Tennessee

[Argante]

Please list all Tennessee locations here.

[Molly]

Put this Bee in your Bonnet:

Looking for kindreds to form small earth community in great smokies. (before, during or after TEOTWAWKI.) We are going up soon for a vacation, and might end up staying, depending on how Oct. 7th goes down.

Creative, alert and aware, full of useful survival skills, sparkling personalities by the campfire, interested in merging new technologies with traditional wise ways of the earth. Have had contact with light beings, but not sure which ones. We'd like to consider this an adventure, and challenge ourselves to make magic and face the moment with courage. We are part of the Pluto-Virgo generation, and I sense it's about serving the Earth, being leaders and contributors on the path back to earthways.

Love to all and trust that you're where you're meant to Be. And, that we live on no matter what comes to pass.

[UncaRay]

Molly; I would be pleased to offer camping for you in Cosby, within a short drive of the Park. We could talk about that communities thing while you were here.

[UncaRay]

I live in Cosby Tn, very near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I am intrigued with the idea of using social software to create local grass roots economies. I have created a ning.com Community called "Cosby Co-op" and I would like to see everyone who is online within 10 miles of Cosby join it and create it's content. Gardening information, valuable resources, business offers, free classifieds, work pool, car pool, disaster preparation and community support all in a central web page.

Others in other areas should do the same.

[Molly]

UncaRay,
that is welcome news. I'm sensing some urgency, so can we exchange tele/email, then you could give me exact vicinity.
my husband is a skilled carpenter, and i've got a web writing job. we love gardening, and i've got seedlings coming up. husband was a hen farmer, too. would like to mosey that way on our upcoming trip, to meet and discuss.
i'm at shelives2012@gmail.com. will give tele later.
thanks for your message!

Hi there!http://projectavalon.net/forum/images/editor/smilie.gif
I am new and was wondering if anyone is in the Nashville area.

[Jamie K]

Hi kjc, I'm in Nashville.

Where did you move from?

I'm new to the forum but have been in Nashville about 18yrs. Just found out about Camelot and Avalon-wow! Information overload!

[colesmommy1117]

Nashville, TN area here...well, just north...

How long have you known about Camelot/Avalon?

[Jamie K]

Yeah, I've watched most if not all of the videos over the last year or so. Tons of information! It's quite a time to have chosen to be incarnated here in this place, huh?! But I know that I chose it for good reason and that I am learning and growing just as "I" intended!

I've been here just over 15 years myself. Nashville has grown a lot, huh?

Cheatham County here - just North & West of Nashville.


Just moved back after a decade plus in Virginia ... just got the internet turned on here at the new house, yesterday!

Am still unpacking and trying to get it together.


A Side Note:
I had started a group on meetup.com (for the New Paradigm Handbook) awhile back, at our old Virginia location, but never got any response. I moved it's location to Nashville before we got here & now I've gotten some response, but no-one who's actually sent a message indicating they know what the handbook is. I suspect they're just new-agers, interested because it's listed under the "consciousness" category.
I feel that the meetup.com idea has outlived it's usefulness, so I have withdrawn my subscription payment, but I think the group will remain listed for some time. I am unsure about this decision, so your opinions on the matter are welcome!

Saturday, October 11th @ 2:00pm on the Parthenon Steps ...

http://consciousness.meetup.com/176/



*edit* Just to clarify - I will be there, probably with my better half, we plan to have an afternoon in the park regardless of the turnout ... hope to see some or all of you there (this is what this site is all about ... isn't it?)

[Kituwa]

I am in the Knoxville area. I know of a cave that i plan on taking my family to if the need arizes.It will be me, my wife and 3 kids as of right now. It has a spring that runs out of the cave that is safe to drink plus it stays a constant temp winter and summer for the most part.It is in a remote location not closed to any cities but is not hard to get to.I also have several islands on a river/lake that should be good at least temporary till we find a better place.We are native american and know a good bit about natural medicine and living off the land plus we have lived extended periods without runnning water and electricity so we know first hand what living off the land is including the physcological parts witch in some ways is the most important part of it in many ways.We are a very family oriented cpl . If anyone is interested my email addy should be visable on my profile here if anyone wants to get in touch just in case the need arrizes.Sorry for the spelling, it is not one of my strong points.

[Kituwa]

Just thought i would mention this,,on another site there was a discution going on about strange things going on in TN and one person from the Andersonville area says that lots of 'ex- military' along with family and relatives have been flocking into that area, witch is close to Norris lake. He wouldnt explain what he ment by ex military but the feeling i got was he ment something like Blackwater. If this is the case it would indicate they believe it is a safe area seeing as how they brought family. I guess you could look at it several ways if it is true, it could be a safe area for them,,,but not so safe for everyone else.I live only a few miles from andersonville so i will try and find out more if i can.

[UncaRay]

I have created a ning.com community called "Cosby Co-op," which I hope will serve as an example of efficient communications for localized communities for the building of the "Informal Economy." I am looking to add as many members as I can find among those who are online and live within 30 miles or so of Cosby, Tn. We need at least 100-200 active participants to create a prosperous network.

http://cosbycooperative.ning.com/

UncaRay

I reside on the delta area of Tennessee (Memphis).

[karelia]

Originally Posted by AJ Barron

I reside on the delta area of Tennessee (Memphis).

Yay! I'm in Memphis, too. I was beginning to lose hope to find some awake people around here...

Just want to remind folks in the Nashville area that I'd like to get together with anyone willing on Saturday afternoon. I'll be at Centennial Park, on the Parthenon steps, if they're accessible, at 2:00. I'll hang around there for a little while & then will be off enjoying the park for a while more. I'll be the hippie with a few New Paradigm Handbooks in my hand for those who would like a copy.

[THE BEST GUY]

reppin that MEMPHIS TN, bartlett/cordova NUTBUSH!!

i know some of yall gonna recognize my friend MUCK STICKY

Gonna give it one more try, here - Nashvillians ... no participation last time around.

I'm open to different times & places, but assuming no-one offers up any other ideas:

Saturday, November 1st at 2:00pm - once again at the Parthenon.
(At that location I feel like I'm giving a poetic middle finger to those who still revere the gods & goddesses of the ancient world ... that, and - it's a nice park!)
I'll be on the front steps of the Parthenon, with a New Paradigm Handbook displayed somewhere nearby, so you can identify me.

I gave it about a half an hour last weekend, then took a walk in the park for awhile before heading home. Wasn't particularly disappointed, as I understand your apprehension to meet anyone, anywhere ... but I've gotta say - We're not gonna save the world from behind our keyboards, folks!

Three days & counting ... hope to see some of you there!

[dreamangel]

Hello, I am in southeast Tenn. just north of Chattanooga. Anybody out there close to me?

[khristmaskathy]

I'm in the Nashville area! Glad to "meet" you all and hope we can get a group together if we need to at some point!

[DavidF]

We are trying to create a community just north of Ashville NC.

We are looking for community minded people who are interested in
investing in our fusion project. Please send me a private e-mail if you are interested. Here is a little information on our group and a potential property.


David

Hello!


I hope you had a terrific weekend! We sure did! A group of us went to Madison County and checked out the land that's being auctioned this Wednesday...it was amazing! It would be wonderful if we were able to secure this property, but first... a few details for you....


First and foremost, most of the information below is still being finalized. We are working on finding the best way to fund this land purchase, make sure that the organization/project is financially stable, and insure that folks are getting well-thanked for their generosity and participation in this adventure.


Second, we are happy to work with everyone interested on an individual basis. A sliding scale is definitely available...just give us a call or drop us an e-mail and we'll chat about our options.


So now a little about the land... it's beautiful!! The most important element is the water security.... this land has a healthy and abundant water supply. There is so much water, even now in the drought. We spoke with one of the folks who lived and worked on the land in the early to mid 1990s, when it was a functioning farm and community, and he said they always had more than enough to irrigate the crops and sustain the needs of the community.


There is lots of infrastructure already on the property. Here's a partial list: a passive solar dorm-style apartment with 4 adjacent passive solar greenhouses, two partially finished but almost usable multi-story houses with basements, 1 partially finished but unusable house (we can salvage materials and rebuild on the foundation), a 3-bay garage with adjoining office space, a 1/4 acre greenhouse, a pond, a reservoir with gravity fed water (under ground) to the terraced fields, roughly 7 acres of terraced fields, an orchard with apples, cherries, several types of raspberries, kiwi, and more, 2 or 3 log-cabin-looking trailers, 1 almost-livable chalet with a living roof and indoor composting toilet, a 'welcome center' that can serve as a store to sell items produced on the property, which also has several other rooms that can serve as classroom space or whatever, it's extremely accessible to I-26, yet it feels incredibly remote, there are two entrances (1 public and 1 private) to the land, and I'm sure I'm forgetting something..... there is roughly 20-30 acres of cleared agricultural land, with more that can be developed and neighboring land that can be leased. So that's it for the 'stuff.' There is damage from vandalism over the years, but almost everything is repairable after clean-up.


The land is beautiful! The area with the greenhouse, passive solar structures, and terraced fields is mostly flat/slightly rolling. It then heads up the mountain from there into an amazing forest (huge poplars - 3 people to reach around a tree), up to the ridge, and over the other side to a big creek - Puncheon Fork Creek - and the 'welcome center.' There is lots of room for folks to set up home sites. Oh.. did I mention that it's 270 acres? Lots of land to work with!


Plus, the surrounding community is fantastic and loves the idea of YEP moving in! We realize our proximity to the Wolf Laurel ski area, however, the irresponsible development in this area is on the far side of the ski resort. The National Forest access is through the ski area, not through the ugly and obnoxious gated communities. Laurel Valley watch, a group of local concerned citizens (who love YEP) say that Wolf Laurel is actually fairly environmentally conscious and that they're great neighbors.


We've been discussing things like donations, memberships, annual assessments, etc. We want to be clear from the beginning that this is not a 'sound financial investment' if you're looking for a dollar-for-dollar return. However, you are making a sound investment in securing community, water security, and preserved land for the seventh generation.


Here's a little about community investment - you'll get a group of folks with an incredible wealth of knowledge to share with and learn from, take classes from and work with teachers of a large variety of sustainable living skills, stable supplies of water and power, control over safer and more nutritious food sources, participation in the designing and construction of your home, workspace, & community, opportunities for cottage industries that emerge from innovation, less participation in a money-based economy, psychological and spiritual benefits associated with living along slower and more natural rhythms, a physically beautiful place to dwell, more input and participation in community networks, and helping to educate others about living closer and with more respect/reverence to the earth. It is not an even dollar-for-dollar return....it's priceless!


Here's what's been developed from the financial perspective, but like I said at the beginning, things are subject to change. We want to hear from you!


Member benefits are offered through YEP and the benefits will be applicable to the programs we host. They may not apply to the programs hosted by some of the neighboring enterprises (ie the herb school, the ag center, etc).
Membership Levels (we're still working on the names :-): (for folks not living in the community, but wanting to support our endeavor, and also get benefits and price reductions for participating in activities at the Yonah Preserve); membership fees are 100% tax-deductible; membership need to be renewed annually
Earth - $100 - pay reduced member rates for programs
Fire - $250 - pay reduced member rates for programs; your family can attend 1 day-program per year for free
Water - $500 - pay reduced member rates for programs; your family can attend 1 day-program per year for free; 1/2 price CSA membership (if you're in another state, we'll find another benefit for you to replace the CSA membership)
Air - $1000 - pay reduced member rates for programs; your family can attend 1 day-program per year for free; free CSA membership (if you're in another state, we'll find another benefit for you to replace the CSA membership)


As additional infrastructure is built (including facilities for over-night stays), additional benefits will be added to the membership levels.


WE NEED FUNDS NOW TO SECURE THE AUCTION LAND. ANYONE WHO CONTRIBUTES FUNDS FOR THE LAND PURCHASE (THIS WEEK) AT ANY OF THE DONOR LEVELS WILL GET A FREE 'AIR' LEVEL MEMBERSHIP VALID FOR 3 YEARS.


Donor Levels: donations are 100% tax-deductible; initially these will be used to purchase the land; once the land is secured, 100% of the funds raised through donations will be used to modify/rebuild the existing structures and build new infrastructure; again, we're working on the names :-)
Winter - $100,000 and above
Spring - $50,000 to $99,999
Summer - $20,000 to $49,999
Fall - $10,000 to $19,999 (If you are unable to pay $10,000, please contact us. We can work out a cash/sweat equity agreement, or a payment plan, or anything else we can come up with to make this accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.)


To own a home site in YEP, you must be a donor. More info about owning a site below...


These fees are not final. They will be determined by the council once the land is secured. These numbers will give you an idea of how the fees will be structured, but they're definitely not written in stone.
Annual Assessments (for folks who own home-sites within the community): these assessments will cover expenses including property insurance (insurance for the programs and classes will be paid by Educational Excursions), road, water, and infrastructure maintenance, property taxes (potentially reduced through conservation easements), and any other expenses directly related to maintaining the 'common areas' of YEP
Winter - $100 per year (includes an 'Air' membership)
Spring - $200 per year (includes 'Water' membership)
Summer - $300 per year (includes a 'Fire' membership)
Fall - $400 per year (includes an 'Earth' membership)


So how do you buy a home site? We'll have 4 options: 1/4 acre, 1/2 acre, 3/4 acre, and 1 acre
Think about the mission and the values of this community as you decide the suitable amount of space you and your family will need. Less private land means more space for community endeavors.
And how much will a home site cost? Well, we won't really know that until we buy the land. But here's the general idea... if we are able to purchase the auction land for $1000 per acre (I'm just throwing out a random number that's easy to work with), then a 1/4 acre lot will cost $250, a 1/2 acre lot will cost $500, I think you get the idea.... These details won't be finalized until the land is purchased. It's possible that the cost of a site will be increased or reduced, depending if it's flat or sloped, or has any other features that may affect it's value. We'll know more once a land-use plan has been drafted.


Fair market value is based on what we pay for the land, not what it's appraised at. And 100% of the funds generated through land sales will be reinvested in building community infrastructure.


Home site fees are not tax-deductible. So if you want to be a 'Winter' donor and get a 1/2 acre site, you'll need to give $100,500. Again, home site prices are not finalized... we'll only know them after we purchase the land. You will hold the title to your home site. If you choose to sell your site, there will be an application process for potential buyers.


If you're interested in making a loan or offering some other financial assistance so we can acquire this land, please call me so we can chat. There are many options available...


Here are some of the ways that YEP will be financially stable:
income from programs and events (potential permanent site for Earthskills Rendezvous!!!!)
income from home-site sales
grants for specific projects
assessment fees from home-site owners
tax benefits from conservation easement
sales from the 'store'
the possibilities are endless....


The costs associated with maintaining YEP will be minimal. The way it's designed and structured reflects the core values and philosophies around quality planning and sustainable practices. The only major expenses will be property taxes, insurance, and the costs incurred while cleaning up and rebuilding the existing infrastructure. Efficiency and independence from our current economic systems is a primary goal.


If for some bizarre reason we don't win the auction, your donation can be returned to you. Or it can be applied to another property purchase, if that's your preference.


We will continue to revise the minutia of YEP; right now, the main focus is to SAVE THIS LAND! Please contact us if you have any questions.


I am attaching the Letter of Intent. If you are able to contribute now towards this land auction, please return the letter ASAP by e-mail or fax (call first so I can connect the fax machine).


If you are unable to donate funds at the moment but will be able to do so in the future, please complete the letter and include a date when you may be able to send your contribution. We will need to negotiate a closing date for the purchase, so your letter will help set the time-frame. Also, please return it to me ASAP.



If you want to come to the land auction in Madison County on Wednesday, let me know and I'll give you directions. The more the merrier!


On behalf of the core group who has been working so hard for the past 6 months on developing this project, I thank you for reading all of this. I know it is a lot of information....


Help us save this land! It will be a wonderful and amazing home for YEP and all of us!