Dear friends and comrades,
This is the first of what will hopefully be a continuing posting to a
truly amazing group of people. This will be a way of reaching out to
a group of individuals who have more in common than an interest in
sustainable living. United by morale, compassion, a desire to learn,
community spirit, and strong "work ethics", this group can share a
great deal. Be it over a digital medium or in person, we can offer
ideas and inspiration to one another.
This group exists because of a dream of mine. I hope to one day live
in an outstanding community while being as self sustainable as
possible. The dream arose out of moral questioning, an observation of
contemporary societies, and a desire to ease our parasitic
relationship with the earth. This dream has metamorphosed from a mere
ideal to become a way of survival and perseverance of quality of
life. Current squabbling and fighting over high-yield energy
resources points to a coming brake-down of contemporary lifestyle that
will leave many in the dark (pun intended).
There is great controversy and speculation to the timing of events to
come. However, many working models based on peak-oil curves suggest
severe blackouts will start occurring in "industrialized" societies
around 2012 (not suggesting any correlation with Mayan or other
eschatological prophecy). By examining the recent events of global
economics and militaristic action it becomes clear that the current
relationship between fuel production and its consumption cannot last
much longer. This will bring great change to our society's relation
to food production, transportation, and macroeconomics. Virtually
every aspect of the "civilized" way of life we have come to know is
dependent on cheap transportable fuel that is being quickly
exhausted. Outside the question of timing, it will eventually be
imperative to be more self-sustainable and sufficient.
There are many questions for pondering within this group. Two core
questions are where and with whom may a sustainable living community
be established.
It would be my greatest delight to draw upon people within this group
to eventually live with. It will thus be necessary to add members to
this group but some discretion is needed. Community living takes more
than a common goal or philosophy to succeed. Individuals must be
adaptive, productive, and open minded. If you are currently receiving
this post, you have my vote for containing these qualities and more!
Whether a new community is established or an existing one is joined,
we can stay in touch and benefit from each other. Now, please help
this group grow through your contacts and discretion!
The more daunting question is in regards to location. It seems
obvious that a general location should be remote from any large urban
area. Although trade or sale from cottage industries would benefit
from the proximity of a dense populous, it is my opinion that the cons
out weigh the pros. My opinion is based on visions of contamination
(air, water, etc.), and the inevitable collapse of suburban and urban
lifestyles. I had also held the belief that settling in my home
country would make more sense for its ease and proximity to family and
friends. However, with the continual stripping of civil liberties,
the blatant ability of government to violate law and constitution, and
my role in financing oil extraction, multi-country invasions, murder,
and other atrocities, a multi-country search commences.
It is my hope to send out a post every two weeks. In the next issue I
would like to include a brief analysis of other countries around the
world that may be viable for expatriation. I shall start with Central
America for economic and food production reasons. If you have any
suggestions or thoughts please post away! Please help the membership
of this group grow as well.
Stay tuned, or online I guess.
Much Love and Happiness,
Rob
Sunday, July 17, 2011
A Response to a Friend in Wisconsin
Hey lovely!
Eva, how wonderful to know that there are beautiful people seeking community. I'm sorry that I have not responded sooner, but I have had much to think about in the way of communities. Once again, Aña and I have ended up at the community that runs Breitenbush Hot Springs. This place has so much of what I would desire in a long term community, but unfortunately falls far from the wants of sustainability and self sufficiency. Reading the news, crazy articles, and books about the peak oil theme, it seems self sufficiency will soon become a way of survival.
Aña and I have been fostering a great deal of conversation and some action here, but it's slow going. Part of the older generation is reluctant to change and processes are steeped in bureaucracy. For example: a proposal we submitted to raise rabbits for meat in a 90% omnivorous community won't be decided on until October. We might not be here to to benefit from the decision.
We're currently trying to decide if we want to try and stick around for a year or take off traveling to explore existing sustainable communities. Maybe in New Zealand? Maybe in Tennessee? If we stick around for a year we will be acquiring more skills while saving money. Then again, the value of the dollar is staged to collapse within a year or so. Crazy times we live in. So much human malice and destruction and so many quick changes on the horizon make it difficult to know what to do.
On thing is for certain though. Having a community is a viable way to survive and maintain sanity. The benefits always have outweighed the tribulations or me. For now I plan on continuing to acquire skills that will hopefully benefit a community I end up in. When and where that will be I'm not sure. In the maximum of five years time I hope to have an abundance of useful skills and assets to contribute to and help build an amazing community.
Much love and thanks for sharing your dreams,
Rob
On Wed, May 4, 2011 at 9:30 PM
----Forwarded Message----
Hi friends,
It has become more and more apparent (to me, and maybe to you too) that creating community makes me slightly giddy, simultaneously relaxed, nourished, inspired, and self-assured. I would like to start a conversation with you about the kind of vision that a community we make should have. I realize that I may not end up sharing land or a house, or even a city with some of you, but I also realize that the potential for any of those three things can and will be a reality, given the right intention and follow-through. It also seems possible that in a year (ok, 2), the opportunity to buy land for a cooperative-style community could come about. I would love to be deep in our conversation by then, and possibly ready to ease on into it. How do you feel about that?
What is realistic to achieve in creating a community? Producing our own food (or a large percentage of it)? Providing education for our children? Providing educational opportunities for others? Creating a retreat for ourselves and others? Producing a cash crop that we can earn a profit on? Rehabilitating a nature preserve? Other beautiful things you desire for your community?
Jack and I have been talking about putting some roots down in Madison, and feel like it would be nice to not 'rent'. It would also be nice to be in a close proximity to Madison, yet have legit wilderness around us. I recently came upon this property: http://madison.craigslist.org/reb/2295147453.html . I'm sure it won't be available by the time we are actually looking to establish something, but it give you an idea of the space, the beauty, the proximity that my brain has identified as ideal.
Thanks for taking time to read this. I appreciate just knowing that community is important to you, and that you are looking to fufill deep human needs through creating it. If you have time and inclination, it would be great to hear your ideas.
Love
Eva
Eva, how wonderful to know that there are beautiful people seeking community. I'm sorry that I have not responded sooner, but I have had much to think about in the way of communities. Once again, Aña and I have ended up at the community that runs Breitenbush Hot Springs. This place has so much of what I would desire in a long term community, but unfortunately falls far from the wants of sustainability and self sufficiency. Reading the news, crazy articles, and books about the peak oil theme, it seems self sufficiency will soon become a way of survival.
Aña and I have been fostering a great deal of conversation and some action here, but it's slow going. Part of the older generation is reluctant to change and processes are steeped in bureaucracy. For example: a proposal we submitted to raise rabbits for meat in a 90% omnivorous community won't be decided on until October. We might not be here to to benefit from the decision.
We're currently trying to decide if we want to try and stick around for a year or take off traveling to explore existing sustainable communities. Maybe in New Zealand? Maybe in Tennessee? If we stick around for a year we will be acquiring more skills while saving money. Then again, the value of the dollar is staged to collapse within a year or so. Crazy times we live in. So much human malice and destruction and so many quick changes on the horizon make it difficult to know what to do.
On thing is for certain though. Having a community is a viable way to survive and maintain sanity. The benefits always have outweighed the tribulations or me. For now I plan on continuing to acquire skills that will hopefully benefit a community I end up in. When and where that will be I'm not sure. In the maximum of five years time I hope to have an abundance of useful skills and assets to contribute to and help build an amazing community.
Much love and thanks for sharing your dreams,
Rob
On Wed, May 4, 2011 at 9:30 PM
----Forwarded Message----
Hi friends,
It has become more and more apparent (to me, and maybe to you too) that creating community makes me slightly giddy, simultaneously relaxed, nourished, inspired, and self-assured. I would like to start a conversation with you about the kind of vision that a community we make should have. I realize that I may not end up sharing land or a house, or even a city with some of you, but I also realize that the potential for any of those three things can and will be a reality, given the right intention and follow-through. It also seems possible that in a year (ok, 2), the opportunity to buy land for a cooperative-style community could come about. I would love to be deep in our conversation by then, and possibly ready to ease on into it. How do you feel about that?
What is realistic to achieve in creating a community? Producing our own food (or a large percentage of it)? Providing education for our children? Providing educational opportunities for others? Creating a retreat for ourselves and others? Producing a cash crop that we can earn a profit on? Rehabilitating a nature preserve? Other beautiful things you desire for your community?
Jack and I have been talking about putting some roots down in Madison, and feel like it would be nice to not 'rent'. It would also be nice to be in a close proximity to Madison, yet have legit wilderness around us. I recently came upon this property: http://madison.craigslist.org/reb/2295147453.html . I'm sure it won't be available by the time we are actually looking to establish something, but it give you an idea of the space, the beauty, the proximity that my brain has identified as ideal.
Thanks for taking time to read this. I appreciate just knowing that community is important to you, and that you are looking to fufill deep human needs through creating it. If you have time and inclination, it would be great to hear your ideas.
Love
Eva
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