How many of those were us?
Two of them were me, second one being to copy and paste what follows.
In fairness to Rob, he's not exactly subtle over how he expects his vision to play out -
Great news!
The Low Impact Artist Eco-Village is once again a potential go.
I am seeking input in order to develop a leasehold type agreement for what I am calling Land Stewards.
I know two parties, one with 110 acres and one with 250 acres. I have agreement in principle with the first and have spoken briefly with the other. He is amendable to doing something similar with his land.
The first plot is an hour from both Montreal and Ottawa. The second is a little further north. It is nicely wooded and slightly hilly. There is fresh water in the form of small lakes, and a running river not too far away, though it is off property. This will be divided into parcels of 10 acres. We are looking for people who want to form an artist/freeman community with low impact and to as large a degree as possible a self sufficient and off grid infrastructure. We are looking for people who want to build unique and funky houses, workshop/studios, cabins and sales stalls using alternative building technologies such as earthships, monolithic domes, tree houses, Hobbit Houses, shipping containers, and the like. These will act as both a draw for visitors, and as teaching tools for those who wish to do similar. The cabins will be rented out allowing for guests and visitors while bringing in outside dollars to buy things needed.
Come one people, come and provide your free labour to build properties for Rob to rent out for the benefit of himself and his Land Stewards.
These people should very hardy with a pioneer attitude and a willingness to work together and have some talent or craft to offer at market. They should know how to work hard and build soundly. We will hold weekly markets for the sales of goods made by them and other locals, as well as occasional festivals and gatherings. . Artisans and craft makers such as blacksmith, candle/soap makers, artisans, furniture maker, bakers, and the like are wanted to form the core of the community. We also want to build a music studio and operate a general store and cafe/restaurant. We would love to attract a semi-retired Doctor and Dentist. There is also need for geeks and diggers and infrastructure builders. Families are preferred over singles, though singles are not excluded, and there is much more room for those in Phase Two.
Rob wants skilled people to take advantage of too, no riff raff. And families too, if possible...
This will require an army of diggers and builders this summer. Those who come out to help, even though not selected for Stewardship in this round, will be given greater consideration when we select the people for the development of the next phase of the 250 acres, and those who you help will help you in return. Additionally you will be paid in Valley Notes which may be redeemed for those things made by the Artisans in their shops. Help us build a bakery, you will get your daily bread.
Be under no illusions, nothing is being offered in return unless you are a Land Steward.
Unfortunately, one gets the impression that the Land Stewards are Rob and his cronies. However the people who put the work in will get some bread. How nice of him.
At the moment I am working on the leasehold agreement, which would allow maximum freedom on individual parcels, with suitable restrictions in place to ensure the low impact, high efficiency, working community we are aiming for. The present owner of the property is willing to lease the parcels for $1 a year. Yes one dollar a year. The agreement though must in the end ensure that he does find some value for his land in exchange, hopefully in bread or other products over a period of time.
The land owner wants a dollar a year and some bread in return. Course he does, Rob, course he does.
He also considers The burden to the Steward should be hardly felt. He is not in it for the money, and his concern is that an agreement would be made allowing the land to be taken over somehow by people who do not wish to properly steward the land. So you won't be able to sell it and it is not an absolute transfer of ownership. It must ensure that the low eco-impact artist village is a result, and it must encourage the development of a strong community of caring, freedom loving, earth respecting, passionate people.
So the Land Stewards get a leasehold interest only.
However, they will take the benefit of the holiday lettings that the artisans will be building for them.
I'm getting visions of a mud hut version of baronial Britain.
It must also protect the Stewards, as no one wants to build a super place, only to be evicted by the owner so he can profit once the work has been done. It must allow for those who do Steward to be able to benefit from the effort they put in and transfer that effort to their offspring an heirs with little restriction, as well as enjoy some level of transferability to those who are not their heirs.
Stewards who build their places can retain their properties for the benefit of their heirs. Hang on, what about the communal living stuff?
It must outline a basic community decision making process, one which is inclusive, equitable, fair, flexible and adaptable, fast and simple and easy, and not based upon an adversarial contest.
Translation - "what Rob says goes"
The terms of it must be agreeable me, as one of the Stewards.
In case you didn't get it the first time, "what Rob says goes." Oh and looky here, Rob is a Land Steward who will be getting his place built for him, so he takes the benefit of someone's free labour and is entitled to keep his property for the benefit of himself and his heirs.
You missed something Rob - maybe you need a chief bum wiper as well.
I figure if I am happy with it, others should be,
Rob's entire attitude in one succinct quote
because I am not putting my energy into the land and this project without knowing my efforts are protected, the land is protected and stewarded properly, there is a very high level of individual freedom, I can transfer it to heirs, my neighbours have passion and care for each other, the result is funky and unique, and it has a general positive impact on humanity.
Change "humanity" for "my lifestyle" and that quote would be pretty accurate.
With all that in mind, what I am mostly seeking with this thread, is input on what sort of terms would be necessary in the leasehold agreement to accomplish all these things as well as ideas on how to structure a community decision making process under that agreement.
Rob would also like some free advice to ensure this is properly legally binding.
- What would you want to see in this agreement if you were selected to be a Steward?
- What is the best way to protect YOUR investment if you are selected?
- How do we ensure YOU are protected so you have the freedom to build essentially what you want, but still become part of a community that draws visitors for its unique building structures, efficient infrastructure, self-sufficiency, arts and crafts and goods?
- What restrictions would need be put in place which you would not find onerous or unjust but would support the community?
- How do we attract and provide and recompense the Corps of Diggers and Builders?
- What sort of selection process should be employed? If you were in charge of selecting the Stewards, how would you do it?
- What sort of obstacles do we face?
Some points for discussion to entice people, but which will be ignored if they don't fit Rob's vision.
Thank you very much for your input! As soon as this is completed I will show it to the guy and if he is happy we will have the Steward Proposals available. These are packages where you share with us what you propose to build and offer if selected. Kinda like an application, except you abandon nothing and do not beg, merely propose.
Thanks eh guys!
Translation - "these are packages where you give us your labour for free so that me and my mates can live how we like. We may give you some bread though."
PS- I am in Moncton and doing a show on Tuesday. Hope to have a great turnout, people seem very up on it here, so if you are in the Maritimes try to come!
"PS - only a couple of people have expressed an interest in seeing me in Moncton on Tuesday. It's not enough for me to pay for theatre hire, nor for me to repay the bloke who subbed me the rail fare. Please come because I'm going to need bailing out again."
