Written on the West

Today a single phrase has made multiple appearances: self-determined.  It is defined as “the free choice of one’s own acts without external compulsion; and especially as the freedom of the people of a given territory to determine their own political status. It can also be defined as the ability or power to make decisions for one’s self, especially the power of a nation to decide how it will be governed. In other words, it is the right of the people of a nation to decide how they want to be governed without the influence of any other country.”

One step further: “Self-determination is most often exercised through secession, which occurs when persons in a country or state declare their independence (read: autonomy) from the ruling government. When a dissatisfied group secedes, it creates its own form of government in place of the former ruling government. Secessions are serious maneuvers that lead to, or arise from, military conflict.”

As PLAND gains momentum, Im thinking more and more about intentionality and specificity; add self-determination and I feel the rumblings of a perfect storm.

Keeping in mind that autonomy is the driving force behind self-determination (and therefore succession) my primary interests are the distinct correlations between self-determination, position (physical location and mental attitude), and territory (land ownership and nomadic pursuits).  

Recognizing the distinction between greater autonomy or self-determination for a geographic region and that of personal autonomy, for the moment I will focus on the personal. The next few posts will address the primary interests listed above, starting with:

Autonomy

Im currently re-reading a book that is now about 10 years old, Space Site Intervention, yet newly absorbing some rather poignant writing, as often happens with re-reading.  Author Erika Suderburg identifies a set of desires that is made apparent in the space of deserts – the desire to be alone and a desire never to be alone again (pg. 135, writing specifically in reference to the desert dwellings of John Divola’s photography series Isolated Houses, pictured above).  Keeping Suderburg’s sentiment in mind, I wonder how this dual desire for autonomy is revealed as acts of self-determination are carried out.

The first question to answer is: Autonomy from what or whom? Currently, I consider aspects of PLAND to be actively seeking multiple answers, as well as providing resources to form or identify alternative allegiances (personally yes, but the personal is political).

Logo-a-Go-Go

Thanks to Nina Elder, amazing artist and PLAND co-founder, we have a logo!

Aint PLAND grand?

PLAND is an off-the-grid program that supports the development of experimental and research-based projects in the context of the New Mexico Taos mesa.   

Cob house building

So.  When someone asked me today, “Do you know how to build a cob house?” I really, truly thought they meant with corn cobs.  Thank you Marcella from Last Organic Outpost, and Google, for informing me that cob is actually an incredibly strong and sustainable building material made of straw, clay/sand, and water – similar to adobe.  Check the SHELTER page for lots of related links. YouTube also has an array of How To videos.

The walls of a cob house are generally about 24 inches thick and provide excellent thermal mass keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer (fairly certain this is an example of passive solar heating). Plus, it seems pretty easy to build with and allows for individualistic styles – everything from Danish modern-esque to Smurf-like.  Cob can withstand the elements too, including heaving wind and rain.  You can even re-shape your house if you want a change or need to make a repair.  Im looking forward to learning how to build a cob structure during one of Last Organic Outpost’s upcoming work events. More on that in future posts. 
  Cob house built in Devon County, England, 1539.

 Cob house, Mayne Island, approx 2002.

Check out Ziggy, a 25 year old who documented his entire cob house building process – at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage in Missouri! And check out his Flickr pages.  Unreal.  His site also has some great resources and links.

Some examples are a bit too stylized and even garish for what I envision wanting or needing in the desert.  However, cob offers yet another very realistic and energy efficient way to use inexpensive (basically free) natural materials to build shelter, with super cool style as a bonus.  Here is a slideshow of cob and other earthen buildings in New Mexico.  The photos below are maybe more what I have in mind.  

 Notice the cob ovens in the foreground.

PLAND

During a productive weekend in New Mexico, my collaborators and I have named what it is that we are “doing.”  As we made plans for our land, we were able to articulate a mandate:
 

PLAND 
Practice liberating art through necessary dislocation
 

The name is inseparable from our activities, and we are of the opinion that it strongly communicates our intentions.

I was reminded once again that my collaborators are such amazing women.  They are strong willed yet flexible, focused yet open-minded; therefore the ideas and planning came easily.  I am so lucky to have the benefit of their practical experience building, working, and planning. And the level of mutual respect, admiration, and consideration we have for one another is priceless.  Best of all?  All of this is really, really challenging and really, really fun.

The three of us seem to share a common vision that PLAND will adopt an artist residency model as an integral way to engage and realize our concept. We each have personal ideas about how this model will take shape. One strong idea that we discussed briefly was the “project-based” residency as a communal approach to meeting the most pressing needs and attainable short term goals while creating an opportunity for the resident(s) to create, experiment, and produce – for example, one such need/goal is shelter.  Meeting this need also helps us to maintain a presence on the land as well as allowing for visitors and projects/works in process.  These attributes will become more and more important as we work to gain the trust of others on the mesa.  Other projects might address such needs and goals as water, power, and food. 

We are making plans to have activity on the land this summer.  Additional plans for creative fundraising and resourcing are also in the works.  

(Below is a photo taken from the porch of the cabin where we stayed in Pecos. Its gorgeous and just what I needed to re-charge and re-focus.  How could I NOT be inspired and productive with a view like this?) 

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.

I moved, again (and no, the photo below is not a photo of my new place). In an effort to save money and slowly adapt to a more communal lifestyle,  Im living with a roommate.  So, here I am, home.  Again.

In thinking about home, Im also thinking about homesteading and its contemporary variations. Homesteading means to settle and farm land, especially under the Homestead Act of 1862 - “an act passed by Congress (signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862) promising ownership of a 160-acre tract of public land to a citizen or head of a family who had resided on and cultivated the land for five years after the initial claim.”  The new law required filing an application, improving the land, and filing for deed of title. Anyone who had never taken up arms against the U.S. Government, including freed slaves, could file an application and improvements to a local land office.

Interesting side note: 1862 was a big year for agricultural and land ownership, having both positive and negative effects. Some highlights:

• May 15, 1862 – Lincoln signed a bill creating the United States Department of Agriculture.
• June 19, 1862 – Lincoln signed a bill outlawing slavery in U.S. territories, ending the specter of the spread of slavery into areas likely to be settled by Northern-sympathizing homesteaders.
• July 1, 1862 – Lincoln approved the creation of a transcontinental railroad by signing the Pacific Railway Act.
• July 2, 1862 – Lincoln approved of the Morrill Act which created a national land-grant college system.

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ended homesteading. A brief introduction to the Homestead Act, including criticisms, can be found here.

So, what does homesteading mean today?  Everything from composting in your apartment kitchen to digging your own well.  I admit it can be a bit annoying to hear urban gardening discussed ad nauseam by hipsters.  But I cant help but be impressed when I meet people who have found ways to incorporate homesteading methods into their daily lives.

So lets start simply with this video by Erik Knutzen, his book, and his partner’s blog.  I have great respect for this pair of urban homesteaders and am enjoying learning from their experiences.

Recent findings

First: Thanks to some great friends Ive learned about Leisure Learning, “a Texas corporation designed to enhance Houstonians’ lifelong learning opportunities.” This seems like a very appropriate place (for me especially) to start learning about things like basic construction, generating my own power, plumbing, and more.  Ive signed up for several classes and will be posting my findings on the pages of this blog.

Second: Currently reading The Urban Survivalist. This blog caught my attention because I was looking into this affordable shelter option and the blog includes a post and informative comments about it.

Third: Visiting the land in mid October to begin strategizing with my cohorts.

Foxfire

…still listening to Calexico – music that is fitting for desert thinking, wrestling with spirits, etc.  Speaking of spirits, you might want to read about moonshining and faith healing recently posted on the SPIRITS page.

The spirit today is restless and eager for what lies ahead – but what lies ahead depends on what happens today.  So Im setting out to acquire new skills, learning mostly by reading books as I slowly find opportunities to put these skills to work.  Additionally Im learning to balance life as I know it know with the life to which I am transitioning  - taking care of my daily responsibilities and obligations while looking for ways to overlap actual current experiences with anticipated future scenarios.

A challenge at the moment is not knowing quite where to start – Basic construction?  Gardening?  Making my own electricity?  Right now we have land with no shelter, no plumbing, and no electricity.  But who knows what we will be able to accomplish in the next couple of years and how can I help with that? What Ive resolved myself to do is gain a wide range of skills to be self-reliant, drawing from wilderness survival and urban disaster, complimented with basic homesteading skills such as gardening, simple repairs, etc. This learning will be posted in the pages of this blog.  And since I will need some way to make money while living out there, I will need to make sure Im clean, healthy, and somewhat presentable for employment!  

Questions Im currently trying to sort out, so that I have a better idea of where to begin and how to prepare: What is the weather like? What elements will I contend with?  What resources are nearby? Who is my nearest neighbor?  

As Im gathering these answers, Im beginning with The Foxfire Book(s) for initial “how to” instruction and living off the land, “and other affairs of plain living.”  Even though these books are based on Appalachia mountain living, which is of course different from the area I will be living, the stories and instructions are still very worthwhile.

New Mexico land scam at 1962 Seattle World’s Fair

Im learning that areas of New Mexico were originally part of a land scam at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair (Century 21 Exposition). Although difficult to find reliable information as of yet, I have read about several people’s related disappointments and frustrations. But I couldnt be more intrigued by it all.

The gist: At the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the Great Southwestern Land Company and company president Robert N. Golugin gave away Taos County/Las Piedras area plots of land as door prizes, in a lottery drawing of sorts.  Winners were notified by certified mail that they had won a free lot and could obtain a deed by sending the amount of the closing costs. Turns out that registered applications were culled, and award letters varied in wording and descriptions – in essence, mail fraud – with additional misrepresentations in regard to the availability of water, electricity, and phone service. Confusion, discrepencies, and misrepresentation ensued especially concerning land claimed, deeds awarded, etc. End result: “The ultimate issue is that of intent and it was resolved against the defendant by the district court which found that he acted with intent to defraud and that the scheme was ‘reasonably calculated to deceive persons of ordinary prudence and comprehension.’”

Read the 1968 Robert N. Golubin, Appellant, v. United States of America court case.
Watch Century 21 Calling, 1962 Seattle World’s Fair promo video. (credit: Prelinger Archives – woot woot!)

Rumor has it that no title company will insure the land because of the scandal and no decent real estate agent will touch it. Im curious about the difference between a deed and a title and how a person is protected as a true land owner – especially if someone is going to invest time, energy, and resources into truly building something, physical or otherwise.

If anyone has information about probate court, real estate law, property laws, etc. please comment.

Tres Piedras

Las Tres Piedras, New Mexico, is located in northwestern Taos County and is a Class Code US 6 – a populated place that is not a census designated or incorporated place having an official federally recognized name.  It has a land area of 739.8 square miles, an elevation of 8081 feet, and in 2007 the population count was 1054.

In this early stage of researching the area, Ive learned that the eastern horizon is defined by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  West of the Taos Gorge Bridge is the “Earthship Landing Zone” a concentrated area of alternative housing – curious shelters that are self-sufficient and self-sustaining. I dig the way they look and will be learning (and posting) more about how they are built and how they function.

This land is your land, this land is my land…

Thanks to Erin (aka Red Legacy) for posting about our recent collective purchase of land.  With the help of dear friends, some due diligence, and a bit of maverick spirit Erin, her sister Nina, and I are dreaming big.

Our plot: