HUMPHREY – People interested in starting a local living, sustainable economy have that opportunity by entering the “Win Tickletown Essay Contest” by May 31. A 200-word essay and $40 could win someone a historic building on an acre of land located in a place known as Tickletown, in the town of Humphrey.

Owner Lois Hilton is offering the property, located at 4484 Humphrey Road, to the winner of the Tickletown Essay Contest she has set up in hopes of keeping this venue the center of a local living, sustainable, economic community in the town. She’s passing on a legacy – a way of life and a philosophy.

Hilton said the competition is reaching people worldwide, and it’s open to anyone 18 years of age and older. She’s looking for at least 2,400 entries and amongst those contestants, she hopes there will be someone who will pick up where she left off and go forward with her dreams. She would like the winner to be a leader who will help build and grow the community.

The essay’s theme is “How I would empower the community and create a local, living, sustainable economy in and around Tickletown using permaculture designs.”

“Permaculture mimics or copies nature, but it’s also a design for people,” she said. “In nature, there is a circle of life. There is absolutely no waste in nature because everything is used by something else. We as humans are part of that circle of life.”

Tickletown Trust and Trade has been operated by Hilton since 2008 as a Conscious Living Center of Gadrian, a nonprofit corporation (NPC) with a mission of building a vibrant, living, sustainable, local economy. Built in 1865 and operated as a general store, Tickletown has evolved into an education center and community gathering place hosting monthly full moon potluck dinners, educational workshops, discussion groups, live music and more.

Over the years, Hilton’s establishment has seen many transformations and events. The Super Localmart carried local, environmentally friendly, sustainable goods. Great Valley Food Coop has used the store space for many years and continues to pick up bulk foods delivered by a semi-truck once a month.

Hilton’s business has hosted the annual Simply Summer concerts that often featured big name bands like Big Leg Emma. She said the event took place for six years and they had one last year.

Every month on the full moon, for the last 14 years, Hilton held a potluck dinner. It was open-ended and anybody could come with a dish to pass. She said it became very popular and averaged 40 people. Other people have since taken over the potlucks but, on the full moon, somebody still does a potluck at a different location each time.

According to Hilton, the potlucks were one of the things that was really good in Humphrey and people looked forward to coming every month. They came, they brought food – shared and talked. She maintains there isn’t any place like that anymore.

“Nowadays, people don’t even know their neighbors. There is no sense of community anymore. Eating is one of the main things people do together,” she said.

Hilton’s hope is to have someone win this contest that will continue her vision or their own vision, which will have the same principles and values as hers.

“This is a big building and it needs a community with a lot of people in it – not just one old lady,” she said. “It’s way more than what I can do now. That’s why I’m passing it on.”

According to Hilton, if she gets 2,400 entries, she will give the winner not only the deed to the property, but also $26,000 to help with the building, which needs some money and/or sweat equity invested in it. The property is free and clear; there are no back taxes or liens. She said even if she gets only 10 entries, one of the contestants will have Tickletown.

Hilton said, since the essays will have only a number on them, she’ll have no idea who wrote what essay, and she won’t be the one to pick the winner. She’ll choose 20 of the best essays and turn them over to two anonymous judges who will pick the winner.

“The essays I have received are wonderful,” she said. “The contestants have put a lot of thought into them about ’empowering the local community’ and have excellent suggestions and examples of sustainable, regenerative, permaculture designs. These contestants are giving me hope for the future.”

With the proceeds from this contest, Hilton plans to buy some land and build a tiny, natural home in the Humphrey area. If possible, she would like to invest in the creation of a permaculture cemetery.

“I’m part of Tickletown and I love it here,” she said. “I intend to be part of this endeavor and no matter what the new owner does, I’ll be here to support it.”

To enter the contest, go online to wintickletown.com from where an entry form can be printed and the official essay contest rules are listed. Entries must be postmarked on or before May 15 and must arrive at the Great Valley Post Office by May 31.

The entries should be addressed to: Tickletown Essay Contest, P.O. Box 175, Great Valley, New York 14741 to ensure proper delivery. Responsibility for lost, late or misdirected entries rests with the entrant. Any entry posted after the above deadline shall be returned to the entrant.