Grant's Journal

Educating a Community to become self-sustaining

I just viewed a youtube video that I suggest everyone take a look at along with the many other wonderful videos produced by peak moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajqgOCxGEAo&sdig=1

Here at the village, we continue to stay focused on building a self-sustaining community. Part of that effort is reaching out to the surrounding rural community that is rich in sustainable resources and culture.

I think independence day should be symbolic of our need to become resourcefully independent of our brittle, oil dependent world. On the evenings of July 4th and 5th, we will be screening some educational videos on how to become self-sustaining and engaging folks in conversation about proactive measures we can and are taking here at the village.

If you are interested in coming, send me an email or give me a call.

Amphitheater, Community & Movie Reviews

As some of you know, I'm an unabashed movie lover. I got my start when I worked for Blockbuster Video years ago doing international development in places like Japan, Brazil and Thailand.

Since then I have built several home theaters, one with a small stage. From that experience I learned the power of having an active venue that brings people together for expression, entertainment and education. We regularly invited friends with their families to enjoy a movie and some light refreshments or a barbecue. It frequently amazed and delighted me when, as the adults enjoyed some light conversation and prepared the food, the kids would disappear into the basement only to reappear an hour or so later. They would announce that they had put together a skit and wanted us all to come down to the theater to watch them perform. What a joy that was! That experience brought us all so much closer together.

We began to actively plan our social visits by choosing a short play in advance and doing reader's theater with our friends. It was easy, required no memorization, but brought out new sides of our friends that we hadn't seen and it brought us closer together. Similarly, enjoying a stimulating movie together followed by some discussion created links of mutual understanding.

That's why, as we work to build a close-knit community at the Village, the first thing we built is the landscaping for the amphitheater and a simple stage.

When we have enough people resident on the property to assure some oversight, we will install the large movie screen that we have already acquired and set it up with low power FM broadcast, a projector and media player. Meanwhile, we will temporarily use our smaller 12' screen on an as-needed basis at the amphitheater and in our home, that now boasts a comfortable home theater. We have a standing offer for Movie night at the Millers pending RSVP.

As for content, like just about everything else in our lives, we enjoy being a bit eclectic. Recently I have felt a sense of responsibility to share and educate others about the need to live a sustainable life.

Here are a couple of recommendations for documentaries I have recently viewed that I think do an excellent job of speaking to two of the four important elements of sustainability that are part of our mission, renewable energy and food. You can rent these from Netflix (my current favorite source).

They are:

* The Future of Food: a sobering look at the industrialization and control of our food chain. This one will make you want to start your own garden - soon.

* Car of the Future: A humorous approach hosted by Click and Clack, the tappet brothers of NPR "Car Talk" fame with an optimistic view of what is achievable and already achieved.

How To Multiply Your Good Works For The Planet: Share!

Q: How can I save energy and money around the house and also help the climate?
A: Switch to compact fluorescent lightbulbs.

Q: But how can I do more than that, and have more fun too?
A: Start an eating co-op! Host a sewing circle! Join a car-sharing group! Share stuff!

Many of us are examining our lives to find ways we can reduce our impact on the overheating, overfished, eroded, paved and poisoned planet. Of course there are lots of little things we each can do that will make a small change in our individual footprint, and those are good places to start. But we're realizing that we've reached a time when big changes are called for--and lots of them.

Are we up to it? Well, the good news is that many of the changes we need to make will also improve our quality of life. They don't mean more drudgery and boredom--they mean more companionship, support, freedom, and downright fun. I'm talking, of course, about joining our lives with other people: about community.

More and more people now understand that community and cooperation are a central part of the way forward to a healthier planet and a thriving society. Our communities are even getting positive coverage in places like USA Today and US News & World Report.

Quoted from Communities Magazine

Arts and the University at Sewanee

Here's a link to an article posted in today's The Tennesseean, Nashville's paper.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080427/FEATURES0502/804270306

It highlights how wonderful it is to have the University (locals call it simply "Sewanee" or as it says in the article, the domain) nearby.

Several of you have mentioned the importance of a local arts community like the one around Asheville, NC. The article alludes to several artists in and around the domain, but there are many more tucked away in the nooks and crannies of the larger "mountain community" that includes the towns of Sewanee, Monteagle and Tracy City where we are located.

In case you are wondering about the connection with our name, the Village on Sewanee Creek is some 20 minutes drive from the town and campus of Sewanee. We derive our name from Sewanee Creek that flows through our Village. I added "the Village" to our name completely unaware of the use of the term as it applies to the domain. I just wanted to capture in our name my intense interest in building a strong local, integrated and self-sustaining community. I think the word village best expresses this ideal.

Tennessee Mountain Community

I'm intensely committed to BUILDING a close-knit, self-sustaining community of like-minded, intelligent and resourceful people within the Village on Sewanee Creek.

But there is a sustainable mountain community surrounding the Village proper already in existence. It is filled with highly resourceful people who already know how to live joyfully in good times and hard times in harmony with nature and people. Let me tick off just some of the resources that surround us here.
- Band Saw Mill within 1/2 mile.
- Free Range Cattle within 1 mile.
- Free Range Chickens within 1/4 mile producing free range eggs.
- Bees that produce local honey
- Worm Farm (one of 3 largest in the US) produces worm casting compost for organic gardening (not to mention fishing worms)
- Many small and medium acreage farmers and a well-organized web based farmers market selling everything from organic soap to indigenous herbs and ornamental shrubs to organically grown vegetables and delivering them to your door.
- Greenhouse within 1.5 miles producing sprouts for flowers and vegetables.
- Many skilled craftsmen in masonry, timber frame and traditional construction. Strong Mennonite community in nearby Altamont.
- An artist community within about 2 miles that features experts in welding, glass blowing and pottery.
- Two mid-sized supermarkets, 2 dollar stores and a home improvement center 5 minutes away for every day shopping.
- Outstanding educational and cultural institutions that span Kindergarten to University within 20 minutes.

As we build the Village, it's good to know that a larger wonderful village already envelops us. There is a certain peace of mind being anchored in such a community. We are truly blessed to be in this part of the Tennessee Mountains.

The "New Ruralism"

Whenever I have thought I had an original idea, there are always a bunch of folks out there thinking the same thing. I used to be discouraged when this happened. But I have come to understand that it's just a confirmation that I'm on the right track. It just means that it's the right time for certain things to coalesce in a certain way, so they do, and I'm in tune at the same time other thinking people are.

I just discovered there's a word for what we're doing at the Village. It's called "the New Ruralism". The word was apparently coined at about the same time I began developing the Village on Sewanee Creek.

There is another major trend called "New Urbanism", that I discovered had a lot in common with what we are doing. It's all about old fashioned small town neighborhoods with fairly high population density so that everyone can walk everywhere, surrounded by green space. It's a major trend.

Read more of my BLOG and you'll see that we are all about developing a close knit community connected by foot trails, planned activities and amenities that bring people together surrounded by nature. But there's a big difference. We're not about high density. While the old-time neighborhood community is important to people who come here, they want some elbow room. They want to connect directly with the land. That's why our lots are bigger, ranging on the small side from an acre and a half to 8+ acres in the current phase. It's also why we will have a community garden with an organic coach to help people develop skills and connect with the land while they connect with their neighbors. But each lot will be large enough so that villagers can take their new skills back to their own place and apply them privately on a larger scale. There's a time for community and there's space for seclusion. Most of us need a good mix of both.

Here's how one white paper defines this phenomenon.
"New Urbanism promotes community through planning that mandates the interaction of neighbors designed to recapture the sense of community that was once the defining characteristic of American small town life. The small home sites and close proximity of homes stimulate a sense of community."
"In a New Ruralism setting, participation in community activities is more by choice with privacy options carefully preserved. Larger home sites, often separated by nature preserves or agricultural land, provide a buffer between neighbors. Here the front porch is a place to scan the vastness of your domain." It "provides an opportunity for community of like-minded neighbors, but only as desired."

... And I thought I was being so original when I required large covered porches in our covenants!

Interested in learning more about the New Ruralism? Just Google it. There's a lot written about it even though there aren't many places actually doing it yet. It's nice to confirm that we're on the right track and that there is a handy label for what we're doing.

"Intentional Community" or just an Old-Fashioned Neighborhood?

Much has been written about the "INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY" or "ECOVILLAGE" where like-minded altruistic people band together to create an idyllic, Utopian lifestyle. We intend to enjoy an abundant community lifestyle without the pitfalls.


Despite best intentions, about 90% of these social experiments fail for different reasons including:
- Unclear Vision or Mission
- Common Ownership of assets that creates a crucible of conflict.
- Insufficient resources to accomplish community goals.
- Consensus government without the skills required to manage conflict or reach consensus.
- Unrealistic expectations of a life of simple ease, basking in nature's glory while leisurely tending a communal garden.

History records that most IC's never get off the ground, quickly crumbling into internal bickering and cynicism.

See http://ic.org for some thought provoking insight.

The Villagers of Sewanee Creek believe there's a better model of Intentional Community that simply harks back to an old, proven institution, one that survived the test of time before our unsustainable modern lifestyle of extreme suburban mobility isolated us from one another and blew it apart.

Read the rest of my BLOG and you will see that there are many elements of Intentional Community which we share. So, what's different about our model from unsuccessful IC's and why does it work? In the OLD FASHIONED NEIGHBORHOOD MODEL:

- The burden of common ownership or shared livelihood is not imposed on its members. In its place a good measure of INDEPENDENCE and personal property ownership keeps everyone accountable for their own life.

- It is not a commune of social dropouts, lacking the FINANCIAL RESOURCES to function in the real world. There is a cost of independent ownership that provides a necessary screen.

- Only critical assets that would be unsustainable or impractical to hold individually are held in common.

- GROUP PARTICIPATION in community activities is OPTIONAL, but highly encouraged. It is no longer a burden, but a joyful choice. A conscious effort is made to organize healthy activities using the assets of the Village. The clubhouse is, therefore, not eye candy built to make the development look nice. It has a purpose and is in constant use. The community garden is in place and functioning at the outset so that as people move here, community assets are already actively in use in a scalable fashion. Those who desire privacy and personal space (and who doesn't at times?) are welcome to as much of it as they like. For those who are ready for something other than isolation, it's ready and waiting.

- It would be tempting to call this an "ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY" also a popular model for retiring baby boomers, except that the Village strives to attract people who are (1) DIVERSE in AGE, (2) DIVERSE and ACCOMPLISHED in their TALENTS AND INTERESTS, and (3) want to INTERACT with others to enrich their life experiences IN DIVERSE WAYS; and they take personal responsibility to make that happen. Hence, it is not a specialized golf community although there are wonderful golf courses nearby. Take the word "Adult" out and it's closer to what we are. We are an "Active Community" with a purpose. Hmmm... Maybe we are a hybrid, an "ACTIVE ECOCOMMUNITY"?


What's the GLUE that makes the Village different from your typical suburban neighborhood?

- People who choose to live here are bound by COVENANTS that ensure their love of nature, including the earth and all living things. People with those values tend to care about other people as well. They are the kind of people who go out of their way to help each other.

- People choose to live here because of a clear, articulated VISION that emphasizes the importance of community - caring for other people. They like people. They understand that life is enriched by sharing with other people. They seek to learn from others who have something to share and they enjoy teaching from the wealth of life experiences they have accumulated. They are the kind of folks who might intentionally linger on their front porch at dusk not to miss a neighbor strolling by. They also take comfort that, in a pinch, their neighbors would go out of their way to help, just as they would. And they know that's not an idle promise because people who live here have first made the effort to be INDEPENDENT with things like renewable energy SO THAT they have the personal resources to give back and become INTERDEPENDENT. I call that "PROVIDENT LIVING".


Subtle things, you might think. But then, the best things in life aren't forced, but are the natural outcome of making wise choices about often overlooked simple things. PEOPLE will be either the problem or the solution. And I guess that brings us back to the word "INTENTIONAL". I believe good people of good intent in the right environment are the solution.

Call us what you like. We are simply, the Village on Sewanee Creek.

Is There a Prepared Community Out There?

Pick up today's newspaper and you will likely be hit with news of surging grain prices, "peak oil", changing weather patterns, flooding, drought, economy woes, terrorist threats, war.... Bummer! So, toss the newspaper and just hunker down, right?

At the Village we see a bigger picture. "Being prepared" for life at The Village on Sewanee Creek is made into a full, joyous lifestyle. This "intentional community" plan is based on sustainability, self-reliance, and unity in a drop-dead gorgeous piece of nature in Tennessee where 500 of the 750 acres is set aside for a nature preserve, shared by Village neighbors.

Why Tennessee? While the Village could have been founded anywhere, there's a certain allure about a state that has:
- no income taxes,
- low property taxes,
- low cost of living,
- lush, green woodlands,
- rocky bluffs overlooking canyons and streams,
- and a diverse culture from "mountain folks" who know how to live simply to academia. (The ivy league University of the South is nearby with its rich cultural offerings).

Sustainable living at The Village is an old-fashioned concept with insightful new applications on four levels:

Energy: 10% of the purchase price of a lot up to $10,000 is rebated for building with alternative energy such as solar, geo-thermal or wind.

Food: A community garden is maintained with help from a horticulturist and an organic gardening coach.

Water: Rain water collection systems are encouraged and the rebate offered may also be applied here. Most food storage would be useless without water. Many who have rainwater collection systems are able to be completely independent of municipal water for both household and garden use, even during drought years. Municipal water lines are still available, of course.

Community: The most important thing that distinguishes the Village on Sewanee Creek is the sense of community. Hiking and biking trails wander through pristine woodlands and past waterfalls through the 500 acre nature preserve. A community garden brings neighbors together in America's favorite pastime, gardening. On the cleared bluff is a common area with breath taking views of the canyon and the mountains beyond. An outdoor pavilion and barbecues will welcome you for a picnic or to watch a spectacular sunset, or even to linger for an outdoor movie. A natural rock amphitheater surrounds a stage and large screen where family movies are shown against the backdrop of a starlit sky.

Located between Chattanooga and Nashville, the 750 acre Village on Sewanee Creek is placed in a rural setting, with shopping, restaurants, etc. an easy 5-25 minutes away.

Whether you're looking for your primary residence in a prepared community, a beautifully located retirement or vacation retreat, or a second home safe haven, The Village on Sewanee Creek is an ideal choice. Prices for a two acre lot start in the low $30's. One-of-a-kind home sites feature stunning bluff views, creeks and magnificent waterfalls.

I have seen the world from many angles having spent 30 years as an executive in international business. I've worked in over fifty countries and have seen the way societies all over the world function, noting the ever decreasing self-reliance of our own. My experience with and love for people, cultures and places around the globe were instrumental in developing a unique philosophy on the development of a diverse, healthy, intelligent, intentional community in harmony with people and nature.

All in all, It's not just prepared living. It's joyful living.

The Self-Sustaining EcoVillage

The press is beginning to wake up to something known as peak oil. Check out today's Wall Street Journal for a feature article.

Yes, it's time to wake up and get serious about achieving energy independence on a national scale for many reasons including our economic health, the health of the planet, the human cost of fighting over the remaining fossil fuels, to name a few.

But while we work with civic leaders to change things on a macro level, I've always believed that real change must start with me, where I can make an immediate and meaningful impact. In the short term, my peace of mind and well-being depend on things I can do right now.

That's why I'm building a community of people who are ready to enjoy an abundant lifestyle and to commit to an old-fashioned concept - a self-sustaining village.

Our mission is to become self-sustaining on four levels
* Energy
* Food
* Water
* Community

I don't believe the gloom and doom model is in the cards for those who think and act now. Life should be sweet. Send me an email if you would like to explore what life can be.

Four Mild Seasons in the Tennessee Mountains

It's winter on the Cumberland Plateau - one of my favorite seasons. Sheer, craggy cliffs, shielded from view by the summer canopy have appeared along the bluff, framed by verdant hemlocks and pines. With leaves off the trees, one can appreciate the rolling topography on the plateau top. Winter rains have filled the creeks and the waterfalls roar their approval. Rocks and trees flaunt dazzling green moss and ferns carpet the ground.

Our mild winter temperatures normally range from the low 40s to 60s, but this weeks cold snap will assure that the insect population in summer will be sparse and pleasant. As temperatures return to normal it will be a wonderful time to explore nature's wonders in the Village 500-acre common preserve. Nearby Fiery Gizzard and Savage Gulf are famous hikes in these parts, but they've got nothing on Sewanee Creek Gulf other than they aren't part of a sustainable community.

Bring your hiking boots and let us know when you're coming. We love another excuse to host our friends on a hike through nature.

Education in the Tennessee Mountains

To some, this may sound like an oxymoron.

That depends on where in the Tennessee Mountains. The area around Sewanee is particularly blessed with truly outstanding schools due to the location of the University of the South.

My daughter is a Sophomore at St. Andrews Sewanee School, which is affiliated with the University. Her experience there has been nothing short of inspiring. For gifted kids, the school is challenging and rewarding. www.sasweb.org

At the elementary school level, I recommend the public school located in Sewanee on the University domain. It is filled with the children of college professors and parents from the general community who care deeply about education. GreatSchools.net rates it 10 out of 10. www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/tn/312

With the combination of Sewanee Elementary, St. Andrews and the University of the South, you won't find a more enlightened educational system anywhere.

Just another reason why our Village in a mountain paradise can be a diverse community of ages, cultures and experiences, including working families with kids.

SCCA Presentation - Self-Sufficient Communities and Personal Responsibility

Climate change and yes, drought are big issues here on the mountain as well as elsewhere through the South. What to do about it? You could:
1. Wring your hands
2. Pray for rain
3. Complain to the government about lack of planning
4. Sue a neighboring community or State over water rights
5. Take matters into your own hands and become self-sufficient.

My choices are #2 and #5. I spoke to the South Cumberland Community Association on how individuals and communities can become water self-sustaining.

Here is a link.
http://southcumberlandca.blogspot.com/

Life's Abundance

"Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.
What is called genius is the abundance of life and health."
Henry David Thoreau

On Life and Loving the Land

"If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen."
Henry David Thoreau

What then is a man who loves spending time in the woods and works to preserve nature and restore sheared land to its natural splendor?

Happy.

"Green", "Sustainable" Definition

I found this great definition on Audubon International's Website and was pleasantly surprised to find that their definition emphasizes Community as well as natural preservation.

"Central to achieving our environmental mission is the concept of sustainability. That is: using resources in a manner that meets our present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. To do so, we must foster thriving human communities rooted in ecological integrity, economic strength, and social and cultural integration."

"Total sustainability cannot happen overnight, of course, but must depend on many small steps, collaborative and individual efforts, and political and social will. The principles offer guidance for taking those steps and beginning a journey toward a more sustainable future."

Our Mission at the Village on Sewanee Creek is to become a Self-Sustaining Community.

Highbrow in Appalachia?

One of the things I find unique and love about the Tennessee Mountain Community composed of the Sewanee, Monteagle, Tracy City Triangle is the Highbrow Culture that augments the local down-to-earth culture. How many mountain retreat areas can you name in Tennessee that are anchored with an ivy league University?

Don't believe me? Check out this link that names Sewanee as one of the best places in Tennessee to have a highbrow conversation.

http://www.mydreamlocale.com/Best_Places-education.php

Provident, Self-Sustaining Community Living

I like the word "Provident". It is seldom used or understood but captures much of the philosophy that drives the Village on Sewanee Creek. Dictionary.com defines provident as
1. having or showing foresight; providing carefully for the future.
2. characterized by or proceeding from foresight: provident care.
3. mindful in making provision (usually fol. by of).
4. economical; frugal; thrifty.

Provident people live an enriched life independent of their level of wealth. Their lives are full because they have an uncommon appreciation of truly valuable things - relationships, natural beauty, peace of mind, joy of life. While they are often abundantly blessed financially, they would be equally happy in a financial crisis or living in modest circumstances because they are prepared, mentally, physically and spiritually for life's ups and downs. Life is not about ostentatious living driven by overwhelming debt - the "keeping up with the Joneses" syndrome.

Provident people build networks of provident friends by first being the kind of enriching person that others want to surround themselves with. They are, in turn, enriched. Imagine living in a community of friends who are talented, resourceful, loving and delight in sharing. Because of their provident nature, they are prepared to weather any crisis. The footprint of their lives is a net positive to the entire environment.

I live here in the Village and have a personal interest and commitment to building a provident, self-sustaining Community. I have held these values from my college days when I was inspired by Henry David Thoreau's "On Walden Pond". I'm not a hippie, a vigilante, a conspiracy theorist, a reactionary or extremist of any kind. I just like good, talented people who love living abundantly in harmony with nature and other good people.

Care to join me?

Green, Sustainable Development Incentives

The other day my wife and I were discussing the importance of sustainable, green conservation and construction in the Village. We have already dedicated about 500 acres or 2/3 of the development to a nature preserve, but we agreed that we need to do more.

Here's the plan:

1. We have organized an advisory board of green experts to help us better define and drive green development.

2. The first item on the board's agenda will be to enhance the Village Covenants with construction standards for energy conservation, etc.

3. We will rebate 10% of the lot purchase price up to $10,000 for installation of approved sustainable systems including solar water heating, solar energy, wind energy and rain water collection. Installation must be completed within 12 months of closing.

Looking For Tennessee Mountain Property but worried about Financing? Not a Problem

Many have expressed concern over media hype of a Real Estate melt down caused by the sub-prime lending mess.

Not a problem at the Village. We have established a relationship with outstanding lenders who stuck to their knitting when others were tempted to engage in questionable lending practices. These lenders do not sell off their loans and lend only to qualified buyers. As a result, their loan volumes and access to capital are unfazed in a tight credit market.

Excellent rates with quick processing are available for both land and construction. With great financing available, the timing is right for savvy, qualified investors to take advantage of what many perceive to be a buyers market.

Community Organic Garden

The Village is a GREEN DEVELOPMENT committed to developing a SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

An excellent way to promote both values is by providing a community garden space. Here's how it works.

1. We efficiently do the heavy lifting by tilling the ground of the entire plot.
2. At the beginning of the growing season, each Villager claims and stakes out a portion to tend.
3. We provide a knowledgeable organic gardening coach to help select the herbs and vegetables that will do well in the garden, organically control insects, water and improve the soil.
4. Villagers enjoy developing close relationships, working side by side and sharing their know-how and produce.

the Village on Sewanee Creek is a place where People and Nature are in Harmony. A by-product of this environment is a sense of peace, security and self-sufficiency.

Private Cisterns - A solution whose time has come

Everybody is concerned about and feeling the effects of climate change. The entire South is currently suffocating in all-time record breaking heat and we are in the second year of an equally record-breaking drought.

It has become popular to support carbon emissions reducing initiatives. It's wonderful that people are waking up to the damage we are doing to our planet, but I believe there are things we can do right now that will have a much greater impact on weather change related to the water cycles and will reduce one's dependence on costly government built infrastructure.

Water is increasingly being channeled into large reservoirs to supply large urban environments and, more and more, bottled by big corporations. Doesn't it seem scandalous that you pay more per gallon for bottled water, a free commodity that falls from the sky, than you pay for gasoline? It may not seem so expensive because you don't drink as much water as your car uses and bottled water ends up buried as just one item in your grocery bill. And it has become common knowledge that bottled water is no more pure than what comes from the tap. But most important of all is the environmental cost of bottling and shipping all that water.

On the top of the Cumberland Plateau, water is especially precious. There are a number of large developments that have come to a halt here because their proposed water demands outstrip the supply. Some large, well financed developers continue to promote their product despite the fact that they offer no guaranteed municipal water supply. Homeowners may be forced to rely on wells that are unreliable or yield water laden with iron or sulpher.

The Village does not have this problem. We have ample municipal drinking water and plenty of water pressure for fire protection. But, why waste it when there is such great need everywhere? By installing a simple cistern that efficiently collects rain water from your roof, filters and stores it for later use you can insulate yourself from drought by providing a pure, reliable source of water without the risk of unknown added chemicals.

Cisterns also preserve the amount of water that is retained near the source, where it falls. It only makes sense that keeping the distribution of water more evenly spread instead of concentrating it in cities is closer to what nature intends. As the water is used locally, it is released into the environment to evaporate and return to the water cycle, thus keeping moisture in areas that are otherwise being dried up.

There are a number of good web pages out there that explain how to build a cistern amazingly low costs that can supply a family for extended periods of drought. Having a cistern AND a good back-up municipal water supply is the best of both worlds.

As weather change, extreme heat, cold and drought become an undeniable reality, I think that's what one might call a no-brainer investment, a great insurance policy, and simply intelligent living.

I'll be putting a cistern in at my place. How about you?

Progress Update

Dear Friends,

We've been making steady progress here at the Village, completing amenities and opening a new phase, 1B. The entry sign is almost complete. This week we will be adding the kiln-fired tile face with Sewanee Creek Logo nestled between cut stone columns like those found at the University in Sewanee. It will be a thoughtful reflection of the quality that is being carefully crafted into every aspect of the Village resulting in unsurpassed quality of life.

All the lots on the new phase have 5+ acres with Bluff Views. Two lots in particular are stunning with waterfalls and unique Indian Rock Houses.

I need to correct an error on our brochure. Of the 750 acres in the Village development, there will not be 300 acres in the common nature preserve in the canyon. It is actually 500 acres. That is fully 2/3 of the land dedicated to a natural preserve. With both sides of the deep Sewanee Creek Canyon under Village control, the stunning views will never change and the wildlife there will have permanent sanctuary.

We enjoyed movies on the big screen at the amphitheater over the 4th of July and were treated to a meteor shower that upstaged the fireworks in the bright, clear starlit sky. We all thought it a good omen for things to come. The private community website has been functioning for some months now. Members can call me to schedule a movie at the amphitheater that will show up on the Village private website calendar. We look forward to a time when our residents regularly enjoy each other's company at the amphitheater for all kinds of entertainment. Call or email me if you would like access to the community website, which is now open to prospective buyers and friends of the Village. There are many photos and conversations there that candidly chronicle our progress.

My own house in the Village is nearing completion. Several others are looking to begin construction soon.

I live on site and would be delighted to give you a personal tour. When you come, be sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes so you can enjoy some of nature*s wonders on trails below the bluff's edge.

PS: If I haven't already mentioned it, you can reduce your cost of ownership as we build the community by bringing your friends. There is a $500 bonus when lots sell to someone you introduce.

Give me a call to set up a visit. Even in the heat wave the whole country has been experiencing, temperatures are cooler on the mountain and the mountain breeze makes it a great place to be.

All the best,
Grant

I believe in Love through Community.

This morning, at sunrise, I gazed out across the deep, fog shrouded canyon from the brow of the Cumberland Plateau that has become my home. Nature has a way of restoring moments of profound peace and a sense of well-being. My soul is satisfied for the moment, like drinking deeply from a cold mountain spring on a hot, humid afternoon.

But even here, in God's great playground, my soul hungers for more and I thirst again. I believe He wants more for and from my life. I believe these moments of peaceful solitude have meaning only when imbedded in a greater social context where love and service are actively cultivated and expressed. And that is what must set the Village apart from other places of natural beauty and refuge. Prolonged isolation without the association and love of good people, even in a natural paradise is little better than a prison. That is why the first amenity I built here is a natural amphitheater that will draw people together spontaneously, whether to share a movie on the big screen, or a play or concert, where neighbors can be either spectators or players. It is why the covenants require broad, covered porches on every house. It is why I chose to locate within reach of the University of the South, a great institution of higher learning that focuses on the liberal arts and enriches life across this mountain.

This morning, I happened upon an essay by one of my personal heroes, Albert Einstein (part of NPR*s -This I Believe- series). Einstein was not only a great physicist; he was a profound philosopher and, most importantly, a wonderful human being. Below, I lifted several quotes from this interview.

He said, "Man's ethical behavior should be effectively grounded on compassion, nurture and social bonds.

The individual feels more than ever dependent on society, but he feels this dependence not in the positive sense, cradled, connected as part of an organic whole. He sees it as a threat to his natural rights and even his economic existence. His position in society, then, is such that that which drives his ego is encouraged and developed, and that which would drive him toward other men (a weak impulse to begin with) is left to atrophy.

. . . the education of the individual aspires to revive an ideal that is geared towards the service of our fellow man, and that needs to take the place of the glorification of power and outer success."

I couldn't have said it any better. But I wish to create a place where our connection to society becomes Einstein's "positive sense, cradled, connected, part of an organic whole".

Upon enjoying my thousandth sunrise in the village, I believe that the truly renewable source of energy that will keep me alive to the natural beauty that is here will be greater than the view, greater than the majestic ancient hemlock trees that I love, greater than the thundering waterfalls that cascade to Sewanee Creek below. It will be the shared love of good neighbors that will keep me from the dull ennui of spirit that comes of boredom even with nature*s grandeur.


You can enjoy Einstein*s entire essay at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9881828

Telecommuting from your Tennessee Mountain Property may get even better

As I noted in a prior entry, I chose this location partly because it is strategically located for road warriors who can use well-placed airports and internet connections to retreat from the congested, polluted, stressful urban lifestyle.

We already have broadband internet here at the Village, soon to have fiber optics direct to the house. We are strategically located within about 1:30 from Nashville International airport and about 45 minutes from the Chattanooga airport. So, I'm convinced that this is the place to be.

An article in today's Atlanta Journal caught my attention because it could make air commuting even easier. Chattanooga is being considered for expansion to regional hub status to take the pressure off of Atlanta's Airport. Having lived in Atlanta's Gwinnnett county, the airport drive usually exceeded one hour across town, so a 45 minute drive through pristine forests and across beautiful Nickajack Lake to Chattanooga is a major lifestyle improvement.

Check out the link below.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2007/07/29/airport_0730.html?cxntnid=biz073007e

Amphitheater Inauguration: Movies on the 4th

We just enjoyed a family reunion over the 4th with barbecue and movies on the big screen under the stars at our lovely amphitheater on the bluff. For those of you who have requested information via this website, my apologies for the slow response, but we've been busy this week just enjoying life with loved ones.

Our surveyor just discovered a huge new cave on Sewanee Creek at the bottom of the canyon. We had wanted to explore it during the reunion, but ran out of time. That adventure will just have to wait for another day.

The Bluff Lots are Here!

Today, I am announcing the pre-sale of seven additional lots in a new phase (1B) at the Village.

Each of these bluff lots is truly spectacular. Deep woods, old growth trees, bluff views. Two of them feature waterfalls and one-of-a-kind Indian Rock houses. They range in size from 5 to 8.5 acres. All have direct access to the 500 acre forever-wild private preserve in the deep Sewanee Creek Canyon.

Several of you have said you were waiting for the bluff property to come on the market. Well, it is here and at prices you will not see again. Email me for lot descriptions and prices.

A recent acquisition of land adjacent to Browns Hollow Road makes it possible to reconfigure the plat and immediately offer these large beautiful estate lots. The new phase 1B lots are located at the far western end of the development.

You can view an overlay of the village in 3 dimensions on actual satellite photos using Google Earth. You will be able to see any lot from space or from a low angle deep in the canyon, explore the bluff line or zoom in on the amphitheater. Email me for the Village GoogleEarth Map and if you need help installing the Google Earth viewer. I will be happy to walk you through the installation.

PS: Any of you who do not yet have and would like access to my private website, filled with additional photos, downloadable files and interactive discussions may request a password by email. The private site is for people who are seriously interested in learning more and participating with the Villagers who are actively shaping our community. You will find there the most recent pdf file plat (too huge to email).

Life in the Village

After a recent visit, my friend, Kerry Clay, wrote down his vision of life in the Village on Sewanee Creek. I think he did a nice job of capturing it, so I'd like to share it with you.

"It's Saturday morning and what are we going to do today?

We could watch the beautiful sunrise across the mountains from our back porch.
We could take the trail down the gorge to see how much water is flowing from Swallow Tail Falls.
Let's take the east trail today that goes under Miller Falls. We might just go all the way down to the caves.
There's a deer and look at those wild turkeys. They will always be here because of over 500 acres of nature preserve that all of us share in common.
Let's wade the creek and look for natural treasures.
We could go down to the caves on our ATVs; we have an easement to hundreds of acres of 4-wheeler trails nearby.
Oh, these trees are magnificent, tall oaks, hickory, hemlock, maple and walnut. The ferns, mountain laurel, redbud and dogwoods, the hoot of an owl or cry of a hawk.

The big game is tonight and we have the amphitheater reserved. We'll have steaks and ribs, burgers and dogs, on the bluff under the stars. Watching the game in high definition on the huge amphitheater screen will be better than being at the stadium.
I am amazed with our fiber optic communications systems for phone, computer and TV.

Last night we all rented a DVD and watched a great movie.
With the canyon view as a backdrop, the fire ring aglow, stars and full mountain moon. What a beautiful night it was.

We love the feeling of community here, sharing our big covered porch with close friends, our neighbors. Drop by anytime for a visit. Let's try that new cake recipe with coffee and fresh strawberries from the village garden ......mmmmmmmm it's better out here.

There's just something very special about our Village Called 'Sewanee Creek'".

Natures Power to Restore

A little over a year ago I left corporate life and soon thereafter purchased this large tract of pristine land on the Cumberland Plateau and moved to the mountains to develop the Village.

In the process I lost about 25 pounds and believe I gained back about 25 years of life. When faced with challenges and discouragement a short hike in the woods or sitting quietly by a waterfall in contemplation of God's creations restores my soul.

Reading this morning from Walden by Henry David Thoreau I came across a profound statement. "I am convinced both by faith and experience that to maintain one's self on this earth is not a hardship but a pastime, if we will live simply and wisely; as the pursuits of the simpler nations are still the sports of the more artificial. It is not necessary that a man should earn his living by the sweat of his brow; unless he sweats easier than I do."

Having moved to the Village, I often sweat as I enjoy working to build something beautiful. As a "hands-on" developer I do so by choice. Most days you can find me somewhere on the property enjoying its natural beauty.

The only thing I enjoy as much as the land is showing it off. I hope you will feel free to drop by. A little advance notice is always appreciated, but I'm never too busy to enjoy a visitor whether for an hour or for the rest of your life.

Why you should move to our Village in the Tennessee Mountains

This morning I received a very long inquiry filled with all the right questions. I thought my answers might be useful to anyone interested in the Village. Here is my response:

Dear Shirley,

Yes, you more than answered my questions. It sounds like you may be exactly the kind of neighbors I would like to live near. I will try to answer with some of the depth of detail you gave me.

As you probably read on my website, I am just now breaking ground on my own home in the Village. As soon as it is finished I will be moving my family here permanently from the Louisville Kentucky area. I have 5 kids with one still at home who is 14. She will be attending St. Andrews. It is a GREAT school. Although we are in a remote, naturally beautiful area, we are blessed with the presence of St. Andrews and the University of the South, both outstanding liberal arts schools. Even if your kids do not choose to attend one of these, you will enjoy the cultural benefits of great orchestras, plays, lectures, poets and art that this brings to the mountain.

If you like four very moderate seasons, the weather here could not be better. We are about a thousand feet higher than Chattanooga which lowers the humidity and the temperature about 10 degrees in the summer. We have frequent breezes, but NO HURRICANES.

The main thing that distinguishes the Village on Sewanee Creek from other developments on the mountain (and by the way, they are all drop-dead gorgeous) is the sense of community we are building here. I guess that stems partly from the fact that I have chosen to live here and I love people. So I am putting in the kinds of amenities that bring people together as friends and I am committed to seeing that they are actively used. You will find that the people who have lived here for generations are some of the finest people on earth. Hunting, fishing and outdoor life are the primary modes of recreation. Your husband would love that. I am putting about 500 acres in the canyon below the village into a permanent natural preserve so it will always be pristine and beautiful. There are plenty of churches of every kind. I am personally very active and serve in my own church.

Land prices in Tennessee are some of the lowest in the nation for comparably beautiful land, but beginning to rise as this area has been discovered, but as the amphitheater and other amenities are completed, the Village will become an even more highly sought after place to live and lot values will increase. I purchased this 700+ acre tract and began working on it only about 6 months ago. Of the 15 lots available in phase 1A, six are already sold. Also, Phase 1A is the most affordable section as the lots are smaller (about 2 acres) and not directly on the bluff, although some have breathtaking views of the canyons. Future phases will be 5 acres plus.

Your daughter is right. If you come for a visit be prepared to be infected with the urge to move immediately. I was.

All the best,
Grant Miller

Nature Preserve: The Flat Rock on Sewanee Creek

Last Summer I did a couple of short videos and posted them on youtube. They are a bit bumpy and amateurish, but I think you'll get the idea. This video features a place called flat rock where Johnson's Creek and Sewanee Creek come together. The bottom of the creek here almost looks like poured concrete it's so broad and flat.

Check out the fish and the swimming hole. Flat Rock is near the cave that's featured in my photo gallery. We plan to add this area to the conservation easement to make sure it always stays as pristine as it is now. Click on the link below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWwJt84uzGU&mode=related&search=

High-Tech in the Woods - Work in your Tennessee Mountain Paradise

I met today with an executive from Ben Lomand Telephone Co-op. The Village already has high speed DSL, so a minimally tech-familiar executive can easily set up a home office and begin tele-commuting from his Tennessee Mountain paradise.

In an earlier life, overseeing people in over 50 countries, I've done just that for about fifteen years now, using the internet for real time video conferencing and desktop sharing in a virtual office environment, so I know it works and I know how to do it. It was an invaluable tool that helped reduce costs, local commute time and international flights while I worked, sometimes strange hours, in my bathrobe. It played a valuable role in keeping my communications fresh and current across long distances and time zones.

I chose the location of the Village partially because I knew it had DSL, but more because of its proximity to Nashville, Chattanooga and Huntsville, all about an hour away from major airports. The combination of high speed internet and good airports makes it possible for most executives to work from paradise if you know how - and I'm happy to coach anybody who is ready to make the leap from insanity.

But TODAY, I was blown away. We're looking getting direct to the house fiber optics. That's like plugging directly to the internet trunk line with not only SUPER high band-width internet, but also high def TV and video-on-demand delivered over fiber optics, not cable. This is state of the art stuff in the middle of the woods.

WOW, pack your bags!

My Journal Begins

3/1/07
I'm Grant Miller, owner, developer and resident of the Village on Sewanee Creek. With this entry, my journal on this website just became operational. I will begin posting both past tense and present impressions as they occur. Check back often for new entries and feel free to add your own comments.

Movie of our 1st Hike down the Waterfall to Sewanee Creek

This movie, posted on youtube is not a cinematic masterpiece. My son shot it with his digital still camera and it's pretty bumpy. But I think it shows the quiet grandeur of nature on the Cumberland Plateau. Tennessee's Mountain forests are incredibly beautiful, pristine and peaceful.

My email address has changed since I posted this. My contact is now grant@SewaneeCreek.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thcXWoX6Vk0

Local Folks

Passing through Tracy City today, I had an insignificant extraordinary experience. Each of the two "major" intersections was dominated with people carrying large signs collecting money to help a friend and family member, Big Ed, with his extraordinary medical bills.
I'm not unaccustomed to the fire department or other organizations collecting for various high profile causes, but this is the first I had encountered individuals publicly going out of their way to help individuals in need. I was struck by the simple goodness of this act of caring.
I stopped to take pictures (you can see one in the photo gallery under people in harmony) and learned that this kind of action on behalf of loved ones is quite common on the mountain.

So simple, yet so amazing that I have never seen this anywhere else I have lived. I love the culture and the people who live here! The mountain is beginning to be recognized for its unparalleled natural beauty. But the mountain's people are a treasure of even greater value that remains undiscovered and unappreciated.

I hope the people who move to the village can catch the spirit of the local folks.

First Impressions

Today I visited a property located on Brown's Hollow just beyond beautiful Grundy Lakes State Park on the Cumberland Plateau.

I had been searching the web in earnest for a couple of months for an investment property in Tennessee, preferably near Chattanooga because of the natural beauty of that area. I had found only opportunities in Western Tennessee where the land is flat and less interesting. Suddenly, this 750 acre tract appeared and I made the trek from Louisville, KY to see it the next day.

My first impression was that there is much work to be done to make this an attractive place to live. Portions of the property had been logged. But moving deeper into the pristine forest, I found stunningly beautiful views from steep, craggy bluffs. I felt a pull deep inside that said this is the place.