Common Place Land Cooperative is a 428-acre, rural land trust community located in the rolling hills of Truxton, New York. It was founded in 1980. Our community is made up of adults and children at varying ages and stages. We are continuously evolving into a small-scale community aimed at greater cooperation and food and energy self-sufficiency.
Fourteen homesteads have been created on the land, seven of which are off the grid, and most are using alternative energy of varying types and designs. From time to time there may be a home for sale, but anyone interested in joining our community would benefit from exploring options to build. Over the years, we have come to agreement on 11 core ideals, which define and guide our community, including land stewardship and trusterity, economic self-reliance, diversity, consensus decision making, community participation, and voluntary simplicity.
As a community we are not affiliated with any political or religious organization. Members have diverse views and interests including organic gardening, homesteading, organic farming, perennial garden design and maintenance, permaculture, alternative energy and house design, attachment parenting, homeschooling, the arts and music, teaching, natural and herbal healing, draft horse use, yoga and activism. Our decision-making process consists of one to two meetings per month using consensus. We are working to create a cohesive community that inhabits the land, preserving its integrity and resources.
The spirit of the wider community of Truxton was demonstrated through its efforts to save and recreate its Elementary School. When Homer Central School closed its Elementary School in Truxton the local community purchased the building to create both a community center and the first rural charter school in New York State. Years of application to the state led to the development of a shared dream of what an ideal school for our young children would be: “Imagine a school where hands-on learning happens every day in a Rural Life lab, Spanish language education starts in kindergarten, and students learn to work together in a supportive community environment. Tuition-Free!” The school’s mission statement sums it up, “Truxton Academy Charter School will cultivate an enthusiasm for learning through project based curriculum that celebrates our rural life, environmental stewardship, and our agricultural heritage. Using real world, student centered learning we will plant a foundation for future academic success.” https://www.truxtonacademy.org/
To learn more about our community, please visit our website: https://commonplacelandtrust.wordpress.com/
We are ecologically inhabiting and stewarding the land as a Community Land Trust, using consensus decision making.
The prospective member emails us. We reply and send out information and a questionnaire. After receiving that back, we schedule a virtual meeting with our welcoming committee. After that has happened, the committee recommends and helps schedule an in person visit. When a prospective member is ready to begin “Clearness”, which is our actual membership process. they choose the first person for their clearness committee. That person chooses the second, and together they choose the third. The committee meets several times with the prospective member during the six month minimum Clearness period, to discuss the core ideals of the community, community legal structure and understanding the individual lease, membership responsibilities and attendance at meetings, consensus decision making, and any other issues or concerns that might have been raised by the individual or other members. Various issues are discussed such as future financial plans, membership financial responsibilities, proposed house building plans, choice of leasehold, and housing cluster. At the end of this period, if the prospective member and the community are “Clear”, and consensus is reached, the person is a member and is able to sign a lease for a 1 1/2 acre leasehold and begin construction of their house. (Or purchase, if a house becomes available for sale)
Email us at co*************@***il.com to start the process towards planning a visit.
The whole membership decides collectively.
Generally seek agreement, but have backup methods when consensus isn’t reached.
Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.
Attending meetings and any work projects is voluntary, but expected, except during Clearness, when 80% meeting attendance is required.
Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.
Join fee: $3000
Regular fees: $130
Labor: Encouraged or suggested
Once membership is completed, a one time fee of $3000 called Land Liberation is to be paid, or $4000 can be paid over 10 years at 100 per quarter.
Once a house is built, the member is responsible for their house’s and leasehold’s portion of the land taxes. This is billed twice a year. (At present, NY State has a “Star Exemption” program for full time residents which can greatly reduce or almost eliminate one of the two tax bills)
Garden(s), Vehicle Share, Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Fire pit
Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.
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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