This was my first attempt at describing what I’m aiming for:
The Field is a community in which people can experience life closer to nature. Its unique combination of sustainable co-living, co-working, courses and events provides a much-needed escape from the relentless stress of our overcomplicated lives.
Situated on a working organic farm in Cornwall / Devon / Somerset, The Field is a collection of character-filled living spaces: a barn, an Airstream caravan, a train carriage and several purpose-built tiny houses.
The barn hosts activities such as yoga, pilates and meditation, and has a space for coworking. There is also some communal dining. It’s all optional.
It runs in step with the seasons. During the winter, it’s available for longer stays with less structure. An opportunity to buckle down on a project, or to hibernate. During the summer, every opportunity is taken to be outside in nature. Stays are shorter and there are more activities: walks, wild swims, campfires and games.
I actually wrote this a few days ago. It’s not quite there yet, but it has helped me get some clarity. I could begin to see it in my mind’s eye, but had no way of sharing the vision. More out of habit than anything else, I turned to generative AI for help. I pretty much pasted in my description and this is what it gave me:
Not bad, but not right. I wouldn’t mind staying here for a night or two, but no more. It’s obviously far too cramped and it lacks two key ingredients: water and trees.
I tweaked the prompt and got this:
More like it. Still too cramped.
The main problem, of course, is that it’s completely unrealistic. I looked into the planning regulations for woodlands and it’s nigh on impossible to do anything residential in forests. And rightly so. The scene above is beautiful, but it would be even more beautiful without the homes.
The net effect has to be positive. We have to leave The Field better than we found it.
I think if we planted trees in a crop or grazing field, like in the first picture, and added some dwellings, that would be a gain.
But not as much of a gain as this:
Does anyone have a number for Tata Steel?
