Is there anyone out there who might be interested in forming or joining a low-impact, sustainable community in Liverpool?
(Capital not necessary !)
A group of people have started to talk about this and we're wondering if there are others who'd like to join us... We're interested in a community that has a shared purpose of supporting each other to live as sustainably as we can - for ourselves and for the planet (if it's possible to distinguish these). For example: Living communally and sharing meals, play and work (growing lots of our own food, maintaining the houses and perhaps sharing other projects) - as an antidote to the isolation of modern life and nuclear families... while respecting that individuals and families need "personal" time too.
Involving children in community life as much as possible and sharing childcare as appropriate.
Supporting each other to "live lightly" - reducing our consumption of energy and resources - and aiming to be a model of low-impact urban living. (See end of email for more thoughts on how we could do this).
Providing secure, decent and affordable housing for ourselves, so freeing us up to use our time in a meaningful and creative way.
Linking into the wider community - perhaps offering meeting space to local groups, hosting gatherings, offering workshops in low-impact living ("re-skilling" for a post-cheap-oil future) etc. As well as offering something to the wider community and avoiding insularity, this could be a way of raising some funds.
So what kind of place would the community live in? Options include:
1) Investigating whether we could buy a row of terrace houses in a regeneration/clearance area... Say we acquired a row of 10 houses, we could for example, set 2 aside as communal space (big kitchen, living-room, children's space, library, office, meeting rooms etc). Some of the other houses could be linked in various ways. Back yards could be combined to create a single large space - for veg growing and relaxation.
2) Looking for a large house that has not been divided into flats. There's a ten-bedroom "mansion" on the market right now, which inspired the idea in the first place. It's called "Ullet Grange" and it's on the edge of Sefton Park (near the monument and the junction of Ullet Rd with Park Rd). See: http://www.suttonkersh.co.uk/propertydb/product.php?xProd=7334&xSec=3
So what about structures and finance? We could form a housing co-operative (or similar legal structure) and raise a deposit by issuing loanstock (anyone with capital can invest in the project at an agreed rate of interest). We would then seek mortgages/loans from ethical lenders ... and buy the property! All adults living in the house would have equal rights as members and tenants. You don't need capital to become a member; and if you're unemployed/low-waged, you should be able to get Housing Benefit (or the new Local Housing Allowance) to pay your rent.
We'd love to hear from people of all ages who are inspired by the ideas of communal living, sustainability and global justice. You don't need capital and you don't need any specific skills - just the willingness to learn, share and contribute the necessary time and energy. We'd love to have families with children involved - currently we have one 8 yr-old boy and one 9 yr-old boy amongst us.
So, if you're in the slightest bit interested, do get in touch - we're at a stage of bouncing around ideas (rather than looking for commitments).
For further information, please contact: jblackman@phonecoop.coop
More thoughts on how a community at the Grange (or elsewhere) could be a model of low-impact urban living: (We offer these ideas in the hope that they will be inspiring rather than daunting - we're assuming a medium/long-term timescale and we recognise that some of these ideas may turn out not to be feasible...)
Growing as much of our own fruit/vegetables/herbs as possible (this would probably mean acquiring a community allotment (or two!) as well as using space in the garden).
Over time adopting a fairer, more sustainable and climate-friendly diet (i.e. locally and organically grown and primarily vegan) - at least for communal meals.
Sharing vehicles, appliances, equipment, tools, books, toys/games etc.
Insulating the house as efficiently as possible. Wearing lots of warm clothes in the cooler months and having a large supply of blankets!
When we do need heating - using wood-stoves (perhaps including a large wood-burning range which feeds radiators across part/all of the house).
Salvaging wood from skips etc - for heating and DIY projects.
Installing a solar hot water system.
Installing photovoltaic panels and/or other renewable energy systems.
Trying to manage without fridges? - experimenting with cold-storage in the cellar/larders.
Establishing rainwater collection systems (including possible diversion to flush toilets etc).
Building compost toilets.
Establishing organised systems for re-use, repair and recycling and aiming to reduce our landfill-waste to negligible/zero.
Exploring the feasibility of ultimately being off-grid and becoming a demonstration project of how urban households can go off-grid?
Any more ideas??