NW Arkansas can do? (Little Rock, Fayetteville: coop, home, school)

[SexyVegan]

Hi,

My husband and I like living self-sufficiently. It would be cool to live around others who share the same interests and could teach us a thing or two - we still have a lot to learn. We want to know if the Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers/Bentonville area is home to more than a handful like us: to some extent off the grid, eat what you grow, like canning and quilting and building your own stuff. Close to the earth. Sound familiar around there?

Thanks!

[Sam I Am]

Sounds like Eureka Springs to me.

[Meg Lesher]

Arkansas, being a rural State, is full of do-it-yourself-ers. Home schooling is strong here, too. The North Central part of the State is just beautiful. While not central, there's a quilters group that meets at a church (Presbyterian, I think) at Bella Vista. I'm sure they could link you to quilters. Lots of folks garden. Watch out for Bermudagrass and Johnsongrass if you do, keep these in check or they'll take over. Check out Hook-up.com for meetings of like-minded people in your chosen neck of the woods. It has listings of groups interested in all kinds of hobbies and crafts, among other things. It's nationwide, not limited to one area, but might be a good resource for you.

[nmnita]

I still think Eureka Springs would be a better match for you than Bella Vista, but what do I know? Not much.

[cabs1982]

100% Eureka Springs-- sounds about right.

[Meg Lesher]

Originally Posted by Meg Lesher

Arkansas, being a rural State, is full of do-it-yourself-ers. Home schooling is strong here, too. The North Central part of the State is just beautiful. While not central, there's a quilters group that meets at a church (Presbyterian, I think) at Bella Vista. I'm sure they could link you to quilters. Lots of folks garden. Watch out for Bermudagrass and Johnsongrass if you do, keep these in check or they'll take over. Check out Hook-up.com for meetings of like-minded people in your chosen neck of the woods. It has listings of groups interested in all kinds of hobbies and crafts, among other things. It's nationwide, not limited to one area, but might be a good resource for you.

I got that website wrong, sorry. It's: meetup.com

[brucep]

Originally Posted by SexyVegan

Hi,

My husband and I like living self-sufficiently. It would be cool to live around others who share the same interests and could teach us a thing or two - we still have a lot to learn. We want to know if the Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers/Bentonville area is home to more than a handful like us: to some extent off the grid, eat what you grow, like canning and quilting and building your own stuff. Close to the earth. Sound familiar around there?

Thanks!

I think you will find plenty of like-minded folk in the Fayetteville area. There is a wonderful coop there, Ozark Natural Foods Co-op, plus other health food stores. You might want to contact the co-op for answers. There is also a great farmer's market on the Fayetteville square with lots of organic produce. Another area with like-minded folk would be Newton County but it is very isolated, not many towns of any size. There's definitely a community of folks spread around Newton and Madison Counties with similar interests. Eureka Springs, as has been mentioned, also has like-minded folk--I lived there for many years. There was a small health food store there at that time but many locals would travel to the Fayetteville co-op for essentials (50 miles away). I think you'll find what you're looking for all over NW Arkansas, it just depends on where you want to be--more isolated or closer to city or town. Good luck.

[veganwriter]

I've heard that Fayetteville is one of the fastest growing areas of the country. (I'm black and a black recruiter out of Detroit told me that. He loved the area.. or so he said.)

I'm now in Oklahoma waiting a trainer-truck for a flatbed company. I'm still looking into areas. I'm a "back-to-the-lander" too ... but before I left California, an ex-nun from Arkansas warned me repeatedly about the backwards racism and Klan activities in rural areas.

So ... would Eureka Springs be a good match for me too? I'm no longer idealistic ... nor am I angry or hostile. I'm perfectly comfortable about moving to an area where I'll be more welcomed. (e.g. areas south of Little Rock?)

So ... give it to me straight ... without the chaser ... literally ... (smile)

[Sam I Am]

The whole NW corner of the state is growing and is projected to be the most heavily populated area within 10 years......so land is going to be at a premium up there, but I think the diversity of the whole F'ville area is probably it's best drawing point. Many people leaving U of A don't ever leave F'ville now, so you have a younger, more in tune group that definitely isn't racist.

Eureka Springs has it's own feel to it - I don't know how to describe it other than a leftover Woodstock in many ways......all that being said, I'm being chased off the board with my "Arkansas will accept you" stance. I don't know where all the racists and bigots hide at, but apparently others on this board do.

All things considered, judging from your screen name I would personally say ES.....then again, you're an hour from the dreaded Harrison and apparently that whole area just went back to the cavemen, according to some of the things I am seeing on this board.

I'm native Arkansan....I'm not trying to schtick you, I promise. I'm not in either of these areas, although we travel at least twice a month up to both places. I will be honest enough to tell you I have never heard or seen what some folks are talking about, but maybe I'm not hanging with the right (wrong?) people.

Hot Springs may be a good match for you.....I don't know, vegan, I'm just hesitant to tell you NOT to go anywhere because I simply don't see the hooplah - then again, I'm not anxious to encourage you to go someplace that I think is fine because I think it's fine. Could you maybe do a little road trip and hit the bigger towns and see what you think? Maybe you could come back with a live report, too!

P.S. - I LOVE your sense of humor!

[nmnita]

My experience is strictly from reading, two visits (one many years ago) and what my granddaughter, a senior at Arkansas and her boyfriend, a true Arkansas boy say: Vegan, I still think Eureka Spings or Hot Springs might be a little closer to what you are looking for. Again, I certainly don't know as much as others about the whole situation. It is just my gut feeling.

NMnita