IC R&D will research and discuss all aspects of intentional communities: mission, strategy, goals, governance, finances, resources (land, housing, facilities, infrastructure, equipment, supplies...), membership, etc. Rubrics for site and membership. Membership, funding and site searches. IC R&D will create &/or incubate site(s), if there is sufficient understanding, agreement, interest and "intent".This group arises from the research I have done related to diaries on Affordable, Sustainable Housing:
Affordable, Sustainable Housing I: As Direct ActionAffordable, Sustainable Housing II: Materials & MethodsAffordable, Sustainable Housing III: In CommunitiesSomeone Need a Home/Community?
These diaries came from an interest in looking at a problem and an opportunity that exists in the space where the class (jobs, economy) and climate (sustainability) wars intersect. As it turns out, much of the home development occurring in this space is taking place in intentional communities -- ecovillages, cohousing, cooperatives, communes, etc.
As a result, my research now includes intentional communities. I have discovered that there is some interest in this topic here on DKos. Apparently more than a few of us are thinking that such communities may help address shortcomings in the economy and im making progress on sustainability, as well as the underlying ways in which we can work together in groups to make better, more sustainable long-term decisions.
Topics of discussion may include (but are not limited to!) the following as they relate to intentional communities:
Types of existing communities Mission/Vision Case studies - what's been and is being done? What's planned? What works, what doesn't, what's known, what's not? Legal structures Governance, decision-making Principles Funding Financial management Income Cottage industries (onsite) Permaculture Housing Community buildings Infrastructure Food production Water reclamation and distribution Energy production and use Communications Site evaluation rubric Expectations of members Member evaluation rubric Recruiting Community Plan Skills Time Capital Equipment Supplies
If there is sufficient "understanding, agreement, interest and 'intent'", the group or some portion of it may then proceed with developing a community or starting an incubator to foster the development of communities.
I encourage participants in this group to collaborate by producing diaries, participating in comments and even just lurking (with enthusiasm!)
Some Resources: Intentional Communities website of the Fellowship of Intentional CommunitiesCommunities magazine Directory of CommunitiesIntentional Community (wikipedia) Global Ecovillage NetworkEcovillage (wikipedia) Cooperative Living (wikipedia) North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO)citisven's How the Coop Movement Can Help Us Win TogetherCooperative Business Structure (SBA) National Cooperative Business AssociationCommune (wikipedia) Cohousing (coho) (wikipedia) Direct Democracy (wikipedia) Participatory Democracy (wikipedia) Consensus decision-making (wikipedia) Participatory Economics (wikipedia) Sustainability (wikipedia) Permaculture (wikipedia) Permaculture PrinciplesEthical consumerism (wikipedia)
Ecovillages: Dancing RabbitEarthavenO.U.R. EcovillageThe Farm
Related: Transition Towns (wikipedia) Transition Towns USATransition Networkcitisven's Bring Transition Town-style Sharing to your CommunityEmployee-Owned Business Incubator