Vision Statement of a Place We call HOME

(Honoring Our Mother Earth)
Authored by the Community HOME Vision & Creation Committee
Released November 30, 2010

OUR VISION for HOME Communities is:

To create a network of communities that will utilize the best principles for social, economic and environmental viability – benefitting the community member´s individual personal and spiritual development in total harmony with the natural environment (Mother Earth, Gaia).

The foundation philosophy for establishing our HOME Communities (hereafter HOME) is on the realization and manifestation of Peace and Abundance for all of the members of the community, and for re-establishing our most critical connections to the natural environment. By creating these “seeds” of harmonious, sustainable communities we will provide success models for other communities and peoples interested in creating better living environments.

Four simple ideas that instruct us to attain this vision are:

-Recognizing Individual Sovereignty in Service to Others

-We are all in this together.

-“Be the Change “Peace and Love” You want to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

-People helping people.

Key principles for these communities are Reverence for Life (as espoused by Albert Schweitzer), collaboration, creativity (replacing the competitive mind – Wallace D. Wattles) and the support of individual spiritual and personal development.

For all intents and purposes, our HOME will be and entirely new model for communities as the members of the community recognize that the entire community thrives as the individual members are afforded freedom to discover their own creative and spiritual potentials. To this end, the aim of the community will be to provide all the members with food, energy, housing and the basic necessities of life with the minimum of effort, as to allow for more energies to be devoted to discovering their own greatest potentials as sovereign beings, and then to contribute those capabilities for their own advancement and those of the community, and ultimately to the rest of the world.

Phase I

-To begin to establish communities in locations around the world where people are coming together and can get access to property, resources and facilities to begin building “their” HOME. Each HOME Community will be autonomous in their own development and growth.

-Initially a Phase I goal will be to sustain 20 to 50 people in "pilot" communities. The practical side to this is to keep it small to prove that the concepts are realistic, and sustainable. While this model is tested and proven, we will continue to refine and document, in detail, the processes and experiences of the member communities as to share this model in other places. It is understood that these concepts serve as guiding principles and that each community must adapt and adjust the approach as needed to assure their success.

The following points delve further into the ideas of like minded people coming together who are serious in the creating our new HOME.

It is paramount that this document be seen as a “living document”, establishing a solid foundation upon which to establish our community, while being open to make necessary adjustments. All life adapts, and we must be flexible in this process, especially in the early stages where we are learning what will and will not work for the good of the larger HOME Community Network, individual communities, and the earth. This document in no way establishes any form of authority - its aim, to provide a set of principles by which to guide this process to assure success.

Initial Guiding Principles – Community & Member Qualities

Participatory Principles

  • Everyone in the community(s) accepts that in order for this to be the greatest success, each person will contribute their unique talents, efforts and abilities to have everything run smoothly. And that, as a team, we will gladly work together to accomplish all necessary tasks, from the simple to the complex.
  • A HOME Service Committee, (tentative name) and sub-committees shall be created to represent and Serve the larger community(s) in all areas that keep the community running, a round table model will likely be used and will include children as well as elders. For our HOME Community there is but ONE ultimate authority - as will be expressed in our group conscience.
  • It is important to avoid the creation of a “cult” community(s). Many examples show us that these models, ultimately, do not benefit each sovereign member, and the larger community in the long run. HOME is not about a particular belief system, or “leaders”, or “agendas”. The purpose of HOME is to develop new community living systems as to make life more enjoyable, fun, productive and successful for every person. "We are all in this together". Andy Skadberg
  • The HOME Community Network will be comprised of people who are not afraid of hard work, nor of a different life from what they have known previously - people who are open to new opportunities, adventures and challenges. These individuals are ready to challenge their comfort zone, such as is required for a change in ways or lifestyle.
  • Balance is to be a main focus of HOME. Service will be used in all areas including discipline to promote the idea of cooperation and collaboration in all areas, actions speak louder than words.
  • Independence from governments, basing our community of natural and common law, the idea of sovereignty since this is our divine right as we are living beings on this world.

Money and Economy

  • The HOME Community Network recognizes that money can present challenges. But we acknowledge that money is really also a form of energy, and a tool. Viable economic strategies will be a necessary focus of attention to create a workable model in HOME Communities. Initial ideas will be to work on a barter system where everyone is equal in their contribution. The aim will be to create a harmonious “living organism” much like we see in nature and the cosmos. Money will be necessary to trade with existing economies, and initially to build and repair the areas as needed, as well as allowing members to be able to travel as well as keep their current homes. However, the communities will likely consider creating a new monetary exchange system within the community (e.g. Transition Communities, etc.).
  • HOME will flow around the “old models” for living (like water around a stone), to set HOME as a demonstration that human-beings can live in harmony. Our aim will be to demonstrate that there is a better way to live with each other and the earth, for life here as we know it.

Initial Guiding Principles – Creating Intelligently and Intentionally

  • We will use the strengths, capabilities, and “master-minded” potentials
    of our community(s) for success and continued advancement on all levels. Within the collective membership are vast talents, skills, ideas and potential and we must always be open to these as they are deemed viable by the greater HOME community(s). We will establish the ways that these ideas are developed and implemented for the larger community, and members are always encouraged to expand themselves and Share what they have to offer.
  • We will not “re-invent the wheel”
    Our team has gathered “success stories” and will utilize these workable multi-cultured environments in our community based on total agreement of the community (based on the Mastermind described by Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich). And we will conduct research and continue to stay apprised of new and emerging models. This work shall be empowered by the creation of the HOME Community System (online database and resource center) Some examples include:

oMandela permaculture structure farms in Brazil.

oSekem, the internationally acclaimed self-sustaining farm complex in Belbeis, in Egypt, and to learn from the local indigenous peoples from area how they survived without such influences overtaking their culture.

oUtility Research Gardens in Texas: Developing organic food models, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).

oNumerous other examples.

Some Initial Community Guidelines

  • Expanding Benefits - based on innovation and sustainability principles
    Each community should improve the environment and the larger regional and local economyregardless of where they are established.
  • Intelligent Autonomy
    We imagine establishing the communities with some proximity to cities but far enough away to avoid challenges often associated with traditional cities developed under old-world community development models.
  • Utilizing the Best
    Since our communities will be established in natural areas outside of existing urban centers, we will utilize the ideas, concepts and principles that have been researched by our team, while also staying open to new models for comprehensive rural economic development. These strategies will be based upon the ideas of economic and social diversification and empowerment of people.
  • Free & Renewable Energy
    Unburdening people from energy “costs” communities will free HOME members and the communities from traditional economic and environmental impact burdens. We will explore and implement Free and renewable resources for energy, construction and utilization for everyday needs within the community, utilizing a comprehensive recycling program building off of successful models that are in place in other communities
  • Healthy and nutritious food
    We are what we eat. Developing “good” food is also essential. The aim will be to grow only organic food and to create a healthy and abundant food system for all people.
  • Clean Water and Air
    Protecting the natural environment is paramount! All methods available to prevent any contamination, and alleviate existing problems, of the natural environment will be utilized. Deep Ecology, and Reverence for Life are foundational principles which guide us. Only clean water and air to Share, together with current society and future generations, this is our commitment!
  • Our Human Family
    Many of us, and our brothers and sisters have, and continue to, experience living challenges in various forms. It is our intent to eliminate all lack and suffering in the world, thus our aim is to create safe havens for those who need it, a sanctuary for all to grow and heal old wounds that gives back their personal sovereignty, and their awakening to the truth of who and what they are.

Growth and Expansion

  • Phase II Our initial aim will be to expand the community, once proven successful to sustain 500-2000 people.
  • The Vision is to “plant seeds” of communities, much like the majority of the natural world demonstrates to us – similar to the strategy of a dandelion, one of the most successful plants in the world.
  • “Building Bridges” is a theme that we wholeheartedly support. HOME is not about creating “islands” where we live in paradise, and the rest of the world is left behind. We understand that everything is connected, and that it is our responsibility to build bridges to the new for all people who are ready for a new life. Ideas of great ones who support these ideas are John Muir “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” How we create, is as Einstein suggested: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world”.
  • Initial plans for a Phase II A possible component of the HOME Community Network has already been written by Andy Skadberg, PhD entitled Hybridized Community Development Cooperative (HCDC) and provides and excellent starting point for an initial Vision.
  • Phase III will be developed from the HOME Community Network, creating a specific Team to develop these plans in detail, as for the individual communities, and for the larger Global HOME Community Network. This Mandala of harmony will Encircle the World!

Growing the Team and Utilizing Creativity

  • Initial Ideas for utilizing our member talents, just a couple examples are:
    • Healing and Health
      One of the strengths of our community at the outset is new healing modalities. In order to create a connection to other people living in more “traditional” ways we can offer “Open healing”,using ancient Medicine and Philosophies that focus on the whole being, not just body or symptoms. Then we can combine these approaches with modern knowledge, to help facilitate in creating a mind, body, spirit health and healing template for the society to maintain strength and virility.
    • Existing Models
      Our team has gathered “success stories” and will utilize these workable multi-cultured environments in our HOME communities based on total agreement of the community.
    • Technology
      Technology, both computer and other, are fabulous tools that have been made available to us for our use from the Source, and the creative Spirit of humanity. Thus, we will find the best tools to accomplish our objectives and utilize them for the advancement of our communities, and the protection of the natural environment.
    • Adaptation & Growth
      All living beings and systems grow. We will dedicate our energies to finding and implementing new models for rural development, education (remembering), agriculture, entrepreneurship, tourism, etc., we deem it beneficial for the continued benefit of our members, communities, humanity as a whole, and the earth.

HOME Community shall be based on love, continually liberating and expanding lives through the focus to serve humanity and the Mother earth. Finding our own rights of passage through restoring and protecting the earth, while being an example to others in demonstrating through our community, one that does not hinder life, yet expands life in the creative production of abundance and health, designing and healing with nature. Thus we are returning, to live, work and Be in balance with the heart and mind.

It becomes the transformation of our concepts time and space that opens the Truth to limitless and infinite uniqueness in all those that share their journey in and outside of the community to create a better living for all. It is this seed of life that is created not only in nature but in the loving souls that come together with similar objectives that bring a new light on the earth. This light will shine out as a beacon to remind all of us how loving and important this life is here and now body, soul and mind with nature, joy and peace.