Here's how you do it.

I've seen this. This is actually one of the first things that had me interested seriously in STX as my choice. Would love to work for this guy.

I've seen this. This is actually one of the first things that had me interested seriously in STX as my choice. Would love to work for this guy.

Are you on STX? Could get you in touch with him.

Keep in mind, Not many live that lifestyle but it can be done.

This is a great 3 part video series about Nate Olive and the Ridge to Reef Farm on STX. What an awesome guy! Keep up the good work Nate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VARkn_kUEvA&feature=iv&src_vid=7BKCWWJM80g&annotation_id=annotation_539650

Apparently not all is roses on the ridge...

I saw the videos of Nate before I moved here and was inspired as well, then I met him.

now I try to inspire myself, at least I'm (mostly) real with me.

Do tell...

What's with the ex-pat crap?

Interesting take on him liquid...I wonder what happened.

skysthe limit- I'm not there yet. Planning stages. I'm shooting for sept 16.

The ex pat thing- It isn't technically correct, but for me I get it. It does feel that way, going so far from home to a place that is very different in many ways. And we don't get to vote, so, kind of feels different.

We are a U.S. Territory.
You can vote for the president, if you are not registered to vote here in the VI and are registered to vote in the states.

There is no ex pat about it.
Unless you're from another country.
If you're a U.S. citizen and if you wish to be an ex pat - Go to another country.

I wasn't impressed by posted video nor the guy.
Granted, I don't live on STX so don't know the whole scoop.
Not sure you want come live in de bush, shangirl.
Tread lightly.

1ex·pa·tri·ate

1 :banish, exile
2 :to withdraw (oneself) from residence in or allegiance to one's native country
intransitive verb
:to leave one's native country to live elsewhere; also :to renounce allegiance to one's native country

Missing the point Alana. I caught the expat stuff too, but that's not the story.

Yeah, the "expatriate" thing combined with the romanticized "gringo moves to island, marries one of the hottest women there" was a bit too much for me. As an aside, he also handled the machete awkwardly. Many local handymen would have a good chuckle at this guy.

You can't claim expat status when you have the comforts of your native currency, cell phone usage, etc. The people who move to the VI don't deserve to call themselves expats. They typically move here (as opposed to Antigua, etc) precisely because it is a U.S. territory and they don't want to do too much adjusting. Expats also typically don't segregate and "build walls around themselves," as Olive put it in the video, like transplants to the VI do. There are also too many transplants in the VI now to consider anyone moving here an "expat." A person on any Virgin Island may spend their entire experience among transplants and never socially engage with locals. The experience on STJ or the East End of STX, etc. is more akin to an American enclave with great weather, more corruption, and a higher cost of living than a foreign country. At one point, the experience was probably similar to that of any expat. Not anymore.

I must give Nate credit, though- he is far more integrated into the local community than most transplants. He is admittedly not very fond of transplants, and they, like some of the posters here, return the sentiments.

LiquidFlouride, why the hate? I've met Nate and his wife and thought he was a great guy and is trying to do good things here for the USVI. They have the seasonal CSA where you can get their locally grown fruits, vegetables and other crops and they ship over to STT and STJ as well. They do a farm to table program supplying local schools with fresh produce. They hold slow down dinners at the farm so people can go experience a farm to table meal by a local chef.

Nate and the folks at R2R are trying to make a difference on the island. I'm sure they have their complaints about certain things but they are taking action on something they feel passionate about.

I completely understand the ex-pat thing as a feeling here and not the strict dictionary definition. There are definitely ex-pat type communities on STX where there are not many or zero bahn here folks living. It may be the same currency and have many of the same things as back in the states but there is a different feel. It's a feeling and not the dictionary definition. That shouldn't bother anyone if someone feels that way. There is no dictionary term for ex-pat type of feeling.

We are a U.S. Territory.
You can vote for the president, if you are not registered to vote here in the VI and are registered to vote in the states.

quote]

It's tricky though. The only way we can do that legally in the state I moved from (PA), is to maintain enough of a presence there to make them believe we intend to move back. That's by maintaining a long list of proof that we still have business, civic, social, and personal ties to the state, that outweigh our ties to the VI. And we have to continue to pay state and local taxes there, among other things. Much of that conflicts with VI residency rules (like turning in drivers license), and Fed residency rules (6+ month statutory residency).

Oh, and to vote legally, we have to be physically there 30+ days within each election period.

 

Mapp was able to do it!

The idealism of the program doesn't take away from the fact even at full production they could feed less than 1% of VI population. I spent my money on that idealism once. Won't again. If anyone wants to, by all means, have at it.

Not sure why there are any negative feelings about Nate. He's always been a nice guy to me. I'm pretty impressed with what he's done with the farm, especially considering that Ben and his dad -- the ones that started the farm -- left island years ago.

Not sure why there are any negative feelings about Nate. He's always been a nice guy to me. I'm pretty impressed with what he's done with the farm, especially considering that Ben and his dad -- the ones that started the farm -- left island years ago.

Exactly! I post a fun little video series about a guy who is living his dream and the haters come out of the woodwork.

He's not an EXPAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They don't produce very much!!!!
He's not real........

Makes me not want to post here. I was just trying to share something that might get people thinking about how they can follow their own dream. This is a relocation forum isn't it?

Not sure why there are any negative feelings about Nate. He's always been a nice guy to me. I'm pretty impressed with what he's done with the farm, especially considering that Ben and his dad -- the ones that started the farm -- left island years ago.

Exactly! I post a fun little video series about a guy who is living his dream and the haters come out of the woodwork.

He's not an EXPAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They don't produce very much!!!!
He's not real........

Makes me not want to post here. I was just trying to share something that might get people thinking about how they can follow their own dream. This is a relocation forum isn't it?

(tu)

No Sky, it's a forum for a select few who think they know everything.

Get ready for them to pile on.....