Yonah Farm

Yonah Farm and Sustainable Solutions of North Georgia (SSNGA) were created out of dream to achieve a simpler way of life, embrace sustainability, and obtain self-reliance to leave as a lasting legacy.

Dave and I would like to share with you our journey of how we have taken a necessary re-evaluation of our lives and translated those changes into what some would consider a dream life…… we certainly do. We have drawn from each other’s background of strengths to develop a business model that supports our desire to leave something bigger than ourselves.  Dave served nobly in the armed forces, holds multiple innovative patents as an entrepreneur, helped build two airports during his 30 years in construction, and is a specialist in the field of light gauge steel, trusses, and curtain walls.  Kathy has several start-ups from different industries, mergers and acquisition strategies, engineering and MBA degrees along with adjunct professor at a local university

The property features a working non-profit farm, Yonah Farm, created to encompass land sciences and technology and share through education and hands-on learning.   Within Yonah Farm, the Universal House or NZ-868 sq. ft. model home for our building science and systems will be featured as an Airbnb in late 2019 to experience off-the-grid sustainable living.  We have created, captured, and delivered:

• Innovative research and development of building and land sciences
• Sustainable construction of light gauge steel and Magnesium oxide board
• Renewable energy utilization using solar w/ DC or AC power to create micro-grids
• Permaculture: regenerative circle of time, energy, soil, water, animals, insects, and plants to work together creating a self-sustaining cycle using intelligent water reclamation
• Education at its heart using cutting edge sustainable and resilient technologies with University partnerships

Go to this link: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/931502/  to view the masterplan for Yonah Farm which embodies our climate resilient construction and sustainable land sciences.

Introduction to Sustainable Living

What is meant by a sustainable lifestyle?  It encompasses many disciplines and has different meanings for most people.  In general, it pursues a lifestyle of preserving our natural resources and the impact we have on people and the environment.

Why bother to pursue a sustainable lifestyle?  The back-to-basics trend might be an answer to the excesses of our times. The joy of understanding the “nature of things” and our own particular relationship to them brings us back to our roots.

By incorporating the following sustainable practices:

• Permaculture with water catchment and reclamation
• Alternative Energy: solar, Lithpho4 batteries, and German engineered LED lighting
• Sustainable Construction: energy efficient Net Zero building systems withstanding Cat5 winds
• Land Infrastructure and care with all elements working in harmony: addition of farm animals to enhance soil productivity for food production and land maintenance

We are creating a property that at its very heart is becoming self-sufficient and self-reliant.  We intentionally built in resilience by varying our means of heating, cooling, water, and electrical power throughout every structure and application.  We have developed back-up resources for cloudy days, water contamination, power outages, interrupted food supply, and lack of fuel.  At the same time, we have created an oasis to refresh our minds and spirits at Yonah Farm. How did we choose and design our name and logo for the Farm?  Yonah means “bear” in Cherokee and “peace” in Hebrew. 

Come and experience our lush ecosystem with an abundant food forest in progress and education center all nestled in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains. Learn how you can transform your dream into a lasting legacy for your loved ones and have fun doing it while digging in the dirt or cutting your own flowers! 

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for the day.  Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life time.”-Chinese Proverb