Hi good people of Permies,
I was talking to a colleague about (re)building communities, forming new communities and bringing people together in general - both in the cities and in rural places. When the topic landed on rural ecovillages, intentional communities and whatever else one would label these communities as, the conversation naturally flowed to what skills would be beneficial to bring to the
roundtable.
Before I write down the list, there's a general disclaimer: I might not have found all the skills necessary. Further the skills will be put into three stages or categories - depending on the size of the community (the self-sufficiency of the community). These are all practical skills and for the most parts the list contains little to no creative arts. If the community was a organism, the bones would be these practical skills, fleshed out by the creative arts and it's lifeblood - the beings within it.
With that being said, there's a rather big fraction of the community 'labelled' laborers, this
should not be misunderstood as doing Grunt's work, but should be thought of as an apprentice, a student or a learner. Because any of these practical skills shouldn't be monopolized to a single individual. I am of the opinion all of us, no matter what position we are in, should be ready to teach, to learn and to develop ourselves.
Types of jobs/skills:
-Laborer/Learner/Student
-Transporter
-Toolmaker/Metalworker
-Builder, construction
-Healthcare (Doctor/Nurse)
-Landscaper/Arborist
-Grower/Farmer
-Plumber
-Electrician
-Mechanic
-Administrator
-Veterinarian
-Fisher
-Mason
-Beekeeper
-Mushroom farmer
-Herbalist
-Butcher
-Soapmaker
-Dyer
-Cheesemaker
-Brewer
-Woodworker
-Clothier
-Spinner/Weaver
-Shoemaker/Cobbler
-Potter
-Miller
-Dentist
1st stage: (Upto 10 people)
Laborer, Grower/Farmer, Healthcare, Toolmaker, Builder
2nd stage:(10-30 people)
Soapmaker, Herbalist, Transporter, Beekeeper, Clothier, Woodworker, Mason, Fisher,
Mushroom farmer, Administrator, Mechanic, Electrician, Laborer, Plumber, Cobbler, Landscaper
3rd stage:(30+ people)
Miller, Potter, Butcher, Laborer, Brewer, Cheesemaker, Dyer, Spinner/Weaver
I purposefully skipped child- and elderlycare, because this is an ideal community of people (healthy, strong, ablebodied) - but it is up to the individual community to accommodate resources for these services based on the demographics (example: if the community decides to get income from having an elderly home within a beautiful forest garden - a larger emphasis had to be put on elderly care).
With all that being said, what skill do you think is the most useful, did I miss any?
Bonus question: What is the best characteristics to bring to a community?