Work-Trade Ecovillage/Intentional Community Buy-In

Hello,

I am an architectural designer, builder and recently certified permaculturist. I am looking to live "on the land" in an ecovillage or intentional community situation with like-minded people committed to exploring regenerative ways of living, where I can put my creative design/build skills to use for the community. Problem is, I am financially broke, and don't see a way that I can feasibly buy into an IC or ecovillage in the next few years with the sporadic and uncertain income that seems to be part of following my vocation these days. I am looking to put down some roots, and to be able to become invested in a place long term - kind of tired of work-trade situations that ultimately mean leaving the land with no more stake than I arrived with. Does anyone know of ecovillages or IC's that honor "sweat equity" as a currency for buy-in? Let me know,

Thanks,

Mark Lavin

Mark, Have you found your spot? If not, what area are you in and how far would you be willing to go to relocate?

marklavin wrote:
Hello,

I am an architectural designer, builder and recently certified permaculturist. I am looking to live "on the land" in an ecovillage or intentional community situation with like-minded people committed to exploring regenerative ways of living, where I can put my creative design/build skills to use for the community. Problem is, I am financially broke, and don't see a way that I can feasibly buy into an IC or ecovillage in the next few years with the sporadic and uncertain income that seems to be part of following my vocation these days. I am looking to put down some roots, and to be able to become invested in a place long term - kind of tired of work-trade situations that ultimately mean leaving the land with no more stake than I arrived with. Does anyone know of ecovillages or IC's that honor "sweat equity" as a currency for buy-in? Let me know,

Thanks,

Mark Lavin

Mark,

I have been working on just such a concept as  "sweat equity" as a currency for buy-in".  My concept is that the "worker", logs into a web site that keeps track of work hours, tallies them and at "pay day", would transfer the work hours credits to a debit card that can be redeemed at authorized merchants and vending machines as electronic cash for products and services.  By the way, I'm looking for an architectural permaculture designer for my 5 acre property.  Check out Time Banks http://www.timebanks.org/ .

I've been part of the Bay Area timebank for a while, and i love it... it works.  it's open sourced, lotsa trust and seems to work... there may be some critical tipping point coming up tho as there's not enough people in there?...

i also think the co-op model works (PBS 'fixing the future' segment) where people contribute what they can on a monthly basis until a sizeable chunk of capital accumulates and can be used for building materials, etc.  Takes a long time, trust, persistence, and flexibility, escape clauses, etc.

I also have some acreage where I am trying to start on 'eco-village'  with already some structures on it and space to build... if anyone's interested. 

Mark - have you tried WOOF?

Mark, Please contact me privately. You can email me at holli@hollidaysmith.com