History Channel’s North Carolina Mountain Man Fights Gov’t for Control of His Property
Eustace Conway. (Screen grab).
After graduating from Appalachian State
University more than two decades ago, Eustace Conway decided to take a
crack at Henry Thoreau’s philosophy of getting back to nature – that
is, of living “deliberately.”
“I live in a much different way and I’m glad for it,” Conway told Fox 8 WGHP-TV.
He purchased some land outside Boone,
N.C., built up his property, and has been using his “nature school” to
teach hundreds of people how to live closer to nature ever since.
His lifestyle became so notorious, in fact, that he has been featured on The History Channel’s “Mountain Men“:
But in 2012, citing safety regulations, county officials decided they need to shut down the noted naturalist’s school.
“Basically, I’m living like the
American heritage pattern of all of our ancestors and the modern world
isn’t. They don’t know how to accept me,” Conway said.
The county issued Conway a cease and desist order, saying his property wasn’t up to code.
“This is supposed to be the land of
the free,” he said, “government is supposed to help people [and] protect
their individual liberties and freedom. That’s not what’s happening
here.”
“My gosh,” he added, “This is the country that I pledge allegiance to?”
The county argues that it is only
doing its duty protecting public health and safety, the Fox affiliate
notes, and says his “nature school” can continue – but only after it
meets the county’s standards.
Problem is, to meet said standards,
Conway’s “nature school” would cease to be, well, natural. Also, the
county’s demands are a little strange considering that after all this
time (26 years) and several inspections, it has suddenly decided his
property is a hazard.
Screen grab.
Conway believes the county is merely looking to shut him down and he doesn’t think he has much of a chance in this fight.
“I’m not confident I can win [this],”
he said. “I’m confident I ought to win it. I’m confident it shouldn’t be
happening. But at this point, basically, what the government told me
today is, ‘You can’t operate.’”
Watch the WGHP-TV investigative report:
Fight to keep the land, Then slowly take a stand and get in the place to take a stand on your rights to earn a living at the best way you know how... If you must submit to some regulations to survive, then you may have to do so or find a way around it. Legally that is... Don't give up...
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