My wife and I are looking to start a cooperative community focused on social change, progressive values, healing, and economic revolution. While I do identify as an idealistic dreamer, I am also a social worker working as a therapist and an attorney and I want to put these skills to use during these challenging times. I am hoping to perhaps transition to a more non-profit/community building type of work. My wife is currently in the military doing program management and will be retiring in 2.5 years. We are currently looking into purchasing a large parcel of land, and we are looking for others to join in our search for social justice and to provide different skill sets and/or financial help in building this community.
Shared Values-To have progressives come together to build support systems and to help push for social change together and to generally work on trying to make the world a kinder, more equitable, and healthier place.
Shared Health-To have a shared community kitchen (and eventually a business) where food is cooked that is local, homegrown and free of pesticides and toxins. To reduce toxicity from processed foods, unhealthy water, pesticides, social negativity, individualistic culture, etc.
Shared Values-To have progressives come together to build support systems and to help push for social change together and to generally work on trying to make the world a kinder, more equitable, and healthier place.
Shared Health-To have a shared community kitchen (and eventually a business) where food is cooked that is local, homegrown and free of pesticides and toxins. To reduce toxicity from processed foods, unhealthy water, pesticides, social negativity, individualistic culture, etc.
First Meeting Online: December 22nd at 7:00pm, message us for the meeting link.
Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.
Members contribute a percentage of income to community funds.
Join fee: Yes (amount not specified)
Monthly fees/dues: Yes (amount not specified)
Labor required: Yes
Members with pre-existing debt: Yes
Location: We are looking to be on the outskirts of Charlottesville so that we will still be close enough to a city, but also be able to afford land more easily in the country. It may be more in between Charlottesville and Richmond. For example, I was looking at a property in Nelson County, VA where there is one with 35 acres with 8 divisible parcels about 4 acres each (about $35K to 40K per parcel). So it may be that 7 of the parcels are sold to individuals to build their own homes and property as they would like, but the shared business would be on another 4 to 5 acre parcel where we could build something like a Bed & Breakfast with a local Kitchen and shop. But what we would purchase would depend on the level of interest and the financial power of a group. I would like to get a property that is large enough to develop, but also closer to a city if possible.
The cooperative and business piece may not be entirely linked to buying a piece of property. I would likely try to find potential investors for some of these initiatives from other local communities. So we would need a mix of investors and people to help run and organize the businesses. We would also be interested in other business models like non-profits to maybe get help with grant funding if we can find someone skilled in that type of work.
The shared property would include things like: greenhouse & garden spaces, fish pond, swimming area, and a business (mostly likely something like a bed & breakfast with a shop & kitchen that sells local products/services to help absorb costs and build a source of funding for projects that can help the community continue to grow and work on more projects), maybe solar panels and other off-grid electricity, some shared vehicles/trucks, time bank (1 hour for menial, 2 hours for intensive work, 3 hours for professional work), non-profit (around sustainability, affordable housing, and healthy living).
Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Vehicle Share, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Outdoor Kitchen, Large Scale Kitchen, Fire pit, Recreational vehicles
Join our newsletter to stay up to date.
{{ item.label }}
{{ item.value ? item.value : currencyFormat( item.amount ) }}
Subtotal
{{ currencyFormat( pricing_summary.total_amount ) }}
