n. pl. syn·er·gies
1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.
2. Cooperative interaction among groups, especially among the acquired subsidiaries or merged parts of a corporation, that creates an enhanced combined effect.
[From Greek sunergi, cooperation, from sunergos, working together; see synergism.] (link)
I've been exploring the concept of moving into an intentional community lately - a community that cherishes sustainability and working together. After several visits I've seen a really strong correlation in the way these communities interact to the way a RBE works.
Intentional Communities are groups of people who have similar interests who buy a piece of land and live in the same area, on purpose, in order to work together towards common interests. Decision-making is generally made by consensus of the participating members, after many meetings discussing projects at hand and weighing their effects upon the community as a whole. The land upon which they live is often put into a trust, where no one owns the land, but all may live on it and manage it all, as well as a small piece of their own living space.
Community living follows the principles of a Resource-Based Economy so closely that I'm wondering if it may not be a better way for the world to transition into a RBE.
The concept of a 'nuclear family' came about after the corporations rose to power after the 'age of television' began sculpting the way people think. This 'divide and conquer' tactic has successfully made the general population completely dependent on corporations like Monsanto and Walmart by isolating us and placing us into energy-inefficient, cheap houses that require constant maintenance, geographically separating us from those with whom we have the most in common, and forcing us to struggle alone in a complex world of debt and upkeep. Many hardly know their neighbors at all, let alone work together with them.
One way I am now finding that can undermine the corporate hold on us all is Community.
In an intentional community, you can combine all your resources to cut down the cost of living. For example, get 15 or so of your favorite people together, come up with a large lump sum of money with which you can put a handsome down-payment on an agreed-upon tract of land, help each other build inexpensive, sustainable living quarters like earthships, earthbag, strawbale or cob homes - even yurts - small at first to allow each member some privacy, while also building a community center where the major utilities, such as washer, dryer, freezers, pantry, etc, can be used, minimizing the need for each member or family to purchase their own. Personal refrigeration and storage can be kept to a minimum until your personal spaces expand.
How many hours in a week is your washing machine in actual use? Your dryer? Your stove? Your car? Your lawn mower? Sharing these tools saves individuals a lot of money. Not that you couldn't own your own, but if you didn't want the burden, why not share?
What about trips to town? If you're in a community that is intentionally living together to save time, carpooling to town for groceries and errands can save money in gas. The money saved can be invested in solar panels and windmills to provide free electricity for the community, better tools to share - like a tractor or a rototiller, or a greenhouse - saving you even more money.
Building a house is a much easier process when everyone is pitching in together to divide up the work. Maintenance of property and garden is also easier. Individual talents and strengths can be applied to the areas of expertise of each individual.
Communities can be built with all kinds of purposes in mind. Community members can create their own businesses to help finance the community's projects (not exaclty RBE, but working for yourself still undermines the corporate initiative). Through the network of the internet, it's much easier to work at home, and through an intentional community, a building can be built on the property specifically for the business. Organic gardeners can create large community gardens and the produce can be sold at a farmers markets in town. Crafts and skilled work like cabinetmaking or repairwork can be done out of the community. A community of vegan chefs can create a catering service. A community of artists can create an illustration firm, or can pool resources to create a gallery or maintain one in town. Imagine a community of skateboarders who build their own stunt course!
Utilizing a variety of sustainability practices, like permaculture and renewable energy, communities can save even more money. There are lots of sustainability websites and forums online to teach you about things like permaculture, organic gardening, green building, solar/wind energy, all kinds of things to keep you from having to work a full time job so you can invest in a lifestyle that takes care of you, rather than enslaving you. I created a small list of resources at the end of this blog.
When you save money, it's like earning money without having to pay income tax or sales tax on it. You want to get out of the tax/debt enslavement? Start an intentional community and do everything you can to stop spending money. This is the first step to a resource based economy - by building one of your own you can learn how to live in one.
This kind of lifestyle requires a certain amount of selflessness, that's true. But once you see the big picture, you begin to realize that the more you help your community, the more you're actually helping yourself. And while it's true there will occasionally be the pathetic loser who mooches off everyone else and contributes nothing - that person, by doing so, risks the possibility of being 'voted out' of the community by its members, leaving that ostracized individual to fend for him/herself - certainly not a situation for a lazy person. It is in the best interest of the lazy person to contribute as much as (s)he can to avoid having to work so much harder to survive.
Worried that others will have control over your lives? Remember that you, too, are a member of your community and your opinion counts. While forming your community you take into consideration that some folks might not stay, and you can make provisions for members whose lifestyles might change and who may eventually move to, or start, another community.
There is a website called Fellowship for Intentional Communities that can give you advice on how to start your own intentional community, or join an existing one that follows your lifestyle. Once your community is established, consider contacting other intentional communities in your area and start an "intentional community of intentional communities", maybe keeping each other apprised of your activities and/or services via a mutually shared blog or facebook group, where you can post your talents, resources, needs, maybe ride-shares if you're nearby.
Here's where you can free yourself from the corporate hold over your life.
Cheap building techniques:
Earthships
$50 and up Underground House
Earthbag homes
Strawbale Homes
Various green home designs
Forums and learning centers:
Permaculture forum
Alternate and experimental energy
Appropriate technology
Free Food:
Biointensive gardening
Aquaponics
Hugelkultur
There are millions more - just Google any of the above terms. It's mind-boggling how simple your life can be when you combine an intentional community with these sustainable practices. When you free up your work schedule for creativity, you can then become the person you've always wanted to be. These are the reasons for the Venus Project. So get off your ass and be the change you want to see in the world.
