Who is Eustace Conway and why is he a threat?

Published by Trey Morrison on November 29, 2012 | 96 Comments

Folks… This one’s important. Please take the time to read this in its entirety, and if you’re so inclined to take action below. Trey & Coley

Update: Sunday night… The response to this has been overwhelming. We’ve had over 25,000 visits in the past 4 days. We talked to Eustace Conway last night and will be publishing a letter from him tomorrow expressing his thanks. And if you would, please “like” us on Facebook by clicking the “like” button about halfway down the right side of this page. This will ensure that this story will continue to be shared far and wide. Thanks!

Update: Monday afternoon… Letter from Eustace Conway here.

Government should serve the people. Unfortunately, over time the nature of government is to grow beyond its usefulness. It becomes unhealthy and obese.

When our country was formed it was based on awesome ideals. The flag and the national anthem represented those ideals. So far so good. But over time those ideals slip further and further away until all we are left with is a song, a flag and a government that has lost touch with its fundamental purpose.

As government continuously increases it’s control over every aspect of our lives we lose more and more of our freedoms. What threatens the growth of government? Is it the fiscal cliff we are hearing about in the news? Is it the citizen anger over government bailouts? Is it the loss of faith in central planning? How about the debasement of our currency? How about the growing concern over the government trampling our civil liberties? Is it Tea Party or Occupy Wall Street protests?

No. When we’re angry we’re still engaged… We still show up to vote for this candidate or that candidate and expect them to right the ship.

The real threat to government is when it is ignored. When we turn our backs on it and demonstrate that we no longer need it.

Like an incorrigible narcissist, government demands our attention. When citizens no longer feel the need to bow in adoration, fear, or submission, government takes great offense.

But what if that wasn’t the case? What if we learned how to take care of ourselves? To become more self-reliant? More resilient? What if we didn’t need government deciding everything for us?

For government at all levels such thoughts are hugely threatening and when such subversive thinking surfaces government can be swift to react. Case in point: Turtle Island Preserve.

Barn at Turtle Island

Turtle Island Preserve is a non-profit education center in the mountains of North Carolina run by Eustace Conway, one of the last true “mountain men” in America today.

Does this look threatening to you?

Conway has been featured in the Mountain Men series on the History Channel and the book The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert. Turtle Island is where Trey and his son learned how to make fire last summer as he wrote about here.

Trey and Michael learn to make fire

Turtle Island Preserve has been a functioning farm and education center for over 26 years. They teach the power of self-reliance and resilience through mastery of traditional skills. They help perserve our cultural heritage.

Trey's daughter Syd learns to raise a teepee

It is run by a volunteer labor force and has brought people from around the world to learn the transformational power of self-reliance.

Michael learning from a mountain man

On September 19th, nearly a dozen local government agents (many armed) stormed Turtle Island Preserve.

The agents barged into Eustace’s living room unannounced, uninvited, and unwelcome. They presented him with a search warrant. Government vehicles blocked his private road and agents armed with topographical maps, aerial photographs, laptops and GPS equipment spent most of the day on Eustace’s property violating his privacy and photographing his buildings and homes.

What prompted such an extreme government response? Simple: Eustace Conway refused to bow before the altar of county government officials. The buildings on Conway’s property are constructed using traditional American heritage methods that Conway has kept alive and well. Such methods are apparently “unacceptable” to the county officials. According to Conway:

“…the very building techniques that all of our ancestors thrived with are now being deemed unacceptable and targeted as ‘illegal’ because they don’t fit into the cookie-cutter code status that is so extremely far from what we are about. The buildings and lifestyle of our working farm and education center teach about true American freedom. The invasive attack was a surreal wake-up call to the illusion of the American myth: “Land of the free.”

The threat Eustace Conway’s Turtle Island Preserve represents has nothing to do with building or health code violations. Those are simply a pretense… What it really has to do with is something government finds threatening: Independence, freedom and self reliance.

And this is exactly what Conway personifies and teaches to others. But the story of Turtle Island Preserve gets more interesting…

The land at Conway’s Turtle Island preserve is becoming more valuable. A huge development project called Laurelmor just over the ridge from Conway’s property was slated for golf courses and million dollar, debt-fueled McMansions before the project went bankrupt when the real estate bubble burst in 2008.

Proposed Laurelmor entrance

It was later sold for $32 million to a second group of developers. When the original Laurelmor plan was proposed, the county manager, in a moment of bureaucratic giddiness, boasted that the project “could add a significant amount to the tax base”, and “could have a property value of between $2.5 and $3.5 billion.”

The government would make a lot more money if the land was developed.

Conway is a threat because he represents true independence and freedom, but he’s also being victimized because the valuable land he owns makes the tax feeding class salivate. The first step to gaining control over his land is for local government to issue a litany of penny-ante “code” violations. This is how predatory government often works… Even at the local level.

Sadly Turtle Island Preserve has now been closed… And Conway has been forced to lawyer up — an exceedingly distasteful prospect for a guy that lives in the woods, shoes his own horses, builds his own house, and grows and kills his own food.

But we can do something about it. Please go to Change.org now and sign the petition in support of Turtle Island Preserve. Petitions will be presented to the Chairman of the North Carolina Building Codes Council on December 10th, so we don’t have much time.

You can also stay up-to-date on the situation through the Turtle Island Preserve page on Facebook.

While you’re at it, call the Watauga County Planning & Inspections Department (828-265-8043) and the Appalachian District Health Department (828.264.4995) and let them know exactly what you think of their shenanigans.

And be sure to forward this story to as many friends and colleagues as possible. Folks like Eustace Conway are a rare treasure because they represent what freedom, liberty and self-reliance are all about. Take five minutes and make your voice heard… It will make a difference.

Eustace Conway

Dredgeman

Eustace is a valuable asset to this nation. He is one of a dying breed of people that have managed to live in the wilderness and remain totally self reliant. He has used his land and his method of life to instruct others that would like to be sellf reliant. There is no reason for the government to make such a feable attempt to steal his property just to increase their tax base and destroy everything this man has worked for all of his life. This is a demonstration og the true greed of a government without any constraints.
Gregg

The Bill of Rights guarantees us the rights to “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. What is it about the building code that supersedes all of that. The UBC (Unified Building Code) states in its forward “if any section, paragraph or sentence of this document should be declared unconstitutional that does not apply to any other section, paragraph or sentence”. As it applies to the rights of a citizen to build pretty much what-ever they like on their own land, (not in a development protected by other covenants) the UBC is blatantly unconstitutional. We need the UBC for public buildings and to guard against unscrupulous contractors. The UBC was written by and for contractors, banks, building suppliers etc. Where I live the county is pretty mellow, we fought for years for the right to build with natural materials and simply without having to go into debt. We have an owner builder ordinance that give property owners the right to house their families and build reasonably. We still have to satisfy the electrical inspector.

There are counties in northern California will not allow you to build without making your home handicapped accessible putting stainless railings in the bath and building wheel chair ramps. Often the environment is cited as reason for the code, but building a house of sticks from your land is probably way better for the environment than importing insulation from China etc.

Gregg, Washington State
- Erick Amthor
  
  Have you not heard? The Constitution is outdated and corrupt politicians will now dictate what our “rights” are. Just ask the community organizer in chief.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-McDaniel/1176265924 Phillip McDaniel
    
    Agreed, the constitution is totally worthless other than as a footnote of history. Sure it’s a nice story, but the reality is this nation has NEVER lived up to it’s purported ideals, founding documents, or legal documents.
Dirk

This is being done by local government parasites who ironically signed the papers taking away the land and rights of a real man with their soft, manicured fingers.

The pampered creatures responsible for this wouldn’t last 8 hours up in Conway’s next of the woods. Conway does more before breakfast than these pasty white, obese, soft bureaucrats accomplish in a week.

It’s appalling at so many levels. We are truly finished as a nation when we start allowing things like this to happen.
- http://www.facebook.com/tinalbittner Tina L Bittner
  
  They are no longer just white…heavenly mtn (or whatever it is today) is owned by eastern indians…and they deserve no capitol letters in their names….they are the ones stirring up the local gov’t to do these things so they can get more profit for their land…as well as take over his. I lived down the road for many yrs…and loved it when they would come thru on the horse and carriages…they are wonderful people in Turtle Island. The cabins in there are wonderful…and they work the sawmill to do it all by themselves. What a shame our country has come to….lowering dignity for gain and control over any and everything possible.
  - http://www.facebook.com/courtney.c.morrison.7 Courtney Coffee Morrison
    
    I don’t believe the peaceful yogis on Heavenly Mountain have anything to do with this, Tina, but I could be wrong. We don’t really know the all the details.
    - http://www.facebook.com/toby.hoffman Toby Hoffman
      
      HM are run by evil greedy capitalists and I found the deed to their land at the Watauga Court House says the land was to stay in Native American hands in perpetuity.
Gregg

This petition is not nearly
enough, this is one man, how bout the rest of us ? We all deserve the right to
build according to our own means and
ideas on our own lands. The Bill of Rights gives us that right, lets
just enforce that! The local government (and banks) are so afraid you will build, not up to code and then sell the land. OK so grant folks who apply for it a owner builder variance, make people sign that their deed will inform any buyer there are buildings on the land that may not be built according to code. If the potential buyer requests it the seller must provide a survey/inspection of the property that lists what it would take to bring the buildings to code. The buyer then signs off on the variance. That’s not so difficult.
- http://www.facebook.com/fred.hudson.94 Fred Hudson
  
  Greg you are so correct , and most any one would agree !!
- Jim Harmon
  
  I want to build a log cabin on my land, purchased with my hard earned money. Now the county inspectors inform me I have to build to their specs such as window size. I want small windows to keep out the winter weather. They insist that I cannot pipe my sewage into the creek even though the creek is on my property and is long enough that any pollution will be too diluted to affect anyone down-stream. We are in big trouble when the government can now tell me where I can and cannot shit.
  - merika
    
    I hope they do insist you not pipe sewage into a creek. Life is down-stream!! Put in a proper septic system!!
    - http://www.facebook.com/W4DAA Daniel Lange
      
      I agree and hope they do not allow you to pipe sewage into the creek. If you do not want to put in septic system, consider an outhouse or compost the waste. There are many composting indoor toilets on the market or build one of your own. Then use the compost to grow a garden and give back to the land instead of contaminating a water source that animals and other humans may rely on to live. In addition composting the waste would save a minimum of 50+ gallons of water per person per day just to flush a toilet.
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-McDaniel/1176265924 Phillip McDaniel
        
        Again, there’s no need for government interference over such issues, see my post above for comment. Additionally by involving government one involves force and coercion, without which the state could not survive. The state by it’s very nature has to be willing to murder Jim and all others like him should they resist arrest or defend their property against state aggression.
    - http://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-McDaniel/1176265924 Phillip McDaniel
      
      While I agree it’s ignorant, not an attack on Jim Harmon as I too am ignorant of many things. It’s just such sentiment that empowers the state to it’s sorry heights. One person wants sewage addressed, another window size, after all it’s for the children. Before you know it the county bureaucrat is telling you what color your barn has to be. If Jim dumps sewage into a creek and harms those downstream from him it is a civil matter which can and should be settled in a private court/arbitration. There are non-governmental solutions to EVERYTHING!!! People just have to undo their brainwashing and apply common sense.
  - Diane
    
    Unfortunately it is people like you who lack the common sense not to pollute your own water that allow govt regs to proliferate. It’s hard to argue against laws that require a septic system…
  - Rossco
    
    Jim if you are given permission to pipe your poop into your personal stream, others must be allowed that same option. Because you’re not that special. When many people are piping poop into their own personal streams, the sewage will no longer be diluted, it will be a public health problem. Parts of the Kentucky River are so toxic that what were once nice beaches are now closed, due to the many straight pipes, all located on private property. You might own the land, but the water belongs to us all.
- Erick Amthor
  
  The perfect and obvious solution. Which is why the corrupt powers that be will never allow it.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-McDaniel/1176265924 Phillip McDaniel
  
  The bill of rights gave me nor you nor anyone on this continent anything, ever, period. The bill of rights stated an important portion of natural God granted rights given to all of humanity. Additionally it stated these few rights for one sole purpose, so that the US government would be fully informed of it’s legal duty to defend those rights. It’s apparent to all with eyes to see that since it’s inception this nation and specifically the people calling themselves government have ignored these instructions and natural rights to the detriment of liberty and self determination. “Be it one thing or another. The constitution has either enabled or failed to prevent the sorry state of governance we have today.” – Lysander Spooner (written over 100 years ago)
Cathy

The government knows exactly what it’s doing here… They are boxing him in and leaving him no options. Tax parasites that they are, they want tax revenue. The surrounding land is valuable and at one point they stuck Conway with an $85,000 property tax bill? If you are completely self-reliant how in the hell do you pay that? You can’t. So Conway’s Turtle Island Preserve is set up as an educational non-profit probably so he can make some money to pay his tax bills. Then government comes in again and slaps him with building code violations. Now he can’t make the money he needs to pay his tax bill. These people are crooks. They will stop at nothing.
Unegv Waya (White Wolf)

This is not the first time government at the federal, state or local level has used felonious, illegal methods to get something they want. There are laws at every level of the judicial system that defines such actions as felonies. Of course, those who will pay big $$ under the table are, as always, above the law.

Everyone involved with the intrusion, right down to the individual agents, must be suspended and charged with with the felony statutes that apply.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-McDaniel/1176265924 Phillip McDaniel
  
  Look outside government if you want government issues solved. It’s wholly irrational to expect people who’s livelihood and power are assured via the coercive power of the state to do anything except defend and expand said state. Sure there will be the occasional individual (Ron Paul), but overwhelmingly government is doing exactly what it’s designed to do. A failure to recognize this is what the state wants and is counting on from it’s subjects. Make no mistake, you’re a subject, not a citizen.
rangerdavid

hello. are you serious? laurelmor went bankrupt a year or more ago. this whole story is crap, as was his TV show. it was all hollywood. I am an attorney who had a client who was there. I know the truth.
- Coley
  
  Laurelmor went bankrupt four or five years ago as was clearly mentioned above.
  
  It was part of the Ginn real estate empire and was purchased by BR Development and Blowing Rock Ventures LLC — part of the Reynolds Plantation.
  
  As for the reality series Mountain Men in which Conway was highlighted, I’ll concede it was bloody awful. What’s your point?
  - Karen Braithwaite
    
    When you need money, and an opportunity comes your way that would really help out, then you take it. Eustace did just that. He had a story to tell, an unconventional life to show, and so he did. Not so bad, I think. I liked the series, including the other men involved in the project. The Kardashians are Hollywood…ugh.
    - http://www.facebook.com/toby.hoffman Toby Hoffman
      
      Check Watauga Courthouse – 1800s deed (to land of Heavenly Mountain) was supposed to stay in Native American hands forever.
Aletha Rodriguez

Everyone this is not about Taxes. Take a deeper look and think about it. This man is capable of living off the land 100%. He is also able, and has taken it upon himmself to teach others how to do the same. THIS is what the government does not want. We live in a day and age the government is wanting to have as much control as possible. This man is not able, or willing to be controlled. The next thing you know he will be looked at as a terrorist threat as all preppers are. I feel sorry for him. I do think that he will have a hard time beatingthis. What he needs is to find people willing to join the preserve and help to pay the taxes. If he does that then the gov has know right on his land. Get the land deemed a sanctuary or something where nothing but natural things could be used there for the protection of some bird orsomething. There has to be something that could be done. Good luck Mr. Conway. I wish my kids could meet you and learn from you. I know they will need your knowledge oneday!!
Gordon Shurtleff

Everyone, is matter is about public safety. We’re all permitted to build on our own property, but when we solicit the general public to occupy buildings that have not been certified to be safe, we may expect intervention, to protect the general public. Mr Conway may continue to teach people how to live off the land provided he uses samples of this lifestyle that are safe to view or occupy.
-Gordon Shurtleff
- Kevin
  
  I expect no more from a lawyer than this.REALLY
  - Gordon Shurtleff
    
    Kevin, I have worked as a general contractor – projects under $30K – for fifteen years. I understand the evolvement and the purpose of building codes. Mr. Conway can re-open his business when he makes it safe for the general public. He was aware of the consequences of his actions that compromised public safety. Calling local officials and petitioning will not result in anything constructive. What will be constructive is for him to re-arrange his property so it is fit for use by the public, and he may go about his business. All is not lost – just set back a bit!
    - Kevin
      
      Mr.Shurtleff,I was also a general contractor for 25years .I have not been to Turtle Island,but my daughter goes every chance she gets and has learned things from Eustace that she would have never learned anywhere else.Turtle Island is a primitive “school” of sorts.I commend Eustace for what he does and cant wait to have the privilege of meeting him myself.I dont understand why after 25 years they want to impose their goverment rules now.Im sorrry Mr.Shurtleff my comment was meant for rangerdavid the LAWYER.
    - http://www.facebook.com/W4DAA Daniel Lange
      
      and completely negates the purpose and mission of turtle island. Sorry but running water, indoor plumbing, electric, hot water, poured concrete foundation, handicap access ramps, paved drive and parking lot is definitely not a primitive, traditional, 200 year old lifestyle.
- Karen Braithwaite
  
  When you intern or visit Turtle Island, you are given paperwork explaining the primitive conditions and the life you will experience there. It is clear and upfront, so everyone who goes there understands what it is about, including housing. No surprises. Eustace should make it a living history preserve, as the early settlements in Plymouth, Conner Prairie, Jamestown, and Williamsburg, among many others, but Turtle Island way. People go there to learn primitive skills, experience hands on teaching, and get in on an historic lesson of life, and learn basic survival skills, as well as joining the permanent residents, to help out for projects to improve the site. So, Eustace, please look into making this a living historical settlement. The fees collected from interns entrance should be used for taxes and I am so saddened that this gov’t has taken upon themselves to shut down and destroy one of the only real living primitive settlement/community in the country. What does the gov’t have to gain? More important, what are we going to lose??!! I say we must fight back, sign petitions, call the local officials. This is a travesty and an invasion of rights and privacy. Shows what can happen to the land you may think you “own”. A joke, apparently. Love to you and all of your people, Eustace! I stand behind you all the way.
  - http://www.facebook.com/W4DAA Daniel Lange
    
    what they have to gain is about 3.5 billion tax base if the land were developed into subdivisions and resorts.
- Bill Adams
  
  And who decides what is safe?
  
  The politicians and bureaucrats who want to see his land used for more profitable, business that will pay them more taxes, that’s who.
  
  I wonder who those politicians and bureaucrats play golf with? I bet it’s the developers who want his land.
  
  This is a conflict of interest at the very least.
  
  It is absolutely wrong.
  
  And definitely a sad statement about America today.
- http://www.facebook.com/denise.long.96199 Denise Long
  
  Those buildings, which my son occupied every summer for 10 years, are safer than many of the houses in Watauga County. They are constructed using methods of Heritage America. Doesn’t make them unsafe – they were designed by a person who knows his stuff. Would getting them certified as habitable by a structural engineer satisfy the powers that be?
- Don
  
  How many people have been hurt there because of the ‘safety’ problem? My guess is none, but that’s just a guess.
http://www.facebook.com/anita.h.phillips.5 Anita Henley Phillips

BEHIND the government is the mega-corparations who stand to make millions on that developement. The government is being ran, via lobbyist, bankers and mega corporations who are running the goverment for PROFITS! Greed is the problem. Not capitialism but corrupt capitalism, which is ruining our country and is why we had the housing bubble and the greed of war profiting corporations convincing the hawks, who have the fingers in the pie also, we must be a military war machine nation! They care nothing of human, animal life or the earth, for that matter, as long as they are in control of mostt of the money. Remember the 5% who own most of the wealth? That’s the ones I’m talking about.Our elected reersentatives gets perks but the are just conduits for these people getting what they want.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-McDaniel/1176265924 Phillip McDaniel
  
  The only good government is self-government. All else is a lie existing via the power of violence over the people it alleges to serve.
Mary

Is Turtle Island really a “Non profit education center”? According to whom? The fees for activities on Turtle Island are certainly priced high enough to sustain itself. So how is this nonprofit? And where does this money go? How many people are employed by Turtle Island? There are way too many unanswered questions about the “profits’ or lack of, for me.
- Sue
  
  I suggest you read the book, Mary. The Last American Man will put no doubt in your mind about Turtle Island. Mr. Conway does not do what he does for money.
- JTWalker
  
  Non-profit doesn’t mean existence without money. Tax bills, staff, materials and life’s little expenses all require payment. Services provided have value, and all enter expecting a fair exchange. Please accept my comment with no offense intended, nor judgement rendered. Metaphorically this is similar to a farm which exists to harvest and sell it’s produce, Turtle Island needs far more support as encroachment pushes the land and it’s people toward assimilation with the upscaling of Appalachia.
- http://www.facebook.com/denise.long.96199 Denise Long
  
  Yes, Mary, it is. My son went to the summer program almost every year from age 7 through 16. One year only two boys signed up for the Young Boys Camp. They held it anyway – my son, another young man, and two counselors, plus a few other staff. Will got a lot of Boy Scout badge requirements done that year! Another year, when money was tight for me, Eustace “found some scholarship money” to reduce Will’s tuition. Gullible me – there was no scholarship angel – Eustace just knew that Will really wanted (and needed) to be there every summer. So he invented a way to save me enough to let Will come – and save my pride at the same time. When I read the book (years later), I understood what he’d done. This is a good place – it needs to continue as it has. It does not need to be swallowed up by yet another subdivision development.
  - Mary
    
    Thank you so much for sharing this!
  - http://www.facebook.com/greg.langdon.7 Greg Langdon
    
    Certainly more non-profit than some goddamn golf course!!!
    - http://www.facebook.com/john.nichols.357 John Nichols
      
      Amen Greg!!
- Betty
  
  An organization can be designated a nonprofit if its mission is educational and most of its income is either donated or related directly to the mission. Non profit does not mean that the organization must not make any money – merely that that money doesn’t go to “owners” and is basically focused toward the mission. Most nonprofits should have at least a years working capital in the bank to keep going if donations or activities drop off.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-McDaniel/1176265924 Phillip McDaniel
  
  What do you care? Why do you care? What business of yours is it? If the government parasites aren’t subsisting off of taxation rather than working for a living there would be no designation for non-profit vs profit. If you want to be mad about it, look at your government and then look in the mirror. You only encourage the @#$@@#$% when you vote for em. Of note is yes being called a non-profit is important when it takes charitable donations, but then again I don’t trust government to oversee that either! As Harry Browne reminds us, government is good at breaking your leg, handing you a crutch, then saying see I made it so you can walk. That’s exactly what’s going on here, gov. is breaking Eustace Conway’s legs.
Leftheart from Idaho

This is NO different then when the government – city or federal invades religious food storage warehouses… they have been doing it for about a year now and the FBI and homeland security idiots all gang up and storm into warehouse where religious groups are storing food that their own religion has grown, harvested, canned and boxed, and put away. They did it in the search of terrorist ideas that a christian religious group is storing food away to over take the government.. I hate everything about BIG government.. the problem with today is that we have a rule for everything, and it has taken away our own common sense.. You mention “building codes” to protect the public.. How is it that a 150 year old home is stronger and with stands all kinds of natural disasters, but yet a million dollar home built today falls over in a wind storm… these building codes say they are there to “protect” us but i rather have a home built decades ago when they put quality, and love into their work.. Not work that was the lowest bidder… In fact my home now is 40 years year old..in a remodel to make the insides look more modern.. simple things like pulling a nail is 10x more difficult to pull out.. the quality of the nail is so much better then then its now.. and the thickness and hardness is second to none.. compared to todays foam 2×4′s that a butter knife can cut through..in my old home a 2×12 bean burned through 2 blades as i was cutting through it.. it was incredibly hard…One day i am sure there will be an uprising – unsure in which way.. but i know the government will continue on its coarse… and eventually the people will get so tired of it we will unify our ideals and causes to return us back to a old fashion way of life..
norman

yes i’m sure he’s completely self reliant with his manufactured clothes and cowboy hat and his particle board buildings. i’m sure he made all of it himself. you people are so desperate for a cause to believe in you’ll buy any stupid shit, and you’re just as bad as the dumbass hippies you all hate so much.
- http://www.facebook.com/denise.long.96199 Denise Long
  
  Norman, have you been there? I have (many times). No particle board that I’ve noticed. Logs, hand-split shingles, some milled lumber prepped there. And he does use a chain saw when a chain saw is the way to get the job done. He not against technology for the sake of it – he simply wants to show that the old ways are still valid. I’ve known Eustace and Turtle Island for 12 years. He’s genuine. Try visiting sometime before you slam them. Or if you can’t visit, read the book.
wolfeski

http://www.amazon.com/review/RCSSSUXDRQ4J0/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#RCSSSUXDRQ4J0 Most of his reviews expose him as a fraud. stop being sheeple. and stop deleting my posts.
- lberns
  
  ^^^Watauga County employee^^^^
http://www.facebook.com/ernest.pinto Ernest Pinto

Cannot fight Uncle Sam, lets all join him and get on welfare.
- http://www.facebook.com/W4DAA Daniel Lange
  
  It is sad that the government has made it more lucrative to quit working and rely on government assistance. a friend of mine has been on UI for over a year and I asked the other day how the job prospects were going. He replied why bother getting a job when I make 1000 dollars more a month (approx $36.000/year) on government assistance than I do if I went back to work. What happens when there are not enough working individuals to support the government dependent individuals. I know make the middle class and upper class pay for it and allow all that make less than 50K a year to leech off everyone else.
J.Clark

If you voted for Obama, this is your government at work and it will get much worse! This is what bloated gov’t does, this is socialism. It’s yours, I want it, and I’ll find a way to get it. The show on the history channel featuring Eustas and his lifestyle was awesome, too bad your kids won’t get to experience it. Votes have consequences.
- John
  
  This isn’t a Democrat or Republican problem. It’s a problem of government corruption at all levels, and both parties are equally as corrupt. In this case, the county attorney Stacy Eggers IV who served Eustace with papers is a Republican. We simply have to get out of the mindset that one party is good and the other bad. They are both absolutely and totally corrupt, and until we can get out of the paradigm of false political choices we’re offered, we’ll keep making the same mistakes over and over again.
- http://www.facebook.com/toby.hoffman Toby Hoffman
  
  Bush increased government more than any in history with Homeland and Intelligence. Obama is too, but your Republicans are as bad or worse.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-McDaniel/1176265924 Phillip McDaniel
  
  Stop with the demican republicrat crap, it’s all a lie. There’s literally 1-3% difference between the 2 parties. Look at any budget for proof. They both support the warfare state, the welfare state, expansion of government powers, and reduction of civil liberties. Blaming the current idiot and preferring the prior idiot is exactly what the oligarchy want. Either way they win while you, me, and the Eustace Conways of the world lose.
Mr. Reason

Were the building codes in place when he built his place? If so, what are we talking about here?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001951614348 Rogue Rose

“There’s no way to rule innocent men.
The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals.
Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them.
One declares so many things to be a crime
that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.”
Ayn Rand
- http://www.facebook.com/diane.leahy.75 Diane Leahy
  
  So true!
dave

heavenly mtn was sold as a tax sale lol… Boone is the rich people area and if ya a local you better sell and move to another area… I post on this a while back and boy I was dead on I said there was prob a housing dev. going on and pron tax issue… Let yall know they do this to everyone in the boone area… I know tons of people that aint yankees that grew up there and ar forced of family land cause the tax goes sky high cause of the rich yankees building all there 2-5 billion places…. I say revolt and that will fix em cause some on the PD will take off the badge and throw down with the others…. Ya know why cause they are victims too…
Nate Coulter

Government and loss of land do not necessarily go hand in hand. But development and loss of land sure do. Development isn’t necessarily about big government. It’s about land-greed, loss of soul, loss of independence. Local land-grabbers, whether developers or city/county fat-cat government officials are the problem, not the concept of “government” itself. I admire and respect Mr. Conway, and hate to see him the subject of this kind of attack. And I hate to see him lawyer up, even as I’m a lawyer myself. But be mad at the right things – not “government” but developers, whatever they’re called.
ccornish

Is there a fundraiser or group raising money to help him with the taxes he owes? I would.contribute $100 or more.
http://www.facebook.com/bill.widner.7 Bill Widner

This is a battle between wealth and relative poverty. This country is ruled by wealth. We really haven’t advanced greatly from a feudal state. We don’t see poor people in any public offices.
- stellabeth
  
  I agree. All the discussion about what “government” is doing is a distraction and beside the point. Government is not inherently bad. Greed (on the part of developers) and at the very least the ignorance of (some) government officials who are seduced by the promise of more tax revenue and at the worst to line their pockets by way of bribes are using laws to circumvent any responsible public discussion or due process.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-McDaniel/1176265924 Phillip McDaniel
  
  Actually we’d be much better off as a feudal state. Furthermore I disagree strongly with stellabeth below, all government IS inherently bad. The argument for government is that because some people are bad we need government to protect us from bad people. Problem is, some people are bad so how can government protect us from those wield it’s power. Of the violent deaths in the 20th century 72% were committed by governments against their own people, 7% were committed by individuals against individuals, while the remaining 21% were committed by gov. vs gov. violence of war. Thus government was the cause of 93% of all violent deaths in the last century. The idea that we need government to protect us is a total fallacy. We need government to wither away and die quickly. The dangers of to much liberty are far preferable to the dangers of too little!
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wjbarnard

Again and again I am reading about individuals like Mr. Conway, who desire to live apart for the “government”. By doing some research, Mr. Conway could have protected himself, his family and his land. It is amazing to me that people think that all they have to do is “ignore” the “government”.

First, you must study this “government” from top to bottom and find the keys to isolating yourself, your family and your stuff from the “government”. If they then decide to dishonor your insulation, there is a price to pay. It’s just that simple, but very difficult at the same time because this approach calls upon us to devote some time to research and study.

Peace and blessings to one and all.
Dorothy Grannaman

It looks as though we all need to go back to this kind of living…Government is getting too big for it’s britches as my Granny used to say…
Erin

I spent a week at Turtle Island when I was in college. I wanted to move to the woods myself. To hear it’s closed is sad. To hear it’s closed over building codes is sickening.
Winkte

Eustace, and friends. I’m reading about this, and see that sides have ben taken.

We all failed here to provided non bios view of what is happening here. Eustace have tremendous amount of knowledge. His nature skills are there and his tendencies to share his wisdom is empowering . Eustace have vision to build Turtle Island Preserve. Time and laws are not on his side. Tax laws forces him to create income.

Time forces him to use equipment to build faster. And his vision is pushing him forward through tasks most of us would never dare to face.

This combination of vision,forces of all kinds,lack of time,one sided laws fueled by agendas ,resources,seasons…… created Hippocratic soil where this issue become to rise. Eustace does use heavy equipment, he does not rely on common safety books and codes.He relies on sense that is called common sense and he puts responsibility in hands of individuals when it comes to completing a given task at the TIP. He is one of the best leaders that encountered. The issue: Eustace property have areas where contamination can be located. Old rusty vehicles and equipment leaking fluids . He does use power tools and heavy equipment . Hes can live on his own means. The time he invests in his vision keeps him away from living simple life just for him self.He have vision to share and such requires focus on building a foundation to make all this happen for larger amount of people . This is where power tools are used to speed the process.

His vision is true.The way he sees to get there contradicts his own vision at the same time. Catch 22. I’m sure ones he gets environment build in his TIP, it will attract enough attention and people.Then he will completely get away from power tools, and junk cars that he keeps for spare parts. Ones completed , he will have enough people power to properly clean the property of contaminants and only use old techniques to build and live and to be one with nature.And he will do all this in best way possible and better than anyone other could accomplish.

But mainly Eustace Conway will SHARE and he will spread the wisdom to and with others in any day of his life and that is what have to be saved together with TIP and VISION of hope for HUMANITY. OUR, US.

Until then well, here we are.

Hippocratic? May be, not the focus here really. This is using the best available means to get to the goal that ones completed will leave all raised issues solved and non existent, improved and accomplished above means of any gov. forestry or owners or developers could even think to imagine or plane .

Support TIP. There is lot in stake.
http://www.facebook.com/infinityBBC Bernard B Carman

NC Domestic Terrorism — Turtle Island Preserve

http://infinityliberty.blogspot.com/2012/12/nc-domestic-terrorism-turtle-island.html
http://www.facebook.com/infinityBBC Bernard B Carman

here’s my letter to the NC Gov’t & blogpost:

NC Domestic Terrorism — Turtle Island Preserve

http://infinityliberty.blogspot.com/2012/12/nc-domestic-terrorism-turtle-island.html
http://www.facebook.com/cathy.parks.50 Cathy Parks

Eminent domain abuse is rampant in this country…help now; don’t wait until your property is under attack.
- http://www.facebook.com/W4DAA Daniel Lange
  
  that will be the next step if this does not work a title 21 acquisition of the property through eminent domain.
viewsofmine

sounds like eminent domain!
Bahh you’re all sheep.

yes, the “government” sits around terrified that people might not pay attention to them….not. Who exactly are you talking about? Stop fear mongering and produce some peer reviewed sources or at least some specific names/departments of the “government.” This is propaganda, bad journalism and completely opinion based. Fun to read though.
KatieWoodward

this is a sad reoccurring theme, there has been too many incidences of peaceful eco communities, communes, and anyone trying to become self sufficient and not a reliant slaves to the system getting raided and having ridiculous allegations put against them! in my opinion there are several reasons why the goverment is doing this, none of them noble. if the traditional way of going through the system to defend what is right doent work, you could try the good ol’ method of getting as many ppl there as u can and refusing to leave. this worked many times when good ppl were getting evicted, with dirty logistics, ex. multiple banks foreclosing on the same property, working with Occupy we would gather at the property and state that we’re not leaving simply bc this is wrong and this is their home. so, i will help in the ways u requested, but if that does not work, i will happily stand next to you to defend and fight for whats right. yr time at floydfest is incredibly valuable. power to you. love to whats true. : )

ps. there is a great and informative movie on youtube called Thrive. everyone should see it, its entertaining and empowering, and must watch all the way through : )
Winkte

Eustace, and friends. I’m reading about this, and see that sides have been taken.

We all failed here to provided non bios view of what is happening

here. Eustace have tremendous amount of knowledge. His nature skills

are there and his tendencies to share his wisdom is empowering .

Eustace have vision to build Turtle Island Preserve. Time and laws are

not on his side. Tax laws forces him to create income.Time forces him to use equipment to build faster. And his vision is

pushing him forward through tasks most of us would never dare to face.

This combination of vision,forces of all kinds,lack of time,one sided

laws fueled by agendas , resources, seasons…… created somewhat Hippocratic

soil where this very issue become to rise. Eustace does use heavy

equipment, he does not rely on common safety books and codes.He relies

on sense that is called common sense and he puts responsibility in

hands of individuals when it comes to completing a given task at the

TIP. He is one of the best leaders that I encountered . The issue:

Eustace property have areas where contamination can be located. Old

rusty vehicles and equipment leaking fluids . He does use power tools

and heavy equipment . Hes can live on his own means if he was selfish. The time he invests in his vision keeps him away from living simple life just for

him self.He have vision to share and such requires focus on building a

foundation to make all this happen for larger amount of people . This

is where power tools are used to speed the process.

His vision is true.The way he sees to get there contradicts his own

vision at the same time. Catch 22. I’m sure ones he gets TIP

build in his , it will attract enough attention and people.Then he

will completely get away from power tools, and junk cars that he keeps

for spare parts. Ones completed , he will have enough people power to

properly clean the property of contaminants and only use old

techniques to build and live and to be one with nature.And he will do

all this in best way possible and better than anyone other could

accomplish.

Mainly, Eustace Conway will SHARE and he will spread the wisdom to

and with others in any day of his life and that is what have to be

saved together with TIP and VISION of hope for HUMANITY. OUR, US.

Until then well, here we are.

Hippocratic? May be, not the focus here really.Eustace is using the best

available means to get to the goal that ones completed will leave all

raised issues solved and non existent, improved and accomplished above

means of any gov. forestry or owners or developers could even think to

imagine or plane .

I describe what is directly my experience in TIP. The main issue relies within system and people outside of this Preserved 800 acre land.

Support TIP. There is lot in stake.
Pingback: Who is Eustace Conway and why is he a threat? « Liberty Planet Weblog
http://www.facebook.com/john.nichols.357 John Nichols

I like this Eustace Conway. I saw the TV program about the mountain men and was wishing we could all do something to help him. Lord knows I think he could use some help even though he is tough and will eventually prevail. Maybe someone could set up a way to donate to his cause to at least help him pay his taxes.
http://www.facebook.com/W4DAA Daniel Lange

Good luck today Eustace our thoughts prayers and support are with you. We love turtle island and hope we can return soon.
donna w

He is the one every one will be running to when the EMP hits.
http://www.facebook.com/joy.carroll.7 Joy Carroll

It would be a shame to end a great thing like that. Leave Eustace alone.
http://www.facebook.com/brian.mouland.908 Brian Mouland

Conway is drawing a salary from Mountain Men, royalties from his book and profits from Turtle Island why should he not pay
Erick Amthor

Not only “preppers” but anyone who objects to the totalitarian state. Remember Janet Incompetano’s list of potential American terrorists?
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Marty

Godspeed Eustace!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-McDaniel/1176265924 Phillip McDaniel

When freedom is outlawed, only outlaws will be free.
http://www.facebook.com/people/John-R-Harvan/1641721684 John R. Harvan

Its time to start killing bankers!
http://www.facebook.com/jason.childress.129 Jason Childress

Look the officials up on Dunn and Bradstreet, then read Clearfield Trust v. Unites States 318 U.S. 363 (1943), as well as, Hale v. Henkel 201 U.S. 43 (1906).
Realist

First, building codes are enforced to protect people… do you see all of the children in these pictures?? If any of them are hurt or killed due to unsafe buildings, you can bet their parents and many others would sing a far different tune, especially if Codes Enforcers did NOT do their jobs, which is to protect the innocent. Next point, Non-Profit does NOT mean that Conway isn’t getting paid, even though some of the people working for him are volunteers. He is most likely still charging money to someone for something…Do you really think he lives without ANY CASH AT ALL?? How does he buy his Blue Jeans or even the fabric to make them, if you are fool enough to believe that he hand stiches his own pants!!! Third point…When this country was settled by our “founding fathers” there were about as many people per acre as you see in this picture. This countries population has grown a bit since then…. DO YOU REALIZE THAT??? We have laws to PROTECT OTHERS… we can’t just do whatever we damn well please, that would be chaotic. Get real!!! It is totally RIDICULOUS to think that we can just slip backwards in time and live like this guy, Conway. O.K. if he wants to, but if he was actually doing that and not taking money from the public, Codes officers wouldn’t have been on his land in the first place!! Better get all of the facts, folks!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000230853019 Richard Freespirit Semancik

I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH EUSTACE! He needs our financial help in court so we can get him a badass attorney! THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO MAKE A STAND! His court date is April 30th 2013! Please donate to his fund here! http://www.gofundme.com/eustaceconway
Kaioti

Get the Institute for Justice guys on this!! They have helped many people especially with stuff like this.