The Eden Initiative

The Eden Initiative was founded as a movement to begin organizing people to live in different ways. It has already been obvious for quite some time now, that the current methods of living as civilized humans has a destructive effect on the environment of the planet. We here are seeking direct action to begin building homes and home-sites for the masses in an integrated system that takes into account all biological functions of the occupants, as well as the rest of the world. Our overarching goal is to use available tech to be able to feed, hydrate, and shelter 10,000 people per square mile (640 acres), or the equivalent efficiencies on smaller plots. For individual family homes, on an average home site (50'x100') we are aiming for $5,000-$10,000 for the retail sale of the building, not including land costs. We plan to do this by acquiring inexpensive "junk" rural land, and through a system of algal aquaculture, natural building techniques, and clever water purification and retention structures, transform them into the medium to high density living systems. The community properties will be organized similar to a trailer park, with individual living spaces sharing common grounds. There will also be a medium to large hostel/bunkhouse at each site for the more temporary residents as well. Many living spaces in the community properties will be actual trailer sites, so a small camper or tiny-house-on-wheels can pull in, stay as long as they like, work, play, and move again with no fuss, and negligble taxes. These sites will also have permanent homes, depending on a few factors, mainly demand from our residents. Our hope is to retain ownership of the actual land in a trust, or as a tax exempt non profit like a school or church, ensuring no one can lose their homes to inability to pay taxes. The workforce needed to build these will come from the residents themselves. Communal housing and food will be offered for trade for labor. Between the food production and water systems creating jobs at home, building teams will be working all over the area around our sites as we convert unproductive, wasteful properties into Eden style dwellings/ sites. These will be sold to private individuals and will be a primary source of income. The other primary income will come from surplus herbs, nutraceuticals, and foods. Labor requirements are to be 20 hours per week or less per resident, leaving ample free time for individual business ventures, volunteer work, school, art, etc. Another facet will be the acquisition of a large property to be mainly preserved, and utilized as a spiritual retreat and festival ground. This can also be a source of income, and a way to promote and spread the Initiative, and help knit people together with friendship and community. This will be more than a direct action movement. In addition to building, many experimental projects are anticipated to lend much to the general knowledge base of these concepts. This should be an evolutionary and growing process