Sustainable Community?

[Lostinoz]

I know there has been talk of purchasing a tract of land as a BOL for xcolony members and Diesel has brought up some very good points regarding squatters, squabbles and what-not.

I also know that many of the "survivalist" crowd are a rather suspicious crew and skeptical of most folks. :D (myself included)

Many have said that it will take a group of like-minded people working together to defend, build and sustain an area, so where is the middle ground or is there any?

Anyone want to throw some ideas around?

[voodoo]

I have been trying to find a few more people to join our group. We were at 17, but I had to banish 4. Their true colors came out, so they had to go. I have interviewed several folks via the internet, and then by phone to no avail. The biggest problem with finding folks is me. I trust nobody and I am very set in my ways. The way I see it, it is up to me to protect my family, my way. This is not negotiable, but I am always open to suggestions. Most folks tell me of their plans and how they WILL do things. That does not work for me. Not on MY land. Met several great folks, just not the right folks. I wish them the best. Besides my issues, many folks are looking for a freebie. Not happening. It takes cash to prepare the right way, although physical labor dose play a big part. I spoke with a guy and his wife from MS, nice folks, he wanted to know how to get to the BOL. Said him and his wife would show up when TSHTF. When I questioned what his plans where once he got their, he said he would pitch a tent and live off the land! I have been seriously prepping for over 3 years now, and these folks want to just move right in? That is the mentality of most folks out there. NOTHING is for free in this world. There is safety in numbers, but you must be VERY careful who you put by your side.

[signtalker]

voodoo i agree with you about who to choose. considering how things are nowadays people need to wake up and see what is going on around them and prepare for it. i just joined this group the other week and started to get stuff prepared. i got a ways to go but i am going to do my best. i got the basic stuff thats important but more is going to be done. things have to be done as a team in order that goals is met. trust is key to everything. it gonna take committment and hard work to succeed. we folks need to find some common ground in order to agree to work together.

[herbalpagan]

I have always liked the idea of an "intentional community", but it takes a lot of hard work just hammering out the details, not to mention the trust, dedication, hard work and commitment. So, I have decided to open up to family only, with the option for a few friends. The family comes with what they have and knows that hard work will ensue. The friends are invited only dependant on what they can bring and their mindset.
I prepare and plan for me and mine, all others I let in have to be prepared on their own.
I let everyone know that Mom is a nice lady and loves you all, but when and if TSHTF, "Mom" will be "General Mom" and will be in charge and they'd better listen the hell up. This will be life and death and I'd hate to see them have to leave and die.:D

[Oscar Wilde]

I am hard headed and set in my ways.....but I realize there is much more I don't know than what I do and there are lots of people out there that I can learn from while contributing my limits skills to the common cause. We would do well to take lessons from folks like the Amish.... If I could give one example as to the cause of the demise of our American way it would be because of our present day, self-serving American way. I'm not one to tolerate helplessness but face it we live amongst wishful thinkers who have bet their lives that this evolving nightmare is just that...a nightmare. Without a doubt we will encounter these people or they us....so get it through your heads you will not survive this alone regardless of the countless possible scenarios we think we've prepared for. Another thought....If your BOL is any significant distance away it would be best if you and your fellow colonists travel in a loose convoy as I suspect by the time any of us realize its time to move, there will be road blocks/checkpoints established and manned by those we had hoped to avoid.
O.W.

[Lostinoz]

You guys bring up some interesting points.

I had read a comment on here, can't remember who posted it, about the majority of "us" being very independent, type A personalities and perhaps that is why it is difficult to put together any type of community.

And HP, thanks for the "intentional" community. I didn't know what to call it. :D:o We do have family and friends, but VERY few we would trust completely to do whatever necessary as far as work, etc.

Voodoo, definitely good points on having to be careful of who to trust. And yep, a lot of folks just want to reap the benefits of the hard work of others. Not to mention being stuck with someone who would whine the entire time which is one of my fears or who cannot hold it together, mentally.

Oscar, yep, distance could be a problem and yet, there really is safety in numbers as long as there is a common goal and mindset amongst all participating.

There are no easy answers. :(

And then of course with this new profiling of so-called extremists, there would have to be Waco-type situations to be concerned about.

Keep the ideas coming!!

[Lostinoz]

I can't seem to find very much GOOD information regarding intentional communities, but will post what I am able find.

What is an intentional community and how does it work?

Whatever you call it--Eco-Village, Cohousing, Sustainable Community--all intentional communities have a few things in common:

Individual homes clustered in a village-like setting

A common building, typically housing dining, recreation and meeting facilities
Structures and grounds built and maintained sustainably with "green" materials
Energy, water, soil and other resources conserved through composting, reusing and recycling

Safe, nurturing environment where children can play close to nature

Decision-making by consensus

Shared responsibility for maintaining the community

Respect for individual needs and space

Commitment to growing healthy, harmonious community relationships
***********************

"Founded in Denmark in the early 1980s, the Cohousing Association boasts member communities in eleven countries. Communities range from urban to rural. All are concerned with quality of life where neighbor knows neighbor, children play safely, and a sense of community is encouraged."
******************

Most everything else I find seems to place it in the category of a cult (?) I think I am on the wrong path with this research. :)

[pathfinder3081]

No OZ, I would say you are on the right path. "intentional community" We have a few similar "Villages" here in the NC. They are more in the ART Colony style range, but maintaining provisions and being self sustaining is their venture. Picking who comes in and who stays out of course is a luxury that we all want to afford, but trust comes after friendships in my opinion. If you have a few trust worthy friends and they bring a 3rd cousin who is out on there on what can you say? Crude reality and conditions have away of making a lot of people "get it together". People have a way getting along and listening to reason and rules when they have no place to go. There are weak links, but whose to say that you don't break your back in a tractor accident and spend the rest of your days on the pourch? But we all want to do what we can, to do it right the first time.

I have seen some similar vacation lands or farm lands turned into weekend escape places. Not a bad idea to think about. You have your privacy and a little distance between other people in the camp. You have the same mind set. Your together, but own your on as well.
Besides, if the SHTF you might be cutting every tree with in 300 yards of your perimeter and building shot towers. Sleeping in a wooded little hollow, hoping the bad years pass with no effect to your little houch' is a pipe dream. Not to say that it is not possible, but I hope for the best and plan for the worst. My state is too small and to populated to maintain such a farm or camp with out being stumbled upon. We might get away with it for a while. But who knows.. Sorry for the ramble..
Carry on (smile)

[Lostinoz]

Path, I didn't consider you rambling! You brought up some good points.

Most all of my "friends" on here know that I was raised by hippie parents. :) Yes, I was raised in a commune-style community until the age of 10. I was just a kid and did not see any of the disagreements or whatnot. To me, it was just family and my life.

A commune is not what I have in mind with peace, love and togetherness. :D But, I do believe that it will take a banding together of people to face whatever may be coming down the line. Of course, it may not be all that bad and a vacation retreat may be the way to go. (?)

Hopefully I am wrong and we will all be eating cake this time next year and so on and so on..

Oz

[unswydd]

[QUOTE=Lostinoz;20232]Path, I didn't consider you rambling! You brought up some good points.

Most all of my "friends" on here know that I was raised by hippie parents. :) Yes, I was raised in a commune-style community until the age of 10. I was just a kid and did not see any of the disagreements or whatnot. To me, it was just family and my life.

A commune is not what I have in mind with peace, love and togetherness. :D But, I do believe that it will take a banding together of people to face whatever may be coming down the line. Of course, it may not be all that bad and a vacation retreat may be the way to go. (?)

Hopefully I am wrong and we will all be eating cake this time next year and so on and so on..



Loz, I lived in a commune for a number of years back in the 70's and it was all peace love and family. lol It was great for the "times".
I find myself thinking about the intentional community and have done a bit of research of it online and mostly find that these people are very self sustaining but they are mostly in citys or on the edge and are very involved in the community they live in or are close to.
The kind of people I want to be with are those I completely trust as has be said before. I will be with my family and those in my church that chose to come out to "the property" as we call it. I trust those who I believe will come, they are the backbone of the church and I am comfortable with that.
I feel we will be alright and I'm not worried or scared a bit. I will not shoot to maime anyone who trys to hurt or take any one of us but will make a lasting comment. ;)

[TheUnboundOne]

Folks,

I'm not sure how well a "Sustainable Community" would work with Survivalists and Preppers, since we are, by nature, a highly individualistic and secretive lot. Even if it could work out, there is always the potential for natural disaster in any given unique location and the potential to be seiged by an unfriendly government.

Secession, of course, has all kinds of political, social, economic, and logistical problems all its own.

But one thing we can do (and are doing to an extent right now in Cyberspace) is to have a culture within a larger culture, a society within a larger society, and share and exchange ideas and resources within that framework.

For example, if some of us are bugging out from a disaster in one part of the country and headed elsewhere, others from that elsewhere place could pass along locations for local gas, food, lodging, campsites, shopping centers, fishing spots, hunting spots, shooting ranges, or other necessary places for retreaters to regroup, re-stock, recover, and get back on with life.

If one of us is out of work, others of us could search and pass along prospective job or business opportunities. If we are all doing well, but have excess stock, we can form exchanges so that everyone can get what he or she needs.

And, as I have pointed out before, a person doesn't have to declare themselves a "Survivalist" or a "Prepper" to actually be of benefit to Survivalists and Preppers. Hence, our beneficial community ties may be even greater than any of us think.

[Lostinoz]

Unbound,

Again, welcome back!

The government aspect of it gives me pause as well. It would not take much for them to consider a group of people living on a "compound" a threat to society and respond with force, though unfounded.

My husband and I balance each other out as, you can probably tell, I am more friendly and apt to say, "come on over," however he is far more protective and selective and would not allow that to happen.

I guess it would be impossible to form a protective group in the sense of gathering together, but I do like your idea of safe zones in the event of a natural or man-made disaster with the knowledge that it is a temporary situation.

[Oscar Wilde]

[I guess it would be impossible to form a protective group in the sense of gathering together]
No not impossilble...in fact.....well this is not the forum for this topic.
[with the knowledge that it is a temporary situation.]
This will not be a temporary situation.
O.W.

[Lostinoz]

[I guess it would be impossible to form a protective group in the sense of gathering together]
No not impossilble...in fact.....well this is not the forum for this topic.
[with the knowledge that it is a temporary situation.]
This will not be a temporary situation.
O.W.

Oscar, temporary situation as in bugging out to a safe zone, someone's home, just long enough to get back on your feet or able to sustain yourself, is what I meant. I do believe we are in for the long-haul with our current situation.

[buddamomma47]

International communities

:o I know I am just a newbie learning from you senior members, but don't you think this site should have its own like minded community forum where if we wanted to form are own little community of like minded people,we could ,or at lest a list of those who wanted to try form a community could find one another for such a purpose .

Any way it's late and I am rambling on,and I wanted to tell you all about this site I found that may help.the site is for international communities world wide ,some communities all ready formed and some forming.
Home page

http://www.ic.org/

Directory of communities formed or forming.

http://directory.ic.org/iclist/geo.php

Now most are not what I would not refer to as preparedness buff or survivalist, most have the rite adie about sharing the work load and finances and protecting each other for the common good of the community.
well with that said I am going to bed to dream of finding my like minded community.



These are site

I can't seem to find very much GOOD information regarding intentional communities, but will post what I am able find.

What is an intentional community and how does it work?

Whatever you call it--Eco-Village, Co-housing, Sustainable Community--all intentional communities have a few things in common:

Individual homes clustered in a village-like setting

A common building, typically housing dining, recreation and meeting facilities
Structures and grounds built and maintained sustainably with "green" materials
Energy, water, soil and other resources conserved through composting, reusing and recycling

Safe, nurturing environment where children can play close to nature

Decision-making by consensus

Shared responsibility for maintaining the community

Respect for individual needs and space

Commitment to growing healthy, harmonious community relationships
***********************

"Founded in Denmark in the early 1980s, the Co-housing Association boasts member communities in eleven countries. Communities range from urban to rural. All are concerned with quality of life where neighbor knows neighbor, children play safely, and a sense of community is encouraged."
******************

Most everything else I find seems to place it in the category of a cult (?) I think I am on the wrong path with this research. :)