Similar scenario for a Costa Rican intentional community

Dear Bat-Tzion

Thank you for asking your questions and to Lois who offered some =
valuable
recommendations.

We too have a similar situation as you do, at least insofar as the money
disparity question. My wife and I (she's Costa Rican and I served in the =
US
Peace Corps in Costa Rica) will be starting an intentional community in
Costa Rica (our concept paper is at www.jonkohl.com/querencia ) for =
which we
want a healthy mix of Costa Ricans, Americans, and others. Frankly, we
realize Americans will have the cash that we need to purchase the =
property
while Costa Ricans will more likely be able to offer start up energy. We
haven't decided on a way to reconcile these different kinds of
contributions. My gut says to ask the richer folks basically to =
subsidize
the less wealthy with the understanding that everyone will have to make =
a
significant contribution whether financially or sweat-wise.

My studies thus far haven't found any equivalent models (and granted, my
studies aren't yet that extensive). All the co-housing projects I've =
thus
far solicit people with sufficient wealth to pay condominium prices =
(which
is quite here in Washington, DC) (we're moving to Costa Rica at the end =
of
February), Twin Oaks is a commune with all the property already owned, =
and
communities in Costa Rica almost exclusively begin with one rich donor =
or
land owner.

Have other people reconciled the rich-less rich gap for founding groups?

Thank you,

Jon Kohl
Washington, D.C.
http://www.jonkohl.com=20


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of BT Benjaminson
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 8:11 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Ecobal]step by step community formation

Lois, thank you!
I notice the ic web site is down at the moment but I'll check it later. =
I=20
think a group member has recently shipped me the book you =
recommended--it=20
sounds terrific.
I'm a subscriber to Permaculture Activist already. My favorite recent =
issue=20
was "Learning from our Mistakes." We Jews have been mostly landless for =
so=20
many centuries that my experience has been to make a lot of mistakes =
about=20
land while getting back in touch with it.
Anyway, I am intrigued by your comment about "structural conflict." Does =

this relate to money, ownership rights, leadership, decisionmaking, or =
all=20
of the above?
I see this coming up as I learn that one group member admits his entire =
net=20
worth is $49, while another one is salivating to go out and buy 15 acres =
for

$250,000. How can we possibly reconcile the strong intentions of both to =

make a harmonious community in a  way that is safe for everyone? Should =
I=20
ask the "rich" one to buy the land and put it in trust for the use of a=20
community?  Also, how do the volunteers who get the group started on =
their=20
own time obtain compensation from the others who join later, or should =
they=20
even expect compensation?
Lots of questions like that.
Jewish law has a lot to say about resolving some kinds of conflicts, =
mostly=20
by vesting legal authority in a single wise and well learned religious=20
leader whom everyone voluntary agrees to obey. However this legal system =

does not necessarily resolve power conflicts related to money.
Does the book you recommended offer various options for how to models of =
the

financial organization of ecovillages?
Thanks so much in advance.
Bat-Tzion

----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Lois Arkin" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 11:17 AM
Subject: Re: [Ecobal]step by step community formation


>
> I believe the most important resource book is from:
> Diana Leafe Christian:  "Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to =
Grow

> Ecovillages and Intentional Communities" available from <ic.org> or=20
> <ena.ecovillage.org>.
>
> Of particular importance in starting up a community is to avoid =
building=20
> in structural conflict.  Get it right at the front end, so the group =
does=20
> not have to spend it's adolescence doing social retrofitting.  She=20
> recommends six steps.  Does someone else out there have them handy to=20
> share with BT?
>
> Also, available on the <ic.org> site is a subscription to "Communities =

> Magazine," the trade publication for the intentional communities and=20
> ecovillage movement.  There are dozens of back issues available that =
are=20
> as timely as when first published.  Also, check out the bookstore at =
the=20
> <ic.org> site.
>
> "The Permaculture Activist" is a handy resource publication as well, a =

> quarterly that you can order on line at=20
> <http://www.permacultureactivist.net/>.
>
> Much good luck.
>
> Lois
> L.A. Eco-Village/CRSP Institute for Urban Ecovillages
>
> BT Benjaminson wrote:
>
>> Shalom from Israel
>> I'm new to the list and new to the process of building a community. I =
do=20
>> have a permaculture design certificate and several years experience =
in=20
>> hands-on sustainable living in a rural setting.
>> Some friends and I intend to establish an ecovillage here in the=20
>> semi-arid south of our country.
>> With the help of an experienced permaculturist active in the area, we =

>> have idenfied a likely location in one corner of an existing =
agricultural

>> co-op community ("moshav") and have collected a list of around 20 =
people=20
>> who are interested enough to receive e-mails about the project. One=20
>> potential leader has emerged.
>> Some of us feel the urgent imperative of establishing a community =
that=20
>> can function in a wobbly energy decline situation, others are just =
keen=20
>> on connecting with the land or with a loving group of people.
>> I have very little leadership experience and I sense the difficulty =
of=20
>> bringing people into a commitment if they have not already been =
educated=20
>> and motivated in community building. Needless to say, in this country =
we=20
>> have a great emotional struggle in the face of various political,=20
>> religious, and security issues. It is difficult to create a "safe=20
>> container" for people and to get them to commit time to a venture =
that=20
>> still seems very doubtful.
>> Now, to the question -- where on the Internet can I find guidance for =

>> successfully building a strong community from scratch, or what one =
book=20
>> would be suitable in order to study this topic?
>> So far no one has appeared that has the kind of money needed to =
attend=20
>> Findhorn or other ecovillage training programs, so this is the best =
we=20
>> can do in the meantime.
>> Any suggestions?
>> Thank you in advance.
>> Bat-Tzion Benjaminson
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>
>
>
>
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> To subscribe or unsubscribe to ecobalance go to:
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