Person standing on wet rocks near a stream at the Foundation for Intentional Community.

A Watership Up

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Forming
  • Ecological
  • Nomadic

Founding year

  • 2013

What we do

It was something to think about after occupy…
We needed something, anything, so we consensed…then we travelled…then we worked…then we suffered…then we died…because it wasn’t actually sustainable…it wasn’t even livable…and ultimately it wasn’t survivable.
This option removes the encumbrance of land ownership, which arguably is impossible–or at the least incredibly injust–in these united states…
You can be a nomad anywhere.
You can help others anywhere.
Primarily sailboats.
Secondarily water-based living.
Tertiary nomad lifestyle.
(tentative description)

Our Mission

A water-based, sustainable effort, with a view to a better quality of life.
(tentative statement)
disclaimer: almost all of this is planned; the only actuals are a couple of sailboats on the ohio river; there are no requirements for supporting one another; see the forum for more in depth clarification; zero members, zero donations, zero $

  • Purpose
  • Ecological
  • Community type
  • Coliving
  • Student Co-op
  • Ecovillage
  • Sustainability practices
  • Renewable energy systems
  • Activities
  • Property management
  • Farming
  • Education
  • Experiences
  • Networking
  • Services Business
  • Others

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 2013
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 2017
  • Started living together
  • 0 Total member
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
-

How to join

You have to make the meeting.
It helps if you have a boat…
The “real” is in international waters.
The “community” is on your boat.
(see discussion forum)

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Contact the email address listed (the message button), or text the phone number.
[Current Focus: Ohio River (Cincinnati to Louisville) to Canada to Montreal (Quebec) to Nova Scotia to Maine]
[Secondarily any of the great lakes or the ohio river; Mississippi still a possible]

Primary decision-making authority

  • All Community Members Together

The whole membership decides collectively.

Decision-making process

  • Majority Vote

More than 50% agreement needed.

Governance structure

  • Representative/Democratic

Members elect leaders who make decisions within defined roles.

Conflict resolution approach

In terms of leadership it is avant-garde style. Time, effort, and input, but most importantly quality… Those who lead, lead.
Yearly gathering of all recognized vessels in international waters.
There are values, techniques, and sometimes codes–plenty of guidelines.
All vessels are autonomous unless they identify with a flotilla.
We do not govern.
All persons (of flesh and blood) fully qualify as members. All vessels also count as members. All flotillas also count as members.
No member shall be barred from leaving any member, at any time, under any condition–though it is encouraged that these decisions be made at the gathering…
It is strongly encouraged that these decisions be negotiated.
No member shall be denied the right to negotiate.
No member is “required” to accept any other member.
The main idea is acceptance and cooperation…not to mention a healthier life; however, we shall not infringe upon the free agency of any individual.
Once again if a member chooses not to attend the gathering nor send an emissary, they are no longer considered members. You cannot operate as us, that year, unless you physically attend. We may seek out a vessel or group if they send emissaries, consecutively, over several years. We may seek a member out if they drop all contact without notice…we will not follow you if you don’t want us to.
There is no quorum. The IC, whole, assembly, et. al. is whomever arrives. If you need help, please ask.
We enjoy expeditions. Qualified and seasoned expeditions don’t mind the separation–some see it as a necessity.
(see forum)

Economic model

  • Partial Income-Sharing

Members contribute a percentage of income to community funds.

Additional economic information

Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
Trade or die…or prove the statement wrong.
(if you’re that sustainable what exactly do you need? tribes, clans and groups that have separated historically tend to die out… individuals and couples tend to do quite well. try sargasso and fish, or a distiller, and a year out there)
There is no monetary cost to join.
There is no regulation to that effect however.
Merit based efforts are strongly encouraged.
We will make every effort to ensure that there exists at least one (1) vessel, with space available for new member(s)–at no initial charge (cost) nor any debt thereafter. We do expect members to pull their own weight (or of others they bring with them, if they so choose)–this is a vital necessity aboard ship.
We have no stance to judge one another–nor will we create one, but we do make judgements based upon the evidence.
If a working group chooses to exploit its members it will more than likely end up as all exploitive endeavors. History 101… …and the general assembly will more than likely catch wind of it as well.
Membership requirements remain as stated.
(there is a focus on eventual boat ownership for all members if desired; boat trading; group property if feasible–otherwise individual ownership and/or crew ownership while aboard is encouraged) (other forms of boating are not discouraged though not exactly the focus) (we have found that unfortunately money does not help people gain the skills and motivation for this effort. we see it more as a drug…for emergency use, or simply as a mechanism–effort to property–for acquisition of the necessary tools to maintain the vessels; however, realizing more native skills that require very few outside tools is also very important. although, in the desert that is blue water…there is very little to harvest…unless one has gills and/or a pressure suit.) (donations of very useful items is encouraged; esp. boats)

Shared resources and amenities that are accessible to everyone in the community

Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Hot tub or hot springs, Outdoor Kitchen, Large Scale Kitchen, Stage or Auditorium, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Recreational vehicles, Gym or sports area, Internet

Frequency of communal meals

  • 2-5 times per week

Significant food acquisition practices

  • Locally sourced
  • Hunting / Fishing

Community activities and engagement

  • Transition Town (post-petroleum and off-grid communities.)
  • School, Educational Institute or Experience
  • Volunteer, Internship, or Apprenticeship, or WWOOF’ing
  • Neighborhood, Community Housing, or Homeowner's Association
  • Ethical Business, Investment Group, or Alternative Currency
  • Organization, Resource, or Network
  • WWOOF'ing, Guest Farming
  • Festivals, Conferences, Events

Substance use culture

  • Substance use appears in public spaces but no pressure
  • Religions
  • Baha'i Faith
  • Christian
  • Buddhist
  • Jewish
  • Muslim
  • Hindu
  • Quaker
  • Sufi
  • Hare Krishna
  • Native
  • Wiccan, Paganism, or Earth Religions
  • Unitarian Universalist

Age demographics

  • Mixed adults (few or no children)

Guest Book

Written reviews are available for plus members. Click here to upgrade.

Location

  • Indiana, United States

Needs and Offers

Offer
  • Communities with Openings
1 month ago

Rooms in Beautiful Location in downtown East Austin

Mountain Laurel House has upcoming room openings on August 1 and September 1 to share our house in central East Austin close to downtown. Rent is $925 per month with $75 to cover your share of the utilities and maintenance. You provide your own food. We enjoy sharing a meal at the dining table at least once a month for fun, to check in on our lives, and talk about housekeeping together. To apply, email do*************@***il.com with subject line Room at Mountain Laurel House. Request the brief application questions and we’ll provide more info and answer your questions. Mountain Laurel House is in a great location! It’s on a green cul de sac, with a wooded lot to the southwest and a green open space to the west. It’s close to the East 11th & Rosewood dining and entertainment district and right across from the Carver Library and a bus stop. We’re in walking distance to downtown Austin, the State Capitol, Huston-Tillotson University and a short bike or bus ride to the University of Texas; and, south or east of here, Lady Bird Lake and Boggy Creek hike and bike trails, park lands, swimming pools, pickleball and basketball courts. I kayak on Town Lake aka Lady Bird Lake or swim just across downtown at Deep Eddy or Barton Springs fresh-water, spring-fed swimming pools. We enjoy sharing a meal at the dining table at least once a month for fun, to check in on our lives, and plan housekeeping together. HEB is a short 5 minute drive east on 7th St. and Whole Foods is about a ten minute walk from here on 5th St. Amenities in the house include a dishwasher, utility room with a clothes washer-dryer and an optional clothesline, high-speed internet, a big dining room table for meals or activities, and a large screen TV for movie nights. The yard has beautiful native wildlife habitat gardens, veggie and herb pots, a large Cedar Elm, two Live Oaks, a fruit-bearing Fig, a Champenelle grape vine, and a Chili pequin. The cul de sac is a large park-like
  • Promoted
Offer
Offer
  • Marketplace
6 years ago

Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves Books for Sale

Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves, Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant introduce Cohousing with stories and pictures of both Danish and American communities. Beautiful photographs and line drawings illustrate the warmly written account of how these communities came to be. Specific information on legal and financial aspects of working with developers, group process, and design issues make this book informative as well as inspiring. This is the book which brought Cohousing to North America. This book is the much prized second edition which has become a rarer and somewhat of a collectors item. Its community case studies were not included in the more recent publication. It preceded Creating Cohousing which is widely available. I acquired 25 cases from a local distributor who closed down. If you would like three or more copies for yourself, to share with your friends or to market your group, please let me know. I would love for them to be made useful and find great homes. Books are paperback (hard copy was not an option at the time from the publisher) all brand new, in Oakland (CA) so could be picked in Oakland or mailed to you. I would very much like to recuperate what I paid which is $10 per book. So, If you would like three or more shipped, I will add the postage, packing and handling fees. I have sold several cases (18 books per case) for $150 per case ($8 per book). I have a little wiggle room on the pricing. Please let me know if you are interested. Use the Send Message button on this page.
Need
  • Communities with Openings
3 years ago

Twin Oaks, an established, income-sharing, village-scale community is seeking new members

Twin Oaks is looking for new members! Founded in 1967, Twin Oaks is an egalitarian, income-sharing community made currently 70 adults and 15 kids, living on 500 forested acres in central Virginia. Twin Oaks has strong social justice values including feminism, racial justice, and queer culture. We host a Queer Gathering and Women’s Gathering each summer, and we have a number of working groups around racial justice issues in general and in an intentional community context. Please visit our website twinoaks.org for more information and directions on how to apply for a Visitor Period. A Visitor Period is the first step towards becoming a member. We can offer: your choice of full-time work in our income-sharing community businesses (heirloom seeds, hammocks, and others) and/or domestic work areas from organic gardening to milking cows and cheese-making to office work to technical jobs and more! an individual room in shared housing; each member has their own personal bedroom and shares a kitchen, living room and bathroom with others in their house. Each residence has its own culture and range of ages. all meals are provided in our communal dining hall and/or in smaller kitchens for individual eating. We generally accommodate all special diets. (gluten-free, vegan, no garlic, etc.) income-sharing includes health-care and monthly stipend for extra We are looking for: people with various life skills and/or a willingness to learn people who share our values of social justice, sustainability and living closely with a diversity of people people with a generally responsible and pro-active approach to community living experience or interest in non-hierarchical, shared decision-making BIPOC, women and non-binary people especially encouraged The first step towards becoming a member is to participate in one of

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