Whats your thoughts on my idealistic...idea?

Well, I guess this is one of my many crazy ideas to make the world a somewhat better place...

I was thinking about buying a few hundred acres of wooded property near a somewhat metropolitan area, and building a few cabins with just the bare essentials, however, try to make the cabins self sufficent electricity wise with solar panels, hydroelectric energy, wind energy, etc. I would plant a bunch of crops of the typical vegan food (Potatoes, Corn, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Soy Beans, etc.) Then, I would open up my cabins to the local homeless (focusing specifically on families), in return for working on the crops. I would care for them, help them with job assistance, help them with housing, basically help them get back on their feet, or not. If they want to stay there in return for work, fantastic. Basically a work to stay program, similar to this. The extra amount of food that we have left over after everyone is fed and taken care of would be sold at the local farmers market, or maybe even open up an organic produce store in town somewhere, which would be run by the volunteers that stay at the community.

I feel empathy for the homeless, and understand the position that they are in. I would like to do all that I could for them, as idealistic as it may sound.

So, what do you think of it? illogical? irrational? or just too idealistic?

 

Very idealistic, too idealistic.
I dunno, I guess it could work but you're counting on the fact there're bums who'll work and that they're honest enough not to just steal the food after first harvest. EDIT: also on the fact there'll be enough food and money to get all this stuff.

 

Not all homeless people are bums. Not all bums steal. why would you steal food when you are being offered a place to live? food is fine and dandy, but when you have nowhere to lay your head at the end of the day, your full tummy isnt going to seem worth it.

 

It depends, some people are set in their ways. Some people aren't.
I never said they wouldn't, but I've never met any nice homeless folk.
EDIT: Though I've not met many so I wouldn't know.

 

Yeah... well, even if I dont have an enormous homeless population willing to help, i can atleast set it as a decent community. I mean, who doesnt want free housing in exchange for a few hours of work a day?

 

Turning off my cynicism.


It's a fine idea. I think if you really feel compelled to it you should go for it. Be willing to modify your plans as need be and look for help wherever you can find it. I'd go ahead and start looking into 503 C tax laws.

 

I hope that you have millions of dollars to spend.

Plus, you overestimate people. It's not like the homeless don't have an opportunity to get employment as it is. (well, maybe not right now, with this economy), but hell... I don't think that Burger King is very selective.

 

Its hard to hold down a job when you dont have a place to go home to. Yeah, they can get the job, but whose to say that they are able to get to work on time with no transportation. they have no where to wash their work clothes, no where to relax after a hard days work.

 

Also, its not like im bringing this all together at once, it will be a gradual thing, start with a few 15k cabins, a mess hall, and all of the electric and plumbing to make it operate. Farming is cheap, so im not worried about that.

 

How about the...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k



I also think that it's harder for them to actually get a job than to keep it. All it takes is responsibility. I would break my ass to get a job if I was homeless, and I would make sure to be the best damn worker there.

 

That would still take much over 100k. How do you plan to make money in order to expand?

 

Lol, i liked the link.

well, im not saying that i have an innovative earth shattering idea, but id like to be a runner in the resources for the homeless and even for the not-so-homeless. like i said before, its not limited just to the homeless, hell you could just come to visit for a weekend if you like. Im sure that there will be people there willing to make you feel welcome, and people that are willing to show you a good time "down on the ranch"

 

Throw around the word jesus and look for investors.

 

Through selling crops, Donations, also, im sure that there is something that can be produced cheaply and easily that will sell over the internet or at fairs or even wholesale market it to retailers. im not sure of the exact product, and i dont need to be right now, but its just a thought.

That too.

 

HHB and Dilli on these forums have something similar to what you're thinking about. Nothing to do with the homeless, but they always invite people over and let them stay if they work and stuff. HHB is crazy as shit, but in an innocent way. You should talk to them if you're serious about this idea.

But, yet again, you will need mucho mucho dinero. Which means that you will probably have to hold a rather good job for at least 15 years or so.

 

Solar panels and shit wont come cheap.
And in England you can buy forest cheap but u cant chop anything down..

Food and warmth are self sustainable for a lowish rate.If u live in the country ,where less people can get proper paying jobs anyway.
But add in healthcare , electricals , clothes ,leisure etc and the sums get harder.

But yes , you're right that economies should focus more on the fundamentals , than the charlatan's bullshit of "GDP growth ratios" etc

 

Investors aren't easy to get, neither are donations, unless you manage to pull off some "non-profit" bullshit which would be tax-deductible.

You can't sell crops, at least not for a real profit, especially here in the U.S. where the agricultural industry is pretty much completely dominated by a few large corporations with whose prices you cannot compete.

No matter what you produce, you won't be able to support yourself through it unless it's truly skilled work... like Amish fire places or some shit.

 

sounds kinda like sharecroppin' to me.

 

Well of course id pull off some non-profit bullshit. you dont think that id be relying solely on what comes out of my own pocket. Id like to keep the government out of it, but sometimes you have to suck the teat that has the gold.

And i dont mean sell my crop to large corporations, I mean at local farmers markets. granted i wouldnt be making bank, but its something. Im more apt to go to a farmers market than to wal-mart for the simple fact that the food tastes better when its homegrown organically.

 

I'm saying that you can't compete with corporations, not that you should sell to them.

Anyhow, this won't work... that's the point. Every damn hippie out there would be doing this if it did work.

The only way you can make it happen is by getting together with a lot of people who have money when you have money yourself and then buying it all together. Yet, then you will realize that you can't really get along with each other, that bums don't want to work, that none of you really know much about self-sustaining practices, and that you don't really want to do this anymore.