Location
The right land
The right land
is part of the medicine.
HOME has not yet found its permanent location. The search is active. What follows are the conditions the land itself must meet for the tribe to function as intended. The location is not fixed to one country. The south of England is the first choice, but land prices there are high, so the search extends across Europe.
The essential criteria
i
An unobscured eastern horizon
Sun gazing at dawn is a daily practice at HOME. The site must have a clear view of the sunrise throughout the year — ideally over water. The healing properties of early morning infrared light are foundational to the tribe's health philosophy. If it were possible to see the sun rise out of the sea every day, that would be ideal.
ii
Proximity to a large body of water
The site needs to be close enough to water — ideally the sea — for cold water plunging after the sauna. Wild swimming, barefoot walks, and the daily relationship with tidal rhythms are all part of the intended life of the tribe.
iii
Mixed deciduous woodland
Trees provide shade, shelter from wind, foraging opportunities, building material, and the particular quality of light and sound that only a mixed woodland can offer. People heal faster near trees.
iv
Sufficient land for farming and livestock
The tribe will farm its own food. This requires enough land for a permaculture garden, a polytunnel, and grazing for livestock — initially goats and chickens, with the potential for sheep, cattle, geese, and ducks as the tribe grows.
v
Space for multiple structures
The site must accommodate a central hall, residential dwellings, family homes, creative studios, a kitchen complex, a sauna, a fasting sanctuary, and farm buildings — with room to grow. This is a village, not a retreat centre.
vi
Connection to the local area
HOME is not an enclave. It is intended to be integrated with its surrounding area — sharing produce, hosting events, contributing to local life.
Ideal conditions
Beyond the essentials.
A contemplation garden
Designed for quiet sitting and slow walking — also capable of hosting a fire, a barbecue, an outdoor gathering. Beauty and function in the same space.
A south-facing aspect
Passive solar gain central to the energy strategy. Buildings oriented to make the most of available sunlight — for warmth, for growing, and for the simple joy of sun on skin.
Good water
Access to clean spring or well water strongly preferred. Water quality is taken seriously at HOME — as nourishment, as medicine, and as something worth protecting.
Planning flexibility
The site needs to be in a jurisdiction that allows for alternative building methods, composting systems, and the full range of the tribe's activities.
"Rising early to watch the sunrise on the beach, I found that the red sun on the horizon drew a smile from my lips despite everything. I realised I had found the church I'd always been seeking."
— Tim Ruth, Into the Wow