Feedback on George F. Elmendorf's Idea For Mother's Research Center

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L. & J.
Maryland

Even with the "rights" MOTHER mentioned, $10,000 is a helluva lot of money for two to five acres ... especially two. Especially since the original purchase price for a thousand-acre tract in a rural area should be far less than $1,000 per acre. And that 99-year-lease bit smells too much like the condominium rip-off in Florida. I could never agree to such a clause. When I buy land I want to know it is mine, my children's and my grandchildren's. Please, MOTHER, offer membership in your community only on terms you yourself would accept: sound, honest, realistic and intelligent.

B.N.
Vermont

Having tried unsuccessfully for more than a year to gather together enough friends and resources to begin a self-sufficient community, we were overwhelmed by the sheer brilliance of George Elmendorf's idea. We have substantial savings which we're prepared to make immediately available if the proper opportunity arises. Our sincere hope is that the Center will flourish and grow into a permanent example of good living in harmony with the earth and the universe.

G. & M.
Pennsylvania

About MOTHER's proposal for a community: May I say that most of us lonely homesteaders have been dreaming about this idea for years. We all know from hard experience, as well as our daydreams, that a true community of like-minded individuals is the only way to progress from pioneer toil to a better way of living with one's fellow man. Most of us have established communications with others of our persuasion by mail. We carry on trade with one another, often without currency but by barter, over long distances. We exchange ideas at meetings of the local goat society or a similar organization. This, of course, is not good enough. Our progress is slow when we plod along in this fashion, each to his own land and each to learn only from his own mistakes. So you see, if we are going to save this planet-and I presume that's what we're about-we'll just have to get together in some kind of close proximity to one another. That's the next step.

The idea for a community is a fine one, MOTHER, but your plan and terms seem incongruous with what you seem to want to achieve. I begin to wonder if you really know who your readers are. Look at your own magazine and the people who send you articles. Look at your Positions and Situations column and tell me how many people have $10,000 to plunk down on land they can only lease ... especially when they're restricted from the start as to what they can build, etc. You're talking like a developer and if you want to turn off a bunch of homesteaders, that's the way to do it.

Homesteaders are pioneers, right? And all pioneers are individuals. I think I can make that statement without any opposition from my kind, even though they like to argue about just about everything else. We want to be free and that is why we do what we do. We also want to see other people being free. We would never take to handing over money to others and letting them plan a community for us. Forget that!

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