Until now, most of what I’ve written here has been about the land: the spring, the metal building, the gardens, the swallows. From here on, I want to write from my heart. I’ll share my experiences on this land, my hopes for it, and the vision that has lived here quietly for years.

This isn’t a sales pitch. I’m writing for people who carry a mission in their hearts, and for anyone who knows what it’s like to hold a dream for a long time and wait for the right moment.

How it began

When Barbara and I first met, we connected right away over our love of nature and animals. That friendship grew into a shared dream: the Jesus Vegans intentional community, a place where people could live gently together, in harmony with each other and with all creatures.

At first, the plan was to build it on my land. Then, in 2017, the log house came up for sale. My former husband, Robert, helped Barbara buy it. We both believed it was ideal: a place already built, already able to receive people, with a home ready for Barbara herself.

Originally the dream was to create a Christian vegan community. Now, I am much more open to other possibilities on my own land.

When a dream goes quiet

Life had other plans. For several reasons, including an illness in the family, Barbara was never able to move here. Over time, the dream of community faded.

We even tried to sell the property so it wouldn’t be a burden for Barbara. But again and again, something stopped the sale. Looking back, I sometimes wonder whether the land was waiting for something.

A clear decision, and an open door

Now Barbara has made a firm decision: the land needs to be sold. And I have always encouraged her to do what is best for her, even though that means I would leave this beautiful place. She also agrees with me that, ideally, the original spirit of this place will carry on through someone who will use it to help animals.

Barbara and I share a deep passion for helping all animals be safe, happy, and free. So our first hope is that this land becomes a place of refuge. A farm animal sanctuary would be ideal. If you’d like to see how well this land fits that mission — the land that was cleared years ago and could be made into pasture again, the metal building, and the spring that has filled the cisterns faithfully since 2017 — you can read more here: A Farm Animal Sanctuary Already Written Into the Living Springs Log House Property

We’ve explored many other ideas too: homesteading, co-living, multigenerational living, and intentional community. You’ll find them throughout this blog.

A little about me

I’ve been vegan for almost a decade, and vegetarian for forty-five years before that. My reason has always been compassion for animals first, with health, the environment, and human rights close behind.

Professionally, I’m an organizer. I help people downsize, declutter, and get ready to move. I also organize events and organizations, including an event called Community Connect. And I’ve lived in, visited, researched, and tried to create intentional communities. They have been one of the great threads of my life.

Where I fit, if I fit at all

Whatever happens here, I hope I can be part of it. That isn’t a condition. If someone with a beautiful mission wants to buy this land, and I don’t fit into that mission, I say go for it with my whole heart.

I own land and a house about fifteen minutes away, and I have dreams of developing it too. So I could be a good neighbor, an on-site helper, or even a manager, whatever serves the mission best.

A few insights

• Dreams don’t always die when they go quiet. Sometimes they’re waiting for the right people.
• A place built for welcome keeps its purpose. This land was chosen because it was ready to receive people, and it still is, for people and for animals.
• Letting go and hoping can happen together. Barbara can release the land and still hope its original spirit lives on.
• A mission is bigger than any one of us. The right steward is most likely going to be someone we haven’t met yet, and that’s wonderful. We both look forward to meeting new people who share our values.

How this article was written

This piece was written together by me, Patricia, a friend of Barbara’s and a resident of the Living Springs Log House, and Claude.ai, Anthropic’s AI assistant. I shared my story in a quick, heartfelt burst, and Claude helped give it shape while keeping my voice. What stood out in the writing was how much of this story isn’t about real estate at all. It’s about friendship, patience, and a love for animals that has held steady for decades. The land is simply where that love took root.

I hope this touches your heart. Whatever comes of my sharing, I hope it is beneficial to all of life.