What is the most challenging thing?

One of the most challenging things about living in the community is trying to get along with 70 other people, some of them who might have completely different ideas on how they want to live and what direction they want to see the community grow in. Unequal labor contribution is another major frustration. Ultimately, it’s been a valuable lesson in cooperation and tolerance.

What is your advice to people who want to live small or hit the road?

Do it. Make the most of your life. Anything is possible.

What’s next? Any news you want to share?

We definitely have a lot to look forward to. Ultimately, we want to start a small community of our own. The focus of this community will be a free learning center, where people from all walks of life can come and take classes and courses on a wide range of subjects including natural building, tiny house building, woodworking, natural medicine, nutrition, permaculture, community and more. The center will also include a free health clinic focused on holistic health and natural medicine. The learning center will be primarily run by members of the community, and all classes will be free to everyone (although donations will be accepted).

Right now, we still need the funds to make this vision a reality. Fortunately, we have a plan to make that happen: we’re going to build houses. This spring, we plan to start construction on our first tiny house. We hope to build a dozen tiny houses on wheels within the next couple of years and sell them at affordable prices to people looking to live more simply (if you’re looking to purchase a tiny house or have one custom built, feel free to get in touch with us). After that, we hope to purchase (and eventually sell) small plots of raw land and build log cabins. These plots of land will be lovingly developed in a permaculture fashion, complete with fruit and nut trees, perennial plants, rainwater catchment, composting toilets, solar power, etc.