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shares

Page history last edited by Stella 14 years, 2 months ago

Shares

 


 

We are interested in ethical forms of fair-sharing and financing Earth Stewardship for the realization of permaculture ethics and ideals. Within these ethics and ideals, the very idea of 'people owning land' is a puzzling oxymoron, yet we notice that the concept of ownership of real active responsability for the Earth (and with it personal empowerment) is difficult to grasp for most of us if we feel the 'land is someone elses' & / or don't have legal security for our long-term right to be there.

 

However we realize that we would love to share not only the work and responsability, but especially the great joy and constant learning, growing & harvesting that comes with truly feeling committed to and responsible for (or 'having') a tiny piece of Gaia, which perhaps is even a small but necessary step to being able to really 'let go' of our embedded cultural idea of 'owning' anything. (Without 'letting go' of the real long-term commitment to a place & / or project that is necessary for creating physical safety or a sustainable anything). All very tricky emotional territory ...

 

As a transition structure to some future more englightened and life-affirming paradigm (where perhaps none of these mind-boggling paradoxes will exist) ... we think the idea of shares within a Cooperative or Foundation fits very well ... and this shares-option is an active expression of this.

 

We invite others who share these ideals, our love for a peaceful and private family life, AND passion for "together" hard work on permaculture group projects to consider this shares proposal and (even if you don't wanto buy any shares) do tell us what you think.  

 

Stella and Julio

 


 

Basics

 

  • all of this below can be changed by all shareholders together & / or with any relevant incoming legal advice (all questions and suggestions very welcome)

 

  • each of the 8 colours of the map is a share of the Finca, the circles are sites of Domos (domes) already started (black) or to be started (white)

 

(see larger map below)

 

 

  • each share has own water, a Forest Garden and a Terrace Garden started + room ready for a small yurt-type construction (the black and white circles: our collective design to date, you bring your own creativity & suggestions)

 

  • all income from shares and communal upkeep fees goes to the Association (Gaia Tasiri) and is used solely to fulfill the Association's aims, as decided by share-holding members (see FrontPage )

 

  • buying a share binds the share-holder to Rights as well as Responsabilities (see below)

 

  • the land is legally held in trust by a Foundation with permaculture aims (the same aims as the Association, see FrontPage ), but the share-holder has most usual land-rights, including the right to sell or gift the share to others, given the same terms listed here or agreed by the share-holders.

 

  • all spaces and buildings which are not specifically agreed as private space (in addition to bedroom spaces / the domos which are always private space) are common spaces : these include:
    • the workshops (fully equipped carpentry and pottery workshops are in the making),
    • water-tanks (usable as pools), kitchen, showers and bathrooms,
    • the Casita (for library/ shop / livingroom / classroom space),
    • el Pajero (for office / internet space)
    • the Cuarto de Aperos (toolshed, possible future small bakery)
    • the Vivero (nursery for all forests and gardens),
    • electricity cupboard, currently with water pump and washing machine
    • the Era (fire or celebration / ritual space)

 

  • we started a 'designs book' wiki around december07 where we hope to document all designs and progress ... you can see for eg. each Bosque (Forest garden) and garden (Huerto) for each share .. now with Babelfish translation (click on fish in menu) here fincalunawiki.pbwiki.com

 

  • some shares have other constructions on them, more mature fruiting trees, etc, .. and this is reflected in the values of the shares:

 

 

1) Pink - Arachne - 10,500 euros, brought by Stella (june06), includes the Estanque (watertank), Casita (small house) & Pajero (straw house), see HuertoArachne and BosqueArachne

 

2) Blue - Vulcan - 10,500 euros, brought by Julio (feb08), includes Taller (workshop) & Cuarto de Aperos (tool shed), see HuertoVulcan and BosqueVulcan

 

 

Shares still for sale

(note that prices go up every feb14th: our anniversary, these are the 2010 prices)

 

3) Violet - Pan - 9,500 euros, includes Vivero (nursery) & most of the almond trees of the finca + domo space, see HuertoPan and BosquePan

 

 

4) Red - Oya - 8,500 euros, includes Era (the stone circle) & the Cocina (kitchen), a young forest garden and garden terrace + domo space, see HuertoOya and BosqueOya

 

5) Orange - Vesta - 8,500 euros, includes the solar shower and bathroom, a young forest garden and garden terrace + domo space, see HuertoVesta and BosqueVesta

 

6) Yellow - Potter - 8,500 euros, includes a young forest garden and garden terrace + domo space, now also large chicken coop being built, see HuertoPotter and BosquePotter

 

7) Green - Flora - 9,000 euros, includes the Armario (electricity cupboard), a young forest garden (two parts) and garden terrace + domo space, see HuertoFlora and BosqueFlora

 

8) Turquoise - Silva - 7,000 euros, includes a young forest garden and garden terrace + domo space, see HuertoSilva and BosqueSilva

 

 

 

Rights

(draft .. to be amended and agreed with members)

 

  • all share-holders have right of use (+ responsability of upkeep) of all the facilities of the Finca (water, electricity, communal spaces, animals)

 

  • all share-holders have the right to contribute to all parts of the design and implementation of the overall project, in proportion to their ability to carry out their own proposals and / or the willingness of other members to carry them out

 

  • all share-holders have the right of personal use of their land-share: to live there, full or part-time, in simple 'light' structures, that don't involve braking any planning laws, to harvest and use any produce of the land, to let friends and family make apropiate use of it

 

  • all share-holders become members of the Association and patrons of the Foundation and have all rights detailed in the respective Constitutions

 

 

 

Responsabilities

(draft .. to be amended and agreed with members)

 

  • all share-holders have responsability of upkeep (+ right of use ) of all the facilities of the Finca (water, electricity, communal spaces, animals)

 

  • all share-holders are expected to colaborate in the ongoing permaculture design & decision-making of the overall project (an annually agreed time-comittment can be given or requested)

 

  • all share-holders are expected to take personal responsability for their share of the land (design, upkeep, costs, use), whilst this remains in harmony with the overall aims of the project (FrontPage , aims of the Association)

 

  • all share-holders become members of the Association and patrons of the Foundation and have all the corresponding duties detailed in the respective Constitutions

 

  • until the members agree on some more apropiate set of guidelines specifically for the ethics and values of sharing a project and living-space, we suggest following the example of Damanhur (http://www.damanhur.info/en/ > Info > phylosophy and research) because these are very clear and concise, and they have proven themselves very successful over time and in practice.  See below for a sample of the Constitution.

 

  • respect and honor your story as much as the story of Finca Luna - which is one of many years of slowly incorporating all the positive contributions of many people who have passed through here, and take time to observe and learn from the mistakes we have made (ask lots of questions!) before getting too attached to any particular idea or design.   See Notes below for guidelines of 'where we are coming from'.

 

 

For more information please contact stella(at)finca-luna(dot)com

Telf. (0034) 697 590 185 / (0034) 922 40 01 33

 

 

Also see FortunaEn for Finca for sale next-door

 

 

 


 

 

Notes

These are some guidelines on Ethics and Ideals which are offered just for guidance.   We do not seek to live with people we share our own ideology (which in any case is continually shifting & changing as we are alive and non-dogmatic people) but we believe we do need to have some basic agreements on general directions in order to work together well on a project which includes our livelyhoods and home.

 

Permaculture ethics and principles of course cover a lot of that, here are a few other guidelines for starting the conversation.

 

 

 

 


The Constitution of Damanhur

The Fundamental Principles

 

Damanhur is a school of thought founded by Oberto Airaudi and inspired by his teachings: it is expressed through four bodies: ‘Meditation’, ‘Game of Life’,‘Social’ and 'Tecnarcato'. They respectively represent ritual tradition; experimentation and dynamics, its social realization and individual inner refinement.
The aims of Damanhur are: the freedom and re-awakening of the Human Being as a divine, spiritual and material principle; the creation of a self-sustaining model of life based on ethical principles of good communal living and love; harmonic integration and co-operation with all the Forces linked to the evolution of Humankind.
The Constitution is the fundamental Charter regulating the Social Body, formed by Damanhur’s citizens.

Damanhurian citizens dedicate their life to the application of the principles and aims indicated in the Constitution, and they make a commitment to respect and apply all its norms.The act of becoming a citizen takes different forms, depending on the choice and commitment of the individual.

The Communities represent the ideal form of union and communal living. They are inspired by the principles of solidarity and sharing. The Communities as a whole are organized as a Federation.

Communities belonging to different schools of thought may affiliate with the Federation, even though they do not originate from Damanhur’s school of thought, as long as they are inspired by the same aims.

Out of the creation of a Tradition, a Culture, a History and Common Ethics, a People is born.

1. Citizens are brothers and sisters who help one another through reciprocal trust, respect, clarity, acceptance, solidarity and continuous inner transformation. Everyone is committed to always giving others the opportunity to aim higher.


2. Each citizen makes a commitment to spread positive and harmonious thoughts and to direct every thought and action towards spiritual growth. Each person is socially and spiritually responsible for every action they take, in the awareness that every act is multiplied and reflected through the Synchronic Lines all over the world.

 

3. Through community life, Damanhur aims to develop individuals whose reciprocal relations are regulated by Knowledge and Consciousness. The fundamental rules of life are common sense, thinking well of others and the welcoming and exaltation of diversity.


4. Work has spiritual value and is understood as a gift of oneself to others. Through it everyone takes part in the material and spiritual progress of the people, carrying out assignments, as they become necessary. Each citizen offers a proportion of his or her work in activities of common interest. Every task is precious and carries the same dignity.


5. Those who take on roles of social responsibility carry out their tasks in a spirit of service, without looking for personal advantage or serving the private interests of others. Only Citizens residing in the Communities may be elected or nominated for positions of social responsibility.

 

6. Spirituality, research and ecology inspire all relationships with the environment, through the use of appropriate technologies, useful in improving the quality of life.
Every Citizen lives in communion with nature and the subtle forces which inhabit it. Everyone is committed to respect and preserve resources and avoid as far as possible forms of pollution and waste.


7. Each Citizen respects his or her own body, takes care of it and nourishes it harmoniously, refraining from any form of substance abuse. Citizens put into practice rules of life suitable for harmonious physical, mental and spiritual development; they ensure the orderliness and cleanliness of their environment.

Each individual is expected to be capable of self-control, of making mature choices and of manifesting purity in thought and action.

 

8. Damanhur promotes and supports research both in science and art; it fosters and encourages continual experimentation of both the physical and the non-physical, as long as it is expressed in a harmonious form. All Citizens constantly improve their education and widen and deepen their knowledge in the fields of research, art, work and leisure activities.

(...)

 

 


 

 

Voluntary Simplicity

 

(a friend of ours runs a lovely site about this and an article Stella wrote will appear in her blog at some point ... check it out!)

 

One of the central ethics of permaculture is "Reduce Consumption".    A problem (/ solution) with this of course that we all come from different levels of consumption and often very different perceptions of what our real needs are and especially what constitutes 'enough'. 

 

In La Palma traditional houses are tiny (compared to first-world standards, or to traditional houses in Cantabria for eg.), not just because the weather favours an out-door life but also because sustainable traditions involved a very different perspective on personal privacy needs and comfort, but especially use of resources and in particular best use of fertile land, which most of us in the west and especially those used to city-life now find quite alien.

 

For eg. the main building on the farm (La Casita) is a 4m x 7m stone low building which used to house a family of 5 (and now would feel very small for 1, for most first-world people).   This is the building we propose as a common living-room/library.    The building for the animals was nearly as large as this Casita and we are proposing that one as a workshop space, and the old hay-barn next door (the Pejero) as an office space.   And all of these are just proposals to date.

 

There is no specified space or area allocation stipulated for the personal dwellings, we simply will (naturally, and as we have done to date) slowly keep designing the farm according to the needs & perspectives of the people who actually share the space and the work, and this includes ensuring that nothing of the design is 'set in stone' (or diffcult to change if we design something better) at least for quite a few more years ("protracted thoughful observation rather than rushed thoughtless action" - good PC principle we are taking very much to heart).     New people (as always) bring their own intelligence, tastes, creativity, skills and initiative to the soup.

 

As many people in similar situations are finding, our own experience has been that our perceived need for personal (building*) space and posessions has diminished considerably over the years (of getting used to rural lifestyle here on the Island) and find our quality of life has increased steadily with the slow shedding of things and habits we used to consider essential.    This comes hand in hand with finding that the sharing of resources comes a lot more naturally, and this of course is a process which is different for everyone.

 

*Personal space of every other kind is of course plentiful, living surrounded by beautiful and varied Nature spots, in a low-population Island and with a village within walking distance of the farm.

 

 

Slowly we are coming to understand, experiencially, what Kahlil Gibran (in The Prophet) was talking about when he talks of Houses ...

 

 

Houses

 

      A mason came forth and said, 'Speak to us of Houses.'

 

And he answered and said:

 

Build of your imaginings a bower in the wilderness ere you build a house within the city walls.

 

For even as you have home-comings in your twilight, so has the wanderer in you, the ever distant and alone.

 

Your house is your larger body.

 

It grows in the sun and sleeps in the stillness of the night; and it is not dreamless.

 

Does not your house dream? And dreaming, leave the city for grove or hilltop?

 

Would that I could gather your houses into my hand, and like a sower scatter them in forest and meadow.

 

Would the valleys were your streets, and the green paths your alleys, that you might seek one another through vineyards, and come with the fragrance of the earth in your garments.

 

But these things are not yet to be.

 

In their fear your forefathers gathered you too near together. And that fear shall endure a little longer. A little longer shall your city walls separate your hearths from your fields.

 

And tell me, people of Orphalese, what have you in these houses? And what is it you guard with fastened doors?

 

Have you peace, the quiet urge that reveals your power?

 

Have you remembrances, the glimmering arches that span the summits of the mind?

 

Have you beauty, that leads the heart from things fashioned of wood and stone to the holy mountain?

 

Tell me, have you these in your houses?

 

Or have you only comfort, and the lust for comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and becomes a host, and then a master?

 

Ay, and it becomes a tamer, and with hook and scourge makes puppets of your larger desires.

 

Though its hands are silken, its heart is of iron.

 

It lulls you to sleep only to stand by your bed and jeer at the dignity of the flesh.

 

It makes mock of your sound senses, and lays them in thistledown like fragile vessels.

 

Verily the lust for comfort murders the passion of the soul, and then walks grinning in the funeral.

 

But you, children of space, you restless in rest, you shall not be trapped nor tamed.

 

Your house shall be not an anchor but a mast.

 

It shall not be a glistening film that covers a wound, but an eyelid that guards the eye.

 

You shall not fold your wings that you may pass through doors, nor bend your heads that they strike not against a ceiling, nor fear to breathe lest walls should crack and fall down.

 

You shall not dwell in tombs made by the dead for the living.

 

And though of magnificence and splendour, your house shall not hold your secret nor shelter your longing.

 

For that which is boundless in you abides in the mansion of the sky, whose door is the morning mist, and whose windows are the songs and the silences of night.

 

 

Kahlil Gibran

 


 

Latest News

There is an email group where we very occasionally post some news in english and spanish, please subscribe sending a blank email to Finca_Luna@yahoogroups.com

 

January 2010

Another lovely, relaxed and interesting year ends as we approach our 4th anniversary of moving onto Finca Luna Nueva (14th February 2006 is when we got the keys!).  We picked less almonds but more chestnuts than last autumn and have yet more home-grown baby trees in the nursery to plant out this winter (including about 30 tiny walnut trees!).  A larger and permanent chicken-coop has been started from where we can eventually direct the chickens to each of the 6 half-moon gardens and to the larger edible forest area.  Our first dome is also still being built and all construction moves very slowly...

After only several visits over the years, amazingly Fortuna's Finca (next door) is still for sale but slowly diminishing in area as the owner sells bits in order to make some money.    As yet more of our aquaintances hit hard times as their ambitious 'back to the countryside projects' fail, it is sad to reflect that had they brought this finca a few years ago (they also came to see it but it didn't match their inner ideal), we'd all be much better off now, through cooperatioin.   

Athough we're not experiencing hard times, the kind of investment in time and resources that they made (and lost) elsewhere, here would have translated into massive and sustainable improvements and would mean us being now many years ahead in our (more unusual perhaps and slower but also more realistically designed) project.   This just reinforces our commitment to keep offering and always improving our action-learning and permaculture certificate programme: many of these are typical and totally avoidable errors, if good basic permaculture design is learned before buying land or starting onto such projects.

 

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