Ten (10) rules we used to build our sustainable community

It is our opinion that a critical imbalance of food demand and food supply is coming.   When the crisis does come, you have a choice to be a Grower, a Hoarder or a Detainee of the Homeland Security Dept.

Regardless of how much food you hoard, there is a limit.

We have an Education and Research Centers in Lincoln City, Oregon.  We experiment with Sustainable Growing Techniques, Permaculture, Off the Grid techniques using existing material to solve our food production challenges.

Also, the Center is a Living and Learning Laboratory for Water, Energy, Shelter and Community Building.

Why have plenty of Food, Energy, Shelter, and Water if you are living in a community that cannot work together?  

These are the guidelines we use to build a Community.



1. Complaint Free Zone
When a person eliminates complaining they become a more creative, giving, loving, and grateful problem solver.  Eliminating complaining does change your brain not in some magical, woo woo kind of way, but in a real physical way.  The science is called neuroplasticity. It means that our thoughts can change the structure and function of our brains.

How it Works.
You wear a small purple plastic bracelet and try to go 21 days without complaining. If you find yourself complaining during that time, you must switch the bracelet to the other arm. However, it's not just complaining about your own life - you can't criticize or gossip either.

Complaining vs. Problems
Problems are to be solved -complaints cannot be solved.
For example, the statement, “I am tired of this rain” is a complaint.  It is not just information - it is a complaint.
The statement “I am tired of this rain, and I am getting wet” is a problem and can be solved.

2. Never Attack Anybody’s Personhood – This includes yourself.  You are not to call yourself names.  You are not stupid, dumb or silly.  Likewise, you are not to call anybody else names or a derogatory nickname

3. Gossip is not tolerated – Gossip is a form of complaining about another person behind their back.  They are what we call ANTS -Automatic Negative Thoughts.

Thoughts are “Automatic” – they just happen.  Do not try to stop them, but you do not have to say them out loud.

Thoughts are not always correct and may not always be “true.”

Thoughts “LIE”- You do not have to speak every thought.

Feelings (thoughts) are like waves; they just keep coming.

“A person with a higher Emotional Intelligence knows which wave to surf.”

4.    You will learn about your DNA way of working - There are nine (9) DNA ways of working. We have all nine, but one is our favorite. When you embrace your favorite way of working, you never have to work another day in your life.

5.    TAGS (Talents, Attributes, and Gifts) - Each participant will be able to identify their top TAGs. Participants will be able to identify opportunities where they turn their TAGs into skills. This Improves one’s life’s satisfaction and mental health.  

6.   Fight - Flight or Freeze – the Amygdala is part of the brain that is wired for your survival.   It is that part of the brain which determines, (when you are in a conflict situation, real or imaginary) you will “Fight” “Flight” or “Freeze.”   The better you understand your Amygdala response, the easier for you to be able to resolve conflict situations faster.

7.    Happiness - Gratitude fosters happiness. It makes it easier to cope with stress and Trauma. You will learn how to have a positive perspective which will allow you to encounter personal adversity like loss or illness and stay happy.  Random acts of kindness foster happiness.  Studies show that engaging in a random act of kindness — even if you’re told by a researcher to do so — improves your happiness level.  

8.   Increase Your Success Rate - By doubling your failure rate.  Got an idea? Try it. If it fails, you learned something.  At the Center’s Laboratory, since all the material, tools and money are furnished free, what do you have to lose?

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”  ― Thomas A. Edison

9.    Finding Joy – At the Center, you will be encouraged to focus on what makes you happy and bring your joy.   You will be encouraged to focus on the “Desires of Your Heart” and enjoy the path to obtain them.  We believe the means does NOT justify the end.  There is no end to life’s journey, only the journey, at the Center you will learn to enjoy the journey.

10.   The Power of Two – Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. For if either of them falls, the other will lift their companion and you both can enjoy a life time partnership.

The success of a relationship comes not in finding the “right” person, but in the ability of both people to adjust to the real person they have found.  

We know how to do it.

Sustainable Living Center
82 Siletz Highway, Lincoln City 97367
nextday@vol.com
541-765-2109

What an awesome set or rules. Can I use these as a building block for the future.

I also have a few question.
How do you resolve conflicts?
When someone entering the community as a new worker/citizen/partner, do you evoke a trial period? Or do you have a list of accomplishments that need to be obtained prior or during the trial period for someone to become a permanent member/partner?

I have many more questions in regards to setting up an intentional community that will come to mind as questions are answered.

I think that whether or not something is a complaint is debatable. People often need to vent, this could be seen as complaining. Solutions are not always possible. I think that I would feel stifled if this wasn't allowed.

Similarly with gossip, some people think talking about others not in front of them is always gossip, but I find that an overly narrow view.

Maybe I just don't like rules, who knows.

Stacy Witscher wrote:I think that whether or not something is a complaint is debatable. People often need to vent, this could be seen as complaining. Solutions are not always possible. I think that I would feel stifled if this wasn't allowed.

I agree, Stacy.
Rules one through three externally enforce speech. Sometimes what appears to be a complaint is actually describing a problem which can be the first step towards a solution. If the complaint is spoken between two persons, is the other person required to report the complaint to a governing body? Then what happens?

The other rules seem to be more like internal principles which are quite sound and rooted in reality... notably discerning lying thoughts and not acting on them, and the direct connection between gratitude and happiness.

"At the Center’s Laboratory, since all the material, tools and money are furnished free, what do you have to lose?"

In my opinion it's more constructive to ethical character for people to pay for what they use
as it encourages economy, and discourages waste and feelings of entitlement.

I think that office politic aka pecking order is the same if not worse than complaining/gossiping/venting.

Discussion of any path/problem/person could be seen as gossiping.
When the owner/top management does it. It is deemed okay
When the little guys at the watercooler does it. It is deemed weird.
The truth is that everyone does it, and it is not weird.
The difference is that we don't want the little guys dictating how things are run or even discussing it only the steering committee/owner. Because only we have the power to do that. And guess what as the owner it is okay to setup such a system it is okay to be upfront and say I am a benevolent dictator.

What can help is clearly communicating expectations and clearly listening to the other persons expectations. Then coming to some type of agreement before entering into a IC contract/relationship.

That said I do think it is wise to be respectful, no physical fighting, verbal yelling and slandering others, even if you don't agree with them in terms of way of farming/raising kids/eating habit/religion/etc, etc.

Coralee Palmer wrote:


4.    You will learn about your DNA way of working - There are nine (9) DNA ways of working. We have all nine, but one is our favorite. When you embrace your favorite way of working, you never have to work another day in your life.

5.    TAGS (Talents, Attributes, and Gifts) - Each participant will be able to identify their top TAGs. Participants will be able to identify opportunities where they turn their TAGs into skills. This Improves one’s life’s satisfaction and mental health.  



7.    Happiness - Gratitude fosters happiness. It makes it easier to cope with stress and Trauma. You will learn how to have a positive perspective which will allow you to encounter personal adversity like loss or illness and stay happy.  Random acts of kindness foster happiness.  Studies show that engaging in a random act of kindness — even if you’re told by a researcher to do so — improves your happiness level.  

I really liked these three "rules" in particular!

Rule 7 is something that I know to be true and try to practise myself.

I've never heard about 4 and 5 before, but they sound great and I'd love to hear more about them!

Nina Jay wrote:

Coralee Palmer wrote:


4.    You will learn about your DNA way of working - There are nine (9) DNA ways of working. We have all nine, but one is our favorite. When you embrace your favorite way of working, you never have to work another day in your life.

5.    TAGS (Talents, Attributes, and Gifts) - Each participant will be able to identify their top TAGs. Participants will be able to identify opportunities where they turn their TAGs into skills. This Improves one’s life’s satisfaction and mental health.  



7.    Happiness - Gratitude fosters happiness. It makes it easier to cope with stress and Trauma. You will learn how to have a positive perspective which will allow you to encounter personal adversity like loss or illness and stay happy.  Random acts of kindness foster happiness.  Studies show that engaging in a random act of kindness — even if you’re told by a researcher to do so — improves your happiness level.  

I really liked these three "rules" in particular!

Rule 7 is something that I know to be true and try to practise myself.

I've never heard about 4 and 5 before, but they sound great and I'd love to hear more about them!

So do I, Nina...

...because they highlight principles of internal self governance rather than imposing order from the outside such as externally controlling speech.

I actually like the bit about not complaining too... I might word it a bit differently if these were my "house rules", but I like the general idea.

In my family we have sometimes tried giving everyone 5 "complaint cards" to use, a day

I kinda liked it because it made me think: is this really such a big thing that I want to use my complaint card on it... maybe something much worse happens later... better save up those cards!  

And I think it did me good to stop and think like that.

Mostly I think this techique is good for people who tend to just complain out of habit, not really to vent their feelings even. And five complaints a day seems fair to me. It would be extremely difficult for me to not voice even one little complaint I think 3 would be quite reasonable for adults too, but we have children


I'm all for venting your feelings, though. I think there's a difference between these two things. As long as no one is called names/ insulted/ scared, feelings are okay to share, even negative ones, in my opinion.

Being the person that I am, I can't help being a bit amused to see how rapidly discussion of these rules fell afoul of them! They might not work for me, but I find them interesting, and think that having similar concise rules available for other communities would make for informative reading..


To me, the purpose of rules for an intentional community is certainly not to come up with rules that will work for All People at All Times in All Places. They only have to work for enough people to make the community work. And it's kind of a benefit if they discourage folks who do not mesh well with the community. Like the old saying does, 'If you're having a problem with a man, always remember, no man, no problem'. And if the man takes himself away because he finds your dumb rules too infuriating to even say... well, he's still gone, and your rules can put another notch on the gunbelt... (Sadly, this does not appear to work for governments...)


I spent a few weeks at an aspiring intentional community where a key aspect of the community was the weekly meeting, which included a 'share your feelings' bit. The rule was, everyone got a turn if they wanted it, and nobody was allowed to respond in any way to anyone else's statements for 24 hours. It sounded super hokey to me when first described... but it was actually quite cathartic, with the right people.


As far as complaining goes, I encounter a lot of what one might call gallows humour, among farmers. It often seems very much like complaining, but I don't think it really is. It's a little hard to explain the difference though... will have to think on that. Complaining is goddamned annoying to listen to, though, and this is interaction that leaves a smile or at least a wry grimace...

Dillon Nichols wrote:

As far as complaining goes, I encounter a lot of what one might call gallows humour, among farmers. It often seems very much like complaining, but I don't think it really is. It's a little hard to explain the difference though... will have to think on that. Complaining is goddamned annoying to listen to, though, and this is interaction that leaves a smile or at least a wry grimace...

I think I know what you mean! It sounds a bit like complaining, but it still makes you smile. Maybe it resembles story telling in way.

I was confused about it first when we moved to the country side. I thought "Gosh, these people really do have a hard time living here!" But I was confused at the same time: Why do they have a grin on their face when they complain? Then it began to dawn on me: it's not really complaining, they're telling mini-stories. Possibly they're even enjoying the chance to tell that mini story to someone new. And when I realized that, I started to smile too.

When someone entering the community as a new worker/citizen/partner, do you evoke a trial period? Or do you have a list of accomplishments that need to be obtained prior or during the trial period for someone to become a permanent member/partner?  

We use two exercises before we even allow a person to visit us.  

1. The Way of Working exercise…    try it; it is free … www. Sustainablecommunity.fun … based on the book “9 ways of working”
2. “Help the good get better” exercise …. Exercise is attached

After these exercises are completed then a 30-day visit is arranged.  See https://permies.com/t/98063/Private-Bedroom-month-free-Sustainable for details.

How do you resolve conflicts?  

We teach the members of the community to use I messages.  An I-message or I-statement is an assertion about the feelings, beliefs, values, etc. of the person speaking, generally expressed as a sentence beginning with the word "I", and is contrasted with a "you-message" or "you-statement", which often begins with the word "you" and focuses on the person spoken to.

I-messages are often used with the intent to be assertive without putting the listener on the defensive. They are also used to take ownership for one's feelings rather than implying that they are caused by another person. An example of this would be to say: "I am getting backed up on my work since I don't have the financial report yet," rather than: "you didn't finish the financial report on time!" (The latter is an example of a "you-statement")

I messages can work if you focus on “problems” and not “complaining.”

Some problems in a relationship are not solvable.


These kinds of problems are generally hard-wired into your DNA “Way of Working” by your respective personalities.


You may be an introvert while they’re an extrovert. Maybe you’re neat, and they’re comfortable with messiness. Maybe you’re an atheist, and they’re a person of faith.


These things are not likely to change over the lifetime of the relationship. It doesn’t make sense to try and “resolve” them.


Trying to resolve them can cause prioritize, but an actual effort to understand your way of working and your partner’s way of working.
That means learning to be curious and compassionate and creative about your perpetual issues.


It means learning to accept that difference doesn’t have to be painful and learning what can you live with to have this person in your life.  Do you want to grow old with this person?


It can simply be present and understanding

I think that whether or not something is a complaint is debatable. People often need to vent, this could be seen as complaining. Solutions are not always possible. I think that I would feel stifled if this wasn't allowed.

Similarly with gossip, some people think talking about others not in front of them is always gossip, but I find that an overly narrow view.

Maybe I just don't like rules, who knows.

We publish a brochure of why we do not want complaining at the Center.  see attaached

In my opinion it's more constructive to ethical character for people to pay for what they use
as it encourages economy, and discourages waste and feelings of entitlement.

1.  We are a research center to help the good get better and have a quality sustainable lifestyle. There are two advantages of furnishing everything.
Increase Your Success Rate - By doubling your failure rate.  Got an idea? Try it. If it fails, you learned something.  At the Center’s Laboratory, since all the material, tools and money are furnished free, what do you have to lose?  There is no judgment for failure.

2.  Since we pay for everything, no one has the rights to the ideas when we turn them into money.   They “know” how we do it, but it is our idea.  We encourage members to take the ideas and become Financially Free.  

A member will be able to select one our designs into making them Financially Free.  
www.areyoureadytobefinanciallyfree.com

Learn about Truffles … OREGON COAST has the PERFECT SEASONS, CLIMATE and CLIMATE ZONE to grow Truffles at $400 – $600 per pound.  www.OregonCoastTruffles.com

Learn how to Pressure Can Deer, Elk, Crab & Salmon … for a Sustainable Lifestyle everything we hunt or catch, we pressure can, and we can help you learn how to do it. We never lose our meat due in a power outage. www.PressureCanning.fun

Learn how to catch crab, clean crab, and cook crab …. Use our Crab Cats to catch crabs in Siletz Bay and prepare them.  They are a free source of sustainable food.  www.Crabbing.fun

Learn how to make Air-Crete©.  Air-Crete is made by making air bubbles and mixing them into concrete.  It is waterproof, fireproof, and insect proof. It offers good thermal and acoustic insulation. It will not rot, warp, or corrode ... www.AirCrete.fun

Learn to build a Solar Heat Grabber.  Do It Yourself (DIY) solar air heating collectors are one of the better solar projects because they are easy to build, inexpensive, and offer a very quick payback on the cost of the materials.  www.SolarHeatGrabber.com

Learn how to harvest rainwater.  It does not always rain when your garden needs it, or you want to grow your garden in a spot where there is not a convenient source of water. When it rains, the water is caught and stored in the barrels.  … www.SaveRainDrops.com

Learn how to make No Waste Chicken Feeder.  Feed Store Feeders cost a little more than our No Waste Feeders.  When hung at chicken head level, the chickens can waste a fair bit of food by flinging it out of the feeder with their beaks onto the ground, where it may not get eaten.  …. www.NoWasteFeeder.com

Learn how to make a Bokashi Machine©. Bokashi is a Japanese term meaning 'fermented organic matter.' It is a two-stage process - fermentation stage, and a composting stage … www.BokashiMachine.com

Learn to use Bokashi.  Plants grown with bokashi can be shown to have higher levels of mineral density using a BRIX meter. Higher mineral density is correlated with plant health and overall flavor. The probiotics help break down the rocks and minerals to deliver higher density food. www.HiDensityFood.fun

Learn how to make Elderberry Syrup …. Elderberry Syrup Liquid Flu Shot?  Three of the members of the Center are over 70 years of age and are using Elderberry in lieu of a flu shot.  Two of the members, over 70, have been using our special recipe of Elderberry for the last five (5) year and have never gotten a cold, let along the flu. www.Elderberry.fun

Learn how to make an Olla (Oy-Yas) – The Most Efficient & Oldest Irrigation System in the World.  An OLLA is an unglazed clay pot that remains porous. The OLLA is buried in the ground.  It can be located where the water seeps into the soil at a rate that provides adjacent plants with a constant water source at the roots all done manually.  www.potsofwater.com

Learn how to make a TomatoBarrel©. It is portable and uses the heat storing capacity of its water reservoir. This water storage enables a longer growing season and minimal need for watering … www.TomatoBarrel.com

Learn how to make a LettuceTub©. It is a carefree technique that allows you to grow hydroponically without electricity, pumps, or wicks of any kind ., www.LettuceTub.com

Learn how to use Veggie Sacks.  Veggie Sacks provide Vegetables from your Deck, Patio, Balcony, or Driveway.  ba1The Veggie Sack is for the gardener who wants a container that will grow the best possible plant. www.VeggieSack.com

Learn how to build a Slug Zapper.  The biggest problem for a lot of gardeners is the shortage of time and energy for gardeners to stop slugs.  We know how to have a garden that will be 99.9% free of slugs with no chemicals or work.  www. www.SlugZapper.com


Learn how to make a Yurt Cloche©. In the Maritime Northwest of the Oregon Coast, year-round growing is easier and perhaps the cheapest and easiest semi-permanent option for season extension is a Yurt Cloche©. , www.YurtCloche.com

To apply … go to the On-Line Application at www.Asktaxmoms.com/lifestyle

Research Projects you may choose to work on
Solar Movable Batteries - Golf Carts … https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/solar-movable-batteries-golf-carts/
Micro Hydro Power … https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/mini-hydro/
Wind Power … https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/wind/
Rocket Mass Heaters …. https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/heat-rocket-mass-heater/
Subterranean Heating and Cooling … https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/heat-subterranean/
Tiny Domes Houses  … https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/shelter-tiny-houses/
Worm Modules©…. https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/soil-worm-castings/
Organic Food Bed© … https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/type-back-to-eden-garden/
Liquid Gold …. https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/garden-liquid-gold/
Solar Cooking …. https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/solar-cooking/
Rocket Cook Stove … https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/food-stove-rocket/
Cooking Wild Game …. https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/meat-wild-game/
Outdoors Pizza Earth Oven … https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/food-pizza-oven-earth/
Solar Clothes Dryer … https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/solar-clothes-dryer/
Solar Food Dryer …. https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/solar-clothes-dryer/
Bio Char …. https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/soil-biochar/
Bee Barrel© …. https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/bees-barrel-hive/
Chicken Capons …. https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/chicken-capon/
Chicken Protein Dispenser … https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/chicken-fly-black-solider-larvae/
Chicken Fodder Systems …. https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/chicken-fodder-system/
Chicken Automatic Doors …. https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/chicken-auto-door/
Chicken Domes …. https://www.pinterest.com/livingcenters/chicken-domes/


For more details, go to www.SustainableLivingCenterOregon.com

Hello,


I read the thread with pleasure. The rules are interesting and I may one day decide to follow them. The slug zapper promise of 99% slug free is irresistible, so I thank you in advance.