SLA “Village” Action Group (focusing on growing intentional sustainable communities in Armidale) is now up and running, with convenors Cathie Lamont, Christopher Gleeson, Eric and Dominique Hopf busily planning some interesting activities, including:
11.30 Sunday 22 May* : a “picnic visit” to a potential village site: the Meads’ 100-acre property at Saumarez Ponds. They will show us their property, share what they have learned regarding different legal structures such as community title, and explore ideas. (Directions at the bottom of this email.)
2pm Saturday 28 May. Visit Joe and Mattie Ho’s Straw Bale house, which is currently on a community title or similar on Castledoyle Rd – details tba.
7pm Thursday 7 July. Contributing to the SLA Monthly Forum on Sharing Resources in a Sustainable Community POSTPONED
Undated Events. Film nights, shared meals, “getting to know you” events tba!
Please join the Village Mailing list via the Action Group website or contact the convenors, to express your interest or suggest other ideas. We are developing a paper on “Growing Sustainable Communities” in Armidale, including some background on intentional communities in Australia. A draft with resources is available from the convenors.
Our property is off the Bundarra Rd heading west towards Invergowrie in the Saumarez Ponds area; however, we are high on a hill overlooking the valley. 8 kms from the saleyards turn right into Marble Hill Rd, in 1 km turn left into Mundays Lane then in 500m on a bend you find the entrance lane. When you get to the bend you will see a stone letterbox and the rural number 208. Proceed up the dirt lane and it’s the last gate on the right.
Information about the property
There are 100 acres just 12 kms from town. The property is chemical free and non certified organic, has 160 fruit trees in the orchard, chooks, sheep and alpacas and good basalt soil for growing vegetables. The orchard is not an old one like some around Arding and Kentucky. It was planted about 20 years ago.
The property already has Development Application status approved as an Eco Farm Stay and Education Centre. As well as the main house there is a mudbrick cottage and approval to build up to nine others. We won’t be following that path, and we are keen to discuss Community title options as Uralla Shire now has Community Title within its planning and approval powers.
Cheers Cathie
