Anabaptist Ecovillage!
Reasons for Jamesport, MO. 64648
1: Land is still reasonable/affordable and farm-friendly!2: Has the 6th largest Amish Community in the US (and other Anabaptist's)!
3: It's near a State Forest, w/woods to hunt (whitetail/turkey), and many area lakes to fish!
4: Close to Kansas City (1.5 hrs) and Des Moines (2.5 hrs); both with major Farmers Markets!
5: Less severe winters compared to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Wisconsin or Michigan Amish!
6: Our Brethren in Christ have been assembling there for a Century (that network is built)!7: An established Equestrian culture; accepting of buggies; bicycles; walking!
Become part of the largest and oldest Intentional Community on Earth!
AE was birthed well before the cultural (economic/political) trials now being witnessed. The clouds were building some years ago, but we could not pull together enough of Gods Elect to make this happen: Perhaps now it's time! This is not a response to paranoia; if you're desperate for, or because of, being invested in the world, this may not work for you either. We are the Body of Christ; a slow-growing collective of Christ-Centric people's of all backgrounds, creating a new paradigm of an old Intentional Community! God is calling His Elect to gather together, and so the decision about "where to be" was made to settle in/around Jamesport MO; to be near the other Radically Reformed; Anabaptist's! The lifestyle will be defined as modest and Simple Living! Ultimately, the land and the region can be changed if the core group (still being formed) collectively decides upon another area; that other area would have similar traits to those mentioned herein! I see the area from Southern Iowa to Northern Arkansas (and from Kansas to Kentucky) as being the ideal region! The supreme goal (the bigger ideal) will be to make/create a Transition Town; a Slow City; a Car-Free City, either from scratch, or by transforming and/or resurrecting a local small town! But the start will be our own Village Community. AE is not an established Community, but a forming one: Thus, we're open to another similar location/situation! Also interested in being "Land Trust Eco-Caretakers": To live on & manage a designated Land Trust entity, securing a natural habitat!
No matter what else happens economically or otherwise; or, where you're at, people have to eat: The main things humans need to survive comfortably and healthfully, are real food, clean water and warm safe shelter. Next to that is renewable energy! If you grow/build/provide these things, you'll never be out of work! These are recession-proof! The unemployment rate among all Amish, is near-zero: Microeconomics at its finest! But we do not need to be Amish, to be Amish! What I mean is, the Amish are not a club to qualify for. The Amish, for the most part, treat all their neighbors as Christ commanded. Anabaptist's (including Amish) believe in lifestyle evangelism; that is, we are what we do, and no more! Anabaptist's are not typically evangelical; we have nothing to sell or to convince others to believe. Only God can change humans, and only within human volition (John 15). AE will not intend to join the Amish church (or any organized religion), though anyone is surely welcome to do so. We will be the English Amish (for lack of another title)! The Old Order Amish and Mennonites in Daviess County will be our Community Brethren; we'll live much like them, in that, we will join them in utilizing horse and buggy (for local travel), living off-grid and simple. Perhaps we could share a biofuel vehicle for hauling (people & cargo) on roadways/freeways! We will grow/raise/hunt/fish all our own foods organically, and sell excess at Farmers Markets. We will buy, sell and trade local, and also build/construct, but within an eco-centric paradigm. Anabaptist's are typically more Monastic than Evangelic (but not religious fanatics; non-xenophobic). Your children can attend local Mennonite schools if you do not home-school. Future projects can be to buy more land to use to minister to others trapped in the world and its pernicious ways; perhaps as a retreat, or a camp, a shelter; to teach others how to live without a hand-out. This is just a summary, for more details read on (and please, don't be impulsive); click links/logos here, read, ponder & pray before contacting! There's no utopia in here! But it will be blessed!