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Justen Palmer started with a dream to build a sustainable community directed by the principle of positive impact. Positive impact is taking responsibility for our actions, understanding their effects, and actively directing them to benefit our community, environment, and ourselves. When Justen acquired property on the Oregon Coast, he seized the opportunity to manifest this dream into reality.
In January a longtime friend, Mike Bryant, visited Justen on his property where they laid out a vision of what a thriving community would look like. A community powered by alternative energy, in harmony with the natural environment, hosting educational workshops, and capable of providing value to the greater community. Mike got so invigorated by the idea, he committed to financially jumpstarting the project to help get it off the ground.
After Mike's visit, Justen catalyzed their vision into an organization and named it Everspring Collective. It would be a vehicle of positive impact through the development of communities by applying theory, living sustainably, helping spread knowledge, and always striving to benefit the greater whole.
The first property to be developed into an Everspring Collective community is a 1.3-acre lot on the picturesque Oregon Coast. The Landing, as it was affectionately labeled, is a leveled clearing enclosed by a dense, fern-filled forest. It features ocean views, dual road access, a perpetual creek, and endless potential. What it was lacking was power, useable water, and structures; save a small shed. To convert this property into a functional community, there was a lot to be done.
The first members to come and live on the property were: Greg Tzar, Lyndsey Rieple, and Russell Palmer. They stayed during the rainy Oregon coast winter of 2022. Together, they weathered the harsh winds and heavy precipitation to brainstorm, plan, and work on the property.
The first objective taken on by the team was to power the property. A direct burial line was put in by Russell and Lyndsey which hooked up to an adjacent property to bring electricity to the Landing. With power, the team could then plug in tools, charge devices, and overall be able to accelerate development.
Greg constructed a 16' canvas tent to serve as the first official dwelling on the Landing which he himself then stayed in! He was able to create some warmth by an iron stove he had installed in the tent.
Next, a gathering area was established. A 20'x20' plot was leveled and two carports were brought in and constructed to create a wide open covered area. This was to be the heart of operations while the property developed more permanent structures in the near future.
Will Allsopp arrived at the Landing in May. With him came a wealth of knowledge on sustainable building practices, processes for reclaiming materials, and an extensive network of like-minded individuals. Will took on the role of lead developer of the Landing and immediately established a checklist of objectives.
First on the list was acquiring materials. Will and Justen went on gathering missions for shipping palettes discarded by local businesses. Will was able to secure a few key relationships with shops in town, gaining access to a steady stream of metal crates, barrels, scrap wood, and more palettes. These materials were stacked into a new collection area fashioned from palettes.
While collections were happening, Wonder came into town and shared her vast knowledge of plants and mushrooms with us. She came up with a permaculture plan for the property, foraged bag-fulls of mushrooms which she turned into medicinal tinctures, and helped to identify many beneficial species already living on the property.
Then Michelle came into town and came up with a plan to help us grow veggies. She made garden beds, cleared invasive species, and planted some starts to get us growing.
Will turned his attention to the lack of water on the property. A source was identified - a nearby spring-fed creek. Next, a receptacle to store the water needed to be acquired. Will and Justen rented a Uhaul and made a trip to Salem, Oregon where they stopped at a farm wholesaler who gave them a good deal on a 275 gallon water tote and a handful of barrels. Back on the property three barrels were filled with gravel, sand, and homemade activated charcoal to provide filtration and the cleaned water was fed into the water tote. The property had water!
Around the same time, Shane and Sean showed up on the property. Both are highly skilled, motivated, and excited to contribute to the project. With their help, Will directed the framing and construction of the foundation of a double bathroom. The frame was constructed from scrap wood purchased from a lumber yard in Salem and the base was made from rocks found from an abandoned lumber operation in the forest. With this structure framed, it was time to cob! For that, more hands were needed and a work party was organized.
Minga is a term brought to Everspring from South America. Traditionally, when constructing large community structures, people have a Minga or “work party” where everyone comes together to build a structure during the day, then feast and celebrate at night.
The first Everspring Minga had a total of 14 people coming in from all over the country and working together to establish the groundwork of the Landing - which included cobbing the double bathroom, establishing pathways and creating signage, clearing out brush and leveling for campsites, sawing down dead standing trees, organizing common areas, and more. Here are some highlights:
Everyone cobbed! We stomped on clay, sand, and water until the consistency was smooth and sticky. Then we dipped our hands in, forming balls and smacking the air out. Finally, we massaged the cob onto the bathroom's palette walls to create hard exterior surfaces.
Sean utilized his carpentry skills to convert broken-down palettes into two incredible doors for the bathroom. One directed up and the other down - signifying a loop. He also primed and cut beams for the shower deck.
Shane crafted the first art installation on the property - a mud dragon made from the discarded parts of an ATV, a giant log, and lots of organic material. Shane also refined the water filtration process and organized the tool shed.
Aevind taught the first-ever workshop on the property - educating us on how to properly use and maintain a chainsaw. He provided instruction through example, cutting down a few dead-standing trees. He also cut a handful of benches for sitting and admiring the view.
Damon put together a workable kitchen out of pallet scraps, cooked us meals, taught us how to cob, climbed trees to cut dangerous branches, and kept us dancing and laughing.
Greg Tzar increased the harmony on the property with a flower of life meditation platform made from an upcycled wood palette.
Sam, Lauren, and Sienna created a bunch of beautiful signs for directing visitors around the property.
Greg Meta cleared out and leveled two serene campsites near the creek, granting them names - Lily Pad and Frog Pad.
Minga was a productive success, but no Minga is complete without a good deal of play. We hunted for Agates up the stunning 804 trail, joined hands in a cacao ceremony where we breathed deeply into connection, and celebrated during the night with fire spinning, music, and dancing.
After Minga, we were finding our rhythm. While Minga was a big success, we did uncover that the event and our daily flow needed more structure. Sam took on the problem of structure and organization with weekly meetings, more frequent check-ins, and central task lists to help keep everything on schedule. With a bit more form, we streamlined our flow.
With the end of viable construction season approaching, we focused our effort on two primary objectives - finishing the bathroom and constructing a shower. With these objectives in mind and with a few extra hands, we managed to make rapid progress.
Will, with a bit of help, created over a hundred roofing shakes by hand from fallen logs. These shakes were used along with a reclaimed window to finish the roof of the bathroom.
Will also cobbed the wall between the bathrooms and embedded it with a beautiful bottle flower, creating an elegant divider for our now two-stall bathroom. Light shines through the recycled bottles in multiple shades of greens and browns, reflecting the tones outside.
We finished off the bathroom by applying lime plaster to the cob wall - creating a moisture-resistant layer to protect the cob. Afterward, we installed the two pallet doors crafted by Sean during the first minga, completing the double-bathroom! This structure is absolutely beautiful - nestled between two trees and crafted by tens of hands out of upcycled materials. As time passes the structure will grow lichen, tiny critters will make homes inside the finger imprints in the plaster, and plants will grow in and around the structure - it will blend into the harmony of the surrounding forest.
Will then turned his attention to the shower, starting by assembling a deck above a previously prepared water-sealed packed-clay basin. He drafted plans to use reclaimed lumber to build the structure with the design incorporating space for two standing showers.
The team, now joined by Genevieve, prepped boards for the shower assembly. We sanded the boards until they were smooth, then lightly toasted them with hand torches to bring out the grains. After, we brushed them with linseed oil to seal them against moisture.
Aevind and Lauren came into town to help out as well. The team cut beams to size and then joined them together creating the second structure on the landing - from unwanted wood to a stunning space for two standing showers. Aevind also used his chainsaw expertise to fashion an old log into a small bridge over the shower runoff channel and created a second relaxation area using reclaimed logs from downed trees next to our Trillium flower on Bear path.
After Aevind and Lauren left, Will got to work on the shower's roof. He used palette boards to construct an eave around the structure then installed two clear polycarbonate sheets over the showers to serve as skylights and the roof of our double shower. A rubber roofing liner was affixed around the skylights to seal the roof against the elements.
To make the shower functional, a propane-fueled water heater and electric water pump were installed. We now had hot water! We had successfully upcycled unwanted wood into a beautiful double-standing shower complete with a skylight to view the majestic tree canopy above.
After completion of the shower, the Landing was put into hibernation mode for the winter. We had successfully completed this year's objective of providing all essential infrastructure to support a small group of people living on the landing. The Landing now has electrical power, water, bathrooms, showers, and a temp living space/kitchen. We're grateful to all the members that helped us get here and stoked to mark 2022's development as a big success!
We took some time in April to travel, visiting South Korea and Japan. The trip refreshed our perspective and gave us a new appreciation for human ingenuity and craftsmanship. We were in awe of the attention to detail and skilled mastery of artisans in both countries. The idea of Kaizen or the pursuit of mastery in a chosen field was manifested everywhere in the food, artifacts, and architecture.
We asked ourselves how Everspring could bring this passion for the pursuit of mastery to the Oregon Coast. How could we apply this principle to our ethos and property?
Everspring is going all in on projects. Minga, our flagship event, is dedicated to bringing people together around collaborative creation. We've decided to extend the spirit of Minga into our everyday operation by manifesting the first Project Academy
Project Academy will be a space for creation, learning, and connection. It will bring people together through hands-on projects, teach them skills, produce valuable products, and will give them opportunities to earn income.
Project Academy will give creators avenues and direction to monetize their creations. We will be utilizing online channels like Etsy and Kickstarter as well as in-person displays at farmers' markets, community events, and local shops. Our goal is to free our members' time to focus on creation and the pursuit of mastery.
Last year, we got the property ready to host people with supporting infrastructure - water, power, shower, and bathroom. This year we will bring intention to this gathering space and with the completion of the next structure, the Tavern, will come the ability to feed and nourish our visitors. The Tavern will also serve as the first all-weather gathering space. We will be hosting classes and workshops in the Tavern as well as opening the space to visitors.
Our second-ever project party is coming up! We've confirmed 6 project leaders - all talented, experienced experts in their respective fields taking on projects among which are building the Tavern, a common area, and kitchen; constructing a tiny residence, for visitors and members; and establishing a permaculture garden brimming with native plants. We've opened the event to volunteers who want to learn new skills while helping us build up the Landing.
We've been cleaning up the property and getting it ready for camping. We have 4 spots cleared and leveled that are ideal for pitching tents. We are posting these spots on HipCamp and making them available to visitors passing through this beautiful area. Yachats, the neighboring town is a popular tourist destination but there isn't much in the area to accommodate camping. The state parks in the area book up quickly and there are only a few private spots listed. We're confident the amenities and the secluded yet accessible property will stand out as an ideal camping experience.
Minga, our annual community construction event, took place with enthusiasm and dedication. Our primary focus this year was the establishment of a cornerstone in our journey – the Tavern. This new structure, destined to be our communal kitchen and a hub for gatherings, marks a significant step forward in our quest to create a more vibrant and connected community.
The event saw the participation of a spirited and committed group of individuals, including Will, Sean, Russ, Tayler, Aevind, Wonder, King, Breezie, Sam, and Justen. Their unwavering commitment and hard work were truly commendable, and the collective effort was nothing short of amazing.
A standout moment was when Aevind's ingenuity transformed a simple pile of logs into a captivating hangout area. Armed with a chainsaw, Aevind meticulously carved the logs into benches that encircle a charming firepit, providing a cozy space for us to gather, share stories, and forge deeper connections. Additionally, Will's artistic touch graced one of the benches with an intricately carved squirrel, infusing the space with our unique Everspring spirit.
Will's leadership was instrumental in establishing a solid footing for our newest structure, the Tavern. He guided the team in digging trenches, leveling them, and packing down gravel. After that he built concrete forms using 2x6s and reinforcing them with rebar. The team's collaborative effort culminated in the successful pouring and smoothing of a substantial amount of concrete within a remarkably short span of two hours.
Russ's expertise was put to good use as he wired and plumbed the second shower, a vital addition to our community infrastructure. His attention to detail and dedication to quality was evident in every aspect of his work, ensuring the functionality and longevity of this important facility.
King's construction prowess was evident in the creation of a sturdy and well-crafted staircase leading to Owl's Nest. This enhancement makes the topmost portions of the property more convenient and accessibile.
Justen constructed a runoff channel from the shower and established the property's first pond.
Tayler's efforts extended beyond the physical construction as they interviewed members and captured invaluable footage of the event. This documentation preserves the spirit of our community and the essence of Minga for posterity.
Wonder's forward-looking approach is evident in their planning of our first permaculture garden. This initiative aligns perfectly with our commitment to sustainable living and will contribute to the collective well-being of our community.
The progress we achieved during this year's Minga event is a testament to our community's shared values and aspirations. Each contribution, no matter how small, is a stepping stone toward creating a brighter future together. The Tavern's foundation is now set, and its potential to foster togetherness and cultivate a sense of belonging is palpable.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who joined hands, hearts, and efforts in making Minga 2023 a resounding success. Our journey continues, and the possibilities that lie ahead are as boundless as our collective determination.