Knuckle,
I think "this" pioneer village is 30,000 to join for a stake of virgin land of 1/4 acre

2,000 was another idea
and 2,000 + 3000common fees = 5,000 was another idea

Villager can correct me on this ?

I will get back to this later....have to get to work in a rush....villager

OK, back home.
Goldie ,
Correct with the 30k...but that was for 2ac. plus commons costs (approx. 10k) ............IF there were only 10 members
> 15k for 1ac. plus c.costs......IF there were only 20 members
7500. for 1/4 ac. plus c c: IF there were 30 members

To have the larger domains of 1 and 2 ac. in one contiguous footprint, would depend on the eco aspects of the terrain. There would be an option to split the larger domain in this case to have another spot close by as part of ones' private domain....compliant with the eco-guidelines.
The commons costs have to remain flexible until exact figures are known after more complex exploration/measurements. (it is over 3km long )
These include well(s), hydro connection and extent, common central coarse gravel road, Common meeting/dining/guest house, gates, workshops, communal gardening infrastructure/equipment, shared satellite connx.etc....

Even the model above is not applicable without a minimum 10 members.
Our concern is to first acquire the land, and concurrently work out what we can .
Worst case scenario, we would have to preagree to sell the land if more folks don't come on board in a reasonable time.

Maybe i missed it earlier Villager, but what is the total acreage you're looking to buy with this project?

Well villager, that brings me back to the tourist camp idea then. Since it could turn a profit when not in use, the investment could pay for the operator(and hopefully he is an investor too) to have camp personnel tend the garden, fix cabins and make enough to pay taxes with at least enough left over to cover interest on the money invested. All the while, the investor could book his cabin for his family's free holidays whenever he wished and know too that he had a retreat ready to go when the need arose.

Like many businesses, most camp owners reinvest their profits into upgrades and expansion. So upgrading the camp would look normal to local folks and other curious parties. It also would explain generators, solar panels, wind turbines, RV hookups ( for invited guests into your community) the garden, and a long list of other necessitates. It would put your families off the beaten path, in a location with fish, wild game and plenty of fresh water. It would surround you with firewood and many of the basics such as your own water and sewer system. Log cabins are near bullet proof and with metal roofs, near impossible to light on fire. Having shutters on the windows is just standard procedure during winter shutdown. In reality, col weather modifications one would have to do though for winter living as most camps just drain the pipes for the winter and move to warmer climates. Few camps are of log design anymore. Therefore they would need insulating otherwise. And this too can all be written off as you could offer winter ice fishing for the tax breaks.

My point is that many who could afford the investment need to stay in business and only want to have a fallback. They could even better justify the investment by time-share with friends and family during the slower periods of summer in late June and July. They could practice their outdoors skills during a holiday and have the camp operator teach them required skills. Folks could have their children hired on as summer help which would build character while training them in outdoor living. And as the camp progresses towards it's dual purpose, so does the investment. If an investor needs to cash out, he will likely turn a tidy profit. There are better ways to invest ones money for higher returns, but no other ones likely offer security in event of SHTF scenario.

Finding a 10 cabin camp ready to go for $300 K would be zero. You would likely have to buy a run down camp and build it into such a place. This is why is would not likely turn much of a profit. There are a few that have been milked and let fall into disarray enough that they can be had for so little. Such camps that are in good shape are $1.5 million or so. You must remember that camps need decent boats and motors and other such things to be a tourist camp. Wells and septic fields are required by law and maintained to stay in business. Yet upgrading a fixer-upper is how the investor can be sure to make a profit on the sale of his portion, should he wish to do so. This approach is something you could sell far more easily to potential investors IMO.

I see this approach at least as doable. The flaw is that the camp operator will likely end up babysitting a bunch of city folk as his group. This is fine for a short term but one can't hunt and trap for all. Yet those who invest will likely have some interest in outdoor skills and could be taught if required. The difference is that it isn't going to be a regular weekend retreat as they will have to travel further. Yet most know their family would tire of this routine quickly anyways! Once again the tourist camp idea comes out on top as it prevails during these periods of low interest.

Maybe i missed it earlier Villager, but what is the total acreage you're looking to buy with this project?

Just under 6 x hundred ,with several severance possibilities. All un in corporated. Near lake(s).40-yr.hardwood growth.stream.possible spring.rocky.sand.gravel.

Postby Knuckle » Fri May 16, 2014 2:22 pm
QUOTE:
"Well villager, that brings me back to the tourist camp idea then. Since it could turn a profit when not in use, the investment could pay for the operator(and hopefully he is an investor too) to have camp personnel tend the garden, fix cabins and make enough to pay taxes with at least enough left over to cover interest on the money invested. All the while, the investor could book his cabin for his family's free holidays whenever he wished and know too that he had a retreat ready to go when the need arose.........."

Exactly. It is the kind of scenario i've explained before ...but likely more on our member-website in the past... as one of the many ways of sustaining the operation for multiple purposes. Aside from the viable/desirable living/social value,...recouping investment is a no-brainer for anyone/family.
I like your sequential thinking and assessments in this regard.

We're in the middle of critical last-minute considerations with the project, and i'll update asap.

The downside that I see to your proposal is that many investors would only have this as a getaway. They are too far to commute daily to work. If they don't live there, then they are paying on two places and will still have to invest a lot more to invest than the initial $30 K. They cannot really consider it much of a retreat as they are still too close to urban centers to really be safe. They cannot expect to have a garden unless they work it daily. It is more a summer cottage with maybe neighbours that are preppers too. The good thing is they can likely travel there quicker so it would get used more often. But for all the limitations, it would not be much of an investment vs an expense.

I am getting too many ideas now that make the thread for "The Perfect Retreat " even more viable 😆 😆
~later ~

The downside that I see to your proposal is that many investors would only have this as a getaway. They are too far to commute daily to work. If they don't live there, then they are paying on two places and will still have to invest a lot more to invest than the initial $30 K. They cannot really consider it much of a retreat as they are still too close to urban centers to really be safe. They cannot expect to have a garden unless they work it daily. It is more a summer cottage with maybe neighbours that are preppers too. The good thing is they can likely travel there quicker so it would get used more often. But for all the limitations, it would not be much of an investment vs an expense.

I am getting too many ideas now that make the thread for "The Perfect Retreat " even more viable 😆 😆
~later ~

Agreed that many might just use as getaway...at first. There may also not be all the jobs to require commuting, then consideration turns to what local enterprise is viable, or can be created by a group which already has great commonality?

For clarification, 30k was for the largest option mentioned, ..2 acres, but the smaller acreage were less.These were geared for the assumption of cited population numbers. Everyone doesn't need 2 acres of "their own" as a summer retreat....with the vastness of the commons all round.
It's debatable about location being safe enough, as the actual location is quite good that way. Also, it's a reasonable distance from the main thoroughfare ...and how much traffic will be on the road in "those times". Remember too, that all the while, individuals can be developing other contingency options further out in the largely K rown land from this wellstocked base of o per ations.
You don't strike me as one who would stop potential enterprise at the appearance of assumed limitations.
The individuals' will and vision would soon differentiate expense from mere investment. I think a larger view could be cultivated.

Now for the latest NEWS!, and it may be the very last i have to say about this project...or its formation may be a clearinghouse for years....all depending on a last potential possibility for virtually anyone remotely considering options.
I suggest suspending personal or tactical judgment of "the possible" and consider whether you can afford not to.

Copied from our site today,with minor edits, by organizer, villager.....
Please scroll down to the last messg. for the latest changes in opportunity!
To All the C O Members:

Well, folks...it looks like we've had a few periods of grace and the chance to review our individual financial possibilities. Thankfully, a few have made firm pledges of varying amounts to date ; my mortgage/line of credit was confirmed recently too, and altogether it would be enough for a sizable downpayment, but not enough to make a firm offer and be able to pay fully on due date.

The interested wealthy individual who didn't show for the agent's tour a week ago, purportedly has now virtually committed to purchase "our property" as part of a package deal, next week.

There is another interested couple without sufficient funds apparently, whom we are trying to contact to see if they would join us in a joint move. In such case we would likely have to negotiate criteria/conditions.

Of course there is still the same last chance for anyone of you to reassess your financial possibilities during the next days.

So, i guess this is likely the last opportunity for this unique piece to be the re-creation grounds for this particular potential community. Let's hope the value of money remains long enough for all of us to make our best moves ....whether together in part, or individually out of necessity.

However this turns out, i would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest, efforts, and shared longing to date.
To be in best position to continue in a similar venture , i'd also like to request your contact info, so that if maintaining this site becomes un-viable , we can stay connected in the event we want to renew efforts in another direction or property.
Feel free to fwd. me any info on a similar (not likely ) property which you may know of.
Of course, i'd like to hear all your frank comments about: why, why not, what do you see that i don't see, are you clear on what has been proposed, what questions remain?
Your sincere response will help to shape our next parameters, and condition our aggregate value set.
How many would like to continue in this general direction, now that travel is easier to meet in person.... as well as maintain this website??
Thank you all sincerely for your sharing to date......villager
Edited by villager on May 16, 2014 11:03 AM

Also by villager earlier:
Folks, the time has come . There is another offer on the property pending . I believe this may be our last chance to put together our best numbers for our own offer, or else we will have lost a huge one-of-a- kind opportunity...this close to GTA. in unincorporated region with all its benefits.If this slips through our hands, i doubt that i can continue with a similar such bold project immediately, and may just have to find a little place myself, at a much higher rate per acre, if i can even find similar circumstance, with all the inherent benefits and space which this big property has.
So, just to be in position till the last minute, we ordered,paid, and are receiving all the official search and documents tomorrow or next day, in case a certain minimum of you can/will participate by the deadline now determined by the other 2 bidders. We won't know till we are informed, but of course, the owner may accept the other offer and not wait for us.

By the way, a few days ago, i was approached by a known film producer to explore doing a documentary on our "forming community" through to its finished results . I said that i would have to consult with all the members, at a minimum, whether they would agree with such exposure....but i didn't think it would be accepted by all. (ironically though, it would overfill our applicant capacity!)Apparently what we are seeking to manifest is way high on the trend list of social innovation/enterprise/change in the world. No kidding!

But its success can be either all open or quietly done in our own space / time/ terms. If this is a deciding factor for any of you , either way, please share here, as it may constitute our next , or last move .Personally, i have trust that we can orchestrate our strengths to overcome any petty differences encountered for the sake of harmony and noble purpose.How about you?....Imagine too?........villager

Additional Notes for All of the Above:
1. If the above "Co-Operation" will take place as planned ...
2. We now have sufficient Funds to put in our initial offer of +/- ******
3. Furthermore, As NOW proposed ...
4. The members who NOW wish to secure the two (2) Acre private domain for themselves ...
5. All they have to do is to Firmly Pledge $1000.00 for the right of the same with NO further investments needed !!
6. For the above: Maximum of ONE (1) of the above two Acre Parcels are allowed per each individual Member-Family, until further notice.
7. Until further notice; The Maximum Share-Membership count is limited to One Hundred (100) at this time.
8. All the expenses are to be divided between all the Share holding members according to their Total Investment level at CO and as per the "%-Quotient Table" adjusted monthly as per our CO Ledger.
9. Consequently members who Invest only $1000.00 for the same benefits as any HIGHER- level investing member, will pay higher monthly fees as per #8. above, until the the "Credits" of the said higher level investing member accumulate to, and equal, the Total due expenses Paid until that time; at which time that member will commence paying the same and equal amount of expenses as the Lower level investing member and equaling to the amount of Total expenses divided by the said membership count at that time.

For the above: We are now asking all the interested members to kindly provide their E-mail, or any other contact information to ********

Financial co-organizer.....********

Reproduction, in any way, of the above info is not granted by the authors.

hey DvntMstr, how is your likeminded "community" coming along? i am really interested in the ideas you have come to this page with, and i just joined this forum so cannot PM yet. not actually sure when i will be able to, if someone would be able to tell me? i am fairly new to prepping (about a year or so). good to be here

Hi dellj,
I haven't seen a posting from DvntMstr for quite a while now.
You need to have posted at least 3 times to be able to PM.
cheers,....villager

oh well that sucks. hopefully we hear from him again. thanks for the tips though. how is your likeminded community north of hunstville coming along villager?

Dellj,
....We thought the land would be sold last week, but apparently it's still available !....and i hope enough folks can come together to do the deal before another speculator comes along and parcels it all out,and flips it, conventionally.

There is just no other space like this, and i've run out of adjectives to describe the potentials on our site.
It appears that likemindedness is compromised with assessing distance factors, and certainly money...as long as it appears to have value. (the idea was to use current monetary value to acquire the land, and then imbue the land with our own values which would be much greater and sought-after, later on.)

As far as the outline goes, there has been very little contrary input in the context of our home site's parameters. I think that the vision of most just doesn't quite stretch to an appreciation of preparedness further from familiar surroundings....and the universal concern about where to put one's money first.
For that matter, i'm wondering about the determinant attitudes of more of those on this site who might be seeking more than mere "survival", but are also willing to explore the equally challenging vocation of re-learning how to live/thrive together ...before being forced to by circumstances. It doesn't have to be that way.

Again, i'm not talking "u topian" , but practical, generative, enterprising living....for any sustainable number to explore and have each others' backs while doing it...instant kar ma. 🙂

So, maybe another week will go by for another chance at this scale of possibilities.
As always, "PM" me for more detail....villager

Another update :
Today we are meeting with a potential co-investor...which will likely reshape some of the parameters which we each have.
Our preliminary dialog will give us a starting point towards a negotiated win-win scenario.
If there is sufficient complementary space and criteria , then we may co-exist as neighbors if that's what we can afford at this time.
However, it remains that the greater "our/your" proportion, the more complete the range of our experience there as community of prepared individuals.
Let me know if you're interested. ..villager

Hi, all interested:
After periodic conversations, the potential investor mentioned is not interested in that particular property....even though he has not walked it.
He has instead offered some personal acreage for raising livestock, gardening, other options , etc. in exchange for development and a share of the profits.This would be south of huntsville, however. There may be room for a few more good people if we develop a compatible framework with the owner. There are other of his properties which may be available based on an initial sustaining enterprise. This would suit folks close to, or in, retirement who still value working creatively, and want to secure their viable place as things may change.

We are exploring the details, and wanted to inform you in case of interest.
I have still not given up on finding more investors for the original,much larger property ,...as long as it's available...but i'm always assessing new contingencies as the time shortens before selling my place.

As always, i'm primarily interested in folks who are prepared to explore the governance discipline involved in dis-covering likemindedness as described elsewhere previously.
cheers, ...villager

Hi everyone.

I'm brand new here so I'm just taking in lots of reading. I'm 28 but already looking ahead to buying up some land up north. An enjoyable homestead for me and for the rest of my family to come up and enjoy is worthwhile regardless of one's convictions. Developing a tract of land into a sustainable and safe location through the vision of preparedness is really cool to me! That's my goal - a goal share by many posting to this site I'm sure.

Feel free to contact me - I'm currently in the Hamilton area. I'm looking to organize more meets around here and introduce myself within the community.

Cheers,

M - Hamilton