How do we address the challenges of living costs and homes for future generations?
By transitioning to a community-centric and decentralized model, we allow opportunities to create living spaces that are comfortable and also economically accessible, free from the burden of crippling debt. This shift diminishes the power of large banking institutions, mitigates the impact of inflation, and fights systemic corruption and monopolistic behavior. Embracing this community-first approach tips the scales in favor of the average-low income person.
Here are some ideas I gathered with the help of some local gurus for living affordable and keeping the state and Black R0ck out of your backyard, aside from the classic commune vibe. If you have any successful examples or wild ideas? Let me know in the comments so I can include them and do more research.
1. Cooperative Living with Land Use Agreements:
Emphasis: Establish housing cooperatives where members collectively own land through land use agreements. This model reduces individual financial burden and fosters community living. Each member has a stake in the land, reducing costs through shared resources and responsibilities.
2. Strata Title for Community Living:
Emphasis: Use strata titles to create micro-communities within larger properties. This allows for individual ownership of living spaces while common areas are managed cooperatively, significantly cutting down on individual property costs.
3. Subdividing with Legal Agreements:
Emphasis: Encourage landowners nearing retirement to subdivide their land through legal agreements. This could involve creating smaller, more affordable plots for younger generations or those looking to downsize, leveraging existing land to bypass traditional mortgage routes.
4. Seeking Unzoned or Less Regulated Areas:
Emphasis: Look for areas with minimal zoning laws where innovative, low-cost housing like tiny homes, earthships, or dome houses can be built without the heavy cost and regulation of traditional housing markets.
5. Private Membership Associations and Trusts:
Emphasis: Form these entities to hold land collectively, avoiding individual property taxes and mortgages. Members contribute to a common fund for land maintenance and development, reducing personal financial strain.
6. Sovereign Nation Communities:
Emphasis: While ambitious, creating a community that operates under its own governance could redefine housing norms, focusing on communal living spaces that are affordable and tailored to the community's needs.
7. Extended Family or Church Communities:
Emphasis: Utilize the concept of extended families or religious communities to pool resources for housing. This can lead to the creation of affordable living spaces where costs are shared among many.
8. Year-Round Recreation Parks:
Emphasis: Develop areas as 'permanent camping' or recreational zones where simpler, cost-effective living structures like cabins or yurts are used year-round, reducing the need for expensive housing.
9. Private Community Services Cooperative:
Emphasis: This cooperative would focus on providing services like water, power, and waste management at a lower cost by cutting out profit-driven corporations, directly impacting the affordability of housing.
10. Hybrid Non-Profit Land Share Societies:
Emphasis: Combine various non-profit models to share land where housing is built with community labor and materials, drastically reducing costs.
11. Clubs:
Clubs as flexible governing models can help address the housing crisis through innovative community structures and self-sufficiency:
Community Autonomy: Clubs allow members to make decisions about their living conditions, manage housing units, and share resources.
Regulatory Flexibility: Clubs can experiment with land use policies, housing designs, and economic models, potentially leading to more affordable housing.
Resource Sharing: Clubs promote sharing tools, vehicles, and housing units, reducing individual financial burdens.
Economic Models: Cooperative or mutual aid models help build and maintain housing without relying on external funding.
Skill Sharing: Members contribute skills in construction, law, or finance, reducing costs.
Philosophical Alignment: Clubs based on shared values (e.g., sustainability) lead to harmonious living arrangements.
Inclusivity: Clubs can support diverse groups through shared living spaces, reducing living costs.
Practical Implementations:
Housing Cooperatives: Collective ownership and management of properties.
Tiny Home Communities: Affordable, minimalist living.
ADU Expansion: Flexible regulations to promote accessory dwelling units.
Community Land Trusts: Communal land ownership with individual structural ownership.
This approach shifts housing from individual ownership to community stewardship, fostering sustainability and mutual support.
12. Experimental Townships with Sovereign Status:
Using Auroville, India as a prime example but a lesson in a need to have an oversight and constitution to prevent inside corruption and prevention of the "Guru super-ego complex"
Founded: 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, known as The Mother.
Aim: To realize human unity in diversity.
Governance: Overseen by the Auroville Foundation with a Governing Board, Residents’ Assembly, and International Advisory Council. Various working groups manage different aspects of life.
Structure: Designed around the Matrimandir, with zones for living, work, and cultural activities, integrated with green spaces and ecological projects.
Philosophy: Guided by sustainable living, integral yoga, and a vision for human unity, transcending traditional boundaries of nationality, culture, and religion.
13. Live on a Boat
14. Squatters' Rights
15. Live in a Van Down by the river: https://youtu.be/Xv2VIEY9-A8?si=bUKAyBgLw64Scmas
Community-Centric Strategies:
Community Financial and Legal Support: Use the collective power of these communities to negotiate or appeal for alternative building codes, support green and innovative building techniques, and offer community-backed loans or mortgages.
Technology and AI in Construction: Implement AI and technology for designing and constructing affordable, sustainable homes like 3D printed structures or earth houses, which can be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
Community Infrastructure: Develop community-owned mills, renewable energy sources, and material production to bypass the expensive, often exploitative market systems. This not only reduces costs but also builds a self-sufficient community.
Philosophical Shift: By focusing on community-first living, these approaches challenge the current economic system's inefficiencies, like inflation and monopolistic practices, by decentralizing power and returning it to the community level.
By integrating these methods, communities can create a robust framework for affordable housing that stands independent of traditional banking and governmental systems, paving the way for a future where housing is both accessible and sustainable.
Here are a few examples of these ideas being put into place locally and globally:
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Mountain Culture Group / Geoship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyTpcDkwMVQ
Aims to revolutionize housing with bioceramic geodesic homes, focusing on affordability, sustainability, and climate resilience. These homes, made from durable and eco-friendly bioceramic materials, offer excellent insulation and structural strength. Geoship’s goal is to mass-produce these homes to reduce costs, with prices ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 for a 1,200 square foot home. I gathered this info from a talk @ nelson innovation centre & need more specifics and $ depends on the region etc.
See Future Villages:
https://www.facebook.com/FutureVillages/
Kootenay Resilience Festival:
https://smartvillage.ca/.../03/kootenay-resilience-festival/
Episode #27 : Housing How-To
https://headwaterspodcast.com/.../episode-27-housing-how-to/
The design promotes ecological living with natural materials and energy efficiency, potentially integrating renewable energy sources. Geoship envisions creating communities with shared resources and cooperative living to reduce individual costs.
Public perception is mixed, with excitement about affordability and eco-friendliness, but concerns about practicality and ecological impact. Real-world implementation faces challenges like zoning laws and public acceptance, but the concept holds promise for affordable, sustainable living.
Jean-Marc LaFlamme
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Leo Mitrunen's "The KADS Cooperative"
(intention to provide affordable, sustainable and resilient options for lifestyle and housing).
Options for Homes
https://optionsforhomes.ca/
an initiative or organization focused on economic empowerment through cost-efficient housing solutions, utilizes a cooperative model where members can achieve homeownership through strata titles in multi-family homes.
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Heddlestone Village https://heddlestonevillage.com/
A cohousing community designed to foster strong social interaction and cooperative living. It emphasizes sustainability with energy-efficient homes and community gardens. Shared resources like a common house, laundry, and play areas reduce waste and foster bonding. The village promotes self-sufficiency with community gardens and compost facilities, and encourages a low-carbon lifestyle with pedestrian-only areas. The community balances collective well-being with private spaces, supporting personal growth through shared activities. Economically, it aims for affordability by sharing resources and reducing costs.
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Chuckleberry Community Farm
https://www.chuckleberrycommunity.ca/
near Nelson, BC, focuses on community living, sustainability, and personal growth.
Philosophy and Lifestyle: The farm practices regenerative living, emphasizing community health and interpersonal relationships. This fosters a shift in consciousness towards community and nature.
Sustainability Practices: They use no-till farming, composting straw bales, and eco-friendly infrastructure like solar power and water catchment systems.
Community Structure: The farm supports personal and communal growth through daily check-ins and weekly gatherings.
Economic and Social Models: Shared resources and communal living reduce costs and promote sustainability.
Cultural and Personal Growth: Workshops and trainings encourage self-improvement within a community context.
Connections to the Wider Community: They supply organic microgreens locally, integrating into the broader economy.
Philosophical Underpinnings: The “One Health” philosophy connects human, animal, and environmental health, promoting harmony with nature and among people.
The Community Farm blends ecological sustainability, community living, and personal growth, creating a lifestyle integrated with the land and community.
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Philosophies of Cooperative Living for Housing Affordability include the idea:
Collective Ownership: Residents are members of the cooperative, meaning they collectively own the property. This removes the profit motive from housing, which often reduces costs compared to market-driven housing.
Democratic Management: Each member has a vote in the cooperative's decisions, fostering a democratic environment where residents have a say in how their living space is managed, maintained, and developed. This includes setting housing charges (what might be considered rent in other contexts), community rules, and long-term planning.
Affordability: By cutting out the profit element, cooperatives aim to provide housing at cost, which is generally lower than market rates. Additionally, many co-ops have provisions or subsidies for members who cannot afford the standard housing charge, ensuring inclusivity.
Community Focus: Co-ops often emphasize community living. This can mean shared spaces, communal activities, and mutual support systems, which not only foster a sense of community but can also lead to cost savings through shared resources like tools, gardens, or bulk buying.
Sustainability: Many housing co-ops in BC incorporate sustainable living practices, understanding that ecological sustainability can lead to economic affordability in the long run through reduced utility costs, sustainable building practices, and sometimes even food production.
Security of Tenure: Members have security of tenure, meaning they can live in their homes as long as they wish, provided they adhere to the co-op's rules. This stability is a direct counter to the precarity often found in the private rental market.
Broader Impacts and Challenges:
Government Support and Programs: Historically, government programs have supported the development of co-ops, but there's a noted decline in new co-op construction since the early 1990s. Recent discussions and some funding commitments suggest a potential resurgence in interest, recognizing co-ops as a solution to housing crises.
Challenges in Expansion: Despite their benefits, starting new co-ops is challenging due to high land and construction costs, and the need for initial capital investment. However, the philosophy of cooperative living continues to attract interest for its potential to address housing affordability sustainably.
Public Perception and Policy: There's growing recognition of the need for non-market housing solutions like co-ops. However, policy implementation and public funding to support new co-op developments are crucial for their expansion.
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If you feel spiritually guided and brave enough to step outside the matrix (though there’s nothing wrong with choosing to stay within it), here are some options and inspirations I’ve come across that HAVE worked for friends including the idea of learning "contract law" when dealing with unjust acts or statues for example:
(Warning: These movements and philosophies advocate for a return to fundamental, natural laws where individual rights are paramount, and government or corporate power is legitimate only when it respects these natural rights. While these ideas offer remedies, their practical application can lead to legal challenges and court system complexities. Contemporary legal systems may not recognize or might actively oppose some interpretations or actions, such as squatting, when they appear-to/conflict with current property laws (acts) (not capitol 'L' Laws). Therefore, it’s essential to educate yourself and decide if you’re ready for that kind of ‘Red Pill,’ or if you can find spiritual peace without resisting the system, choosing the ‘Purple Pill’ instead.)
From movements like "Natural Person", "Freeman on the Land", "Sovereign's Way", "Sovereign by Design", Using the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and Posse Comitatus, Indigenous Sovereignty etc. several remedies and principles can be gathered for individuals seeking protection under natural law from overreach by big government and corporations. Here's a synthesis based on the philosophies and legal principles these movements often reference:
Understanding Natural Rights: These movements emphasize natural rights, which are not contingent upon the laws or customs of any particular culture or government but are universal and inalienable. The Magna Carta (1215) and subsequent interpretations through to Black's Law Dictionary emphasize rights like the right to due process, the right to property, and the prohibition against arbitrary imprisonment or seizure of property.
Magna Carta: Clauses like Clause 39 (or 29 in later versions) provide that no freeman shall be deprived of his freehold without lawful judgment, which resonates with the idea of protection against arbitrary government actions.
Sovereignty of the Individual: The concept of individual sovereignty suggests that individuals have natural rights that predate government, and thus, they can't be easily overridden by government or corporate actions. This includes:
The Right to Property: Squatters' rights, or adverse possession, can be seen as a practical application of this, where continuous, open, and notorious use of land can, under certain conditions, lead to legal ownership, reflecting the idea that land should be used productively and not left idle.
Common Law and Natural Law: These movements often refer to common law, which evolves through judicial decisions rather than statutes, emphasizing precedents that align with natural law principles:
Black's Law Dictionary: Provides definitions and interpretations that can be used to argue for natural law rights, like the definitions of property, rights, and legal personhood.
Challenging Legal Constructs: Freeman on the Land and similar movements challenge the legal system by:
Distinguishing Legal Person vs. Natural Person: Arguing that individuals as natural persons are not automatically subject to statutory laws unless they consent. This includes challenging corporate or governmental jurisdiction over individuals who declare themselves sovereign or operating under natural law.
Direct Action and Civil Disobedience:
Squatting: While not universally endorsed, squatting can be viewed as a direct action against property laws seen as unjust or against the principle that land should serve human need, not just legal ownership.
Legal and Practical Remedies:
Use of Notices: Such as notices of understanding and intent, claim of right, which are tools used to assert one's rights under natural or common law.
Challenging Jurisdiction: By questioning the jurisdiction of courts or the legal status of corporate entities, individuals attempt to avoid or mitigate governmental or corporate control.
Education and Community:
Self-Education in Law: Encouraging individuals to learn about law to assert their rights more effectively, often referencing historical documents like the British Constitution or Magna Carta for foundational rights.
Community Support: Movements often advocate for community networks that support individuals in legal or practical disputes with governments or corporations.
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Inception/Meta Disclaimer:
Regarding the concept of responsibility and the pursuit of power and remedies outside a system that no longer serves you:
There exists a spectrum between the ‘blue pill’ and the ‘red pill,’ symbolizing an alchemical or spiritual journey. This is encapsulated by the quotes, ‘With great power comes great responsibility’ and ‘For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required,’ illustrating a transformation from base metal to gold.
-Blue Pill, on the extreme, symbolizes mainstream consensus, simplicity, and a lack of critical thinking. It involves following state rules and regulations and adopting an establishment viewpoint, similar to the perspective you might find in a Wikipedia article on a controversial topic, where only an agenda-driven, conformist reality is presented.
-'Purple Pill’ represents learning the system’s tricks and hacks, and making a deliberate choice to remain in a creative grey area without causing too much disruption.
-‘Red Pill’ represents the knowledge and ability to operate outside the conventional system or matrix. This could stem from a deep understanding of historical contexts or the legal and constitutional frameworks that allow one to exist beyond the norm. Sometimes, achieving true legal recognition might require escalating a case to the Supreme Court, as lower courts often align more with the ‘blue pill’ perspective. However, at higher judicial levels, foundational documents like the Magna Carta and the ‘spirit of the law’ become more influential.
In the bigger picture, the idea of men in black for red pillers represents gatekeepers of your spiritual claim, where you have a chance to reinforce your true spiritual boundaries.