Response to Mark

This post is from an email conversation from my friend Mark commenting on the blog. It provoked some good thoughts and clarifications, so I thought I'd share here.

I have not yet had the opportunity to visit a kibbutz, but I think the experience would be interesting as a way to clarify my current ideas and see something in practice similar to what I'm looking to create. I think one of the most fundamental differences is that the village will not be based on a particular faith, making it more conducive to people of all (or no) faiths. Also, from what I understand about kibbutz-es is that they vary greatly. Some are very strict while others are more relaxed. I think that any detailed comparison would have to be on the basis of a specific kibbutz. I think I would be more impressed with the kibbutz concept in general if it became a basis for healing the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

I think that Eco-Tourists are a complex issue, arising from the fact that such travelers still seem to be rooted in capitalism, despite good intentions ecologically. So my feeling is that most Eco-Tourists would probably expect money to exempt them from at least some work, so I think I prefer the "you work and we'll feed and shelter you" stance in general, at least for short term guests. Perhaps if there were longer term guests, say more than 2 weeks, maybe money would be more an issue and they could pay to learn even more skills or something.

I think it is vital for people to have space to be alone. In the blog recently, I was writing about satellite housing. Perhaps I didn't elaborate on that part enough, but if people can have a common house for cooking, etc, most people could have their own "mini" house for sleeping and privacy... kind of a bedroom-house. I know that it drives most people, including me, to be around lots of people all the time... even a couple of people can be too much if it's non-stop. Also, people will be working outside a lot, so there will be some space provided that way too.

I'm very interested in all forms of alternative energy. Ideally, I would like for the village to either be off-grid or producing enough power to sell it back to national energy sources. In fact, that would make a good source of revenue for the village. I have heard a bit about systems which integrate multiple types of alternative energy, several of which can feed into each other, creating more reliable energy sourcing. I don't know a lot about cow manure power, and really I I've heard more practical-sounding things about chickens. But either produces Methane gas, which certainly can be used as an alternative power source. I'd be interested in the name of that VT dairy farm. Perhaps when I get a car I could visit it. Generators are definitely something I will look into. This rest-area sounds awesome.... a couple of years ago when I was doing some research online I found an article about how in Sweden they were planting willows to do a similar thing to process liquid and solid waste. Apparently willows do particilarly well with that sort of thing, and could be utilized in turn for firewood and other uses.

Village Self-Sufficiency

I want to write on the various areas in which the village should have self-reliance, as well as which are of higher priority, which are of lower priority, and which may overlap. Right now this post is primarily a reminder to me to write on this, since I almost forgot earlier.

Thanks for reading and your feedback!

Satellite Housing part 2

I want to detail what I've dubbed "satellite housing" and the reasons for it. Satellite housing means that there is a central house/building which houses most of the useful indoor space for the village, and small personal dwellings for sleeping and privacy. This situation allows for a lower investment per capita of appliances, plumbing, heating, developed permanent space building supplies, and resource pressures than conventional housing. It also brings people into frequent contact and ensures that people are not isolated.

This situation allows for a lower investment per capita of appliances, plumbing, heating, developed permanent space, building supplies, and resource pressures than conventional housing. It also brings people into frequent contact and ensures that people are not isolated. It also allowes for individual expression and practice of a variety of alternative architecture.

The "main" house must include a kitchen and dining space large enough to support the community, and for self-sufficiency purposes. It ought to have a drying room (for herbs, vegetables, etc), space for canning, a cellar for food storage, at least one large freezer, bread making space, plenty of room for chopping, sufficient stove space, perhaps 8-12 burners.

There will be a library composed of books collected by villagers. Ideally most books will be shared, but it is understandable if a few books are kept personal. The library should be a place where a variety of academic activity occurs. Computers could be located nearby- close enough for practicality, but far enough or closed off enough so that sound could be utilized without being distracting - perhaps a room for computers and another space for films. Actually, it might be more efficient to have a theatre space in the dining hall - perhaps have comfier chairs to bring in for that.

Besides the kitchen, really one of the most important aspects of the main house will be the dorms. Dorms will provide housing for villagers who don't want to hor have not yet constructed their own dwellings, new members, part time members, guests, and visitors. Everyone in the village is expected to work. Kathy was asking if there were any member requirements. I told her that it wouldn't be based on income or religion or anything like that. A willingness to work is all that's required. That being said, this will not be a tourist or vacation spot. Anyone who comes, whether potential member or guest or visitor will be asked to work or leave. No paying guests. Even the elderly or infirm have something to contribute, according to their ability. Dorms will be very simple: bed, nightstand, closet/bureau, that kind of thing. Probably multiple occupancy for visitors and guests, and then depending on room and other factors, members and part-time members may be able to have their own dorm.

Donna and Kathy wanted to know about internal governance. I told them that while I have on a few ideas about ways that could work, based on the research I have done thus far, I am reluctant to dictate such a thing, because any form of governance works best when the people choose it themselves. They are more likely to abide by what they've chosen and up hold it with others. I shall also not be surprised if it varies with time. My own feeling is that some form of council works best, if those people are held accountable and are still required to do significant amounts of other work, including continued involvement in food growth and preparation.

At any rate, governance should not decide everything. Those who are particularly knowledgeable in a field, especially those vital to the haleness/wellbeing ove the village must be given the ability to carry out their work effectively, so long as it abides by the central principles of the village. The "governance" and "work-leaders" (ie knowledgeable people in various production areas utilized in the village) should collaborate to asses the needs and priorities of the viillage and appropriately divide labor, energy, and resources. Perhaps a delegation of governance and work leaders could report to "task coordinators". These coordinators givern information from governance and work leaders, could come up with the labor/resources plan on a daily, weekly, monthly, seasonally, and annual basis. Every night, the coordinators could post a labor-needs list for the next day. The list could be divided into daily, primary, and secondary tasks, and people could sign up for them on a first - come, first - serve basis. Of course some jobs, such as milking goats, are better done by the same individual every day. That individual would simply be automatically listed next to the task as one of theirs for the day.