Well, I’ve got some sad news to report. For me personally, actually, it is far beyond sad. Though it is not decided yet it is looking like our land is to be sold off which will mean the end of my little homestead project. My dad will be meeting with my uncle and aunt on Saturday. Of the three my uncle has no interest in keeping the place and is ready to sell immediately. My aunt, I think, does not really know. My dad wants to keep it since I live here and his children and grandchildren spend alot of time here. I really don’t know which way it will go but fear the worst. I don’t have a clue as to what I’ll do if it sells. I know that for certain I would leave immediately because I have no interest in staying any longer than I have to if it is to be sold. In my heart, if that is the case, I won’t be able to bear looking at the trees, bushes, lake or anything else that is here. I knew one day the issue of ownership would need to be resolved but never thought it would come so soon or that there was such a strong tendency towards selling it rather than keeping it.
If it sells I’ll have a share of the money but it goes without saying that it is nothing compared to the land and the lake and is certainly not enough to buy anything close to resembling the place. My siblings will be here later today and we’ll be talking about the future. Not sure if they will want to pool resources to find another, much smaller bit of land or if I’ll be on my own. I think if I’m on my own I’ll be looking to find an established eco-village to live. I hate to leave the area and this little town that I’ve grown so fond of but I don’t see myself renting a place in town, don’t know that I’d want to buy a place in town either. Feeling kind of lost at the moment.
That stinks! I'm so sorry. It will have to sell first though. Right? I can imagine that you would feel lost. I'll hope for the best for you.
B
This is very sad news. Hoping for a good outcome.
Oh, Denny! I'm sorry! And you've done so much work and seem so happy there. Hope everything works out OK and you don't have to leave.
Denny, this sucks. I know exactly what you mean about attachment to trees and bushes and place that you've invested your heart in. You can't get that back. I'm sorry this is happening to you.
That said – you say you would like an Eco Village type of place to move to… how about EcoVillage up here in Ithaca. There are good people I know there, and I wouldn't mind seeing you again myself.
Thanks to you all for you kind words. Jonathan, funny, you were at the top of my list of folks to get in touch with. I was thinking about your area as my next home and wanted to discuss with you. If there's an ecovillage up there I'd love to hear more about it. Just today started looking around at what is out there. Would be great to be neighbors.
I've started a list of possibilities.
Anything I can do to help, Denny, let me know.
Take a look at this site, and I'd be happy to get you in touch with some people who live at EcoVillage too, so you can talk to them.
http://ecovillageithaca.org/evi/
Ithaca has a lot of really great people and good resources. I think you'd like it up here, even if we do have a lot of cold. There are a lot of interesting horticulturalists, given the Cornell University connection, and there's an active permaculture community. I know more than a couple homesteaders, or semi-homesteaders.
Bummer, big time.
Is there any way you could buy the land? Finance through the family, rent some of the land to generate jingo…
with the current state of the real estate market it might be much cheaper than you think to buy…
I know exactly how you feel and it is the worst kind of feeling. I lost my land in Douglas County, Missouri under different circumstances. I loved that land so much. It felt like it was a part of me, a reflection of my soul. I loved my bus more than anything, so it was the hardest home to let it go of. I think about it every day. I wish you the best.
I hate that for you Denny. I completely understand the connection to the land; a place one takes in visually, audibly, aesthetically, and with each breath the connection grows. Best wishes.
Sorry to hear it Denny. The same happened to me. Too bad they can't see the potential you can. I'm very happy now with much much less land, even a couple acres is enough for a very satisfying forest garden. That said, I hope it works out for the better.
Wow, Denny. This is about the saddest news ever. I'm so sorry for you. It's been almost a week since you posted this so I'm sure there is newer news but I hope you get a chance to do everything you can to keep the place. The memories and what you've built there, quite literally, are irreplaceable. Not to mention the spirit of motivation and creativity and progress you bring to Fredericktown. I'll be wishing and hoping for the best…
oh my goodness, what a sad possibility that is. Your fondness of this piece of Earth permeates every word in your posts, as I've perceived in the years I follow eagerly your endeavors in your blog and your flickrstream. Hope there is a way out of this threat. Sadly I can't offer any help, living in Europe.