Building a Regenerative Community
From Isolation to Thriving Together
What if I told you that 27.6% of US households live completely alone, and this number keeps growing? What if the very system we live in is designed to keep us separated, vulnerable, and dependent?
Let's go straight to the point. Building a community can be one of the most challenging actions we can take in today's world. Based on the simple awareness that most of humanity have fear to open up their heart to other people and trust. We also fail in knowing how to share things, to communicate, to have agreements, solve conflicts, make decisions together, create together.
Diane Leafe, who visited over 100 communities and wrote a few books on community, mentions that 90% of communities that started end up failing in one way or another. Mostly because these groups are not prepared, don't have an initial structure, no real plan, no ethics and no principles, and overall too rushed in getting it all done. Highlighting the lack of experience in community living and overall to open communication.
The Isolation Crisis
We currently live in times of a solo-lifestyle, completely forgetting what it is to live with other people. I found that in 2020 census.gov published that 27.6% of US occupant households live alone. Dramatically increasing in the past decade.
The current system is designed to keep us apart. Living from ancestral tribe style, family style, neighborhood community, to now living in small apartments, lofts and studio spaces, to even just living in a room. This has become normal.
Like Charles Eisenstein puts it, the more we are focused on consumption and business, the more we are disconnected from community. We mostly have stopped needing each other.
Not having a community creates a whole chain reaction of emotional stress, depression, anxiety, etc. Without even realizing why. Putting us in a position of not knowing how to interact in social environments, nor how to love people and how to love the-self.
This doesn't mean that living alone is a bad thing. It is actually beneficial in many ways. However, it shouldn't be forever. We are animals of living within groups, just like the wolves, monkeys, horses, etc. We are meant to be coexisting and helping each other thrive.
Reflection question: When was the last time you felt truly supported by a community? What did that feel like?
The System's Trap
The more separated we are, the more vulnerable we are to the system, thus, dependent to it. To the point that commodities are in full service, where electricity, water and waste needs are taken care of for us, which makes us useless when these systems don't work.
And of course it doesn't stop there, we depend on internet to do everything else, GPS to move around, AI to think for us, and to even not need to get out of our room to purchase basic needs which arrives to our door step like groceries, clothes, technology and other products. You don't even have to go to the bank, to the post office, nor to the coffee shop. All this can be convenient in some way, but until what point?
It all creates complete social isolation. Not to mention, that the only free social place to meet with people is the park.
The Regenerative Solution
Furthermore, in terms of wanting to be in the regenerative movement, living ecological, healthy and have a positive impact in the world, starting a community is one of the most revolutionary impactful acts we can do in today's world. Not create just any community, but a regenerative community.
If you already are aware of what a regenerative community looks like, than you are reading this in the right moment. I don't have to explain any further. You are ready to start. However, you want to make sure you have everything you need before you start.
If you are not ready to start a community just yet, but are curious about it, read along, though, a great place to start, is with yourself. Healing yourself, and gaining enough regenerative skills in order to join or start a regenerative community later. You cannot start a regenerative community, if you yourself are not living a regenerative lifestyle already.
I am not saying you have to live a 100% perfect regenerative lifestyle, but surely to have enough experience in order to act upon in coherence and inspire others to do the same.
Starting Where You Are
Another great option is to start a community interested in starting a personal Regenerative-Living journey. This means that it is a good approach to start a community where everyone is on the same page of learning about healing thyself, learning regenerative skills, all as an accountability group, with the same vision and mission to later become a regenerative community.
This is great because everyone witnesses each other's transformation and growth, getting to know each other deeply in the process, establishing profound relationships with organizational skills and systems before jumping into a bigger project. Even if you are still learning about regeneration, being a leader and having other leaders in the group is essential.
Reflection question: What regenerative skills do you already have, and which ones do you want to develop?
Starting Your Vision
Starting a regenerative community is a big project, especially if you want to create an ecovillage or an eco-neighborhood. It means designing and executing an a urban space or in a piece of rural land building a self-sufficient permaculture style design. This includes legal paperwork, permits, taxes, governance structures, solving challenges and a whole baggage of responsibilities. Once accomplished, by creating the right conditions, it is a lot easier to live an 100% regenerative lifestyle in community and thrive.
You can also transform your urban neighborhood into a regenerative community, or at least most of it. You may encounter neighbors that are not fully aligned with your principles, however, one of the aspects towards a thriving world is to learn to live in peace and in harmony when differences exist between us. So there is a lot to learn and to take into account. Check out this really cool project, that turns neighbors into an eco-community: VillageCo. In other words, you don’t have to move away to build community. You already can start in you surrounding neighborhood.
Everything mentioned is what we call Regenerative Culture Design. Where you can bring your coherent community dream-life into manifestation. You can start your regenerative community right now, no need to wait. You may already have one or two friends in mind that in the same page and level of skills, spiritual awakening and intention, ready to design and build an ecovillage. You will be surprised of all the possibilities to make it happen. Now more than ever. So it is up to you and each individual to step it up and start taking action.
The Ecovillage Vision
Now, imagine the most beautiful nature space you have ever seen, with large native canopy trees, fruit trees, multiple colorful flowers, gorgeous food garden, all right outside your door step and surrounding your home. Children from your community are running around a nature built playground.
Your home is also naturally built with solid materials that will last 100 years, an all self-sufficient home, with the cleanest water system that you collect from the rain, well and river. Electricity system uses minimum energy that comes from solar, wind turbines and river motion. You know what I am talking about.
Each community member can have their own complete family home, while there is also a community kitchen, event space, garden, forest and overall common areas that the community shares. All this is possible and already happening for thousands of visionaries out there.
Hundreds of ecovillages are popping up every year all over the world. You can refer to The Global Ecovillage Network and take a look at their map.
Learning from Success and Failure
As I said, most ecovillages are not successful, but that doesn't mean you have to be discouraged. We, as humans, are continuously learning how to live, the more we intend to do so, the more we learn and eventually we will get there. We can learn more from the mistakes of the 90% of communities that failed than the ones that are more established.
However, the well established ecovillages have a lot to say. Takea look at Findhorn in Scotland - started in 1962 and still thriving with over 500 residents. Auroville in India with 3,300 residents with a huge vision, the biggest ecovillage since 1968. Or Aldea Feliz in Colombia reaching 20 years of age this year, where last year they won the Hildur Jackson Award by Global Ecovillage Network and Gaia Trust, this is an annual prize that supports and honors projects around the world that demonstrate regenerative best-practices in all dimensions. Earthaven Ecovillage turned 31 years, is located on 329 acres in culturally rich, biologically diverse western North Carolina, where they govern themselves with a modified consensus decision-making process and a Council and committee structure, with a Homeowners Association board. These communities are succeeding because they invested heavily in communication systems, conflict resolution, and shared vision before expanding.
All information is welcome in order to make the best out of your own ecovillage. It's not just about accomplishing the goal of living in an ecovillage, but rather appreciating the entire process of getting there, this is what enriches life. At least for me.
You may choose to join a community-ecovillage that already exists and this is a great choice. Personally however, I chose a more challenging path and started our own ecovillage from scratch. It's been 15 years since the decision. I have learned from plenty of experiences, prepared for it and designed a whole regenerative social system. Being patient has it’s benefits, especially when planning with a generational mindset. Now we are manifesting the physical form. RAIZ Ecovillage, a Regenerative Sanctuary. Good news is that the farm land we found already has a whole permaculture system in place with gardens, food forest, lodging and a restaurant. So a lot is already started for us. We are very excited and grateful for it. We still have to invest and invite more people to join. So if you are interested to learn more and possibly join us, you are welcome to check out our page and sign up to be a starting member.
The Foundation: Principles and Governance
Now that you have a vision of building a village, ecovillage or however you want to call it, which is the physical form of the regenerative community you are starting, now let's get into the most important aspect of building the regenerative community and what makes this community regenerative.
As mentioned before, most communities fail. Mainly because of communication, not having a structure, design, action plan, finances all straightened out, transparency, and loving-assertive communication. When all this is established, it helps the community to fearlessly open the heart and trust.
There is no true love in a community or any relationship for that matter if the mentioned foundation is not established. Not the other way around. We can't just love blindly and hope everything will work out because we just love each other. But rather, we need to feed and nurture the love in all relationships in order for it to continue to grow. “Like watering plants.”
The 13 Regenerative Culture Principles
So therefore a main starting point to start a community is to set principles and a governance structure where everyone agrees on. You don’t have to write them from scratch and try to figure it our. For the past 11 years we have established 13 Regenerative Culture Principles that we apply personally in our lives and have used them to help individuals, groups, businesses and communities re-evaluate their current lives and system and regenerate it with a new programming of patterns, thus, lifestyle habits.
These principles include foundations like:
Love & Respect
"Love and Respect is the path to the creation of our reality…"
Regenerative Health
"The habits you choose will enhance your evolution…"
Initiative & Trust
"The power of love lies in self trust…"
Self-Sufficiency & Resiliency
"Nobody is going to take care of your shit, until it's composted…"
These are just a few of the 13 principles that tap into all areas of life and community co-existence. The more you use these principles, the more coherent your life will be, thus synchronizing to the magic of the Universe. When I say magic, I mean manifestation of your reality by resonating in a frequency that opens to the field of possibilities. This is proved by science in quantum physics and in the spiritual realm. The more coherent you are with your mind, words and actions, and also mind, heart and gut, the more you tap into the frequency of manifestation.
You are welcome to use these principles for your convenience. You may edit them to your preference based on your communities perspectives and needs, or you can create your own from scratch.
New Governance Systems
In terms of governance, most of us humans agree that the political governance system around the world is rigged, flawed, fake, designed to keep us enslaved and sick. Thriving by our addictions and our attention. Therefore, a major solution is to create new governance systems.
And so today it is happening around the world through sociocracy, holacracy, voluntaryism, DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization), and other forms of organization and decision making that benefits all. In a future article we will dive deeper on everything in Regenerative Governance.
For now I want to communicate that these new systems and not so new systems are happening around the world, they are actively helping humanity organize and communicate better in order to thrive. With our community we have been practicing Sociocracy for about a decade within ourselves and other communities when we collaborate, it feels amazing. Of course we come across difficulties, yet we learn to solve them as we go, just like adults we say. We have been also been learning about DAO in the past couple of years, and we will finish system setting up our system in the next few months with all our agreements and decisions in a blockchain.
Reflection question: What governance experiences have you had that felt empowering versus disempowering?
Your First Steps
So by learning the mentioned principles and governance systems, you are starting with the right foot when building a regenerative community. That alone will take you some time to incorporate and apply within yourself and community.
However, there is much more information and a long process to be aware of in order to continue creating a successful community. Such as:
Creating your first online event or physical gathering and plan how would that look like, because first impression and experience is key for long lasting relationships and vision
How to create a consistent system of communication and engagement between members, where they feel seen, appreciated, inspired and motivated. Leveling up their super powers.
How to solve and anticipate conflict
Financial planning and resource sharing systems
Legal structures and land acquisition
Having a system for celebrations
This just to name a few of the aspects to consider and prepare for when building community.
Join the Movement
If you are interested to go deep on this and want to learn to become a Regenerative Leader to build a community, the tribe of your dreams, as well as an ecovillage, and even helping the regenerative movement thrive around the world, sign up below for our FREE online Regenerative Leadership event coming up in September. (Date to be announced.)
Remember, every thriving community started with one person or two who dared to dream of something different. Every ecovillage began with someone who refused to accept isolation as normal. Every regenerative culture started with individuals who chose true human connection over convenience and comfort.
The world needs your community. The world needs your vision. The world needs you to take the first step.
Are you ready to begin?
Lastly, if you’re ready to get to the next level on regenerative living, and radically accelerate your healing and regeneration journey, apply for our next SEEDS Regenerative Retreat. Book a call with us and we will evaluate your situation together to see if you qualify. We want to welcome folks that are truly serious for change. At SEEDS you will get a taste of a real conscious community, learn self-sufficiency, and what it actually feels like to live outside the matrix. It’s not utopia, but it’s a damn good start.
Forward this to someone who's tired of living in isolation. Share it with someone who dreams of something different. The regenerative future starts with us.