Welcome to the Greening the Desert Terlingua Project

We are in the founding stages of creating a parallel society on 90 acres in the Chihuahua dessert of west Texas where we can live in community with like minded people.  A step-in community that provides housing, jobs, fresh grown food, and seeks to supply 80% or more of everything needed for life.  ALL the pieces needed for such a community now exist, but no one is willing or able to put it all together.  So WE ARE!  A real option to set out of the rat race and have the foundation and friends to support a new way of life NOW.

Community level energy production, water, housing made with earth and geopolymers, maker spaces, basic chemical engineering, metal recycling, building transportation and machines, entrepreneur training and collaboration spaces all in a nature centric permaculture space located in clean air outside cellphone service (low EMFs)where economic and world catastrophic events will have little impact.  We will technology all the way up to laser weeding farming bot (no chemicals), but only when it add to life. Its a supernatural mix for natural living with appropriate technology. A bit solar punkish actually. Food will be grown using 

1084 nights

To get this project up and running we need to put in two 60,000 gallon water tanks and 2 solar pump stations and build 3 more housing units. This will provide the water for housing and growing food in the desert.  Wells here are salty and undependable so we only need to collect a portion of the water that flows across this land when it rains. There is MORE THAN ENOUGH.

To fund this we seek to sell 1084 nights stays.  Two rooms and a cabin are already built and receiving guest NOW!  By renting a nights stay for $100 more than local motels ($333 per Night) you become a critical part of creating this vision fully.  You can immediately come stay on the property and be part of the community for the number nights you contribute.  Come stay in our existing rooms or wait for the new buildings.  Our goal is to return to you more value than you give:  Access to half price workshops, you can return each year for the number of nights you contributed.  From the second year onward, there will be some maintenance fee to cover cleaning staff and upkeep of the property. Perhaps $20 per night purchased with a $150 minimum annually (to be determined).  Housekeeping may be one of the first community jobs that become available  and will include housing (apply if interested). Remember you are founding and funding a new community not renting a hotel.

What You Get

• For each night you purchase, starting NOW you can stay annually.  When the new buildings and water tanks are completed you can stay in the new buildings.
• Founder status: The Ability to Become Part of the Community Living on Site once it up and running.
• Access to attend building and permaculture workshops for half price

Other sponsorships opportunities include sponsor a water tank, OR sponsor a guest room build, OR Have your earthen/AirCrete house built here for you. The proceeds of construction/labor cost fund the start up infrastructure.

A Couple of Videos for you - Be part of creating something new.  We seek to return more value than our founders give.  We are able to issue tax deductible receipts.

Overview

Site Water-Walk.  Take a look at the water sources and hear more details of the project as  I walk the property.

Purchase Your Sponsorship Stays

Change the number/count/days at checkout.

You will receive an email with details to book your stay.

Current Guest AirCrete Rooms: Available NOW for your stay

12x12 heated and cooled off-grid.  Built at our workshops with hands who never picked up a tool before for $42/Square Foot including solar power and Air-conditioning and Furnishings.

When not in use by the community the rooms are to be used as rentals, retreats and workshops so that funding continues to flow into building the community.

JADAM & Gro bio-intensive methods for local beyond organic fertility near ZERO imported nutrients.

For the past 6 years we have been learning what wants to grow in this climate and the best practices to produce food. Now that we know what to do we need the water to do it.  Fresh on-site food is the goal.  Combined with a nice spa & coffee shop where you can sip mesquite express lattes and work in an uplifting friendly environment. Foodies will love it.  Not just existence, but culture from a system of growing that makes the earth better each year, unlike traditional farming that destroys soils and leaves a desert in its foot print.  We want to create an oasis in the desert!

Many people believe it can not be done in the desert. Actually, the soil grows almost anything when loosened and water is added.  Some shade and shelter from hot dry winds is needed.  Gardening under nitrogen fixing mesquite trees works well.  We have also added a small test greenhouse for aquaponics, and soil growing out of the wind. Because of the long warm season we can actually grow 10 months out of the year.

12 miles from here a lady created a small forest/oasis for the birds. They have now added a check dam and the growth is amazing!  Here is an older video before the new improvements: