What would you do?

[Spirit Wynd]

Hello everyone,

Say you lived in a freshly started commune that has great potential, but you lack the funds needed until you become totally self sufficient...

What would you do to generate income?

[Ben Corson]

Hi Spirit,

Define "great potential"...I mean, could you be more specific?

Urban or rural? Is it spring, summer, fall or winter? Near an urban area, for marketing produce? Or for ManPower or other temp agencies? Maybe an area with some older folks that might have a little money and need help with some projects, cleanup or chores?
Anything honest, that wouldn't require driving too far so as to make it uneconomic. Things that take a lot of time and are iffy, such as crafts, probably won't fill the bill, but could be useful marketed later...if there is free time.

It just about goes without saying that if any members possess skills that are specific and in demand, say teaching, nursing, millwrighting, mechanicing, and so on---they have that option to bring in some "flow".

two things I wouldn't do unless in real URGENT need:

Seek Government "assistance" like food stamps or ADC or disability.

Wreak havoc on our land to raise a few bucks, such as logging the hell out of it.

[Spirit Wynd]

I was looking for ideas for any situation, but I'll put one down best I can being half awake at 3am...

A small group of 7 people arrive in early march to a piece of land that's half an hour away from a town or store. There are farms nearby, but you're pretty much in the boonies. The land is mostly forest and hills, with many natural building supplies. You have enough food and supplies for 6 months, and are building low impact homes like yurts, tipi's, roundhouses, and a log cabin or two. You have plenty of tools, tarps, and camping equipment. The neighbor nearest grazes cattle on the outer edge of the land, so you get free fertilizer to add with compost to the gardens.
Ok, lets hypothetically say the progress is coming along and you're halfway set up with a common house to gather in, and one more individual house is being built, a kitchen and stone oven, compost toilet, solar water heater for showers, a water system, chicken house, and two goats, and the gardens are planted... much more is needed and the funds are depleted. It's April or June and funds are needed to get set up and ready for winter.
The people's skills are guitars and drums, blanket making, canning food, making jams and jellies, organic farming, carpentry, nature survival, forage wild edible plants, solar power and wind generators, or just plain labor.

Now keep in mind, none of the crops are ready, nor are any wild berries for jams. What would you do for income?

Just gathering more ideas for my notebook and hopefully, a future project.

[Ben Corson]

THAT'S more specific, alright!

Since you already have your basics in place (potable water, composting toilet, shower facilities (you should add a wood-heater feature for fall & winter), communal kitchen...all that's left is housing.

You must make sure that the foundations for any remaining housing, needed for the children and their parents especially, are built, and below frost line with adequate footers. Then work can proceed into the colder months if not done by then.

Other than that AND THE GARDEN, you're all free to find any available work out in the neighboring areas. That should be the focus, raise the fundage, it'll be needed to finish current vital projects and work will get tight in fall & winter.

If you have alternative energy people, then you have at least electrician's helpers, maybe even someone with an electrician's license...? that's a plus. Same with carpentry.

But don't underestimate just labor. Good laborers are damn hard to find for any crew these days!

[Spirit Wynd]

Thanks for your input, I always value wisdom shared by those who know...

It seems this thread is a bust here as it is at Hip Forums... someone there must've been tapping my thoughts as to why...
One reason is that many people who write about how great communes are and they want to live in one really have no idea what its about, the work it takes, creative ideas, compromise, and such, or can't quite make the transition from the comforts of modern living.
So when faced with a real question about it, they scatter and remain silent...

I started another thread at Hip Forums called... What would you do? To generate income from within the commune, to use the cash to start up, maintain, work towards being self sufficient and be less dependent from society.
It had a slow start, but the people who know there stuff found it and it's doing fairly well now. I got a few more ideas for my notebook.

[Jim]

There's a difference between "logging the hell out of the woods", and harvesting trees. Trees grow, they mature, they get old, they die. It's good to have trees in your woods that are of all ages; young, old, and rotten. It makes for good habitat. But, if your woods is fully matured, there often won't be room for new trees to get a start. Just not enough sunlight.
You can actually be doing your woods a favor by cutting and building with, (thereby saving money on buying lumber), or selling selected trees. And it is really a more natural process than "artificially" trying to "save" every single old tree.
I sold a number of carefully chosen maple, beech and oak trees, and made quite a bit of money. The tops I cut up for firewood. And now, several years later, you'd never know "anyone" was missing. Trees for lumber are simply a good renewable income source.

Another thing I have done is organic gardening. At one time I had the largest organic produce gardens in N. Ohio. Starting in January, I would go to various meetings and talk about the benefits of good food. Then in Feb./March I'd sell $30 memberships to my garden. With 100 family memberships, I'd have $3000 to use to purchase seed and plants and have enough left over to live till early summer when the first crops came in. The memberships entitled the members to a discount to as much produce as they wanted to buy. Non-members payed full price.

Another suggestion is raising milk goats. For a new community, goats are a wonderful "tool" to clear land of obnoxious weeds and brush. And not very many people sell goat's milk. You need to be careful how you advertise because some States have rather tough dairy production laws, but if you are careful, do a good clean job of milking, and develop an informed, (and discreet), client base, you can do quite well.

If you want money making ideas, get the back issues of Mother Earth News. There are hundreds of great ways listed for new and old communities to make money.

[Ben Corson]

Jim,

Just to be clear, when I said "logging the hell out of the woods", that's what I meant. Especially when people get desperate around here, or wanta leave, they take out every last stick of anything they can sell.
What you have described is just good woodlot management, which we do on a continual basis here...I'm in total agreement with you.
Please don't get the idea that I'm against logging of any kind; it is just total obliteration I'm opposed to.
Sawmilling is one thing we do, and can be a nice supplement.

Likewise, heating with wood requires continual culling, as do our now-annual heavy windstorms.

[☼Royce☼]

There are some very good ideas here and I think I'll take some notes too.
Blessings,
Royce

[john]

whoa man i keep checking in on this and im already taking notes got a pen and paper right hear these a brilliant ideas man my brains been more artistic latley than too much thought but here goes i would find a good place were every one is subtle and chill then we start looking for a few old trees and cut them down use their lumkber for wood to build and fire for warmthforage for a while while at the same time trying to get a few day jobs to bring in revenue.
after we had a little money and a good shelter started we could finish it with like mud roofs and a hole in it so we could all have a warm fire going . . .the first building would be the gathering spot for the whole community kindof lost on how to get more food if it was beginning to be wintery what types of plants can i plant in cold soil .
hemp would be used for ropes clothes ect once it gets started and everything peace my brains slow today lol i tried peace guys later

[avid whit]

There are unlimited options if you have land that you can freely use...these depend on the area? Where is the area?

[Spirit Wynd]

Never too late to post ideas, some of which I have in my notebook and other's I'm going to add...thanks.
Ever looking for more... post away.

[Jay Nimmic]

I would find an old tree, and cut it into 4-7 foot lengths, get chainsaws, or chisels or grinders and make totem poles.
load them up , hit every antique store, arts fair, festival concert. Sell them. I am an artist so I know how to make these things. I have one stuck in the ground at my aunts house, and it always gets comments, and appreciation.
It didnt take long to make either. but I guess it depends on your artistic skill and electric supply.
I also just saw a website on how to set up your own solar power for under 200 $$.
http://www.power4home.com/index2.php?hop=ttinc1

I dont know how it works, but im considering looking into it. especailly if you can get car batteries for free, so you could in theory store large ammounts of power. if you can figure it out, then installing it in neighboring communities could be a business in itself.
Where are you located? how big a concern is heating?

[Spirit Wynd]

Well the evening gathering by the fire is to discuss the progress of the day and needs for the next, to develop the work schedule and what needs to be modified, or who wants to learn what... unfortunately, income is necessary to pay the yearly taxes and the electric bill at least...
I have sooo many plans, ideas, and printouts of making things, layouts for gardens, herb and spice patches, structures, animal pens, composting, rain catch systems, downhill water catch, cistern, turn a spring into a pond, solar power, water power, wind power, compost toilets, and many other earth friendly projects... ways to become non profit, or assisted by the state as a natural preserve and such, money saving, money making, etc. Also people with mad skills and supplies waiting to go...
the hardest part is getting the land to get started... but working on that.
If it does take off, it'll be small and invitation only, hopefully to avoid some of the hassles other communities have like lazy freeloaders that use up resources and do drugs all day long, or cause trouble, or looking for a place to escape but not contribute... forget that.

Can never have enough notes or ideas... I welcome them all.