The mission of Mutual Aid Society of America, LLC (MASA) is to create a national partnership which provides its members with a high standard of living in rural America. Consistent with this goal, is to create economically robust rural communities on a self-sufficient, sustainable basis. MASA will achieve this goal by the vertical and horizontal integration of the entire chain for food production, distribution and retail sales; light manufacturing products; and intellectual services. “Reap what you sow” could well be MASA’s motto. What MASA will reap is a net high standard of living for its members and dependents, greater health, longer life, sustainable income, less dependence on the Private and Public Sectors and the engagement and development of the Ethical Sector. The “inputs” will be the MASA structure, “social glue” and our own mental, emotional, intellectual and physical resources. We will embrace biodynamic farming methods, sustainable and earth-friendly technology and the eco-village concept. The “outputs” will be sustainable high profits from niche markets for both agricultural products and light industrial products. The most important “output” will be vastly improved interpersonal relationships -- “permaculture” of both mind and body.

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Saturday, March 27, 2010

CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT


Are you willing to engage in a networked discussion concerning smart growth using clustered living and jobs -- basically, "Live where you work and work where you live”. -- an “Eco-campus”?

The great impediment to the implementation of this concept is the existing zoning and land use regulations which often prohibit mixed uses, such as residential and light industry, farming and light industry and clustered housing in combination with farming and light industry.

The "Eco-campus" approach can be used to reduce dependence on local transportation, reduce urban sprawl and improve the economic viability of many rural, mostly farm, communities. An example would be the combination of a campus setting which would include residential, commercial, light industrial, farming and ranching, clinics, schools and utility systems.. Builders would build an entire mini-community rather than just track homes.

The basic shift is from the individually owned residence to one similar to the condominium approach in that the limited liability partnership would own the land and all buildings and all members of the workforce would be partners in the partnership. Many intentional communities have used these approaches for years with moderate success. The big difference is that the Eco-Campus plan would add significant economic underpinnings to the community by combining food production, light industrial production, residential uses, and other production. This approach solves the "leaky barrel" problem and allows for a "trade surplus" in favor of the LLP. The point is for the community to become as self-sufficient and sustainable as much as possible.

What we need is to create a good working model on the ground, then promote it to the governing bodies involved in land use and zoning regulations. Such fully integrated residential/business/industrial/farm clusters have been the model for over 400 years in the Anabatists communities (Amish, Mennonite, Hutterite) . There are other good models, namely Mondragon Community Corporation (Spain) and Findhorn Foundation (Scotland).

Best Regards,

James E. Miller
jimmiller5417@yahoo.com

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