VILLAGE

Comments:

VILLAGE is a page devoted to building strong, productive and lasting relationships among people in our region.

For the BARNRAISING PAGE: go here: http://oneonta-region.wikispot.org/Barn_Raising

Living in our BIOREGION: how do we interconnect? City and rural, what can we offer each other? Powering down as a community, helping others, living together gracefully, autonomously, cooperatively and safely in good times and bad times.

We invite you to link your page to this, so that your concept can be fully appreciated.

EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

Networking between city and country.


Substantial networks among neighbors who own their own property.


Self help partnerships.


Co-Housing

HERE ARE SOME COHOUSING VILLAGES THAT WE HAVE VISITED:
http://www.whitehawk.org/

WhiteHawk Cohousing Community Plan Jennie: I visited this village on May 25th, 2008: beautiful parcel of 140 acres in Danby 6 miles from Ithaca: 30 of that will be garden/farm, part is already forest and much will be reforested, a wonderful group of dedicated people (with cute children).

Working together to improve local food systems...how do we different people fit together in our region?

Here is what they have to say about the EcoVillage:
White Hawk is a group of people from all walks of life who have chosen to establish a sustainable neighborhood on 120 acres in Danby, NY near Ithaca. We are people of all ages and look forward to passing down a thriving village full of neighbors with diverse skills, ideas and talents to our children and their children.

We plan to build in 3 phases, starting with 4 homes this winter/spring. The following phases will follow when more members are ready to build their units. The first phase is filling quickly with only 3 lots left! We estimate that our village of 30 homes should be complete (including the common house and other common structures) within 4-5 years.

A way of comparing living structures. Who holds the money? Are living decisions made by consent or authority? Are people controlled from the outside, or do they control themselves? Here is a tool that might help us to evaluate different community living systems. As a young artist, I was interested in the very bottom right corner. Now, as an adult, I'm more interested in the right hand middle to lower right middle.
I myself am interested in helping to develop a self-run retirement community for artists. As an older person I would like to share a garden, studios, kilns and transportation in a model similar to cohousing: people own their own living spaces/house, can buy in/sell out to retain equity. Jennie

What is your idea?

Below is a community living solution proposed by 2 local residents.
'For a number of years now Diane and I have been working on a project to establish a pilot sustainable community modeled upon the pre-industrial village. Our approach differs from
the eco-village concept in that each 'village' will be a for-profit corporation where the fee-simple home owners will also be shareholders in the village and its associated enterprises
(childcare, healthcare, transportation, food production etcetera).

It is our belief that the 20th century model for the creation of 'wealth' is about to be replaced by a 21st century paradigm shift. Conservation and sustainability will replace consumption as the engine for financial markets. Hence, we believe it possible that funding could be obtained through private equity investment.

Otsego County is a possible candidate for the pilot and we were wondering if a team of interested folks could be assembled to assist in generating a business plan and a budget
based upon a specific Oneonta region pilot village.

Accounting, legal and business components need to be well researched and planned. We have contacted a well placed and connected Albany law firm who might well be interested in
working on this project at reduced fees. Our company accountant is Johna Peachin who is a CPA and financial planner. Diane has her real estate license, and although not affiliated currently with a company, the knowledge may prove useful.

There are a number of high profile architects such as William McDonough who might be interested but there are now a whole new generation of architects and town planners focusing upon low-environmental impact and energy conserving design and building. Any project would be based upon the principles of Christopher Alexander.

As always, there will be a need for some seed financing.

The village will provide an opportunity to involve a spectrum of interests and skills in the creation of a practical working demonstration of the potential of a new economy model.

In reading all the information that is now being sent, there are a number of individuals with different skill sets that might be interested in this concept.

Our upcoming local elections in Meredith should prove most interesting; providing that the team we are promoting are elected, a number of ambitious plans to form several
committees/groups are planned to do with energy, agriculture, etc.

All changes start within our own communities; the strength of many communities and individuals coming together is what's needed to give serious impetus to achieve
the consciousness required to embark upon change.

We would be pleased to get together to expand upon the village idea.

Many thanks for all your efforts.

Robert Ashley & Diane Nixon