Create Your Own Paradise
We are a world schooling family of four. Our journey began 13 years ago when we lived on an abandoned piece of land in Spain for six years. It was there that we discovered our passion for living in nature, being free, and sharing our experiences with others. We are passionate about off-grid living, natural building and most of all our children, to just let them be and to explore life in their own pace.
We also love to visit other places that share our values and make films about them to share with the world. Our goal is to inspire others to live closer to nature and be more drawn to life.
We'll also share stories about amazing ecovillages and communities around the world!
Learning from and making films about alternative ways of living is a passion of ours, as you will find out.
If you would like us to visit you and to make a beautiful video together about your project. Please get in touch
Create Your Own Paradise
Hey everyone,
We’d love to share a bit of our journey into communal living—it’s been a real adventure. We were drawn to the freedom, the sense of togetherness, and seeing our kids thrive in such environments. But like many dreams, the reality had some sharp edges.
Our first experience was with what we now call a “landlord community.” Sounds strange, right? It looked communal on the surface, but one person held all the power—no formal agreements, just good faith. We ignored clear warning signs, like former residents hinting at unresolved conflict. We thought we’d be different. We weren’t.
It’s easy to step in with rose-colored glasses, trusting in people’s good intentions. But without solid agreements and clear legal footing, you’re vulnerable. So here’s what we learned:
🔹 Do your homework. Talk to both current and former members. Ask about conflict resolution, decision-making, and exit scenarios.
🔹 Legal clarity matters. Informal setups may feel friendly at first, but they can turn quickly without rights or recourse.
🔹 Stay mobile if needed. Don’t invest in permanent structures unless you’re confident in long-term stability.
When it was time to leave, we hit a wall. The landlord insisted that our spot could only go to someone who had already been part of the community for six months—but that person wouldn’t even be allowed to live in our space during that time. We understand the need for an onboarding process—you have to know who you’re living with—but in practice, it was totally inconsistent. Some newcomers were given a permanent place after just a week.
Then came a single buyer, handpicked by the landlord, who made a low offer—well below what we’d put into the place. We felt stuck: either keep paying rent for a space we couldn't use, with no guarantee of being allowed to sell it later, or accept the financial loss.
Finally, the landlord gave us an ultimatum: sell to their chosen buyer for less than the cost of materials, or they’d tear everything down. That was a harsh wake-up call.
In the end, the most valuable thing in a community is the vibe—and it can vanish overnight if power isn’t shared fairly. So protect yourself. Stay flexible. Be ready for change.
We’d love to hear from anyone who’s found ways to build lasting, fair communities—especially those with transferable ownership or legal stability. Let’s learn from each other and grow stronger together.
Lots of love,
Jasper & Steph
6 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 2
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Create Your Own Paradise
No, we are not on a vacation while taking a filming break. We are busy building another beautiful pizza oven here in the Netherlands. 🍕❤️😋
2 years ago | [YT] | 11
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