I have owned 20-acre non-certified organic farm/ecological preserve since 2002. THe finca is 17 miles from downtown Gainesville, FL and ~20 miles from Ichetucknee Springs. We utilize a hand pump well with good drinking water, we bathe in the Santa Fe River or in the newly constructed pond and are soon to have the solar shower on line. My pets including threatened gopher tortoise, fox, rabbits, snakes, deer, quail, turkey, opossum, etc that share my space. Fencing is being put up for domestic livestock (e.g. quail, duck, rabbit, goats are the intention). We utilize humanure compost to enrich our soil. I have a trail to the SF River and one that loops the property. There are different habitats including big daddy-live oak hammock, upland pine,(where we do small control burns), pond/wetland, open ag field (~8cres), and forested stream area with high diversity of flora and fauna.

There is a refurbished old cracker house that I use for a storage shack and workspace. We do plant propagation and have fig, citrus, moringa, pecan, pear, plum, muscadine grape, pomegranate, persimmon, mulberry, blueberry and banana trees getting established. Also grow shitake mushrooms.

I host drum circle/ acoustic music jam parties after it cools down in the fall. I supplement much of my food from wild plant edibles including wild mushrooms and will teach much on the subject. Volunteers stay in the yome. A pole barn has been completed except for the screened in porch over my trailer trash. Solar electric power is minimal. We cook over the fire the majority of the time.

FYI I work as an ecological restoration botanist for the FWC and often am gone typically 3 days a week. During this time I assign a project list to be done. Work is expected to be about 30 hrs/wk. I have a working vascular plant list of about 190 plants on my land for those interested in ethnobotany. I also do fermentation (meads, kimchees, krauts etc).

I expect to have the irrigation system on-line by the end of 2008 that is a dual rain water catchment and pond cistern system.

I am into functional art and a musician (guitar, charango, balafon, djembe, panlago drums etc).

Nutritious food staples are provided. If a fresh road kill deer comes across my path we honor this animal and partake of it and enrich the soil under our trees with its entrails. Primarily eat vegaquarian. I personally don't eat cows or pig for ecological reasons.

Also just got an antique clothes washer recently.

Maximum stay is one year to ensure exchange flow. The initial two weeks are trial period time and a waiver is signed.

No "cigarette" smoking or heavy alcohol; no dogs or cats. I only use organic chemicals on my land including homeade soaps.

I expect tools, books, dishes to be put away.

Additionally I am intolerant of proselytizing of any religion as I am an agnostic deep ecologist with Gaian leanings (if that is possible!) "Preacher man don't tell me cuz heavn is on da earth!"

You should be able to find photos of the finca on my facebook account if interested under mycol stevens. contact me at mycolmichael@hotmail.com