*COME CREATE COMMUNITY*
8th Life Panama is a permaculture-based Eco-village Project in the early stages of formation. We’re designing our community based on permaculture ethics, respect, peace & living an “on-purpose” life. Our aim is to provide a social support structure and maintain a low impact lifestyle. We envision an intentional rural community where the values and ideals of community, respect, peace, and living an “on-purpose” life will be rediscovered by the diverse, multigenerational group of people who join us. We are currently seeking founding members and experienced permaculture volunteers.
WHY? We can live more lightly. As human beings we weren’t designed to live disconnected from nature and each other. As a society we’ve gone astray and as a result we’re damaging our mother earth and soon she won’t be able to sustain human life. We seem to have also lost the ability to relate with one another as human beings. It’s time to transition from a destructive society to a sustainable world. We need to stop the destruction, build soil, restore ecosystems, heal our addictions, change organizational structures of the global economy, & learn to live in community.
BE A STEWARD AND PROTECTOR OF THE LAND. Our Eco-village land, Finca Ubuntu, is 21Ha of grasslands and forests bordered by a river and stream. When we bought the land, it was in its natural state apart from 1Ha that was farmed on occasion. The finca is located 11 km from the town of Antón Panama.
We envision incorporating a number of elements such as:
*Intentional community eco-village based on integral permaculture design principles
*Eco-enterprise incubator, shared workspace for eco-community members & volunteers
*Artisan & craftspeople’s incubator, shared workspace, & storefront for eco-community members and local residents
*Promoting and strengthening the local economy of our neighborhood and the town through example
*Training/workshops in eco-economics, the circular economy, ‘buy local’, and local economic development
*Community gardens and local produce and artisan markets
*Permaculture courses and other practical, hands-on learning experiences such as eco-building
The community will provide a socio-cultural support structure as well as a healthy atmosphere for living and working. One of our goals is that for community members, fair work, cooperation, and an abundance mentality replace the materialism, competition and scarcity mentality prevalent in today’s world.
We’re creating one of the many small, sustainable human settlements that our earth needs so that we can live sustainably and regenerate our planet’s ability to support life with abundance.
JOINING:
1. Visit our website and study the project, please. We’ve included a TON of information there.
2. If after reading through the site you’re interested in becoming a founding member of this project, we’d appreciate if you could send us the application form filled out in as much detail as possible. (it’s on the website) Alternatively, (sometimes the forms don’t work) you can send us an email letting us know your background and interest, how you got to where you are, and what you want in life and community moving forward.
3. Once we receive your application, we’ll reach out to schedule a time to talk by Skype, Zoom, What’s App or some other VOIP / internet calling system. This will give us a chance to get to know one another just a bit and answer any initial questions. After this, if we both think it’s a good idea for you to proceed, we will be in touch with you while you’re planning your transition and studying permaculture (which we hope you’ll do here with us).
4. Permaculture Training – we will provide some free, online resources and give you access to our library. We also ask that you sign up for our next on-site permaculture course. Meantime, we can start your induction into the project and help you design your transition to the Eco-village (including any Eco-business you might need to organize).
5. Become a Resident – Once you’ve planned your transition, you become a resident at the project (this can be the same period of time that you are learning Permaculture). The first 6 months of residence is part of our mutual evaluation period. Following this time, you apply to become a member. Acceptance is based on following the community agreements and being an active, productive and positive participant in the daily goings-on of the community. Your share ($20,000) is paid at this point. Keep in mind that this is a start-up initiative. Your share will be used two ways – 1 – reimbursing the value of the land and 2 – community infrastructure fund.
Please visit our website Ways to Participate – 8th Life Panama EcoVillage where it describes the different ways to participate (volunteer, learn, join).
Apply – 8th Life Panama EcoVillage
The application process applies to volunteers, learners, and members. Supporters, please go directly to that tab on this page. Thanks!
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Application forms and instructions are provided here for volunteers, learners, and members. Every adult must apply separately and if planning to come as a couple, indicate that on the form. (IF THESE FORMS DON’T WORK – SEND AN EMAIL EXPLAINING YOUR INTEREST TO: 8v***********@***il.com)
Before applying, please also read the relevant tab on this page. Thanks!
Once we receive your application, we’ll reach out to schedule a time to talk by Skype, Zoom, What’s App or some other VOIP / internet calling system. This will give us a chance to get to know one another just a bit and answer any initial questions.
If we are in alignment based on the application and call, we’ll let you know by email and send you the agreements.
When you decide to come, you sign the agreements, return them to us by email and confirm space availability prior to making travel arrangements. Then you send us a copy of your travel arrangements and payment of your financial contribution.
Once we receive your travel arrangements and payment, we’ll send you directions for getting here. Note: if you arrive in Panama City after 2pm, plan on spending a night there or Antón (the nearest town).
One person or partnership has ultimate authority.
Decisions proceed unless someone has a reasoned objection.
Organized in circles or domains with distributed authority.
Right now, the founder is the leader as we are forming the core group. Nevertheless, everyone is expected to take a leadership role in some area, and to be proactive in making sure that whatever needs to happen gets done. At the same time, we all are also expected to ask for help whenever we need it and to make decisions together in the most rational way possible.
Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.
Join fee: $20000
Regular fees: Yes
Labor: Yes (16 hrs/week)
The founding members will more specifically define the economics of the project. As we are still in early stages, we can’t say how much monthly fees will be or whether we’ll do income sharing (tend to think not or small amount as % instead of set fee?). We expect everyone to contribute to the living expenses from their EcoBusinesses, and expect to be on equal footing by all of us having invested in the land with shares, so we can have as equal responsibilities as possible instead of having some people “parenting” the others.
Common House, Garden(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Outdoor Kitchen, Waterfront access, Internet
Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.
Private homes with shared common facilities, designed for neighborly
interaction while maintaining independence.
Integrated communities designed around ecological principles with sustainable living practices.
Geographically close groups of independently-owned homes whose residents actively cultivate community relationships and shared values.
Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace
A residential project: people live here as their primary home.
An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).
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