The idea of community and building it

[babysteps]

I am coming to believe that homesteaders and small farmers can not successfully sustain themselves in isolation. Particularly as we near the time when we will not have an oil abundant economy.

I was fortunate enough to recently attend a gathering of land loving/land working enthusiasts who came together to discuss this topic. The message of a two-day camp-out (filled with all the good things that happen when people get together for camp outs) was we need to all begin to find ways to build community. In a broad sense my friend brought us together to say we need to begin to exchange ideas, even if we don't agree on religion, politics or agriculture practices. In exchanging ideas we will find more like minded approaches to providing sustainable livelihoods and ways to care for the earth. We need to begin to get to know our neighbors because in the future our very livelihood may depend on who our neighbor is and/or what our neighbor has.

As I left the two day event I was joking with the host about the main message and said "I'm glad I'm here, 20 years from now instead of driving to your place to pick up dill heads for my pickles I'll be riding my bike." See I didn't have enough dill this year and I didn't want to pay grocery store prices so on my way to do other things I stopped by their farm and picked all the dill I needed. I wouldn't have gotten any dill heads for my pickles this year unless I knew my neighbor had a better crop than I did. Simple acts of sharing in the future will make all the difference when we are trying to conserve time, money and other resources.

As homesteaders and small farmers we can't be expected to be prepared on our own for EVERYTHING. I've read old west homesteading accounts of how knowing neighbors saved lives. It was a 6 mile walk or horseback ride, but the neighbor had what the homesteader needed or knew where it could be obtained.

What all this rambling is about is to begin a discussion of how you-all are building communities and to ask if you see this as important or not. I'd love to here your ideas on the INTERDEPENDANCE of homesteaders, cities, and people in general.

A head's up…much of this idea is central to permaculture which some of you may be familiar with. I'm only learning about it now and am far from practicing….however, building community is a big step toward sustainable communities that produce healthy food and living environments. If you need more info on permaculture check out…..http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/perma.html


What do you all think? Thanks, babysteps

[The Paw]

I know only the broadest principles behind permaculture, but I certainly like what I have heard.

It is an interesting social question: to a certain extent rural folk have maintained a neighbourly "interdependent" ethic, but at the same time, many have been seduced by the high consumption modern lifestyle. These things, in my view, are in tension.

I have studied the concept of land trusts, and particularly as they apply to agricultural land. I have long thought that land trusts, used in conjunction with various cooperatives and small homesteads would be good vehicles to organize sustainable communities. The trick of course, is to define the common thread that binds these communities together.

I think what you are talking about stops short of intentional communities, but if you aren't already aware, there is both sustantial skepticism and significant enthusiasm around this subject in HT.

[Beeman]

Everyone will bow up at the mention of the word community. in reality though it is going to take community or going back to large families. Unfortunately families don't seem to be the answer and communities will be tough as we live in a very private unwilling to compromise society.

[Paul Wheaton]

Check out ic.org - this is the big list of communities!

I agree that to have a full farm eco system, you have to have at least, say, a dozen adults.

Permaculture is the way to fly.

How the community comes together is the question. Multiple owners? One owner and "nomadic youth"?

[seedspreader]

Originally Posted by Beeman

Everyone will bow up at the mention of the word community. in reality though it is going to take community or going back to large families. Unfortunately families don't seem to be the answer and communities will be tough as we live in a very private unwilling to compromise society.

Can you expand a bit on the thought of families not being the answer a bit for me? I think I know what you mean, but just am not sure.

[Beeman]

Originally Posted by ZealYouthGuy

Can you expand a bit on the thought of families not being the answer a bit for me? I think I know what you mean, but just am not sure.

In todays world of TV and the internet along with more kids pushed to go to college it seems that between that exposure and the culture of youth they have no interest of staying and helping on the farm. It's like the "how ya gonna keep em down on the farm after they've seen Paris?" song. It's the same thing happening with age old family businesses. Mom and Pop opened a business and worked 60-80 hrs. a week to obtain a better life for their family which included sending their kids to college. After they go to school and become a doctor,lawyer,teacher or whatever they sure aren't thinking about coming back and working in the family business especially when they see how the other half lives. They've also been told by Pop not to work as hard as he did instead work smart and get a good job. Unfortunately who can really blame them? In most families today Mom or Pop would be lucky to have a family member come by and cut their grass if they were sick and unable to do it. Besides in many cases the children have moved away in search of the high paying job.

It's like the family farm, what's missing is the family.

[babysteps]

PAUL SAID How the community comes together is the question.

This is ture. And what will it look like. I'm sure I idealize small town/community life of the old days, but I'd like to see more cooperation along those lines, however, the community of tommrow will probably look very diffrent from today and yesterday.

I am begininng to feel that community will be a MUST to thrive in the future. If you haven't a network in the future I think you will end up with a struggle for life beyond basic needs.

Were I about 20 years younger and had thought through these issues I think the dh and I would have opted for a land cooperative or something similar...now all we can do is preach to the dd9....who I think is picking up on the importance of having a life style that is not so consumer oriented. Or maybe there might be something similar for us in the future.

On another note...I have also had conversations about how to educate others to their need for community (I can see a big tangent here).

Just more thoughts. I love reading yours. Keep them comming.

babysteps

[babysteps]

I just visited some of the other forms. I guess I was out to lunch about the fact the community was a hot issue at the moment. My intent here is to discuss the issue in a broad way and to ask you how you might be taking baby steps to network more....perhaps I should talk with my friend about using some term like landowner networks. Hmmm....

[QBVII]

This is exactly the thing I am talking about on my community thread on the families board. People are going to have to have communities and network, especially with the rising gas prices, etc. Now more than ever...

[Qwispea]

Common Unity = Community.

[Qwispea]

Originally Posted by QBVII

This is exactly the thing I am talking about on my community thread on the families board. People are going to have to have communities and network, especially with the rising gas prices, etc. Now more than ever...

BTW: Welcome back! :baby04: :baby04: :baby04:

[enota]

Originally Posted by babysteps

What all this rambling is about is to begin a discussion of how you-all are building communities and to ask if you see this as important or not. I'd love to here your ideas on the INTERDEPENDANCE of homesteaders, cities, and people in general.

A head's up…much of this idea is central to permaculture which some of you may be familiar with. I'm only learning about it now and am far from practicing….however, building community is a big step toward sustainable communities that produce healthy food and living environments. If you need more info on permaculture check out…..http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/perma.html


What do you all think? Thanks, babysteps

Do a google search on the term "Gulching" and you will find some interesting information.

enota

[HilltopDaisy]

Originally Posted by babysteps

I just visited some of the other forms. I guess I was out to lunch about the fact the community was a hot issue at the moment. My intent here is to discuss the issue in a broad way and to ask you how you might be taking baby steps to network more....perhaps I should talk with my friend about using some term like landowner networks. Hmmm....

Not exactly an answer to your question, but.....

For the last few years I have been sending PM's to members of this site (and others like it) if I happen to notice that they are in the same state that I live in. I introduce myself, tell them where I live, and ask where they live, and if it's not too far away, say within an hour, oftentimes I'll then ask if they might like to meet for coffee or lunch sometime. I've met a lot of very nice folks, many that are within a half hour drive, or less. We've bought, sold and traded our goods and services, shared meals, and talked about our dreams and goals. We offer each other support and guidance whenever possible. We've "built" our community. About a month ago, I made a post calling for a NYer's gathering, and we had eleven people (from HT) come with only a few weeks notice.

Back a few years ago, Countryside Mag still had a page for folks to advertise community stuff, and I placed an ad looking for anyone who had participated in or had started a local group of homesteaders who met monthly, for potluck and sharing/bartering. I wanted assistance in starting some sort of "group" in my area. I received 3 dozen letters, many from people in my immediate area, wanting to be included if I ever started a group. I never started a formal group/meeting, but I met a lot of those people, and today I call them my friends. We know we can count on each other if the SHTF. We are a diverse group with many talents, and a common goal.

I guess my point is this ~ you BUILD your own community. It takes time and effort, but it is well worth it.

[GrannyCarol]

I am glad to say that our extended family is looking for a small farm - we already live together (my husband, myself, our son, his wife and two toddlers and our daughter). We see that we'd like more room and like to raise more of our own healthy food and let the little ones run wild (at least part of the time!).

However, that is still only 5 adults, so perhaps we will keep our eyes open for more. We have a line on 8 acres a few miles out of our small rural town and I already know some people that live out that way... (I groom dogs, so I've met a lot of people in our area.) I'm learning who to go to for what, it's fun now. However, if things do turn bad and we have to go back to surviving off the land, I know some people that I'd be comfortable turning to and I believe they'd be comfortable coming to us.

I don't know though... one of my friends has cattle and we are thinking of sheep, could be the end of a nice friendship!! hehe

~ Carol

[babysteps]

Originally Posted by HilltopDaisy

Not exactly an answer to your question, but.....

We've bought, sold and traded our goods and services, shared meals, and talked about our dreams and goals. We offer each other support and guidance whenever possible. We've "built" our community.
I guess my point is this ~ you BUILD your own community. It takes time and effort, but it is well worth it.

Thinking through these ideas I think this is what I have in mind. I like that you offered HOW you have achived it.

My friend who brought us together to talk about community has begun insisting that everything their family purchace, obtain, barter for be done locally. This, then, I think promotes community. No more driving to Wal-mart to get something produced from someone you don't know. I now see his point. Local is not only healthier, less wasteful as far as the production and transportation, but it builds community.

Great dissucssion. Let's keep talking.
I'd love to here more HOW'S of building community. I am so sad that many of us have lost this skill.

babysteps

[babysteps]

Originally Posted by enota

Do a google search on the term "Gulching" and you will find some interesting information.

enota

Thanks enota, I did a search...what I like about many of the sites is the open mindedness of HOW to build a community. I don't think we will be able to cookie cutter communities. That would not be useful.