintances, there are a lot of folks who would find this appealing, but not enough to actually put their money where their mouth is. Now at age 57, I can look back and see the potential for problems. (I'm not trying to shoot down your idea...I admire your idealism), but when a mutually owned tractor breaks down, and the last person to use it didn't check the fluids, etc. or So and So isn't working as hard as me, why should they...? bla bla bla. Someone thinks the barn should be painted, and no one can agree on the colour. The more folks who are involved, the greater the potential for such a place, but realistically, also, the more problems would occur.

[thestartupman]

Pheasantplucker, you must not have read my post all the way through. There wouldn't be any shared tractor, or anyone tell me what color to paint my barns, or their barns. They would own their land, and I would own the farm. There may be a separate recreational piece of property that is joint owned, but that hasn't been decided for sure yet. This would be set up more like a CSA, with a cow share program.

[mountainwmn]

It is a good idea, here are my thoughts. I like the idea of having 5 acres, but having more trails available to ride your horse. Would you need to butcher in a USDA certified shop? the idea of getting sued if someone gets hurt or sick on your food or property seems a little scary. What happens if you get nasty property owners or a large portion decide they don't want the farm share anymore. And of course, what happens if your health doesn't permit you to farm anymore or you just don't want to. We have a lot of developements around here, your yearly fee goes for upkeep of the lake, roads, trails, ect.

[geo in mi]

thestartupman

Is this something like you have in mind? You could try to contact them. http://www.lakevillagehomestead.org/index.html

Good luck.

[Callieslamb]

What would make them buy their produce from you? And what would keep you from charging ridiculous prices? Sounds like a kind of utopia...but I think people aren't quite ready for that existance.

[thestartupman]

I think all the butchering would be done in a USDA shop to start with, except maybe the chickens. The part about people not wanting to keep buying from the farm, I wouldn't be able to do much about. That is the reason I am thinking about offering a large discount for their first year with the purchase of their property. I figure if you can offer them a quality product for a year, at a fair price, they just might come back. If not, you would at least have a system set up that is working, then begin offering CSA shares to the public.

[thestartupman]

geo in mi, what I am thinking about is a little bit like what you gave the link to, but they don't give a lot of details. Thanks for the link though.

[salmonslayer]

I dont like people enough to want to share my enjoyment of living on a farm and I suspect most dont either. These type of things usually degenerate into jealousy, accrimonious exchanges and resentment...no thanks.