Fertile Minds (Agri) Cultural Collective
Application to be a Living Working Playing Full Member,
Growing Season 2010
What we are:
We are a small, non-hierarchical collective that will be living, working, playing and
learning together over the course of the 2010 growing season and beyond.
Our goals include: to live in an egalitarian way; grow a large portion of our own food;
create and manage a small subsistence homestead including animals, vegetables and more; create
and organize a community space for art show, concerts, workshops; teach and learn from each
other in a free-school environment; and organize and interact with the local community.
We do not share a consistent ideology but do ask that participants agree to work actively
to make the space egalitarian, socially open and comfortable, non-hierarchical, cooperative, and
consensual. We will lean heavily towards consensus based organizing in nearly all facets of life
together. We will work together in all things that we can agree on, and work in smaller
subgroups or independently on projects that not all agree to; no one will need to work on a
project they do not fully support.
Again, the primary goal, underlying everything, is equality. This goal will be actively and
consciously worked towards, and the community will respond to inequalities and sexist, racist, or
otherwise oppressive habits, actions or statements in an active way.
What we are looking for:
People who are driven, self-motivated and passionate about what we are doing and/or the
larger issues/movements related to ecology, agriculture, permaculture, and social justice.
People who will come into the community and take up places as active shapers of the
community and its work, and not as passive followers.
People who are actively seeking their own empowerment and fullest potential-- social,
political, academic, physical and spiritual-- and the empowerment of their communities.
People who are adaptable and socially flexible, able to be serious when necessary, playful
when necessary, and everything in between.
People who are willing and able to judge themselves and others fairly, and forgive
themselves and others.
People who are willing to take on the responsibility and hard work of an agricultural
lifestyle, as well as the responsibility and hard work of confronting oppression in themselves and
their friends.
What you'd be getting yourself into: The Community Agreement
(This is open to change by choice and necessity-- this is our rough draft as of now)
What you will give:
3 days of farm work every week (6-9 hours per day)
1 day of other work for the collective every week
4 Hours each week of work for the landowners, as your work exchange
Your active involvement in the community, including daily/weekly meetings to organize
ourselves and our time, and to work on our connections to each other, and various cooking
cleaning etc chores.
15-25 dollars rent per week
20-30 dollars per week for food
What you will receive:
A place to live, work, learn and play in community
Most to all of your weekly food
Input into all actions of the collective as an equal.
Collective space and resources to use during your free time and/or for independent
projects.
The ability to take/offer classes and workshops to and with other collective members and
with the outside community.
Roughly 2.5 days per week to do what you will with.
An equal share of the collective's profits (note- profits may not occur-- incoming money
will be considered profits only after all collective members are reimbursed of debts.)
The ability to use the collectives growing space and your own free time to grow and
market food independently, and thus perhaps make some money.
Final Note:
If this all sounds really cool, but you think you may need to have a job for the summer
even with the low rent and food costs, we will try to help you find a part time job nearby, help
you write a small business plan to make money farming in your free time, or consider alternative
community arrangements that would allow you to work part time. Lets try to make it work!
Contact:
Fertilemindscollective@gmail.com
If interested in applying, please send following application to above email address. Please
include a phone number so we can reach you.
WRITTEN APPLICATION: Please answer boldly, honestly, and with as much length / depth
as you feel necessary; don't be halted be our format.
Part WHO (are you)
Who are you
Name
Physicality
Personality
Politics
Spirituality
Anything else
Part HOW (did you become who you are today)
Talk about your journey over the past few years
Talk about specific events/places/people who changed your life
Part WHY (do you want to do this)
Why are you interested in what we are doing
How do you see yourself being a part of it
What is your goal in working with us
Part WHAT (are your skill sets and passions)
Skills you have
Skills you would like to acquire/perfect
Passions
Part WHEN (will you be joining us and for how long)
When would you be joining us and for how long (minimum two weeks, now through late fall and
beyond)
Part WHERE (are you going)
Where are you going
Where do you think your work with us might take you
Where do you see Fertile Minds Collective going
Part ANYTHING: Anything else
Final Thoughts: Please email/mail this to us and we will set up a phone interview. The sooner
the better.
APPLICATION Part 2: Please fill in legibly on the 'lines.'
Name:_________________________________________
Personal References:
Work Reference:
Name:____________________________________ Phone:____________________________
Description:
Living Reference:
Name:____________________________________ Phone: ____________________________
Description:
Cody Creek Farm Agreements:
I agree to hold Jim and Vivian Beatrice harmless for any accident/injury that may occur on their
land and to assume total personal responsibility for my own safety and well-being.
I realize and understand that being a member of the Fertile Minds Collective and living within
the collective does not grant me any long term rights as a tenant on Jim and Vivian Beatrice's
land, and agree to leave if the Collective or if Jim and Vivian Beatrice find my actions
unacceptable.
Sign: ____________________________________ Date: ______________________________
Health and Safety:
Emergency Contact Info:
1.
Name: ___________________________________ Relationship: ________________________
Phone 1: _________________________________ Phone 2: ____________________________
2.
Name: ____________________________________ Relationship: ________________________
Phone 1: __________________________________ Phone 2: ____________________________
Health Provider:
Name: ____________________________________Phone: _____________________________
Medical Info:
Allergies:_____________________________________________________________________
Medications: __________________________________________________________________
Conditions: ___________________________________________________________________
Anything else / special needs: