natural communties in the Stevens County area?

[peacelovinmama]

Hi there, my DH and I are looking to buy property in WA and plan to eventually live sustainably off of it.  We are finding great pieces of land in the Kettle Falls/Colville area but we are concerned that that is too far out and away from good schools and natural minded people/community; it is very important to us to still be around like minded people and for our children to have a social life as well without going to a public school.  We haven't gone out that way to check things out yet, I thought I would check on here and see if anyone could give me an idea of what the vibe is like out there....  Thank you!!

Jaime

[Naturallove]

There is a real mix of people out there. A lot of people who are naturally minded and a lot of people who are more conservative/traditional mountain folk. It is really beautiful country up there.

[peacelovinmama]

Thanks for getting back to me : )  I am excited to go over and get to know the area, it looks beautiful!

[peacelovinmama]

Do you (or someone else) know more about the schools or homeschooling community in that area?? 

[Naturallove]

I live in Spokane, but lived up in Colville/Rice for about 6 months. I know a lot of homeschoolers up there. From what I can tell homeschooling is pretty prevalent in that area.  I know there are a few parent partnership programs in the area and co-ops. The public schools in Colville don't have a great reputation. I am not sure about in the other areas. I don't know much about the private schools, but I do know there is a private classical school in Colville called Westover Academy. It is a small school, but has a good reputation.

Let me know if you have any other questions I can answer.

[grahamsmom98]

Do you already have employment lined-up in that area? I ask because jobs there are fairly few.  The Stevens county economy, while not exactly depressed, isn't exactly thriving.   

[peacelovinmama]

Our plan is to buy property with good friends of ours and still be living over in the Seattle area while we build up the property.  Our goal is to create a sustainable bed and breakfast/spiritual renewal retreat type place for eco-travelers that practices permaculture and bio-dynamic farming.  So at this point we aren't really planning on getting jobs in town right away.  My main concern is the fact that we have a 2 year old son, we plan on homeschooling but really want to make sure there will be other like minded families around for him to make friends and be a part of a bigger community when we are ready to settle out there.  We plan on coming out that way in the next month to get a feel for the area....we shall see : )  So far my research shows that there is a health food store in Kettle falls and a lot of small farms in Steven's county, that all is very appealing.  We are excited to come and see. 

Thanks for all the info!!

[betho]

Well I can tell you within a few years there will be ME there!  I've got property just south of Colville and will be moving there in the next couple years.  We've got extended family on board as well, though I think I am the only one specifically interested in homeschooling.  I've got a 4 YO, 2 YO, and am 6 weeks preggo. 

From what I've heard, the schools in Colville are actually pretty good, and the hospitals in the area aren't bad.  There are quite a few people in the area that are interested in natural living, from what I've noticed.

[GrandmaM]

I live near Colville (I'm Betho's mom). There is a solid county 4H program as well as sports that homeschoolers can get involved in. As far as natural living, most of the people I know here like to raise some or most of their own food and live a sustainable life. There are great farmers' markets in several local communities. Your plans for a retreat, permaculture, and bio-dynamics will fit right into the community.

We are from Seattle too--be prepared to be called "coasties"! That's a local term (but not derogatory) for people from west of the Cascades, which is funny because I always thought of the coast as the ocean beaches, not all of western WA. People here are really friendly though. I think you'll like it!!

[peacelovinmama]

Yay!  I'm getting more and more excited to come out there!  It sounds like just what we've been looking for.  Thanks so much for all the information. 

Betho- we should keep in touch since we both plan on homeschooling and have kids the same age...

Take care : )

[fireflies~for~me]

Hi! So glad I saw your post, so I can answer some more of your questions.

We have lived in the area since 2008. Moved up here because I got a job working for Eastern Washington U. as an Early Head Start home visitor (so I get to visit preggie mamas and toddler families in their home).  Love love my job. We specifically chose the Onion Creek area because of the school.  www.ocsd30.org Onion Creek is a 30 mile stretch of road between Colville and Northport (so a little east of Kettle Falls). Probably most known in it's glory days for pot farming and such;) but a very cool community of people, mostly centered around our little community school, which is a public school (independent district) grades Pre K through 8.  And.......there are 44 students. So, very small class sizes and great student teacher ratios in mixed age classrooms. It totally is private school quality education for free!! Any chance I get, I tell people what an amazing learning environment it has been for our boys. We have two, ages 6 and 8. They started in Preschool and Kindergarten here and now my oldest is in 2nd grade. Field trips, yoga, snowshoeing at recess. Lovely sense of community! I do know many homeschoolers though too.

And a friend of mine runs a neat little Waldorf preschool in Colville. 

Having said that though, the area is so very depressed with this economy, but truly the mix of people that one of the previous posters is talking about is quite accurate.  The poverty mentality runs rampant in surrounding areas, especially I will say in Northport, but it is just hard hit all the way around. Know that and be prepared for that before you move over. It has worn on us to the point, that we are considering a move to Western WA this summer. My husband is a Marriage and Family Therapist and was working for the small practice in town, but just not enough hours. We have struggled financially bigtime and we both had jobs:( and although we do have major debt from grad school, we live so simply, we can't cut anything else:( And gas is very pricey just so ya know!

Overall, Colville is quite conservative. Plenty of LDS/conservative right. The spiritual element is here though, you just have to find it! :)

Some of my favorite things about the area though, that we would soo miss:

1) Meyers Falls Market www.meyersfallsmarket.com in Kettle Falls (it is the natural market in the area). Great vibe. Small but close store community. They also do a fun Open Mic on Fridays! Most of the other shopping, you'll probably do at Super 1 in Colville, but prices are not the best. And then we do have WalMart-arg!

2) Northern Ales Brew Pub www.northernales.com in Kettle Falls, run by my friends:)

3) Greenwave Gardens www.greenwavegardens.com in Northport run by some of our other friends. They do amazing CSA boxes!!!! (and note, from Kettle Falls, there is another road that follows the Columbia River and goes right into Northport in like 30 minutes)

4) My midwife who does all my well woman care (although I had my babies in Asheville, NC) Colleen Donavon-Batson. Wonderful CNM...wonderful lady. She moved to town a few years ago from Cali and has a small office in Colville. She does homebirths in the area. Dana Combest is another gifted midwife who has been around these parts a long time.

5) The freedom....we live in a cabin on 20 acres one mile from my kids' school.  We have a chocolate lab who soaks in the sun all day. Fresh air. Pure water. It's all here.

6) Lovitt Restaurant that's all I will say...you will have to see for yourself;) www.lovittrestaurant.com

7) Blue Moon Yoga in Kettle Falls - her studio is in her home overlooking Lake Roosevelt. She has been my favorite yoga teacher so far and teaches in the Viniyoga style. You can look her up on Facebook:)

I'm sure I will think of other things to get you excited about;) And maybe some more reality for ya too;)

I love the adventure of new places and new people. I'm sure you are feeling the buzz of all that planning! Enjoy!

[peacelovinmama]

I am having fun planning/researching!  I'm happy to hear that there is a good school there, I love that the classes are mixed ages.  I am learning about homeschooling just in case where we end up doesn't have a good school, but we would prefer him to be in a school and around other kids on a daily basis.  I appreciate all your information, especially the "reality".  I am loving the idea of living out there but want to know the "cons" of it as well so I won't be disappointed or let down.  I figure though that most small towns away from the cities are going to be a bit depressed with our current economy.  We won't be living out there for a while- not until we are able to get our business stuff going and not have to worry about finding work outside of the home.  Any other info you think of please let me know, I am loving the responses!    

[missunshine]

I live in Colville, WA and love it.  There are lots of people in the area focused on living more naturally and lots of community-mindedness.  I am the person with the Waldorf-inspired preschool that Fireflies-for-me mentioned.  We are now called Riverwood Community School.  We've expanded our business to include preschool, kindergarten, 1st grade, and classes for homeschooled children (German, Spanish, Knitting, etc.).  In the future we will be offering parent-baby classes and classes for adults, such as felting and dollmaking.  So you may want to look us up if you move to the area.

[fireflies~for~me]

Hi Janelle:)

[missunshine]

Hi, Melinda.