dwelling here

As I’ve mentioned, my husband and I recently relocated to the rural prairies. I think the circumstances of our move warrant some discussion here, as it wouldn’t have been possible without some inspiration and open-mindedness about alternative paradigms for sheltering ourselves. Basically, we’re squatting on an old farm site.

The owner is, of course, perfectly aware we’re here. We’re living here in exchange for the maintenance of the homestead, which had been empty for two years prior to our arrival. The farmhouse is old but charming. The yard site is a few acres and has on it an old barn, chicken coop, greenhouse, two gardens and three large ponds. The arrangement allows us to have a functioning farm with low expenses and the owner gets the old family farm kept up. Our time here is indefinite. No money has changed hands.

I have been counseled by a number of people to get things in writing. In fact, we have no formal arrangement here. Our family member living nearby who helped facilitate the arrangement has called it “a gentleman’s deal”, which I believe means they spat and shook on it. The man who owns the house is really very relaxed and nice. He enjoys a reputation for being honest and fair. One’s reputation out here is the rural equivalent of a feedback form.

I consider our arrangement to be a salient example of creating a life in concert with permaculture principles; of viewing these ideas outside of the garden. It was largely our desire to move as fully as possible into the informal economy that led us here.  We, like so many, are striving for the security of a life more connected to its land base, food and energy; more rooted in a place and community. The informal economy generally keeps energy cycling within the community and builds local history, good and bad. Trade is common out here.

Ultimately, the situation was borne of a “needs and yields” analysis. We needed access to land with a decent home on it and the owner needed someone to mow the grass and keep the rodents from moving in. We asked ourselves how this might be achieved outside of current structures. I feel confidant that since the arrangement meets both of our needs so well it is something we can trust. I’m also idealistic (naïve?) enough to give this a try, trusting in right intentions.

I feel that it would be helpful to note that as this culture starts to shift because of any combination of the imminent collapse scenarios our concept of what a home can or should be will likewise shift. Many families may find themselves already having to scale back their expectations in terms of cleanliness or space; more will certainly find themselves in this position. Likely we will also see many more multi-family and/or multi-generational living arrangements. These not only make financial sense, but they make sense from a work-share perspective when times are harder. It also makes sense to me, especially in times of scarcity, to rethink current means of land access. There is land being wasted which could certainly be repopulated in a way that builds capacity, community and fertility.

I think the great shift in how we consider housing and what a family *actually* needs will be evident once all those obscene motor homes get hydraulically expanded for the last time to become multi-family dwellings.