New IC Forming in TN

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Like I said in an earlier post, I tried to find a community I could fit into, but couldn’t, so I went back to the drawing board to design a community that I can love. Libertarian, Voluntaryist, Agoran, Permacultural/Regenerative Ag, in a temperate climate (zone 6-7), and with as few rules and restrictions as possible. A place where members can be free to live as they choose so long as they respect the rights of other members to do the same. No bosses or dictators but each person voluntarily working with other members to develop the community’s infrastructure and resources. On any given project, the most skilled person will supervise the team, e.g., if we are building a solar array, an electrician should be in charge, not an herbalist. Likewise, the herbalist might be the best team leader for a hoophouse project. Community manager and other leaders would be elected periodically from the best qualified members, not necessarily the largest investors.

I’m making progress on starting the new permaculture community. I have a 175 acre property under contract in south-central TN, and have found several like-minded people to team up with. We should close by the end of June, and I’ll be moving there from Maine immediately to start building temporary housing and hopefully get started on a garden though it will be too late for spring planting, so I’ll have to limit it to heat tolerant plants initially. Others will be moving later in the summer and fall. And I’m still communicating with a few who haven’t committed yet.

The land will be owned by an agricultural land trust to ensure that it remains in ag use and is not subdivided and turned into a housing development or strip mall, and the infrastructure will be owned by a Private Membership Association (PMA) in which members will share expenses and future revenue. We also envision several LLCs for various farm-related enterprises to support the members who invest their money and labor in them–not all community members will participate in those though, only those who are interested in that particular business, e.g., cheese-making, woodworking, small engine repair, fiber processing, specialty crafts, etc. These businesses will provide jobs and training for members who are not financially independent and will share revenue with the PMA based on the value of community resources they use, such as shop space, tools and equipment, pastures and forestland.

I’m getting excited and eager to start working with the land, farm animals, and people of all ages who want to build something sustainable. Anyone interested can reach me at farm@corylayne.com.

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Unfortunately, I do not fit in anywhere either. This is mind-boggling to me because I keep to myself, am respectful, dependable, polite, and cheerful. I don’t bother anyone or do anything to disturb, disrupt, or threaten the community in any way. I also keep my word (barring only unexpected circumstances that would make it impossible or unreasonable to do so) and always complete the work I promise. I am also happy to help the community or anyone else when needed, as long as it doesn’t become usurious, manipulative, or exploitative.

The “problems” arise when other people won’t leave me alone — when they have no real business with me but keep demanding my attention — or when they don’t keep their agreements. Or when they do something serious, like major illegal drug use, that threatens me or the community. And sometimes it’s simply because they’re jealous of my relationship or the attention I receive due to my many areas of expertise, which the community inevitably comes to me for.

To sum up: I am weary of the lack of ethics and the adolescent nonsense. The petty jealousies, the cowardly passive-aggressiveness that seeks to undermine others or to elevate oneself, and having to navigate all the high-school cliques. Where are the reasonable adults?

Sorry for the rant…

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Also… hey, did you get my email?

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Been there, done that. Those are the kinds of people we need to weed out during the vetting process. As I said, we are building “A place where members can be free to live as they choose so long as they respect the rights of other members to do the same. No bosses or dictators but each person voluntarily working with other members to develop the community’s infrastructure and resources.”

We definitely are not looking for people from the “cancel culture” who will “undermine” the other members or cause friction such as you describe.

I read an article the other day by a fellow who had gone to Africa to teach the natives how to farm but came home having learned more than he taught. He was asked by an African, “Are you a fountain or a drain?”

When he didn’t understand, the man explained, “A fountain gushes water and a drain merely directs water away. The fountain gives, and the drain takes. So are you a fountain or a drain?”

The teacher concluded that he was a fountain, or rather he would become one from that day on.

We are looking for people who are fountains. And the community, if it is successful, will use all the water they give. No drains will be needed. The drains can go elsewhere.

Joy and abundance,

Cory “Cimarron” Layne

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That would be a dream come true. Please save my email and keep me in the loop. :star_struck: