We feel good in the Drôme : the river to swim, nice housemates, a nice garden, lots of friends, concerts ans festivals all sumer long … And even some work in different goat farms : a part-time in Grâne, almost a neighbour, and some small replacements here and there.
But our project of a collective farm is still there, very present. It makes us reflect and search intensively, mostly searching elsewhere (cause the places that we like in the Drôme are not very accessible, in terms of price and availability).
After our return of our travel in Maroc and Portugal, we continued our research to the max! During the last months, we have visited three farms, this time with two friends and potential partners: but the farms were not what we are looking for; as for the friends, they were finally not ready to start.
At the beginning of June, we organized a meeting with about fifteen people to acquire the hamlet in Ardèche. On the program: picnic, visit of the place and the evening we spent with a little group to talk about farms and a collective installation. Without going into the concrete, we mainly talked about our projects and dreams, our fears, our questions, etc. It was a nice weekend, with nice people. But after ? Afterwards, people did not seem especially motivated and enthusiastic to meet again, discuss more, or build something together. Later maybe … Later, however, the hamlet will surely be sold.
It’s a big thing, invest and construct together. A big thing with a lot of uncertainty. And it is much easier to dream together than to take the following steps: make the dreams concrete, constitute a solid group with different people, to have the courage at a moment to put the doubts aside and to start … These steps are taken by some people very slow and with many fears. Mathieu and I are a little impatient, because we feel ready for the adventure. So, we thought about a more “easy” and faster way to acquire the hamlet.
How ? Acquire alone the hamlet with family and personal investments, plus a loan at the bank, . Then propose to the people to use the place, the habitat, the workspace, the collective … via a rent. Like that, less fears, less commitments, less procrastination, more flexibility, more openness, more possibilities. We imagine repaying the loan and its interest through rental income, as well as by creating a tourism business in the hamlet.
But now my turn: doubts come to me. Am I ready to be responsible for a big thing like this? I do not feel completely mature or completely comfortable in France or in my relationship. And is that really what I want? To embark on this great adventure would be like a marriage with Mathieu, the place and the project! What a commitment! We become, alone, the persons responsible for the project. We must find people willing to rent and invest in the place, at the same time as to start the tourist activity and build our goat farm. We would carry alone the financial risks (at least, those related to the purchase of the place).
And at the same time … is not it time to start, to dare, to live our dreams? Courage!