Health conscious and environmentally responsible homes & development
Business owner: Scott Baxla
Latest edit: 7/8/24
Current Primary Project:
Healthy Home Community in Fairview NC
Concepts
(the above bullets are links to other pages with more detailed information.)
The intention here is to meet my "healthy living" desires and in doing so also assist others in doing the same - based on what "we" are able to do with the property. In the past, others have expressed interest in the finished product that they can buy into once complete. That's not what this currently is. It has become apparent tor me that "for and with" is an important motivational factor for me. (A sense of belonging.) Doing it "for me" or "for profit" are not very motivational for me. So, part of the product is the process of doing it together. Further down the road I hope there is potential to help start other similar "communities" (neighborhoods...), or at least share knowledge for others to do it themselves based on our successes and shortcomings.
None of the above concepts are new. Potentially, the way I'm trying to combine them here is a little different.
With the inclusion of the tiny house concept, the idea here is for rentals to be more reasonable and affordable than the current crazy housing market. It still has to support the cost of the housing, the infrastructure, the maintenance of the property, and the people doing the work. And some sort of retirement plan for those investing their lives into it (and not sell the farm to extract the capital to support them.) Tiny houses tend to not have the space for "working" kitchens and ample food storage - potentially important amenities of a healthy lifestyle that may be better accommodated in this community format - intending that the combination of the concepts makes for a more affordable healthy lifestyle.
I often hear people also wanting to do "off grid" which sounds desirable as well, but is not currently in the planning for this project. There is potential that it can migrate in that direction if it becomes a higher priority. There is currently grid power on the property.
This project is a labor of love. It has already taken a lot of effort and it will continue to need considerable labor input for some time to come. Its not a place for people who are wanting to coast.
Outreach
I'm interested in combining several concepts into a "living situation"... and curious to know if others would be interested in getting together in person with a small group of folks to brainstorm/ network. I'm looking to network with folks (particularly in the Asheville/ Fairview area) who are interested in investigating "ALL" of these concepts together as a living concept.
If you are interested, please send me an email or a phone message (listed in my Facebook profile on my business page: Shelter's Edge. (There is some concern about the cyber security of posting such info here.) I don't have a meeting place in mind yet so if you have suggestions of a comfortable public place (in Asheville / Fairview NC area) that would be great. Potentially some folks would be more interested in a one on one connection rather than group get together (still somewhere public) - if so, say that in your message. Maybe your message could include something about your interests in above, or skills/passion you may have to contribute etc.
More specific needs in outreach at the end of this document.
The Property
7 1/2 acres of south facing hillside
Its a mountain side - all sloping, but mostly walkable (not so steep you can't walk on it).
Its currently mostly covered with with a tree canopy.
Travel time to Asheville: less than 10 minute drive to intersection of I-240 and I-40 (when not rush hour or accident etc.)
Current Status
This project has been in dream stage for over 30 years, and it is now starting to move forward.
Power is now on the property - not connected to any buildings except by extension cord.
I’m now living on the land, since the winter of 2019 - without heat or running water, but hoping to have both in place by end of 2025 winter. (A significant delay has recently been created by damage of hurricane Helene and recovery efforts.)
“Shared well” (w/ pump and power) in place, w/ a design and location for a well house and water storage for community water system (including agriculture). Water is not connected to any structures because it is not freeze protected yet.
Access (road) to the lower part of the land is roughed in and drive-able, but not at final grade or in final location. There is infrastructure work to do under where the final road goes before it can be completed.
Significant quantities of compost and soil have been produced and collected - ready to be used for agricultural purposes. Gardening areas are not yet created (currently limited areas with solar access for growing vegetables). The soil needs to be put into use to keep it "alive" in the meantime.
Finances
The property is currently debt free, and I'm intending to keep it that way. Debt causes decisions to be made based on money, and I'd prefer decisions be made based on the integrity of the concepts. Debt free also has an element of a protective buffer from the larger economy.
Finances have been the major hold back keeping progress from happening, but that is slowly changing. More capital could move things faster, but faster is not necessarily better. I'm not really looking for an "investor" - Investors need to make an income, and in one way or another that turns over control of the project to the investor.
Financial transparency: the project needs to produce enough income to support the forward progress of the project AND support me in my aging years.
Unified ownership (single owner) of entire property (farm w/ inset residential sites) to maintain the integrity of the vision. More on "Unified ownership" below.
Some housing may be partially covered for core community “staff”. I'm skeptical of "work trades", and more interested in more of an "invested interest" of their own income earning potential by the community members who are partially supported. I.e. the farm manager produces their own profit from the farm - initiative for them to work effectively.
Some housing as short term agri/eco tourism rentals (likely a primary income to support the project) - the farm element will likely be doing well to just support itself for a while.
There is an "unplugging" from the matrix (the status quo financial system) intended with this project, but it still has to function within the larger whole that is run by that financial system.
Unified ownership model of entire property (farm)
The intention is that there be one single owner of the land in order to keep cohesion of the community over time. Thereby a departing community member can't sell their parcel to just anyone (whose interests are not in alignment with the community). Tiny home rental communities seem to be an up and coming trend. This one has an added element of an agricultural theme - healthy food to support the health of the community members. This single owner concept is a "benevolent dictator" concept. We tend to only study the power hungry/ greedy governments in history, but I believe there have been many civilizations with a governing individual/couple who actually has the best interest of their people at heart. What factors made that possible? How to select the next owner when its time to pass ownership?
One of the biggest challenges of this concept is that people with "homesteader" mentality seem to have a common desire for autonomy. "You can come live and work on my farm", not the other way around. Potentially this will steer the concept more towards just a rental community within a farm, but there is still hope for something more. How do we attract and retain the right kind of people to make it flourish?
Already, even here in Buncombe county (otherwise "unfriendly" to tiny houses), there seems to be an exception to allow tiny homes (2?) on farms. (Presumably with the excessive septic requirements of 2 bedroom septic system and reserve septic system for each tiny home?). I've not yet looked into what the regulations are around this tiny house allowance on farms.
Individual land owners tend to sell to the highest bidder when their lives change and they need to sell. Its just the way it is, and its understandable - they have to buy in somewhere else. Lack of individual ownership by community members means there will be some sort of a rental fee to cover infrastructure and upkeep and some actual income for the property owner. There is potential for this to be less than the going rate for rentals depending on the organization of how individual community members are contributing to the community. Bottom line is that the whole project needs to be profitable (not just a break even proposition). In its crudest form, its just a rental community, but the idea is to make it a real community.
From my viewpoint, group governorship quickly gets messy and bureaucratic, and causes conflict and factions / separation in the group.
With a single owner/ decision maker, the primary decision maker must do it in a way that is appealing for the others to want to live here - listen to their needs and or everyone leaves.
The intention here is to protect the concept of the neighborhood as a agricultural/ homesteading community. What happens when the owner is "aging out" (or dies), or the farmer? (Could be 2 separate people.) The idea is to not sell the farm to the big city investor for their profit focused intentions when the farmer gets old enough that they are no longer able to farm. It seems like it involves some form of it not being the "investment" for the owner, which would need to be recovered in order to leave and go do something else. Some brainstorming is desired on a model to transfer ownership of the farm to the next owner. Maybe the primary farmer seems like a likely candidate, but it needs to be someone with "community skills" and vision, and long term planning - financial and otherwise. Historically, "family farms" are passed to the next generation who was raised on the farm and knows the ins and outs of the farm - until it gets in the hands of one that doesn't manage it well, or the worth as a non farm outweighs the worth of the farm by enough that the owner sells out.
Residents/ community members in general would benefit from a sense of security in being able to stay where they are as they age and not have to sell their assets to go live in a nursing home somewhere. (It may require some mobility conscious housing features for the aging, but my expectation is that mobility will be less of an issue when the aging population continues to "belong" and hopefully have opportunity to be active - verses cast out to the nursing home.) Built in "real" neighbors who intend to look after each other are part of the vision. How do we facilitate that? Aging in place - elders and children both respected and valued as part of the community.
Passing the property off to heirs does not seem appropriate. Who's to say that the heir is the most qualified to be the new chief of the village? Somehow, maybe the community members can offer input into the transfer process to influence the owner to make the most appropriate choice possible when making the transfer. One option seems to be some form of a "chief in training" element - often offspring of the current chief, but offspring piece seems unnecessary - particularly when not producing more people is a choice that this person has made.
Major legal documents dictating how the process works seem burdensome and scary too.
There is not currently a specific model for transfer of ownership in place. Input/ fresh ideas from others on this topic is desired. The idea is to set up the transfer of ownership/leaderhip to a single person (most likely a community resident) whose intention is to maintain the integrity of the community. A more desirable model of ownership transfer would provide some security for those invested in making the community happen - that they won't lose their living space when such a transfer happens. I'm not interested in group ownership or a "Board of directors" which makes it difficult to make even small decisions, and a lot of time gets taken up in meetings. I want the focus to be on Life and a health supportive lifestyle. I'm not versed in ownership options, but from what I've heard so far, some sort of a trust seems to have potential.
What Doesn't Work
What does not work: The financial system, the health care system, the agricultural system, the education system, child rearing in today's world, elder care, human rights...
This project is largely a response to things that do not work, and an effort to move towards something that does. We can't change the systems by continuing to do the same things we've been doing. And there are plenty of options to do something different that still doesn't work, so there will need to be attentiveness to what elements are working well or not, and how different elements need to fit together. And some flexibility to make changes when they need to be made.
The distribution of wealth is a big piece of what doesn't work. The divide between the exceptionally wealthy and even the working middle class is growing. It has long been the case that impoverished people have big challenges finding housing. Now there are working middle class people who cannot afford a home (neither as a rental or as an ownership model). There is a growing number of middle class people becoming homeless.
Over population is a major contributor. There is simply not enough land to support everyone who aspires to the homesteading concept to get their own land. Land is a limited resource, and the more people are competing for it the more the price goes up. This community concept is an opportunity to better utilize a piece of land to serve more people by optimizing the use of the land.
We tend to separate "where we live" and "where we get our food". (Out of sight, out of mind.) Farms are continually sold off to developers for housing developments - continually decreasing the amount of land available for growing food, all while increasing the population and increasing the need for more and more food.
It is generally believed that you need flat land to grow food. Yes, its preferable, but that land is more expensive. Up and coming farmers can't afford land to farm on. Here in Western North Caroline we live in the mountains. Other cultures grow food on sloped land - sometimes its even steep slope. They often use terracing, which can be labor intensive - native Andes Indians (extinct) being an inspiration here.
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What I'm offering to bring to this project
General Traits
Integrity
Strong work ethic/ "hard worker"
Very "intentional" about what I do
Detail oriented
Focused
"Out of the Box" thinker
Creative
Problem solver
Researcher
Construction Skills
Over 40 years of residential construction and development experience, including remodeling & new construction, since 1981 (w/ minor commercial experience).
4 year degree in construction management.
Wide range of “hands on” experience in most construction trades (and have many tools to do work in most trades.)
Supervisory experience as a project manager, as well as a crew foreman (training inexperienced workers and inspiring them to be part of a team)
Agricultural Skills
10 years of hands on Organic Agriculture as a volunteer under the guidance of Susan Sides at nearby community food bank garden, The Lord's Acre (now Root Cause Farm). Susan is a respected master gardener (origins with the original Mother Earth News Project in Hendersonville).
Attending organic agriculture workshops for many years - primarily through Organic Growers School and Mother Earth News Fairs.
Managed a few raised beds for 4 years on site at community garden above.
Composting & soil building experience (both is gardening and forestry environments)
Food preservation experience
Community Experience
I've facilitated a few groups of people in the past under the "benevolent dictator" model - no requirement for them to be there other than the environment maintained to make it appealing for them to be there.
I've been a part of staff housing in a whitewater river guiding community.
I invested over 2 years in ongoing weekly meetings to trying to start a co-housing community, that didn't materialize until the land owner bailed on the group consensus efforts and moved the project forward as a benevolent dictator..
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Outreach - specific needs
The first need is for a few people to join me on this adventure.
The energy of "for" and "with" to energize my motivation. The energy of brainstorming solutions...
Initially it could primarily be some level of socializing.
Anyone currently joining me on site would need to be okay with a somewhat "primitive camping" situation, so it seems unlikely at this point, but not out of the question.
I'm looking for a few like minded people who would be interested in the living situation outlined above. Please contact me if you have interest. And please share with others who may have interest and encourage them to contact me.
Farmer? Of particular interest is someone(s) who are interested in managing the farm element of the community. I have some agricultural skills, but I'll likely need to focus most of my energy on infrastructure and construction for a while (where more of my skills lie). Potentially there is a farmer out there who doesn't have their own land? Chicken farming seems like the most likely starting point for the current land state, and then moving into vegetables and other agricultural options gradually. I'll be open to suggestions.
Networking/ tours of other communities/ facilities to share what works or did not work so well? Please share this post with others who you think may be interested or who may have insights to offer as guidance. (Folks already doing something similar?) I'm not currently looking to hire consultants or people offering services for hire. Financial resources are very limited. I'm looking for people who have passions related to this vision, and would like to network with like minded people.
Waste water treatment experience?
Tiny houses can be moved - there is potential for a system to be designed on "actual gallons per day used" (measured at the well.) There is incentive for the residents to maintain the health of the system - potentially unlike the standard system which is planned around homeowners being ignorant. Maybe there is potential for a wastewater engineer to alter potential system needs based on the ability to move living units away as a solution to a tighter designed system not performing as well as expected - even more incentive for residents to act in the best interest of the system - if they are the water hogs or the septic tank microbe killers they have to leave. (Chemicals dumped into the waste water system kill the living microbes that break down the organic waste products.)
Waste water requirements are a major detriment for the tiny house world and are seriously overkill for the housing need. This is an affordable housing issue. There is a "two bedroom" field requirement for even a "studio" tiny house. Each bedroom is expected to be for 2 people who each use 100 gallons of water per day which then needs to be treated. That's 400 gallons per day of field required for each tiny house - very unlikely to have 4 people in it, and even in conventional housing, very unlikely that one person uses 100 gallons of water per day these days. There are also ways to improve the water quality of the effluent exiting the septic tank - to improve the capacity of the field. I don't know of any waste water engineers who are doing anything beyond what has always been done. Anyone know someone who works "out of the box"?
The current plan is to use septic, but some sort of onsite treatment would change how the land can be utilized. The downside of course is the upfront cost of such a treatment system, and how/when to allocate resources for that, and of course ongoing upkeep.
I don't know what is out there, or what other people are doing. I'm pretty sure Acony Bell in Mills River (tiny house community) has a waste water treatment plant of some sort. I would love the opportunity to get a tour from the owners if someone could hook me up with that. Or any other similar community waste water treatment options.
Any progress made in the area of wastewater treatment would be instrumental in moving the entire tiny house movement forward. The frustrations I'm expressing above are common for many who want to do similar things. This would be a good place for a community minded benefactor to invest financial resources to benefit society as a whole.
Experience with how trusts work (or other potential land ownership models?)
Micro housing?
Sometime relatively recently there was something with Asheville approving micro housing - presumably an exception to the square footage requirements of the building code. Anyone with experience who can report on how this worked out?