An eco-haven in the Missouri Ozarks

Scene above is across the front yard looking southwest. Photo by Susan Crawford.

Chris and I have long envisioned sharing this special place with a few people of similar values.
What we have is a clean, beautiful, natural environment in a private valley setting.
What we seek are three gentle, values-compatible neighbors to share our eco-sensitive lifestyle.
Each neighbor will own five private acres plus a twenty-five percent interest  in 80 acres
held as interest in common with all of us. Each of the three parcels has
substantial stream frontage and an excellent house site.
 
 

Water is abundant and dependable. Above is the little spring near the bridge over the stream.

Grandson, Colin Crawford, taking first steps in Hurricane Creek,
aided by Bumpy Gene while proud daddy, Craig, cools his feet.

Hurricane Creek looking east at the log bridge.
 

LOCATION

Heartwood is in Ozark County, Missouri, smack dab in the middle of the Ozarks.
Springfield is two hours northwest; West Plains is one hour east;
Branson is two hours west; Mountain Home, Arkansas is one hour south.
 

MAP OF HEARTWOOD

Heartwood is 130 acres, three 40s east and west with an extra 10 acres on the south side of the east 40.
Hurricane Creek runs the length of the property and is fed by a year-round spring just off the southwest
corner of the property. The watershed is over 2,800 acres, most of which is uninhabited and natural.
Ours is the only home in the hollow. The property is primarily wooded with various oaks, shortleaf pine,
eastern red cedar, sycamore and hickory. I believe that the last timbering was done in the 1950s as the
forest is mature, with many large trees of all species.

Parcel A has a homesite about a hundred feet north of a low waterfall so we think of this place as Watersong.
Some trees will have to be removed to make the house clearing and a road will have to be developed.
The house would ideally be built into the south-facing hillside for maximum energy efficiency.  A small
watercress spring could be developed for household water. Across the stream and west is a finger field of about
eight acres that has a spring on its south side. This will be part of the common area but with agreement by all
owners could be used for agricultural purposes.

Parcel B, Brookbend, is the most challenging building site and offers maximum opportunity for unique design.
Large rocks, abundant sight and sound of the stream and a seasonal spring are primary features. The
spring ran continuously for the last twenty years and stopped during last year's drought. I envision
a structure built on the large rocks, wrapping around the hillside just above the stream, to maximize views and sunlight.
This parcel is closest to our house and sharing our garden and orchard is a realistic scenario.

Parcel C, Whispering Pines, has the most level land, has a fine stand of pine trees, a great view of the bluff, offers several
house sites, in the trees or right at the stream. The house could be in the pines and face north for the view
or be near the stream road and face south for maximum energy efficiency. Part of the land was a cleared
field perhaps forty years ago and a small field could fairly easily be created.
 

Contact information

Gene & Christina GeRue
HC 78, Box 1105, Zanoni, MO 65784

Our Web site address is http://www.ruralize.com