This is part of a series of articles in regard to building an intentional community. You can find all chapters here. Also, this is a draft, a point of starting the conversation so i encourage you to get involved.

If money will not be an object will we be happy? I do not think so. So when some ask how will i earn enough money if i will move out of the city, what they actually ask is „will i be happy?”

The objective of an economic system is not to provide us with more and more stuff, but to enable us the freedom to pursue happier „pastures”, our own inclinations, a future that we can look proudly upon. So we need to provide equitable security (food, housing, health), responsible access to goods and services, and an environmentally sustainable income stream (living off the land or from outside the community).

Equitable security
We do not live in a society where if you work you will be able to provide for your family, but in a society where a privileged few ripp all the benefits while most just survive from one day to another. This lack of security is unacceptable and unproductive. Instead of imagining the future and bettering ourselves and society we are preoccupied with putting food on the table, paying the rent or amenities.

Housing, food and health will be the baseline, the minimum that all members will start from. Houses will be built out of local and natural materials with the help of all members, food produced/foraged off the land will be shared, health care will arise out of the help and preoccupation of all members. Only by starting your day without this burdens you can become a better human.

Responsible access to goods and services
Each one of us has different needs and wants so an equal distribution of income is illogical. The contemporary society Is based on accumulation and private ownership of everything. This is not responsible or useful since we harm the environment and we do not have the resources. So we do not need to all have cars that are used 1% of the time, tools that rot in some households and overused in others, internet, electrical and water services that are separately built and managed, books and knowledge that are kept secret, people that want to educate themselves but they can’t.

A responsible way is degrowth, by learning what we actually need and what we can be happy without. There will be things that will be privately owned and emotionally attached to, there will be things that will be more logical to be shared, will share information, a library and school and will encourage and support people that can grow by accessing Courses, workshops or higher education.

Environmentally sustainable income stream
Ideally will be able to live off the land. This can include permaculture and animal husbandry but does not imply it. On this land we can organize workshops, retreats, courses, summer camps, hospitality, food preservation, activities that will take care of this land and make great stewards out of all members, guests and volunteers. Depending on your inclination you might choose to do the front work (grow vegetables, receive the guests, cook, or the back organizing and managing.

In the beginning we will all do whatever it takes to make it work to put food on the table but after a while to be part of the community will mean to work inside the community. But some abilities that we love like building with natural materials, videography, education, volunteering might take some of us away from the community but even when they will provide a great income or knowledge a balance must be achieved between benefits and social distancing.

How will all actually work? I do not know exactly but what i know is that a household that has everything and a neighbor that has nothing is not an intentional community. A system that we might use, depending on the situation, is the gift-exchage economy.

The exchange economy will put a monetary value to all products, services and environmental impact, and will take care that a fair exchange takes place. This is mostly used with the society at large and will exchange money or barter for what we need or give.

The gift economy will mostly be used inside the community for giving or asking for something for which nothing is required to be received but can be offered at a later date as a sign of appreciation.

Cover photo by nicollazzi xiong from Pexels.