Apologies for tooting my own horn, but..... I just launched a campaign to raise funds to publish my illustrated book on http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-practical-guide-to-squat... Hopefully it will do well, and become yet another example of a successfully funded + crowd-sourced project. Support independent art!
I've been a squatter for more than 7 years but last year our right wing (Dutch) government decided to make squatting illegal. But there are still loopholes. My city (Eindhoven) had this eviction of a famous squatted bunker in 1990, in which all sorts of cultural events were being held. 300 policemen to get rid of 4 squatters who had walled themselves up inside plus some supporters out front and on the roof. http://www.eindhoven-in-beeld.nl/picture/number31734.asp After they demolished the building the lot stood vacant for more than three years. The mayor decided that future squats in this city could only be evicted if there was a real plan for building something else in its stead. So Eindhoven is the only dutch city where you can still squat. My squat where I used to live is still standing proud amidst 3 others for more than 20 squatted years. Our cultural centre that we squatted after the bunker was bought by us after 2 years with the loan of a friendly alternative bank. Squatting was the best thing I have ever done in my life. It made me what I am now. Independant, freethinking, DIY and very adventurous. We had the best parties, the nicest neighbours and an immense pride in what we were doing.
Thank you so much for sharing this, I am really interested in hearing stories of fellow squatters. I actually lived in Rotterdam for 1 1/2 years, and for a short time I lived in an antikraak in the center of Rotterdam. It was a office building from the 70's, slated for demolition, and the owners let people squat in it if they paid the utilities. The building was eventually demolished and everyone was told they had to move, but it was great while it lasted. I did a lot of research about squatting in the UK, and NL, they pretty much started the whole thing off, and legalised it for a time. I hope you can help support my project, http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-practical-guide-to-squat..., and spread the word. Thanks again!
This couldn't be more timely - a friend and I have been considering trying to squat somewhere. It seems like a mad idea, but I'm just finishing my master's and have no idea what to do next (not ready for a PhD), so a bit of mad living seems appropriate. Unfortunately neither he nor I have ever squatted before, so a guide seems like a really cool thing to have.
Lu, thanks for letting us know what you are up to. I know there are a number of people here that would be interested in this project. The first to come quickly to mind is BLOB_CASTLE. B_C, this seems right up your alley. Lu, have you actually made all of the things in the book, for example the pizza box solar oven? -Did I get that right? How much of it is theory and how much of it do you have practical knowledge of? Good luck! Do you have wifi in that apple orchard of yours?
Thanks for helping my spread the word. Actually most of the things in the book I have done, some I revised. The solar over I made, but a different version of it, I cooked hot dogs and hot chocolate in it in the dead of winter, under the sun when it was nearly -25 Celsius. No wifi at the orchard, I spend a lot of time at the library or at MCDonalds siphoning free wifi.
With an empty can and few parts from a hardware store it's possible to build a long-range wifi antenna. You should check it out
The thought of you living "off the grid," in an apple orchard was awesomely romantic, until you threw in the need to siphon wifi off of a McDonalds.
This is incredible. Are you planning on starting this community within a certain time frame?
It's an abandoned building? And I'm assuming that's in Australia as well? How much is it? edit: Wait a minute. If it's abandoned, why would buying it be an option if squatting is the goal?