We're not interested so much in crowd drawing or affiliation(aka nondenominational, no sister schools, no non-private sponsors, etc etc) but we were considering doing a seasonal fair, 4 a year or something similiar. It will be aesthetically hobbiton and edoras and rivendell combined, with medieval influences where necessary, but nothing non-practical like cement sculptures. We're doing this earth-healthy.
We were however hoping to establish enough master-craftsman on site to be able to issue certificates of completion and possibly even hold journeyman tests and the such, in which case I'd be running a metalsmithing/jewelry/blacksmithing guild.
Brad currently owns and runs Tidefest, in the GIg Harbour area, so along with some other money sources we actually ahve a solid base for this. But yes, we'd also hols SCA events, Belegarth events, weddings and ceremonies. Such and such. ITs not going to be a hugely high traffic area, probably aim for 90-120 residents in the uber long run.
Since the sight is going to be so far off path from anything substancial, any sort of commercial activity will be less effective. THe resident artists will be able to sell their product through a storefront in seattle(likely) and a website store, so that won't be hard. If we can manage to do this right, most of the construction we can do ourselves, and the basic food sources will be grown on site. For the faires we'd probably run it somewhat like tidefest, in that we'd have stall space for artists to rent, but it would be limited and not terribly extensive.
We've thought it out, but I definitly love the input. Either way, there would very easily be a place for a Ranger Guild that would focus on ranger crafts, martial arts, combat research/activity, camping. Basically anything on this site could be a functional aspect of the Ranger Guild, and meanwhile whomever came to stay for a time would have tons of space to play in:)
Mostly, I know people don't necessarily ahve the capacity to comit to residency at a place like this so far from home, BUT I am also suggesting visiting for any length of time you chose, and if you want to live there for a time, rent would likely consist of community service hours like tending gardens, garbage collection, repairs, etc. Just figured I'd give you guys the heads up.
Sorry that was long >_<
www.ramaloke.org is the concept site