Let's update with some more background on the setting and strategy for early actions within and around the Collective:
* People / Entities
Currently we are four of us on the ground at Neshobe, with another handful of collaborative peers waiting in the wings or working remotely. There are also four interrelated "group organisms" involved here, with overlapping missions and mutual interests:
a) Neshobe Farm green residential development
b) Neshobe Institute non-profit education and wellness center
c) Neshobe CSA organic foods
d) VEDA Collective p2p co-op
* Products / Roadmap
Our first priority is to provide good steady fresh food for ourselves and the local community. Hannah is managing that sector beautifully, with an expanding agricultural production and marketing program. We intend to grow business on site with a small store front, and new forays into non-perishable value-added goods such as sun-dried whole-food bars and herbal extracts.
Just below that essential sustenance level, is the matter of comfortable, secure housing and infrastructure for our early activities and guest programs. [The farm currently sports about a dozen 2-3 bed apartment units between 5 converted houses, in a cluster at the present center of operations. Two of these units are in use by our team now, a third is slated for remodel as an office hub, and others will become available for new members as existing renters move on.] The interconnected barn structures are in varying states of disrepair, but quickly shaping up as useful spaces--or slated for tear-down and recycling. Some new and very "green" building projects are likely on a small scale at first, later in the summer, as prototypes and demonstration for more extensive residential development planned by the Farm community ahead.
With a running surplus of basic life-support, we can begin to offer craft / specialty goods and services to a wider audience, including the experiential (and vicarious) learning opportunities that are central to our vision. The exact nature and number of such presentations will emerge from the milieu of creators and resources in effect here at a given time.
One more key point to emphasize here: our working hypothesis rests upon the interrelated practices of Gift and Trust. As much as possible, we will migrate from contractual and fee/price based marketplace mentality toward a validation of generous circulatory health in a post-scarcity paradigm. That last sentence deserves it's own blog post, and will get it, pretty soon :)
* Support / Engagement
We are doing our best with a very slim starting margin. We want your help moving forward efficiently! Right now, that could mean:
a) reading / watching along here or on Twitter and passing word around
b) sending kind words or constructive ideas our way
c) visiting on site to check things out and lend a hand
d) bringing your talents and character along to come live and work with us a while
e) donating goods / expertise / money to the Collective or Institute
f) send a project idea our way that looks like mutual winnings
Thanks for tuning in and thinking well of us!
* People / Entities
Currently we are four of us on the ground at Neshobe, with another handful of collaborative peers waiting in the wings or working remotely. There are also four interrelated "group organisms" involved here, with overlapping missions and mutual interests:
a) Neshobe Farm green residential development
b) Neshobe Institute non-profit education and wellness center
c) Neshobe CSA organic foods
d) VEDA Collective p2p co-op
* Products / Roadmap
Our first priority is to provide good steady fresh food for ourselves and the local community. Hannah is managing that sector beautifully, with an expanding agricultural production and marketing program. We intend to grow business on site with a small store front, and new forays into non-perishable value-added goods such as sun-dried whole-food bars and herbal extracts.
Just below that essential sustenance level, is the matter of comfortable, secure housing and infrastructure for our early activities and guest programs. [The farm currently sports about a dozen 2-3 bed apartment units between 5 converted houses, in a cluster at the present center of operations. Two of these units are in use by our team now, a third is slated for remodel as an office hub, and others will become available for new members as existing renters move on.] The interconnected barn structures are in varying states of disrepair, but quickly shaping up as useful spaces--or slated for tear-down and recycling. Some new and very "green" building projects are likely on a small scale at first, later in the summer, as prototypes and demonstration for more extensive residential development planned by the Farm community ahead.
With a running surplus of basic life-support, we can begin to offer craft / specialty goods and services to a wider audience, including the experiential (and vicarious) learning opportunities that are central to our vision. The exact nature and number of such presentations will emerge from the milieu of creators and resources in effect here at a given time.
One more key point to emphasize here: our working hypothesis rests upon the interrelated practices of Gift and Trust. As much as possible, we will migrate from contractual and fee/price based marketplace mentality toward a validation of generous circulatory health in a post-scarcity paradigm. That last sentence deserves it's own blog post, and will get it, pretty soon :)
* Support / Engagement
We are doing our best with a very slim starting margin. We want your help moving forward efficiently! Right now, that could mean:
a) reading / watching along here or on Twitter and passing word around
b) sending kind words or constructive ideas our way
c) visiting on site to check things out and lend a hand
d) bringing your talents and character along to come live and work with us a while
e) donating goods / expertise / money to the Collective or Institute
f) send a project idea our way that looks like mutual winnings
Thanks for tuning in and thinking well of us!