Organic Homeschooling Sweet Family, leaving Hawaii to? (New York, Albany: fit in, co-op)

[greenacresmama]

I have been looking at some maps on factory farming and organic hot spots in the country. I have also looked at housing and some has popped up on country festivals and the Renaissance Fairs. Life style is way more important than job and I am lucky to be able to buy a house almost out right for up to 200k. I hate cleaning big homes but love to garden. My husband is very handy and can build a house. I am hoping to travel to see my southern family in the worst of the winter or even go to CA.. but I also love to do lots of hobbies and lay low during those months and can make lots of soups if I can have a freezer full of veggies to draw from. (I would probably go all raw during the summer!)

My biggest draw is the organic food. Also I saw a number of artist on Etsy that I would buy things from and feel very inspired to make. I love going to festivals.. but I would also be attracted to traveling all over the NE come spring and take on the whole region's museums and parks with my kids. When it isn't about the school system - I think it is about the nature and the beauty of the area and the relativity of 400 miles to other interesting things to do - as a classroom.

This region has very few factory farms (only one for beef cattle) and the rest are dairy.. I think I could live with that... Tons of Organic food here.

Also there is a Waldorf College and I am very interested in the art classes that I could form with other fellow homeschoolers that might be inspired by the regions feel. I am hoping to find a very crunchy vibe that is also a bit indie, gay friendly or open, but could totally be a little "Bedford Falls" ... Have I found the Hudson Valley?

Where else? Should we go North of Albany?

My mother and 2 sisters are in TN and NC.. I was raised in TN. It is a two sided mind set there. The people there are sweet and kind and so very welcoming, but I think they are in the majority of what I can't agree on.. It kind of hurts their feelings I think. They want to be free and be them, loudly, with passion, as they should!!! I think it is like personal space I have to respect... I know I will have to collect and find my own group but... I want my kids to grow up in the majority of my blue views and that to be more of the normal.. the vibe is different and I want it for them. I don't want strip malls or big box stores to be in site if I can help it... More artists please.. and what inspires them. Music is also a great one! A beer or bowling alley doesn't hurt or even a hole in the wall dinner... It doesn't have to be fancy.. but I don't want to have to explain a ... I guess a "anti-liberal" .. well.. I guess a crowd of them.. I know a few are here and there... but up North.. the strong Bible peeps can be almost hippie and mellow - that one please (I love you guys!)

Thank you so much for any clues!!! MUh!

My husband was raised in the Finger Lakes. We both have a feeling about being closer into the New England Area to be more of a lifestyle of country beauty with artist, nature lovers, small music friends, libraries to be the main focus and then three hours away to get a "super learning" exploring by paying attention to what is going on in the area's museums and visiting then as well as festivals that are more green and natural.

I really don't want to explain to my children early on the type of mainstream people that are unhealthy even though they are wealthy enough to make better choices -don't. I really don't know how to explain this one... But it seems to be a clash and sensitivity that ****I***** find in places that are anti gay because of a religion that is big in the town, strong presence of military training and housing, large pro-lifer populations. I want a strong liberal place but that is totally country, I want to walk to the library, to a play ground (are at least a park) and feel a stream or running water near by. See wild animals!!! Not just farms, but be near some real animals still making their own homes.

My husband and I also think making a point each year to participate in the Renaissance Festival would be an excellent learning opportunity and great fun for our own playfulness!

I want to be as green and cheap as I can - walking a great deal and driving once or twice a week. We will not need much until High school age and if we can cover the arts locally, we could do the sciences and math all on the internet by then! I am not much for sports, but I could encourage one season of all ages sports if enough kids were around bored enough to play Baseball or Soccer!

I want a community!

[honeychrome]

Obviously no place is going to be perfect- perfection is a process, not an achievable goal when it comes to community. While they both have their problems, I'd recommend you look at Ithaca or Burlington, VT. Both places make the transition from 'city' to 'country' over much shorter distances than most other American cities that have fully invested in the bankrupting philosophy of suburban growth.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by honeychrome

Obviously no place is going to be perfect- perfection is a process, not an achievable goal when it comes to community. While they both have their problems, I'd recommend you look at Ithaca or Burlington, VT. Both places make the transition from 'city' to 'country' over much shorter distances than most other American cities that have fully invested in the bankrupting philosophy of suburban growth.

I was thinking of Ithaca as well. Burlington might work. A sleeper could be some small city in the Finger Lakes region like Geneva or Auburn. Perhaps Seneca Falls or Waterloo too. Can't forget Canandaigua. There's a Renaissance Festival in nearby Sterling: Welcome to the Sterling Festival!

There are plenty of organic food places in the nearby Ithaca area: greenstar.coop - Home

Emmy's Organics - Home

Ludgate Farm & Market, Ithaca - Home Page

Moosewood Restaurant - Ithaca, NY

Stella's Restaurant, Bar, & Café

Homeschooling is big in the Ithaca area too: CCMR K-12 Programs

At home in Newfield: Homeschooling Article in the Ithaca Times

eGFI – For Teachers » Workshops: Homeschool Science Program, Ithaca, NY. Nov 2010 – March 2011

New York Homeschooling Support Groups - A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling

If you don't want Ithaca itself, communities like Trumansburg, Dryden, Groton, Lansing and Newfield just outside of Ithaca could work as well in Tompkins County. Ithaca has a great arts scene too: Ithaca Times

The City of Ithaca, The Cultural Magnet Destination City.

[ABQConvict]

What has been suggested plus the upper parts of the Lower Hudson Valley (Dutchess/Ulster and north) sound like they may be a fit.

[greenacresmama]

It is so true, Ithaca is like a small utopia city that seems to have it all.... well all but being 3-4 hours away from other really cool cities in New England. I am going to give it a bigger research chance, though so far, like you found (Huge Hugs thank you very much!!) I have found the same.. all but cutsy homes in my price range that are walking distance to Ithaca, but we are talented at rehabs. Ithaca is high on our list.

I am curious about the Eastern Part because I have never been. I think it is moving along like Ithaca in so many ways. Makes me wonder about finding an area that maybe an artist target for the next years because the homes, hamlets, and villages are so original and it is still so affordable and beautiful. I love places (like the finger lakes) without fast food chains.

I found a tiny modest town called Philmont that has a notable library (one of NY best - but how in the world Pittsford did not make that list is total weirdness! They have my dream library... I have thought about the town but they have an awesome school system and I think it might be a huge clash for us... not to mention the taxes.. I still would love a town as "together" as they are. Ithaca is close enough to take my kids to the Strong Play Museum is close by.. I have heard only wonderful things about the science center too. And Birds are my favorite wild animal and I have been to the Cornell Bird Sanctuary.

[Krisps]

Ever been to Angelica? It's in the western southern tier. Not sure it's big on organic crunch, but organic has caught on somewhat just about everywhere. Angelica is quite a beautiful old New England like village, one of the prettiest I've seen, and is somewhat of a draw for artists and nature lovers, is near Alfred University, and close to lots of public land and Letchworth state park. It is pretty isolated.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

What has been suggested plus the upper parts of the Lower Hudson Valley (Dutchess/Ulster and north) sound like they may be a fit.

Yeah New Paltz and Saugerties would definitely fit as well.

[greenacresmama]

Thank you so much for all of your replies! Angelica is a great, perfect little town! Thank you for mentioning it! It is pretty far away from it all though.. I would choose Ithaca if I went towards WNY... it is very close to my sister and Dundee, where husband grew up. He would have a grand time in his semi-retirement reliving his childhood with our kids. I am watching him start doing research in favor of Ithaca and that is a great sign.

Ithaca is really expensive I am finding. I am probably going to call the co-op soon and ask them straight up prices... Another option (which could be fun) would be to move back into Dundee! But Trumansburg looks nice too. I found a house for 100k and if we were allowed to build a bit extra space, I would love living in 900 sq ft till my kids start helping out! A central wood stove... sleeping rooms upstairs.. that is an awesome layout for our little family! The home is walkable too. That is a great option. Walkable is hard in the snow regions. I either have to get right in there (two blocks away) from a small village core and then I am sure to have the library as a habit.

i will check out these other counties! I was thinking about it. Rosendale made the list for most likely to be a lesbian.. I am not at all open in my marriage or even thinking about.. but I really love open minded communities.. I think it is my Unity church background.. I love people that like people because they are good inside and give back to the community, period. And all the gay people I have meet here have been awesome people.

I have researched more and more on Ithaca too. It is vibrant. I want to get some facts straight about how much organic food is there.

The most wonderful thing there is that the Cornell staff will teach my kids science for free... That is whoa goodness. I am starting to get the impression that many homeschoolers are here. Sometimes I wonder about being a homeschooler in (parts) of NY where people take education so seriously (high taxes are a really beautiful thing when you see how much goes into each student!)... I think a group of homeschoolers (my oldest is 3 remember) so organized is life made easy.

I also found a group in Columbia County and it is amazing to me because I would love to be in their "school" it is called TALC.... I just want to move there right now to join it! Those classes are a complete fit in the "Waldorf" inspired education. Wow.

I walked through many of the little hamlets and though I am not sure the distance to a co-op can be beat in Philmont, I think Kinderhook ("children's corner") is one of the most beautiful towns I have ever seen. The homes there are not that much compared to what you are getting.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by greenacresmama

Thank you so much for all of your replies! Angelica is a great, perfect little town! Thank you for mentioning it! It is pretty far away from it all though.. I would choose Ithaca if I went towards WNY... it is very close to my sister and Dundee, where husband grew up. He would have a grand time in his semi-retirement reliving his childhood with our kids. I am watching him start doing research in favor of Ithaca and that is a great sign.

Ithaca is really expensive I am finding. I am probably going to call the co-op soon and ask them straight up prices... Another option (which could be fun) would be to move back into Dundee! But Trumansburg looks nice too. I found a house for 100k and if we were allowed to build a bit extra space, I would love living in 900 sq ft till my kids start helping out! A central wood stove... sleeping rooms upstairs.. that is an awesome layout for our little family! The home is walkable too. That is a great option. Walkable is hard in the snow regions. I either have to get right in there (two blocks away) from a small village core and then I am sure to have the library as a habit.

i will check out these other counties! I was thinking about it. Rosendale made the list for most likely to be a lesbian.. I am not at all open in my marriage or even thinking about.. but I really love open minded communities.. I think it is my Unity church background.. I love people that like people because they are good inside and give back to the community, period. And all the gay people I have meet here have been awesome people.

I have researched more and more on Ithaca too. It is vibrant. I want to get some facts straight about how much organic food is there.

The most wonderful thing there is that the Cornell staff will teach my kids science for free... That is whoa goodness. I am starting to get the impression that many homeschoolers are here. Sometimes I wonder about being a homeschooler in (parts) of NY where people take education so seriously (high taxes are a really beautiful thing when you see how much goes into each student!)... I think a group of homeschoolers (my oldest is 3 remember) so organized is life made easy.

I also found a group in Columbia County and it is amazing to me because I would love to be in their "school" it is called TALC.... I just want to move there right now to join it! Those classes are a complete fit in the "Waldorf" inspired education. Wow.

I walked through many of the little hamlets and though I am not sure the distance to a co-op can be beat in Philmont, I think Kinderhook ("children's corner") is one of the most beautiful towns I have ever seen. The homes there are not that much compared to what you are getting.

Ithaca's overall cost of living is just above average, but many people look at communities just outside of it, like Lansing, Dryden, Trumansburg(which has that crunchy feel by itself) and Newfield, among some others. There's the town of Ithaca too. So, something outside of the city could work for you.

[greenacresmama]

Sold my 4 acres in Honolulu! 54 days to go.... ... I love my family.. I miss my family... I love my family...