/diy/ - Do It Yourself

Starting my own microvillage is my current 5 year goal. I own about 10 acres of the Southern Appalachians (inherited old family land). Most of it is currently wooded, though I might have a chunk of the old hay field, not sure where the property line is exactly.

Right now I'm saving money and building test systems (power generation, aquaponics, mushroom growing) at home.

I've got three other people pledged to help me start, and a handful of others that claim they will join once I can promise food, water, shelter, and power.

The only big thing I'm worried about is getting a well set up. I don't want to dig one by hand, but I can't afford to get one drilled. I'm hoping I can drive one down, with a hammer and spiked pipe.

>>161777
10 acres? Might want to look around the property to buy up more land afterwards. How are you going to build houses? Cob, bail, mud, brick, concrete? Are going for stealth or just nice place to live?

As for the well, it depends on the water table, but here are some links for cheapo well drilling.
http://www.drillyourownwell.com/
http://howtodrillawell.com/

>>161777
>>161777

Are you in Georgia?

>>161777
So is it kind of a back to the lander intentional community? I'm curious about your vision, since it's usually not the founder's responsibility to provide food.

Somebody was asking my SD questions last thread. I won't post any more on SD on top of this unless asked to, but I'm here.

>>161810
>>161810
That was me and thanks a lot, I really appreciate it. I will take trip up to SD during Spring break to check out the glorious place.

>>161816
Ooh? Where to? East or West river?

>>161817
I will try to go NE as you said fishing is great there, but will try to tr most of the state.

>>161783

Buying up surrounding land is possible, but not super likely. My grandparents had like 100+ acres, and it all got divided up when they died. I might be able to buy my sister's chunk for cheap, seeing as I doubt she will ever use it.

As it stands, I'm the only one in the family that plans on living on their land, outside of a cousin that got the farm house. I already have permission to hunt and camp throughout the rest of the land.

I'm thinking earthbag myself. Though a friend wants to try cob for her house. I just want a where I can support myself, no matter what. I spent a little while homeless a few years back, and I don't want to be that dependent on society again.
I'm not especially going for stealth, no real need. My chunk is pretty far back from the road, so I figured I'd be fairly hidden anyway.

>>161795
Northern Alabama is where the land is. I'm in Northern Florida right now though.

>>161805
It is a back to the land thing. It's about being responsible for yourself. It's about knowing I won't be out on the streets, hungry and homeless, again, just because another guy fucked up and lost his company.

And no, I'm not responsible for food for everyone I invited to join me, I just have a few people I care about and want in my life, that are skeptical of it's feasibility. Basically, I need to show them it can be done, before they want to commit. I can't blame them for not wanting to risk it, I guess.

>>>/diy/161822

The thread has been reposted.

I really, really want to get involved in one of these projects, but I'm going to have to wait at least another four years to finish my apprenticeship and save up some money.

Sometimes I get really restless and become convinced I should just say "Fuck it," and go for it right now, but I have a great job, and if I finish my full apprenticeship, I'll be set up with a career that would really support the lifestyle I want.

In the mean time, I'll be reading these threads and gathering information religiously. blargh

>>161835
>>161835
I totally get where you are coming from. I want to do something similar, but I want to make money of it.

>>161857
once you get things off the ground, you can host ecotourists and offer seminars on your techniques as well as host/cater weddings and events on your land.

>>161783

as far as short term housing goes, trailers/popups are cheap as hell, good semipermanent "homes" could be had for under $1000.

For more permanent, yurts can be had for 5-10k.

Though neither are going to stand up to a tornado.. for that I suggest towing in a broken/cheapest possible school bus, gutting it, and burying it underground for a $1000 storm shelter that can hold everyone in emergencies