Oasis Homestead

A group of Modern-Day individuals and/or families working together to live a self sufficient, off grid, organic, all natural, plain, old fashioned, simple life. With Amish and Mennonite LIKE attitudes, morals and values, a plain, simple group. We share many commonalities and values similar to the aforementioned groups while expressing some very different views.

A few examples of the differences are: we do not require any individual to live a non-resistant life, wear a head covering or submit to specific dress codes except while staying at our home.

You may drive a vehicle, use Internet and electricity in your home. Those choices belong to each individual, although modesty is always required.

In our home the ladies wear simple, modest dresses below the knees and head covers. (1st Corinthians 11)
Aprons are often worn by the ladies. The men wear long pants most times, shorts must come to the knees. No sleeveless shirts, no print, brand labels or advertisements on clothing. Men keep their hair short, facial hair is a personal choice. The ladies keep their hair long and pinned up under a cover.

Visitors would be asked to conform to our dress code while staying at our homestead. Full time residents whom own their own place and live at their own places full time, can set their own guidelines. More detailed information will be provided during the interview process.

Musical instruments, travel, higher education and technology are not forbidden. Each family should decide what influences and to what extent they feel are best for them. We do encourage every person to guard themselves from being exposed to too much modern stress, becoming imprisoned or dependent on modern conveniences.

In our home we do not have TV, but we will watch some DVDs. You won't find a curling iron, makeup or a toaster oven. Video games are very rare indeed. Instead you will find us shucking corn together outside or hoeing the garden rows, mowing grass, weaving rugs, splitting firewood or churning butter.... We even observe electricity-FREE days each month.

Men and women have separate work projects and sleeping areas. We have gender specific roles and are VERY conservative. Our homestead functions like the old fashioned pioneer homesteads. Leave your modern attire, music and such, carefully packed away in your car or better yet: leave it at home before you come visit us.

We prefer old fashioned clothing, music and activities from the pioneer days. Think: Little House On The Prairie

Gender roles defined
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Women:

Cooking
Cleaning
Laundry
Sewing
Mending
Spinning
Weaving
Churning
Ironing
Gardening
Making butter
Grinding flour
Collecting herbs
Drying
Canning
Baking
Cheese making
Medicinals
Nutrition
Schooling children
Animal care
Produce stand business
Propagating

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Men:

Crops
Gardening
Fencing
Building
Tractors
Welding
Metal working
Forging
Leather working
Milking
Dirt work
Digging
Chopping
Splitting
Tilling
Masonry
Animal care
Repairs
Maintenance
Automotive
Spiritual leading

Grace is said at every meal, church on Sunday's. We may have a glass of wine with dinner but no exorbitant alcohol use. Smoking is frowned upon and drugs are strictly forbidden.

We are Holy Spirit filled Christians. We keep the bible in it's entirety, and the leading voice of the precious Holy Spirit as our guide for life. We attend a local Mennonite church but are not members.

If you are leaving the Amish or Mennonite groups and wish to keep with a plain lifestyle, you may feel comfortable here. If you are seeking to join a community that is similar in ways to the Amish or Mennonites, you may feel comfortable here. If you have always felt that you were born 100 years too late, you may feel comfortable here.

A lifestyle of living off the land, making your own from nature and old fashioned hand tools. We use tractors and engines as needed. Raising your own foods, animals and using them to feed your family. Not dependent on "the system", but free from the imprisonment of it.

Deriving freedom from your own land and networking with like minded people to accomplish the common goals.

We would like to form a local, living, breathing, community, made up of hard working, able bodied, committed people to live and work together. We can develop friendships as well as depression proof homesteads. Share meals, joys, worship services and hardships together. Occasionally offering a work-to-stay program.

Children can grow up in the proper care of parents and good friends, and will be home schooled by the loving care of their parents. Your bodies nourished from the bountiful fruits of the land. Health protected from illness and sicknesses treated by nature.

Come pioneer this group and live like the REAL Pioneers did.
We are seeking individuals and families that want to live within driving
distance of each other. Encouraging private property ownership, but willing to accommodate a small number of people on our land short term, with the intention of helping them to relocate here on their own property.

At present we have 6 families within our network, of a 3 mile radius. We have 1 male farm-hand apprentice, living at our homestead full time.

We observe a reasonably set schedule:
M-Sat
Up at 5am
Ready to work by 6am
Breakfast from 8-9am
Back to work by 9am
Lunch from 12-1pm
Free time from 1-4pm
Meal prep 4pm
Dinner and fellowship from 5-7pm
Clean up/projects until 8pm
*Sundays are subject to church, project plans and weather.
*All visitors and residents are required to participate in activities according to the above schedule.

(You should be dressed, hair pinned up and covered, ready for work by 6am each morning)

We will be accepting applications for visitors to stay short term on a work exchange basis. You will have space for primitive camping, 3 meals PER WORK DAY and training/hands on education in day to day simple living skills, in exchange for your free labor. Limited internet access.

Minimum visiting periods are 3 days, more commonly people stay for 1-2 weeks. If we all get along well, you could be invited to stay longer and/or return later. Best times of the year for visiting is between April through October. Be prepared to work outside mostly. This is rice country and we are surrounded by flooded fields that breed heavy swarms of Mosquitos. We recommend you begin a sulphur regimen 30 days before coming here.

You don't work- you don't eat. If you take a day off, you will have to fend for yourself. Full water/electric/Internet/camping privileges as well as 3 hefty, home raised/home made meals per day= 4-6 hours of work from each adult per day. The amount of hours work to earn your keep varies depending on your skill level and abilities.

Please email us with your interest for this type of opportunity. We will return your email with an interview process, application and further requirements. A minimum of 2 weeks notice before intended arrival is requested.

Please tell us all about yourself and your family. Tell us how you are actively working towards a more self sufficient life. We would be interested to know how self sufficient you are now, and how far you are seeking to go!