Please feel free to publish, forward, or in other ways distribute the following letter. Thank you:
Tough Decisions
We the Board of Directors of WindTree Ranch non-profit eco-village have had to make a very tough decision. In order to preserve the greater part of the ranch we are offering some of the land for sale. Please consider helping us sell this parcel of land so that the remaining 1200 acres of land, and the eco-village, can be saved. Please tell people you know about the land offer, advertise it on the internet, or any other method you can think of in order to help preserve the balance of the nature preserve land from developers. We've brought an end to 100 yr. of cattle grazing, started the 1,000 acre reforestation project, have a 40 acre eco-sustainable living research area and allow no hunting or trespassing.
It has been very hard for us to accept how few people are committed to preserving this large piece of sacred and historic land (once an Apache wintering site). Our initial survey of interest made before purchasing the land, while traveling over 25,000 miles across the US attending over 50 gatherings of Earth-honoring people, was very positively in favor of protecting land in lieu of personal gain. Apparently that survey was all social "small talk' and not indicative of impending action or genuine philosophical dedication. Only one person, a man from Georgia, has sent money ($20 each month) toward paying off the mortgage and only 6 people in America (1 FL, 2 CO, 2 AZ, 1 TX) have helped with general expenses over $10 since 1996.
People have given a great deal to the land but not in the form of cash. Many have donated hours of volunteer labor, one has developed and maintained and paid for a web page and domain, another has developed a list serve, one even sends vitamin supplements to the founders to boost in their health and ease sore joint pain. Numerous items have been donated for use at the ranch from individuals and other non-profit organizations, however January 20, 2000 the annual mortgage payment of $23,099 is due, so we must raise cash (FYI: the mortgage balance 12/31/1998 was $122,385 on the 1,227 acres of land).
We have tried several ways to raise money. Since 1996 we've tried to have a fund-raiser with Magnus, the world famous magician, who so generously offered to help the ranch, but fund-raisers cost money to put on; money we don't have. We held a public Earth Day event here at the ranch, but the single $10 donation just barely covered the cost of the paper to advertise the event let alone the other costs associated with that event. We have held public events in Tucson: Sabbats, an Earth Day event, information booths, etc. all with not a single cash donation.
We are Federally recognized 501(c)(3) tax-deductible organization. We've given out the mortgage information so that people can personally verify the non-profit ownership of the land for their tax filing purposes when they donate directly to the title company who is collecting the mortgage payments; not one donation has ever been recorded by them. We have contacted several public figures, philanthropists, and made several general appeals for donations, or refinancing for a longer term, or fundraising help, but all appeals have been ignored. Other non-profits assure us that this is the current trend. American's are currently in a "me first!" identity and donations to small non-profit groups are at an all time low.
We have been working on creating businesses at the ranch. We have sold cactus, done sewing projects, applied for grants, and looked for outside employment, however not being fluent in Spanish and living in a very, very economically depressed area makes raising $2,000 a month for a mortgage payment seemingly impossible.
We have the supplies for commercial gardens to be developed here in 1999 and the orchard is in, however our tractor is down for repairs and planting time is passing us by. We plan a Y2K "Just in Case" Retreat here, but that may still leave us short next January without drastic actions now.
The ecovillage infrastructure is developing very nicely. A 1,500 sq. ft. dining hall and kitchen, with wind, solar, and back-up power system is the focus of the village. A shower house is in place. A 16'x26' root cellar and 2 casitas are under construction. We have the building supplies for 10 more buildings: 5 casitas, workshop, garden shop, bathhouse, laundry room, & library. A 35' trailer was just donated to us which will be enclosed with papercrete to make an administrative office. By March 1 at least 7 people will
be residing on the land full time and 2 more are planning to build casitas here. We are hearing from 4-12 people a week now wanting information about moving here or visiting. We must protect what we have here for them, for future generations, and for the environment, rather than lose all the land and the ecovillage. We have reluctantly chosen to once again let development take over an area that was designated as a nature preserve, because of the lack of options; the plants and animals have no way to help us help save this land for them.
Area land prices in the valley just below us have skyrocketed since 1996. Within 4 miles of the ranch, land is selling for $880-$1,500 an acre, all with little or no view. We are offering 120-280 acres in the remote foothills at $695 an acre and a 100 mile unbroken view into the west (Oh, the sunsets!), and the northern border of federal land, eastern border of state land, WindTree Ranch to the west, and a private road to the south. Such a large piece of private land is very hard to find. Please share this information with others and help save the other nearly 1,000 acres of WindTree Ranch from development.
If you have the ability to help with refinancing, networking, have marketing, fund-raising, or other experience you are willing to share, ideas, or suggestions, please let us know. We have a new e-mail address: windtreeranch@theriver.com, or WindTree Ranch, RR 2 Box 1, Douglas, AZ 85607-9802, message phone # 520-364-4611.
Blessings from all of us at WindTree Ranch.
