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Episode 400 – How the Holler Neighborhood Works

Today by listener request, I explain how the Holler Neighborhood works as a community, as well as cover some of the history of how we ended up here.

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Icemegeddon Update

Webinar coming up March 6, 2pm CT – Pantry Management Practices with Nicole Sauce

Monday, June 14, chicken processing workshop, 9am

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

  • Road food update, homegrown year
  • Reorganized canned goods
  • Reorganized prepper pantry
  • Sold seed potatoes
  • Found a stash of canned stock
  • The final jar of 2019 green beans will be consumed this week

Operation Independence

  • Function stacking with the addition of a carport
  • Phireon Update

Main topic of the Show: How the Holler Neighborhood Works

People often ask me about how to build community because they see what a great network we have in LFTN and the hear the stories of the Holler Neighbors and wish they had something like that near them. Sometimes it is hard to really say what each needs to do.

This podcast has doubled in size since last year and it is on track to double again this year. That means there are a bunch of you who were not around for the dawning of the Holler neighbors. 

History

  • Moved to the holler & Island Mountain Pat, learned homesteading things
  • The farmers market years and discovery of local organize and permaculture communities
  • The work vs homesteading choices and mistakes
  • Finding TSP and starting to go to events, Zello
  • The advent of the podcast – 1 year to 500 listeners
  • A personal transition from corporate work for my own health, friends
  • Prioritizing relationships, hosting events here, 1st workshop, TN GSD Crew
  • Friends moving to the area — and the development from there

Lessons learned

  • You get out what you put in
  • Make time to go be with people in person
  • Let the community guide itself and set expectations of solutions and positive action rather than bitch fests
  • It will go where it goes

How the neighbors work now

  • Each has their own household, land, etc
  • We talk monthly about what we wish to accomplish
  • Unified by shared values and priorities and the desire to help each reach their happiness
  • Dealing with frustrations and boundaries
  • Communication and connection
  • Efforts do center on the events we do here, as well as producing high quality food
  • Money matters and strategic plan
  • Holler Dollars – the chicken processing workshop

So far we have been successful as a community but that does not mean there has not been frustration, struggles with mental health, financial durres, and arguments. The deal is that we have agreed to open lines of communication, discussion of healthy boundaries, and putting hurt feelings aside to find solutions together as a family. It also really helps that everyone is king of their own castle. I cannot imagine how it would be to have someone telling me what color I can paint my home, etc. 

The Holler Neighbors work because of shared values, love and good will and the most important shared value is that we buy into individual liberty and the non aggression principle — this means that what you do, so long as it does not harm others, is none of my business. As a friend, I will tell you if I see it harming you, but at the end of the day, you can do what you want and I don’t get to stop you. You do you. That is what works — we do not have a bunch of rules. Just mutual respect and supportive friendship. And this community has been empowering to all of us in many different ways.

Make it a great week!

Song: Thanks Dave

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

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