Support Annabel's Urban Permaculture Project

Story

The Current Situation: I owe taxes I can't pay. The building needs to be rewired. And brought up to code. But perhaps most important is converting a scraggly back and side yard into a permaculture food garden. My vision is a model of inner city agriculture with a house that can be a sanctuary if needed. Times are hard and getting harder. We are about to pass through a crucible. I am too old for the front lines but understand how to create a space for others and how to do mutual aid. I named this house The Shambles because it is accepting even of those whose lives have become a shambles during this overwhelming time. I know there are people out there who have enough money to be insulated during at least this phase of the ongoing struggle. People who may not have the set-up or perhaps the desire to dig the trenches or plant the food forest. This is a way to help an actual inner city project and allow me to make a true home for myself, any who need some help, the people who have the other unit whether they are paying like "normal" tenants or not. Last fall I got enough raised to replace the roof that had actual holes and the front porch that was near collapse. Then I got extremely broke. Eating and having toilet paper became the focus. That went on for around four months. Every so often someone on here would donate and I could buy some protein. Now I need to get serious about the food production and bring this house up to code. I am going to attempt setting up a Youtube channel that documents the entire process. UPDATE: I got into my permanent home but face the following conditions: A cockroach infestation of both the lower unit, rented to a family with six kids. The exterminator is about $700 My kitchen has three large and dead appliances that will cost a bit to haul out. ($450) For Rox to have a yard I need a bit of fencing. There is fence on three sides. It will cost about $1000 to make the yard good and safe for her. The roof needs replacing before winter and the front porch is a hazard. But those are a different matter. I am waiting for my sister's probate, now in it's 16th month, to end. That would put everything right. There is a tenant but she was already behind when I closed on this house. I don't think she is trying to be a problem. I think she is broke. And I am trying to work that out. In the meantime, she has suffered for some time by the neglect of the former owner. The roaches and mice downstairs have got to go. So I am doing this--for now. As always, if you like my writing, please subscribe instead of using go-fund-me. I am also preparing to do a YouTube channel on this rehab. Transforming an inner city property with serious issues into a permaculture urban micro-farm and comfortable green house. This is the Go-Fund-Me I never wanted to do. I had everything planned out, and enough money to get it done. I have lived on the Taos Mesa for 9 years. The thin air at 8100 feet started causing me health issues so I started looking in Rochester, known for inexpensive houses. And only 150 miles from where I grew up. It took me a year to find a duplex I liked in a decent neighborhood. The plan was to rent the top and live in the bottom. A good thing for an old freelance writer. BUT-- There was an issue closing, entirely on the seller's side. I have done everything required of me, and it was supposed to be done May 15. I needed to move when I did do to my own scheduling issues. And I have a dog and a cat. So I was forced to rent it before closing. The sellers really took advantage of the situation. They essentially took ALL my ready cash. And the escrow has the rest. I have no refrigerator here and it is extra hot. And without the rental income from the upstairs I am about to be in real trouble. There is no place available in my range for me to buy instead. They swear they intend to close, at which point everything will be fine. But nobody know when this will happen. So I must figure something out. It won't take much to make me comfortable till this is resolved. A fridge and enough to cover the rent I should not have to pay--but do. And yes, what they did is legal... I would much prefer people get a paid subscription to my substack at annabelascher.substack.com Facebook won't share posts about that very widely, so I am doing this too. And I promise to write about going to a new city at nearly 70 and diving in to the deep end. So, I pass the cyber hat once again. But please do check out the substack if you have not seen it. And thank you to anyone who is willing to help a writer out of a jam.