This document describes plans to create an intentional community on 78 acres of land in Iowa. The community aims to be self-sustaining through cooperative living and businesses. Members will work the land to produce food and live in housing that incorporates sustainable practices. Decision-making will use a modified consensus model. The community envisions housing types including single-family homes, dormitories, and temporary structures. Enterprises may include food production, artisanship, and other skills-based businesses. The culture aims to be inclusive, collaborative, and environmentally conscious.

1. Gaia Center Creating Intentional Community

3. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common vision.

4. They typically have shared resources and responsibilities.

7. To have cooperative businesses that support our endeavors.

8. To build and live in a way that is in harmony with the Earth.

11. The land has a creek and a few groundwater springs.

12. We are located on a gravel road 3 miles off the interstate.

13. The land is located outside of Colfax, Iowa. 23 miles east of the Capitol.

14. It has an existing open-sided barn with electric, and three fenced paddocks.

17. There is living space on the second floor.

19. 100 yr. old barn beams and other recycled materials designed into a pole framed structure.

20. Designed and built as a strawbale building. The plaster failed and the walls were re-constructed using ‘stick framing’ and recycled cellulose insulation.

23. Decision making and Group Process

24. The Farm

25. Cooperative Businesses

26. Housing

27. Structure

28. Culture

30. Some Membership Options Most people are full time Residential Members. Others are transitioning to the farm, and are full time Associate Members. At the beginning, everyone is a Provisional Member to get to know each other. People that do not want the country life, but want to be involved, can become a Support Member (i.e., someone involved in a cooperative business).

31. Together So Much is Possible

32. Decision Making/ Group Process Ideas we like~ We believe that everyone deserves to have a voice in the process of community. We would like to have regular meetings run with a modified consensus model (consensus minus 1). We would like to have twice monthly business meetings. We would like to have monthly visioning meetings.

33. One Way It Could Look

35. Humane animal husbandry (chickens, goats, etc.)

36. Organic vegetable gardens (ornamental flowers?)

37. Ponds and aquaculture

38. Greenhouses and four season food productionWe would like to grow most of the communities food on the land. We would like to employ canning, preserving and drying to eat wholesome foods year round.

39. Prosperity

41. Businesses could be owned by a few members or Community owned.

43. Housing We envision different options ranging from – Green built cabins scattered around the property with a shared dining facility Alarge central dormitory style building. Yurts and other 3 season housing that people can live in while building more permanent structures Lots of ‘common spaces’ throughout the community (i.e., libraries, music space, entertainment areas, workshops, meeting spaces, etc.) One of the important things for us is that the community is designed for people to ‘run into’ one another during the course of our daily lives (while ensuring private space for individuals also).

44. Home is Where the Heart is

46. Single family houses

47. Dorm/ Group housing

48. Short Term/ 3 season housing

49. Costs

50. Sharing the labor of building

51. Ownership

52. Leasing/ renting/ contract

53. Zoning & Permits

54. Styles-

55. Strawbale,

56. Cordwood,

57. Yurts

58. Cob

59. Underground/Berm

60. Living Roofs

63. 501 (c3) (d) non-profit

64. Limited Liability Corporation LLC

65. Community Land Trust

66. Cooperative

67. How will Enterprises be run?

68. Community Owned

69. Small groups (like an Arts Coop)

70. Individually

71. How would space be used for each of these?

72. Buildings/ Residences

73. Who will build them?

74. Where will the capital come from?

75. How would spaces/ land be allocated?

76. What happens iffolks want to move on?

77. Income and Community Resources

78. What will be the expectations for member contributions (both physically and monetarily) to the community?

81. Spirit in Community ~ Connecting in our common respect for the Earth and the cycles and seasons of the land. ~ Finding the Sacred in each other and ourselves.

83. Discussions

84. Potlucks

85. Decisions

86. Commitments

87. Work Parties

88. Drum Circles

89. Coop Projects

90. Planting

91. Building

92. Fun Creating Community!

93. Let’s Dig In & Get It Built!