This is definitely still in process. As people come to the community, we will be revising and refining. I hope this is inspiring.
Much of this document came from Compersia, a commune in Washington DC. you can find the original document here.
Vision/Vision Statement (most theoretical, grand principals)
We aspire to learn how to love all of life which includes those living in our community, our neighbors, every sentient being including animals, insects, plants, the earth. Everything.
We strive to create among ourselves and in the world around us a society of equals, each giving according to their ability and taking according to their need. We will govern ourselves cooperatively in a way that both respects our autonomy and acknowledges our interdependence. In this way we seek both to develop a model to be emulated and to actively engage in transforming the world around us.
We are in the world to change the world. We know that this is a challenging and ambitious goal and so we require members who are well suited to this ambitious and difficult work.
There is nothing truly independent in the world and we commit to striving for the enrichment of all while we strive for our own enrichment. There is much suffering in the world and we feel bound by our compassion to strive to relieve it. It is not enough for us to turn inward and make a good life for ourselves only. Our work is to make a more totally awesome world for everyone, forever and ever and ever.
Our method is to make sure that everyone, and all of life including animals, can be happy and free and that, as a society of whatever scale, we are caring for and being cared for by each other.
We are locating ourselves in Living Springs, a rural neighborhood which was originally intended by it’s founders to be a place where Christians demonstrated living together in harmony. The vision was beautiful, and the reality is that doctrinal differences have contributed to division. Additionally, no provision for conflict resolution has resulted in people having unresolved issues with each other.
By living here in a poor rural area, (Madison County is one of the poorest counties in Arkansas) and a neighborhood which could use some inspiration, we are also locating ourselves where our solutions are most applicable and opportunities to resist and undermine the structures of oppression are most numerous.
The chance encounters of the neighborhood and surrounding areas cause us to engage with people who do not share our values or our culture, forcing us to examine and hone our ideas and challenging us to expand the inclusiveness of our vision. The beautiful nature that we are surrounded by are also incredible resources for our ambitious project of social transformation.
Mission (what are we trying to do)
Our Community
To create a productive & expressive, vegan, non-violent, egalitarian, income-sharing, ecologically sustainable, sociocraticly governed community on about 5 acres of land that holds an almost completed common house, garden space, playground, fire ring and more.
For those of us who are following the Jesus path of nonviolence, to continually aspire to be like Jesus in every way, and to continually deepen our relationship with him so that we are following him, and co-creating with him the earth which he wants to be restored to the Garden of Eden.
To make a common economy where we hold our land and property, labor and time, and the products of our labor in common to be distributed according to need. To have as a community and as members of that community, a commitment to interpersonal work and our relationships to each other.
Our Work
To be always engaged, as a community, in the work of social transformation whether that be growing our own community, starting new communities, or supporting other cooperative & creative projects aligned with our mission. To make possible by our collectivity things that are not possible in isolation.
Goals (concrete measurable goals that we’re immediately headed towards)
• Find 12 or more people who want to be part of the egalitarian communit
• Devote at least 10% of our money and labor to good works.
• Be financially self sufficient including a pension fund and health care for our members.
• Be at or below a sustainable level of consumption of globally limited resources.
• Once established: Complete at least one large collective project a year in each of the following areas: Art & Art Grants, Improving the Community, Direct Neighborhood & Regional outreach, Global Impact
*Demonstrate vegan permaculture as a viable way to grow food
*invite people with various projects to join the community and utilize the resources to live their dreams
*Finish the Common House and get off grid electricity set up
*Create cottage industries that help support us financially
*Tree houses huts so people can have individual spaces.
*Revitalize the dwellings that can use some help including a YOME, trailer, and fallen down house.
Aspirations (far future goals)
• Help start other communities in our neighborhood and elsewhere
• Inspire a gift economy that will be global
*Work with others to create a vegan world.
*Host retreats and trainings on the land and on-line that empower vegan leaders to work together to create plans to transform the world into a place where all of life can thrive.
