Membership Basics

Our community will be made up of 12 Founding Members. A Founding Member may be a single individual, a couple, or a family. We are generally limiting each membership to no more than 2 adults but will consider exceptions.

Founding Members will pay a one-time fee to purchase ownership within the community. For that fee, the membership will include:

1. •Ownership of the land and community, commonly with the other members, as a shareholder in the company which owns the property
   

2. •Residence in the community
   

3. •Ownership of a residence hut/dwelling
   

4. •A share in any income earned by the community association*
   

5. •Access to common areas and to classes, retreats, and workshops which will take place on the property
   

6. •Abundant raw, organic foods produced on the land
   

7. •An equal part in our community council and governance
   

8. •Co-operative homeschooling as well as skill/art/trade sharing with the community
   

1. * There is no guarantee of employment or income for Founding Members, but there are opportunities. Certain site-related businesses may be operating, including a retail/mail order shop. Should any profits be generated from the shop, a portion will be paid to the community association. Each Founding Member would then receive a portion of those profits, according to their fractional share in the community association. Additional opportunities may arise and, generally, those who work at them will earn the greatest share of profits.
   

Government and Ownership

Our community property and assets will be commonly owned by the Founding Members via a legal corporation (LLC). Founding Members will each be shareholders in the legal corporation and enjoy all relevant ownership benefits, including residence privilege.

Government of the community will be through a community council. Essentially it means we all come together, with each Founding Member having an equal voice, to discuss our issues and decide upon strategies and solutions. We intend to employ consensus decision making, though we may incorporate majority voting in cases of impasse.

Responsibilities

Community members are expected to share the labors necessary to keep the food growing, the jungle at bay, and to help provide general maintenance and upkeep. Roughly 20-25 hours per week is likely to be spent by each member on this “land dance.” Each member has different skills and strengths so the idea will be to let each person participate in ways which suit their interests and capabilities.

Fees

There is a one-time Founding Membership Fee to become a Founding Member of our community. This fee is purposed to go towards the founders’ land acquisition expenses and to help establish the Community Fund (for maintenance, upgrade, and upkeep).

The Founding Membership Fee is $89,000 (US).

An annual maintenance fee is also assessed to each Founding Member. The fee is currently set at $600 per year (or $50 per month). This fee goes into our Community Fund, which is purposed for annual expenses (taxes, etc.), maintenance, upkeep, and upgrade needs. The Community Fund is managed by the Founding Members.

Process

It is important to us to carefully screen potential Founding Members. Our process begins with an online application. Presuming we have some basis for proceeding from there, we will follow up with direct interviews and contact, both by email and telephone.

Once accepted you pay a Founding Membership Fee and receive a contract granting you a share in our community.