The second and third parcels look great--I like trees!  I'm guessing that if there is interest here the possible entry amounts might be more in the region of, say, $1,000 (£500?) or divisions or multiples thereof...(heh...which means: maybe a minimum amount would be...what, £100?  $200?)  How would that work out?  Do you need heftier chunks of cash-money or else it all becomes over-complicated?

For me, I'd like to be able to visit (and stay) on the land I invested in so I'm hoping it all works out--I'm interested to know what Drew thinks of this idea, also ATinNM (who may be doing something similar, but on a smaller scale--I'm not sure), nearlynormal, DeAnanander.

You've described various possible uses for the land, which comes parcelled in 5 acre lots...but individuals don't have to buy 5 acres, right?  That's just the minimum "seller size", so a pool has to buy in 5 acre segments.  If I said you could have 100 investors at $200 per investor, so that would be $20,000, let's say that's 8 acres...hmmm...are you looking for larger investment monies?  (Do we have any larger investors around ET?)....triple hmmm....The energy idea seems up front to be the easiest "return on investment"; put up some turbines or solar panels, large geothermal, connect to grid...what would that look like?  And then the land can be used (lived on?  Farmed?  Coppiced?  All of those and others?) as and when...it all sounds good to me, though I think I'd be...hmmm...I like the sound of the Umbria "mirror"....(this idea in fact sounds like the sort of place where ETopia might like to build its research buildings)...

(OT--Paul, could you e-mail me?  I have something to send you but I cannae find an e-mail address for you.)

Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.