How to Achieve My Dream

[genuinelyloverly7]

Hello All- I have had a dream for over 15 years; to go back to the wooded property I grew up on, and turn it into an artists and eco retreat.

 

My challenges:

1. No funds to speak of, but I am willing to do manual labor myself, and offering room and board to those others who can camp there and help me build it... I am also into recycling things! So I figured with enough ingenuity I can make it work... but I am also realistic, and know I cannot do it all myself, nor do I know everything. Any ideas or comments?

2. The neighborhood I grew up in, while rural, is tragically infected with meth and the fallout thereof. My friend who lived there to protect the property from vandalism got sucked into it, and my parents are worried I will be in danger if I move back to try to make it into the thing I envision. They would support me more enthusiastically if I had more of a plan to be able to realize it from afar, not having to move there and enmesh myself in that world to change it.

 

Looking for any and all comments, suggestions, and thoughts. Peace

[thefooloftheyear]

Unless you are a trust fund baby, it all sounds a lot like "pie in the sky" to me..

 

Sorry, just being honest

 

I wish you well, though

 

TFY

[genuinelyloverly7]

Thanks TFY (I mean that); I appreciate your honesty. No, I am not a trust fund baby; my parents might have a little to invest into a family venture once it gets going, but I will start it up myself, and with the help of other generous minded and visionary people like myself.

 

I was looking for ideas about how people might see it succeeding...

[clia]

Hello All- I have had a dream for over 15 years; to go back to the wooded property I grew up on, and turn it into an artists and eco retreat.

 

What is an artists and eco retreat? Do you see it bringing in income?

[Eve]

I have a similar idea. It has always been a dream of mine to own woodland and have a business venture there. Plus it would be good to have somewhere away from society to take my future Grandkids. Not to mention a good hide out if there is a zombie apocalypse, lol.

 

Write a business plan in the first instance.

 

Location is key. I can't see how the location chosen will be viable. Work out target audience, competitors and costs etc.

 

You could become a charity? If you know anything about drug rehab you could provide art therapy of some sort maybe? The land would provide space for clients to learn various skills too. Drug rehab is a messy business though. I did that for a while but have had little to do with meth - that did not catch on over here much.

 

Write the plan and seek out small business support links.

 

Dreams are good.

 

Take care,

Eve x

[genuinelyloverly7]

Clia- An artist and eco-retreat in my vision would be 10-15 secluded studio style cabins on the property for artists to live and work on their art in a natural (see:inspiring/relaxing/?) setting, with a shared studio space to use and communal gardens and kitchens. The eco would be the minimal impact lifestyle of the place. Financially, we would be self sustaining from the beginning, it is the scale that will change (grow) to encompass more things to involve the community.

 

The income I think would start with me just supporting myself (I'm a baker, chef, and caterer- all raw-vegan as well as classic styles) and starting to slowly repair the place. I am asking friends of people they might know who need a place to stay and/or work on their art. In exchange for a place to stay, use of the garden and facilities they would help with the repairs and building of said gardens and more eco-friendly and cabin-accessible facilities: a composting toilet, rain buckets and irrigation lines and such... even advisory positions are welcome to be filled if you can prove your knowledge in some way. I'd even love a videographer to come film the growth process.

I guess my only hesitations here is how to screen all the folks trying to 'apply' to come out (I am being optimistic here!). I'm not trying to bring people who are just going to take advantage of the secluded nature of it all to do whatever they want.

 

Eve- I have written business plans, that probably need re-editing or updating, but is basically sound; just lacking hard comparative data. As to the location, I figured if we can eventually get it nice enough (and fenced in, I guess) and marketed well enough, a short drive through a neighborhood that is a little... low income, won't be that bad.

The meth problem I mentioned is more about my living there essentially alone, with meth-heads in the neighborhood, even though it is only a few overall in comparison to the actual population. In relation to the 'clients,' I won't deny that it is hard to negate the overall impact of it. As to the rehab thing; never. I had an addict for an ex-husband and will never go there again. I feel their pain too much.

 

P.S. We've got the ZA covered

[Eve]

Clia- An artist and eco-retreat in my vision would be 10-15 secluded studio style cabins on the property for artists to live and work on their art in a natural (see:inspiring/relaxing/?) setting, with a shared studio space to use and communal gardens and kitchens. The eco would be the minimal impact lifestyle of the place. Financially, we would be self sustaining from the beginning, it is the scale that will change (grow) to encompass more things to involve the community.

 

The income I think would start with me just supporting myself (I'm a baker, chef, and caterer- all raw-vegan as well as classic styles) and starting to slowly repair the place. I am asking friends of people they might know who need a place to stay and/or work on their art. In exchange for a place to stay, use of the garden and facilities they would help with the repairs and building of said gardens and more eco-friendly and cabin-accessible facilities: a composting toilet, rain buckets and irrigation lines and such... even advisory positions are welcome to be filled if you can prove your knowledge in some way. I'd even love a videographer to come film the growth process.

I guess my only hesitations here is how to screen all the folks trying to 'apply' to come out (I am being optimistic here!). I'm not trying to bring people who are just going to take advantage of the secluded nature of it all to do whatever they want.

 

Eve- I have written business plans, that probably need re-editing or updating, but is basically sound; just lacking hard comparative data. As to the location, I figured if we can eventually get it nice enough (and fenced in, I guess) and marketed well enough, a short drive through a neighborhood that is a little... low income, won't be that bad.

The meth problem I mentioned is more about my living there essentially alone, with meth-heads in the neighborhood, even though it is only a few overall in comparison to the actual population. In relation to the 'clients,' I won't deny that it is hard to negate the overall impact of it. As to the rehab thing; never. I had an addict for an ex-husband and will never go there again. I feel their pain too much.

 

P.S. We've got the ZA covered

 

OK, cool.

 

Sorry about the ex.

 

Maybe have well known artists come to give lessons. Or graduates run courses that last for weekends or over a period of time, say 8-10 week courses on various art crafts. This will open the field in terms of varying courses with different scales of cost, as well as being a retreat.

 

You could host special art events where artsy folk can sell there wares also. That will get you known.

 

I go to events like that.

 

H'mm, normal folk tend to be interested in learning crafts so you could pull in numbers that way to ensure you have lots going on during the week as well as when people stay for events and retreats.

 

That could work. The retreat idea (in my mind) would be hard to sustain on it's own.

 

I would also contact Universities and ask how your venture could be off service. This may give new ideas.

 

REALLY hope it works out for you.

 

Take care,

Eve x