Roman and Ioana
(@AlternativeHouse) explored a small house in France that is part of an ambitious agrarian cooperative.
Amber, the proprietor, relocated to the premises along with three fellow Dutch acquaintances to establish a completely self-reliant way of living. They named their initiative
Garden of Freedom
The collective cultivates goats and chickens and produces watermelons, apples, along with various other crops.
Amber’s residence, stretching 20 feet in length, is situated on 2.5 hectares of land in Normandy. Due to her lack of a television or computer, she requires just a modest solar panel for energy needs. The interior includes a gas appliance.
stove
, a wood-burning stove, and other essentials. She gathers resources from the surrounding area to create homemade tinctures, which helps reduce her reliance even more.
purchasing items at the shop
Amber earns a modest income by assisting a local property owner with horse management for six hours each week.
A fellow team member named Tijn installed a row of trees on elevated ground next to Amber’s house. His aim is for these trees to form swales capable of capturing rainfall and reducing soil erosion. The ultimate plan for the collective is to channel this collected water into a pond situated close to the greenhouse.
Amber invested around $3,300 in the small dwelling and enhanced the inside using reclaimed materials that she figures added an extra $550 to $1,100. Similarly priced was what Tijn shelled out for his tiny abode, though he allocated additional funds toward improvements. A different individual resides within a transformed Citroën food trailer. The collective shares a common primary residence where they can utilize the refrigerator and congregate to dine collectively, engage in game sessions, and view films.
Amber offered some guidance for those considering such an endeavor: “For each property we explored, I would ask myself, ‘Is this somewhere I’d be willing to invest my time?’ As ultimately, the land repays your efforts many times over through abundant harvests.”
vegetables
… I believe it’s crucial to contribute something back to the earth.”
Stream now: Just how detrimental is a gas stove for your home’s indoor air quality?
The Garden of Freedom is a lofty initiative, yet it demonstrates considerable promise.
save money
by residing in a small house
growing your own food
.
YouTube audiences were amazed by what Amber and her companions were up to.
I am greatly impressed by these youngsters. My wish is for them to motivate other youth as well. … Minimal resources are required.
said
one community member.
BRAVE YOUNG PEOPLE, WISHING THEM ALL THE BEST,
said
another.
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A woman converts a 20-foot tiny house into a successful self-sufficient homesteading retreat: “Minimal space is all you require.”
first appeared on
The Cool Down
.
