Mutual Aid Society of America [MASA] is in the formative stage and is looking for members, ideas, and capital. Our goal is to create self-sufficient communities in rural America. We intend to turn poverty communities in rural America into robust economic engines based in large part on biodynamic farming in niche markets, export of specialty products from light manufacturing and professional services delivered online. Of prime importance is the creation of a healty and vibrant mental, physical and moral lifestyle in a secure environment.
Under the best circumstances, our "campus" would be
about 80 to 120 acres, title to which would be held in
a 501.c.3 land trust. The best choices in Montana
would be Plains first, then Big Fork, second. Plains
has a very good hospital and one of the best climates
in Montana. Big Fork is near White Fish, a tourist
city, and Flathead Lake.
Our plan includes creating a clinic for the campus
and/or the community, which would depend in part on
volunteer labor, but also generates positive cash flow.
The structure of the intentional community is that of
a limited liability partnership wherein all workers
are partners and all partners are workers. Much of
the research into governance is completed and
governance documents have been drafted. We have
business plans for a variety of proposed community
enterprises.
The intentional community is faith neutral, is profit
oriented, is socially responsible and ethically
driven. We intend to become as self-sufficient and
sustainable as possible by the use of biodynamic
agriculture and light industry.
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| setting |
legal structure: partnership
surroundings: farmland
land ownership: independent trust (not controlled)
neighbors: neighbors are friendly
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| population |
total number of people
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| housing |
number of buildings: 25
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| sharing |
income sharing: limited income sharing (less than 100%)
communal meals: one meal a day is communal
communal food: bulk food is communal
tools and machinery: all tools and machines are shared
motor vehicles: some vehicles are shared
bicycles: some bicycles are public
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| ethnicity |
ethnic diversity: open to all yet unintentionally not diverse
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| spirituality |
spiritual diversity: open to all yet unintentionally not diverse
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| government |
common political theme: no official theme
selecting leaders or centrals: appointed by board/council
decision making: elected leaders decide
rules: a few maxims which decisions and agreements must respect
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| sustainability |
self-grown food: 85%
organic food (grown+purchased): 100%
self-produced energy: 50%
energy from renewable sources: 95%
self-produced fuel: 90%
car-free
building material which is salvaged: 50%
food from salvaged source (reject): 100%
waste which ends up being recycled: 80%
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| income and money |
income generated within: 100%
personal expenses
income from state: 100%
savings
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| agriculture / garden |
livestock
crops or produce
fruit trees
permaculture methods
veganic (vegan-organic methods)
biodynamic methods
fukuoka (natural farming methods)
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| diet preferences |
common diet: no defined common diet
whole foods: encouraged / mostly whole foods
coffee and caffeine: no restrictions
sugar
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| love and sexuality |
heterosexuality: major theme / encouraged
monogamy: major theme / required
celibacy
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| parenting / children |
attachment parenting: encouraged
home education: home education is encouraged
childhood vaccines: discouraged but parents can choose
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| seeking people |
seeking people: yes 25
people with children: welcome
people with disabilities: welcome
elderly people: welcome
single parents: welcome
need capital to join
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| drugs / stimulants |
marijuana: prohibited
psychedelics: prohibited
tobacco / nicotin: prohibited
liquor: in private room or designated areas only
wine
beer and cider
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| dress / tidiness |
nudity: limited to certain areas and times
tidiness: reasonably tidy
cleanliness: reasonably clean
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| visitors |
visitors without intention to join: welcome
paying visitors: welcome
working visitors: welcome
prearrangements: contact a few days in advance
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last updated 2005/09/24
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