Project for a collaborative, educational micro-farm cooperative in France.

Land

Minimum size of 5 hectares for private spaces, common spaces, and gardens
Larger flat area preferred for easier gardening
River/water source, forest/greenery, and lake access desired
Good road access, especially if close to major transport road for lower transport costs
Decent soil preferred, with a few bigger trees, good quality land for crops
Safe from worst of climate change (flooding, drought, storms)
Land that can be built on and used for agriculture, with autonomy to decide on use (few regulations preferred)
Constructible area large enough for a community space and personal spaces

Strong local ties a plus
Regions with existing community a plus
Close proximity to larger city (500,000+) for sales and quick travel
Decent size village/town within biking distance for cultural life, local ties, and shops
Supportive neighborhood for mutual aid, exchange of knowledge and practices, services, people, goods, and vegetables
In a politically left-wing region with no risk of totalitarian political system

Live with a few close people invested in the project and with similar mindsets on living together
Place to live, develop, strive for autonomy in terms of inputs, and achieve financial sustainability
Art and education meet
Live in peace and show the world alternative ways of living

Max 10-15 people on the land, depending on size
Smaller group initially, max 6, min 3-4
Highly committed people with diverse skills, willing to commit for a few years setting up the place
People known well by founders
Nomadic living allowed as long as commitment to project remains, tasks are handed over fairly, and enough people remain on site
Space for a limited number of volunteers, not exceeding number of people living on site
Willingness to create integrative governance system
Awareness of potential conflicts and willingness to address them
Recognition that human factors can cause collective breakdowns and importance of human aspect in community
Use of tools such as sharing circle, affective mutual aid, and non-violent communication
Ongoing research into human management tools and willingness to adapt or abandon them as needed
Cross-competence with core group having a variety of skills, including:
Manual skills: construction, woodworking, carpentry, joinery, bioclimatic insulation, earthwork, permaculture, market gardening, electricity, plumbing
Intellectual skills: knowledge of law for financial arrangements, management of human relationships, shared governance

Max 10-15 people on the land, depending on size
Smaller group initially, max 6, min 3-4
Highly committed people with diverse skills, willing to commit for a few years setting up the place
People known well by founders
Nomadic living allowed as long as commitment to project remains, tasks are handed over fairly, and enough people remain on site
Space for a limited number of volunteers, not exceeding number of people living on site
Values: non-profit goal (reinject value creation into community activities), degrowth, feminism, inclusiveness, link to the living, relational ontological relationship, intergenerational, being able to make links with other alternative places

Tiny homes spaced out over the land for privacy
Social contact is abundant but intentional, allowing for choice to socialize or be alone
Individual freedom to choose living accommodations
Each household has at least 400 m2
Individual households choose their own home facilities

Spacious and inviting common spaces central in the community
Common spaces serve as social and functional spaces, such as kitchens, toilets, tool sheds, clothes washing, and offices
Reduces need for individual households to construct these facilities

Holocracy or non-hierarchical system for permanent residents
Volunteers and visitors can share opinions and ideas but not part of decision-making process
Decisions made with collective intelligence, respect for domain of work, and emotional/communicational maturity

Diverse income sources for greater resilience
Microgreens sold in nearby cities
Long-term expansion to regular permaculture crops and mushrooms
Education and courses on permaculture and natural building, supplemented with tours, memberships, ecotourism, and art events/courses
EU partnerships through youth exchanges or ESC volunteers
Individuals can have their own jobs as long as commitment to project is maintained and fairly distributed among inhabitants
Financial set-up through scop, cooperative, or scip
System for resaleable shares in the event of community leaving, to make financial and human contributions worthwhile
Ability to re-establish themselves in other places, with importance placed on maintaining links with other alternative places

Common garden with annual vegetable plots, perennials, fruit and nut trees, and berry bushes
Maintained by community members, with a few overseers
Food is shared equitably
Features straight growing beds, greenhouses, seed nursery, raised beds, herb spirals, ponds, polycultures, and food forests with tree guilds
Wild and local flowers/plants included
Permaculture/syntropic farming principles followed
Individual households can create their own gardens on their plot of land and are responsible for them