Movers Incoming. PorcFest Approaching.
The Porcupine Post Newsletter
Sunday, June 14, 2026

Hon. Eric Brakey
Free State Project, Executive Director
| PorcFest kicks off in one week! Do you have your free ticket yet? Here are a few things we are reporting on in this week’s Porcupine Post:Movers Incoming! After declaring their intent to move to New Hampshire, future Free Staters share photos of the “NH Bound: Live Free or Die” bumper stickers we are mailing to all who sign the FSP Statement of Intent. Have you signed yet? In One Week, Build “Spontaneous Order” with us at PorcFest XXIII. For one week, choose your own adventure across ten festivals throughout the regions of the Free State. Want to Run for Office? Check out this Guide to Consider Running for State Representative from our friends at the NH Liberty Alliance. Many Reasons to Visit this Summer and Autumn. In July, check out the NH Liberty Dinner and FreedomPalooza. In August, come for the Family Planning Weekend or set sail with me and other Free State friends on the Tom Woods Cruise. Also, keep watch for news on the 2nd annual Granite Freedom Trek, planned for late September. Planning an Event in NH? Let us help you promote it. Contact our new Invite Director, Olga Sorens, at events@fsp.org. A Porcupine Patron Update. Thank you to all 327 Porcupine Patrons that fund our year-round mission. Become a patron! Weekly FSP newsletters are long because a lot is happening. Skip ahead to whatever interests you.PLEASE NOTE: Some email service providers (including Gmail) cut these newsletters off. Be sure to click “View Entire Message” at the bottom to read everything. |
| Movers Incoming! |
![]() “NH Bound.” Ned, future mover from Pennsylvania, posted this photo in the FSP Facebook group, writing: “Thanks for the sticker FSP! And thanks for the reminder to support, contribution is inbound!” Thank you, Ned for (1) signing the pledge and (2) joining our Porcupine Patrons program! |
| I am a Free Stater. My pledge is: |
| “…to live in New Hampshire and exert my fullest practical effort toward the creation of a society in which the maximum role of government is the protection of individual rights to life, liberty, and property.” |
| Some run for the legislature. Some build businesses. Some pioneer technology. Some create homeschool networks.As Free Staters, there are many ways we strive to exert our fullest practical efforts, according to our own standards and our talents. For many, that also means giving back to support the Free State Project’s ongoing mission to grow liberty communities by moving more liberty lovers to New Hampshire — as patrons and as volunteers. Since I came on board as Executive Director of the Free State Project, our teams have been working with hundreds of volunteers to build a 5-stage pipeline:learn –> connect –> visit –> move –> build Last fall, we launched a new website and a new volunteer outreach program to help people learn and connect.Under the leadership of Outreach Director Pedro Serra, thousands of new liberty lovers are joining our email list as we table at events around the country. (Two recent tabling events are pictured below).With thanks to all those who gave to our “Digital Outreach Money Bomb” earlier this year, we are also preparing to soon launch a pilot project for targeted digital marketing to liberty lovers in nearby states. |
![]() Just Across the Border. Outreach volunteers travel to the Vermont GOP convention to speak with liberty Republicans about coming for a visit to see what the Free State of New Hampshire has to offer. ![]() From Michigan with Love. The Free State had a big presence at the National Libertarian Party Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan thanks to Outreach volunteers. |
| As our contact lists grow with potential movers, we are building and promoting more events to invite them here for a visit. The next big opportunity to visit begins in 7 days! Thank you to all those hosting festivals and events at PorcFest: Spontaneous Order — beginning in 7 days. (Read more below.)We’ve also launched new events, like last fall’s first annual Granite Freedom Trek (pictured below), which will be returning to the Free State again this year.That hike through the mountains not only produced new memories, but also new movers from among those who came to visit. ![]() Climb a Mountain with Us. Free Staters and visitors climbed Mt. Cardigan last September on the 1st annual Granite Freedom Trek. |
| I am excited to announce that Olga Sorens will serve as our new FSP Invite Director.As the producer of the Granite Freedom Trek and last year’s Porcupine Freedom Festival, Olga is a proven leader with FSP events. She will be leading efforts to plan and promote additional opportunities to invite more visitors.Olga is hitting the ground running with a call for 4th of July events specifically — and any other Free State community events we can help amplify.Add your events to the FSP Calendar or email details to events@FSP.org |
| In recent months, we rolled into the next phase of our plan to boost our effectiveness in identifying and welcoming new movers. With leadership from Welcome Team leaders,Jaime Hussey andChris Lopez, we launched the “I Am a Free Stater” campaign a few months ago — inviting all who love liberty and intend to live in New Hampshire to sign the Statement of Intent.From the hundreds who have signed pledges so far, nearly half are from out of state — affirming that the pipeline we are building is working as we advance the Free State mission. |
![]() “NH Bound.” Move over Free State Acoustics. This future mover from Oklahoma is ready to make liberty music with this creative use of his Statement of Intent bumper sticker. Have you signed? |
| Our work would not be possible without two groups: (1) hundreds of FSP Volunteers and (2) hundreds of Porcupine Patrons.If you support our mission, then I hope you will contribute one way or the other to help us build liberty in the Free State. |
![]() Envelope Stuffing. Last month,FSP volunteers at the Quill stuffed hundreds of envelopes with a welcome letter and a free bumper sticker for new signers of the Statement of Intent. Our next Quill Volunteer Night is this Thursday at 6:00 PM. ![]() Welcome to the Free State. Our volunteer Welcome Wagon teams enjoy helping new Free Staters unload their moving trucks when they arrive into their new homes. |
| To learn more about volunteering, please join our newly established FSP Volunteer – General Pool Signal group.(Our FSP Volunteer communications systems run on Signal. If you do not already have the Signal app downloaded on your device, it is an end-to-end encrypted messaging app that is rated highly for privacy protection. You can click here to download Signal.)If you would rather donate and join our Porcupine Patron community, your most generous, tax-deductible donation is welcome at FSP.org/give. |
| Spontaneous Order Emerges for PorcFest in 1 Week |
| We are building it. Will you come?This year, the Porcupine Freedom Festival is fully decentralized with ten mini-festivals and even more solo events across the many regions of the Free State.Take a look and choose your own adventure. |
| How will you begin the week?On Sunday, will you choose to enjoy the Welcome Market at QuillFest — featuring local vendors, handpan music, and a fine talk by Ian Underwood. Or will you kick off the week on a physically challenging group hike with the Garnet Ruck Club. |
![]() Our friends at the Quill in Manchester (the longest running Free State clubhouse) are planning a full week of activities to welcome visitors and Free Staters. Stop by for their daily welcome wagons and scheduled opportunities for activism, creative arts, poker, and soapbox rants. Click here to RSVP. ![]() Our friends with the Garnet Ruck Club are planning some serious hikes to bookend this year’s Porcupine Freedom Festival.Participants are encouraged to be prepared for a strenuous, multi-mile hike through a beautiful stretch of New Hampshire.Bring plenty of water, appropriate attire, and extra weight to carry as desired for rucking intensity.Final details are TBA.Keep watch for more information. |
| As the week begins, what will you choose?On Monday, will you take the kids to the Family Freedom Field Day — featuring outdoor games, hands-on activities (including a mock legislature for older kids and teens), and the kind of freedom-minded community your kids love?Or will you head to The Dhomes for the beginning of Jay Noone’s week-long Man Camp — to practice skills in blacksmithing and animal butchering. |
![]() On Monday, June 22, bring the whole family to Pawtuckaway Park for “Family Freedom Field Day,” hosted by our friends at Latitude Learning Resource Center.Tickets are required. Click here for tickets & to learn more. ![]() Join Jay Noone for his annual “Man Camp” at the Dhomes to learn and practice real skills — from blacksmithing to animal processing — in community with others.RSVP is required.Click here to RSVP & learn more. |
| Porcupine Report #116: “Family Freedom at PorcFest” with Kitty Michelotti and Eowyn OsborneEric talks with Kitty Michelotti and Eowyn Osborne from Latitude Learning about this year’s Family Freedom Field Day at PorcFest. They discuss how the event keeps family programming alive in PorcFest’s new decentralized format, with activities for kids, teens, and parents throughout the day. The conversation also highlights Latitude Learning’s child-led, freedom-oriented approach to education, with Eowyn sharing her experience as a graduate and now college student. Along the way, they explore alternative education, community building, and the role families play in advancing the culture of liberty in New Hampshire.Click here to watch the episode. |
| How will you spend your evenings?Will you stay down south and enjoy daily “Libertarian Double Features” at this summer’s FilmFest, hosted by Rep. Dan McGuire?Or might you head north to enjoy campfires and conversations under stars at ForkFest? |
Monday through Thursday, join NH Rep. Dan McGuire and friends any evening for dinner and a libertarian double-feature in his home theater.RSVP required.Click here to learn more. ![]() The leaderless tradition of ForkFest continues this summer, June 22-29, at Northern Waters Campground. RSVP required, only if vending or camping. Click here to learn more. |
| In the middle of the week, more doors will open in Weare and Strafford.Will you join me for the Weare Fair on Tuesday — as I lead a dialogue on stoicism and teach a workshop for liberty candidates? Will you stay over for an action-packed Wednesday of hiking, music, and bottle rockets?Thursday morning, if you are a visitor to the Free State, will you visit the Independence Inn to learn “Ten Things You Can’t Understand ‘Til You Move Here?” |
![]() Brian Becker is hosting the “Weare Fair” in Weare, NH — the town where the American Revolution truly began. On Tuesday, Eric Brakey will be leading a dialogue on stoicism and a workshop for liberty candidates. Wednesday is the big day for music, drones, rocket-building, campfires, stargazing and more! Click here to learn more. ![]() Thursday 6/25 and Sunday 6/28 at the Independence Inn, Dennis Pratt is hosting a conversation for visitors and potential movers to the Free State on: “Ten Things You Can’t Understand ‘Til You Move Here.” If you are curious about life in the Free State, then this is a conversation you want to be a part of.Click here to learn more. |
| As the week of PorcFest reaches its height, more heavy hitters are inviting you to join them.For three days in Lancaster, will you accept the invitation to join the North Country Porcupines for NorthFest — offering food, music, workshops, dancing and much more?On Saturday, will you find yourself down south in Windham for a Mises Institute conversation on the broken healthcare system? |
![]() Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the Pine Clubhouse is hosting NorthFest. This three-day celebration in Lancaster will feature plentiful food, music, workshops, dancing, and good liberty-loving company. Tickets are required for select evening events. Other events are open throughout the day.Click here for tickets and to learn more. ![]() The Mises Institute will be here in New Hampshire for PorcFest! Join them on Saturday, 6/27 for conversations featuring Charles Sauer, Bob Murphy, Ryan McMaken, and Timothy Terrell on “Why Is the Healthcare System Broken?” Tickets are required. Lunch is included. Use discount code “PFNH26” to save 20%. Click here for tickets and to learn more. |
| However you choose-your-own-adventure, this June 21-28 is the week to explore spontaneous order across the Free State at PorcFest XXIII. Grab your tickets and explore the full event calendar at PorcFest.com. |
| Be sure to watch our FSP introduction video: “Live Free or Die — Start your journey with the Free State Project.” Thank you to FSP Video Strategist Reinita Susman. |
| Plan Your Porcupine Vacation |
| For many future movers, this is how it starts.Be sure to check out our friends at the Independence Inn — and ask about a “Porcupine Vacation” for up to 50% off your stay.Free Stater-owned and operated, the Independence Inn mission includes helping more liberty lovers visit and explore New Hampshire. Any week of the year, come for a visit and they can guide you to Free State events, across five different communities, each within a one-hour drive.The Independence Inn is a sponsor of the Porcupine Post newsletter and Porcupine Report podcast. |
| More Reasons to Visit New Hampshire |
| PorcFest is not the only reason to visit the Free State.Free State communities and friends of the Free State are hosting events every single week of the year, so check out our “NH Liberty Calendar” to find countless reasons to visit.Additionally, read below for several events we are highlighting for the spring and summer. |
| July 2026 |
| The third annual FreedomPalooza at Chris & Jennifer’s farm will be bigger than ever! Live music, workshops, talks, beer, camping, and more! If camping on a farm in northern NH while hanging out with old and new friends, debating politics, attending homesteading workshops and homeschooling talks, drinking locally crafted beer, watching kids explore nature, and listening to awesome live music sounds like a good time, then you have found your favorite event of the year! FreedomPalooza started as a weekend celebration of good music and is expanding this year to more days, more activities, more campfires, and more fun that you don’t want to miss! Space is limited, so be sure to get tickets before they sell out! |
| Each year, the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance hosts Liberty Dinner — bringing together the people helping make NH a beacon of freedom; from legislators and activists to donors, volunteers, and community leaders.This year’s event features expanded awards and recognition, honoring more of the individuals who are making a difference across the Granite State. Reserve your seat today at LibertyDinner.com. |
| August 2026 |
| August 28-30 — The Women of the Free State are hosting “Family Planning Weekend” It can be hard to imagine what your life could be like after a move or after your first child — so why not get a preview? Whether you are considering growing your family or you want to have children “once we’re settled,” this weekend is for you. Come explore local birth options, see our community in action, and meet the liberty families raising your future children’s best friends. Sign up early to connect with liberty families ahead of your visit! |
| Free Staters are setting sail aboard the Tom Woods Cruise this August 22 – 29. Click here for more information and to register for the Tom Woods Cruise.Hosted by friend of the Free State, Tom Woods, this cruise will depart from Boston, Massachusetts — sailing up the New England and Canadian coastlines with a journey down the St. Lawrence River — and make its final port of call in Quebec City. Included in this cruise:Large-scale games, hosted by Tom, that have everyone in stitches.No boring lectures on the Nonaggression Principle — instead, great talks from Scott Horton, Clint Russell, and others.Delicious dinners with friends you haven’t met yet.Exciting excursions on shore with Tom Woods.While this cruise will not stop in New Hampshire, this is a wonderful opportunity for Free Staters to mix with outside liberty lovers (who could become future Free Staters, like Tom Woods himself).I will be aboard, along with Chris Lopez (FSP Engagement Director) and other participants from the Free State community. We hope to spend the week with you at sea! Click here to join our Free State Signal group for participants on the upcoming Tom Woods Cruise. |
| Thank you to our Porcupine Patrons! |
| This entire newsletter — and the outreach you just read about — exists because of our patrons.If you believe in our mission to build a liberty homeland in New Hampshire, I’d like to ask you to become a Porcupine Patron for the Free State Project. For just $10/month, you can support our year-round efforts to build “Liberty in Our Lifetime.” Additionally, you will receive exclusive patron benefits, including our quarterly print newsletter, access to our private Signal group, and perks at all FSP events.Our Porcupine Patron community is constantly growing. Currently, we have 327 active patrons. Can you help us reach 330? As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations to the Free State Project are tax-deductible. We welcome donations in dollars, cryptocurrency, and other forms. Can I count you in as a Porcupine Patron? |
![]() Porcupine Patron Pin. In addition to other fantastic benefits, every Porcupine Patron of the Free State Project receives this “Porcupine Patron Pin.” These pins are not just for show! Patron pins grant access to exclusive FSP event perks, including VIP rooms, patron-only events, and courtesy drink tickets. Click here to become a Porcupine Patron for the Free State Project. |
| It is my honor to serve as Executive Director of the FSP.Please read on for more of our weekly newsletter from the Free State, prepared with assistance from our Communications Director, Mahgdalen Rose. For Liberty! Hon. Eric Brakey Executive Director Free State Project |
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| MARK YOUR CALENDAR! |
| Recurring Free State EventsNew Mover Potluck Parties! Manchester – First FridayNorth Country – Third SaturdayUpper Valley – First SaturdayLocal Meetups!Bedford – weekly, TuesdaysPlymouth – semi-monthly, WednesdaysSeacoast – weekly, Thursdays (changes town) Upper Valley – monthly, fourth TuesdayNashua – weekly, SundaysLakes – monthly, third Saturday Ossipee – monthly, second SundayMadison – Monthly, second Saturday and third TuesdayGrafton – Monthly, second SaturdayKeene – weekly, SundaysLower Valley – monthly, third FridayThis is only a small sample of what’s going on in the Free State! Recurring topical events include agorism, family play time, range shooting, and crypto.Find upcoming events across the state on our NH Liberty Calendar. |
| NHLA Power HourOur friends at the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance are now hosting a weekly meeting to network, hear from guest speakers, stay informed and help accelerate the liberty movement. You are invited. Every Friday, AFP 8025 S. Willow St, Manchester11:30 – 12:00, Networking & Lunch12:00, Meeting beginsClick here to RSVP (for free lunch). |
| Free State Voices |
| Were You Manipulated During COVID? | The IndependentsCovidmania wasn’t a public health response. It was a societal psychotic break that revealed the new operating system: technocracy—predation with excellent branding. In this episode of The Independents, Carla Gericke takes a hard look at what actually happened during the COVID era: the fear campaigns, the censorship, the expert worship, the suspension of basic rights, and the startling ease with which millions of people surrendered their autonomy. If you’ve ever wondered, “Was I the only one seeing this?”—you’re not alone. If you trusted the authorities, you’re not crazy. Most people did. The real question is: What can we learn from that experience so we don’t fall into the same traps again?Click here to watch the episode. |
| The Mark Edge Show w/ Eric Brakey of The Free State ProjectMark Edge speaks with Eric Brakey, Executive Director of the Free State Project, at the Libertarian National Convention about why concentrating libertarians in one state is producing real, measurable wins — while national third-party politics keeps spinning its wheels. They cover the culture of accomplishment over endless philosophical debates, New Hampshire’s unique citizen legislature, the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance’s scorecard system, and why the Free State may be libertarianism’s best shot at lasting change.Click here to watch the episode. |
![]() Have you ordered your copy yet? FSP Director Eric Brakey published his first book — a pithy door-knocking guide of 13 rules for liberty candidates running for local office. This is a must-have for anyone who wants to win at the door.All proceeds benefit the Free State Project.Click here to order a copy on Amazon. |
![]() Beach Day! What a hot day to welcome the arriving summer in the Freecoast. Chris Lopez and friends set up in the sand dunes. |
![]() Taproom Tuesday. Beautiful patio weather this week. |











Monday through Thursday, join NH Rep. Dan McGuire and friends any evening for dinner and a libertarian double-feature in his home theater.








