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Handbook (Landbook)
I'm considering creating a handbook (Handbook - Wikipedia) which would serve as a useful guide for individuals, families and communities (potential or otherwise) in searching for land for land-based projects of myriad kinds, especially eco-cultural projects such as ecovillages, permaculture, small farm homesteading, etc. The handbook would probably serve numerous related purposes as well -- but all having to do with having access to land for (mainly) the sorts of purposes just mentioned.
The book would assist the reader in thinking through all of the crucial and fundamental of topics relevant to purchasing or otherwise accessing land for the purposes mentioned — including consideration of such topics as soil quality, water availability, flood and fire hazards, building codes, zoning, etc.
Designed mainly for those living in the USA, It would cover a lot of details about land use regulations (zoning), building codes, etc., including some history of innovations and "variances" options regarding land use regulations (zoning) and building codes.
It would not exclusively be a concise reference for useful data about states and counties and their land use regs and building codes, but the book would also address some historical contextualization for these as well as some words on the ethics and politics related to these topics -- and others. The book would be most handy for those who are seeking to create intentional communities, especially ecovillages. It would provide a list of helpful organizations and other resources, e.g., books, websites, etc.
One or more sections of the book would address itself to "the polycrisis" and how it is challenging all of us to adjust and adapt to changing circumstances -- such as likely upcoming changes to the economy which will likely result in many more people needing access to land merely to have access to livelihood (since jobs are likely to be more and more scarce as time goes on, and money too).
The handbook would not only be designed as an aid to those individuals and groups who are seeking land for their own use, but also for social and political activists who may be seeking to transform state, county and national land use regulations (zoning) and/or building codes in order to adapt and adjust to what are likely to be inevitable challenges resulting from the worsening polycrisis of climate disruption, the biodiversity crisis, water crises (droughts, etc), etc. So it would be both a political and social change handbook and a handbook for those individuals and groups who must learn how to contend with building codes, land use (zoning) and other topics the novice potential village-maker or homesteader will have to contend with -- and other useful topics as well (to be decided).
I'm considering this project now because I've been in my own land search lately -- though I have no idea how to PAY for land under my current circumstances. Maybe sales of this book will help with that!?
I'm looking for one primary collaborator (and equal collaborator) in this project. It would be a lot more fun and rewarding to design, develop and flesh out its pages with someone who shares my interest in helping others in this way with such handbook / landbook. We may decide — as a team of two — to include articles in the handbook written by authors other than ourselves.
I'm sure there would be several more topics in the book than listed above. It just needs to be handy and useful.
I can be reached at jrivermartin (at) gmail (dot) com .
Yes, I'm aware of the existence of this book.:
Finding & Buying Your Place in the Country
by Les & Carol Scher
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/388151.Finding_Buying_Your_Place_in_the_Country
This book was published in 1974. Perhaps it has been updated, perhaps several times (I'll check). But while I'd certainly borrow inspiration from this book, the handbook I have in mind would be very different from this one.
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That book had been updated several times. The 5th edition was published in the year 2000. I have no idea how extensive any alterations were to the original 1974 edition.
Other sort of (but not very) similar books to the one I have in mind are ...
Land Buying Tips From the Pros: How to Buy Rural Real Estate – September 14, 2016
by Pat Porter
10 Things You Need To Know About Land: A How-To Guide About Lots And Vacant Land For Agents, Investors, and You! – September 8, 2020
by Cheryl Lynn Sain