. The founder is using his home for this project. It is a 16+ acre farm with a four-bedroom house designed for community living. The land and house is in a trust that will be bequeathed to members of Labishire upon his passing. It is set up so that no one who wants to come and is committed to this project is prevented from doing so because of financial reasons. At the same time, the founder who is himself a gay person of color, recognizes that ethnic minority and LGBT+ people suffer disproportionately more under capitalism and bear the major brunt of climate change, so will prioritize giving them access. The process in place will enable members to eventually become joint owners of the land and the farming operations. You cannot buy into this project with money. You can become a beneficiary and even a trustee of the land by being a valued and respected member of the community.
Note that although this is a path to a good farming life, it is not a path to wealth. The land is held in trust and cannot be sold. It can only be used for farming and homesteading, not developed for housing, commercial or industrial uses. Income generated from the land must first be put aside to pay all taxes, fees and maintenance costs before distribution to members. Ownership in this sense means becoming the beneficiaries and trustees of the land trust, and being elected to serve in various leadership capacities. In this way, the collective owners have the power to make decisions, but cannot game the system to derive financial benefits for themselves, such as agreeing to let a developer build housing for sale and pocketing the money.
This setup is to move members away from relying on the capitalistic economy to meet their needs. Members live and eat free, and are free to initiate projects (e.g., clothes making, etc.) to meet other needs. In this way, there is little need for money for basic necessities of life.
Members are free to work and earn additional income in the default economy after fulfilling their work commitment to Labishire. This can take the form of part-time external employment or starting a business using the land or other resources in Labishire. Businesses based in Labishire will operate on a revenue-sharing model. Members who make additional income are free to enjoy their income in whatever way they like as long as it is in alignment with our shared values. Sharing is strongly encouraged in such cases.
Note that although this is a path to a good farming life, it is not a path to wealth. The land is held in trust and cannot be sold. It can only be used for farming and homesteading, not developed for housing, commercial or industrial uses. Income generated from the land must first be put aside to pay all taxes, fees and maintenance costs before distribution to members. Ownership in this sense means becoming the beneficiaries and trustees of the land trust, and being elected to serve in various leadership capacities. In this way, the collective owners have the power to make decisions, but cannot game the system to derive financial benefits for themselves, such as agreeing to let a developer build housing for sale and pocketing the money.
This setup is to move members away from relying on the capitalistic economy to meet their needs. Members live and eat free, and are free to initiate projects (e.g., clothes making, etc.) to meet other needs. In this way, there is little need for money for basic necessities of life.
Members are free to work and earn additional income in the default economy after fulfilling their work commitment to Labishire. This can take the form of part-time external employment or starting a business using the land or other resources in Labishire. Businesses based in Labishire will operate on a revenue-sharing model. Members who make additional income are free to enjoy their income in whatever way they like as long as it is in alignment with our shared values. Sharing is strongly encouraged in such cases.
The following section contains the rules governing the land trust and Labishire's governance
Definition:
Guest: Guests are people who are living in Labishire but do not have full duties and responsibilities towards it. They could simply be temporary visitors or spouse and children of members. Guests are required to pay for their accommodation, food and resource use.
Labishire member: All persons who live and work in Labishire on a full time basis are Labishire members. A membership and accommodation committee will decide on admission and rejection of all who apply to come. All members will be assigned their own accommodation in the common house and entitled to partake during all meals.
Membership and accommodation committee: Initially this committee will have the originator trustee (ie. the founder) as its sole member. The originator trustee may appoint addition committee members. After his passing, this committee will comprise of one trustee, and one to three beneficiaries. They will be elected to the committee to serve a one-year term. Thus the minimum size of this committee is two persons (one trustee and one beneficiary) and the maximum size is four persons (one trustees and three beneficiaries).
Beneficiary: A Labishire member is eligible to be elected to become a beneficiary of the trust after being a member of good standing for at least twelve months.
Trustee: A beneficiary is eligible to be elected to become a trust of the land trust after being a beneficiary of good standing for at least three years.
Good standing: All Labishire members must maintain good standing by being current with all their dues and by not being censured.
Dues: Monthly dues are levied to ensure there is sufficient funds to pay taxes and fees, and to purchase resources that cannot be created from the land. The trustees will from time to time adjust the amount. Dues can be paid in cash or in kind, bearing in mind it should not be a deterrent for members to live here, but neither should Labishire be in a position where it cannot pay taxes and fees and is foreclosed upon by the state or federal government.
Censure: A member can be censured if a censure motion against them is tabled and pass at the monthly general meeting. A censured member can have the censure removed at the next general meeting if a motion to reinstate them to good standing is tabled and pass. Reason for censuring a member can include but is not limited to: failure to contribute productively to the work life, consistently behaving in ways that disrupt community harmony, theft, acts of violence, etc.
Passing of censure motion: A censure motion is passed if it is supported by a super majority vote of all members OR a simple majority vote of all trustees.
Election:
1. While the originator trustee is alive, he can appoint and remove other trustees. He may also delegate that power by calling for an election.
2. After the originator trustee's passing, future trustees candidates are first elected by all beneficiaries of the trust by a simple majority vote, and then confirmed by existing trustees by super majority vote.
3. Beneficiaries candidates are selected by simple majority vote by all other existing beneficiaries and confirmed by super majority vote of the trustees.
Disqualification:
1. Trustees (except the originator trustee), beneficiaries and members can all be disqualified. Upon disqualification, they will lose their membership and must leave Labishire.
2. A member is disqualified if he/she does not maintain good standing for a period of more than one month.
3. A beneficiary is disqualified if he/she does not maintain good standing for a period of more than three months.
4. A trustee is disqualified if he/she does not maintain good standing for a period of more than six months.
Will these rules be sufficiently inclusive for people who really want to contribute while weeding out those who want to free-ride or make trouble? Leave a comment below!
Definition:
Guest: Guests are people who are living in Labishire but do not have full duties and responsibilities towards it. They could simply be temporary visitors or spouse and children of members. Guests are required to pay for their accommodation, food and resource use.
Labishire member: All persons who live and work in Labishire on a full time basis are Labishire members. A membership and accommodation committee will decide on admission and rejection of all who apply to come. All members will be assigned their own accommodation in the common house and entitled to partake during all meals.
Membership and accommodation committee: Initially this committee will have the originator trustee (ie. the founder) as its sole member. The originator trustee may appoint addition committee members. After his passing, this committee will comprise of one trustee, and one to three beneficiaries. They will be elected to the committee to serve a one-year term. Thus the minimum size of this committee is two persons (one trustee and one beneficiary) and the maximum size is four persons (one trustees and three beneficiaries).
Beneficiary: A Labishire member is eligible to be elected to become a beneficiary of the trust after being a member of good standing for at least twelve months.
Trustee: A beneficiary is eligible to be elected to become a trust of the land trust after being a beneficiary of good standing for at least three years.
Good standing: All Labishire members must maintain good standing by being current with all their dues and by not being censured.
Dues: Monthly dues are levied to ensure there is sufficient funds to pay taxes and fees, and to purchase resources that cannot be created from the land. The trustees will from time to time adjust the amount. Dues can be paid in cash or in kind, bearing in mind it should not be a deterrent for members to live here, but neither should Labishire be in a position where it cannot pay taxes and fees and is foreclosed upon by the state or federal government.
Censure: A member can be censured if a censure motion against them is tabled and pass at the monthly general meeting. A censured member can have the censure removed at the next general meeting if a motion to reinstate them to good standing is tabled and pass. Reason for censuring a member can include but is not limited to: failure to contribute productively to the work life, consistently behaving in ways that disrupt community harmony, theft, acts of violence, etc.
Passing of censure motion: A censure motion is passed if it is supported by a super majority vote of all members OR a simple majority vote of all trustees.
Election:
1. While the originator trustee is alive, he can appoint and remove other trustees. He may also delegate that power by calling for an election.
2. After the originator trustee's passing, future trustees candidates are first elected by all beneficiaries of the trust by a simple majority vote, and then confirmed by existing trustees by super majority vote.
3. Beneficiaries candidates are selected by simple majority vote by all other existing beneficiaries and confirmed by super majority vote of the trustees.
Disqualification:
1. Trustees (except the originator trustee), beneficiaries and members can all be disqualified. Upon disqualification, they will lose their membership and must leave Labishire.
2. A member is disqualified if he/she does not maintain good standing for a period of more than one month.
3. A beneficiary is disqualified if he/she does not maintain good standing for a period of more than three months.
4. A trustee is disqualified if he/she does not maintain good standing for a period of more than six months.
Will these rules be sufficiently inclusive for people who really want to contribute while weeding out those who want to free-ride or make trouble? Leave a comment below!
