Greetings! Anyone around the Chesapeake?

I have been interested in forming/joining a collective for quite some time, have been following some of the threads here, but just haven't met enough of the right people. Hopefully here, I will.

I am not an extremely spiritual person, I am a simple pagan, a worshipper of the earth and all her fruits. I'm not really an artist, but I have worked with wood extensively. I am an engineer type, I can build yurts like nobody's business, can take a pile of junk and in a few days have a standing wind generator pumping out 1KW, can create nearly unlimited supply of hot water (as long as you give me water). I can weld, can move water, build woodstoves for heating and cooking, have designed and built composting toilets, can organically farm just about anything as long as the climate permits. So why am I having trouble getting off the ground?

There are very few people like myself (and you) in the mid-atlantic region. Anyone out there want to get a place started in MD/WV?

 

Definitely go "recruiting" at the national rainbow gathering if you can get there, this summer, July 1st - 7th and a few weeks before, and a few weeks after. It will be a great place to meet like-minded folks, it's not a fest, it's a free gathering of folks who come from around the world (and lotsa locals too) to pray for peace, to circle, to create a spontaneous ephemeral community that cares for the land and leaves without a trace. I think you will be right close, as it will definitely be in the mid-atlantic region (that was the consensed region at last year's in Cali) and I am guessing Virginia/ West Virginia in the George Washington, Shanedoah, or Monongahela national forest.
If it sounds interesting, please explore links at
www.welcomehome.org
www.welcomehere.org
and right here on the Rainbow family forum
Loving ya, best of luck in your searching!

 

Zoomie,

If you've got a nice house in the suburbs, maybe you want to host a rainbow potluck this spring. Haven't had one here in well over a year. That might generate some interest in the Mid-Atlantic national. Maybe even bring in some new faces. I would volunteer my place but its kind of a work in progress right now. And our last host moved to North Carolina.

As far as communal living, don't have any capital to contribute to such a venture. Although I support ecological design, and growing food wherever one may be. If you want to chat sometime drop me a line at brad25710@aol.com.

 

Yes, my house is a work in progress too, and only 900sf so we usually have only two or three people over as guests at a time. I'm still looking for a discussion group on this topic, other than here. Hoping there's something on Yahoo. But we are def attending national.

 

a couple of other forums relating to rainbow and community building are http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newworldrisingforum/. and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/whatermelonlist/ and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WildHumanInitiative/. peace

 

Well it sounds like you're in a similar situation to me. I like having access to land and agriculture if possible. But currently stuck in the city. The Rainbow gathering is ok. I mean it would be nice if they could find a decent site. You never really know. But I stay out of politics. The DC family sometimes has potlucks. So just check the hotline. I think they said something about doing a regional in the spring. Don't know any details. I guess there will be a "spring council". Somewhere in VA? So where are you from originally and how did you end up in B'more?

 

Born in upstate NY, raised in the marshes and swamps of central FL, 13 years working for the man, this is where I was deposited when they were through using me. Almost done childrearing, want to put something together the will last generations. To quote Dylan, "Got a head full of ideas and they're driving me insane..."

I want to be neither a leader, nor a follower, I just want to be something I haven't ever been; free...

 

PS- Thanks, Fred... The Wild Human Initiative rocks!

 

Well I think you've got the right idea. Even if our current society says otherwise.
I'm sure you can find some land in this region. I mean the Zendikers just moved to West Virginia. And a friend of mine bought some land there as well. Earthaven is a good established community that is not too far away (in NC). You might want to go down and visit sometime. They have a lot of conferences. Or you can just stay at the guest house for a few dollars per night.

 

Thanks, Brad. We spent last weekend caving with several MD grottos in Pendelton County, WV. It was the annual Pres. Day Weekend gathering. The area is so positive, it felt like home. Land is inexpensive (compared to the DC/Baltimore area), only 5 hours from the rest of our clan, and mostly unspoiled (not to mention lots and lots of caves to explore. We're looking into this further.