Hi there! Erik here. I am are the founder of a non-profit organization founded with the purpose of teaching and researching sustainable living practices.
I am an engineer and an Earth-architect, a graduate and former faculty of Nader Khalili’s CalEarth Institute. I was the first person to fully design and get permitted a Superadobe-Earthship structure in a major US city (Las Vegas) back in 2014. In 2016, we purchased 2.5 acres of land in the California Mojave Desert, and since then we have been working hard to create Gaia Earthen Technologies Polytechnic’s first campus, Tranqvillium.
We love to teach and learn new skills related to sustainable living, and you will have the opportunity to contribute to the creation of a revolutionary, money-free egalitarian-style community. If you’re interested in this type of living, come join us and become a part of the community.
I enjoy hosting, getting to know people, making them feel like this place is home. We are passionate about the work we do in sustainable living and sustainable building. We love to explore the wild places around us by hiking, mountain climbing, rock climbing, snowboarding, and swimming. We’d love to show you around the beautiful desert we live in!
We are focusing on creating a sustainable living environment and promoting the methods and principles that prove useful.
There is no entry fee to become a member of Tranqvillium.
In turn, it is a process that can take 6 months to 12 months depending on the approval or deferral of the Board of Directors.
Step 1. A prospective member of Tranqvillium first has to visit as a Work Exchange Guest through Worldpackers, HelpX, HoVos. or other work exchange sites. The community would commit to hosting the Work Exchange Guest for two weeks. If the two weeks trial period is successful (i.e. both parties are happy and willing to continue) the Work Exchange Guest would have to continue as such for three months. During the three months, the community is providing free housing and food in exchange for 27 hours of work per week. The prospective member will have the opportunity to participate in work meetings and some Decision Preparation Meetings. (this latter is at the discretion of the Community Members Council)
Step 2. After three months of successful work exchange cooperation, the Work Exchange Guest can apply for a Limited Membership. Limited Membership means that the community is providing everything that it provides for Work Exchange Guests, plus participation in all meetings, including Decision Preparation Meetings, Community Members Council meetings with the right to access all available information, participate in the discussion, express opinions and preferences, but no voting right.
If the Limited Membership application is approved unanimously by the Board of Directors the Work Exchange Guest becomes a Limited Member.
The Board of Directors has the option instead of approving the application to defer the decision for three additional months once. This happens if a) at least 75% but less than 100% of the members of the Board of Directors vote to approve, b) if all members vote to defer. In this case, the process goes back to step one. Any Board of Directors member has the right to veto a). In that case, the Limited Membership application is handled as declined. Deferral can only be applied once per Work Exchange Guest. If the Work Exchange Guest’s application for Limited Membership can not get 100% of the votes of the Board of Directors for the second time, the application will be deemed declined and the Work Exchange Guest status will be terminated.
Step 3. After three months at Tranqvillium as Limited Member, the prospective member can apply for Full Membership. Full Membership means that the community is providing everything that it provides for Limited Members, plus voting right in the Community Member’s Council and all other meetings. This position legally promotes the Full Member into the position of Member of Board of Directors of the Non-Profit organization in his/her name would be registered in the legal documents of the Non-Profit Organization.
If the Full Membership application is approved unanimously by the Board of Directors the Work Exchange Guest becomes a Full Member.
The Board of Directors has the option instead of approving the application, to defer the decision for three additional months once. This happens if a) at least 75% but less than 100% of the members vote to approve, b) if all members vote to defer. In this case, the process goes back to Step 2. Any Board of Directors member has the right to veto a). In that case, the Full Membership application is handled as declined and the Limited Membership status will be terminated. Deferral can only be applied once per Limited Member. If the Limited Member’s application for Full Membership can not get 100% of the votes of the Board of Directors for the second time, the application will be deemed declined and the Limited Membership status will be terminated.
If you have any further question about the process please email us at tr**********@***il.com
contact us
A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.
Everyone must agree before moving forward.
Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.
All member income goes into common pool for community use.
Labor: Yes (27 hrs/week)
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
Greenhouse(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Hot tub or hot springs, Outdoor Kitchen, Large Scale Kitchen, Fire pit, Internet
Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.
Integrated communities designed around ecological principles with sustainable living practices.
Communal living with shared resources, property, and often income or work responsibilities
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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