Community Call #2

Quick recap

The meeting focused on introducing a vision for Sovereign Village, a 1,000-acre prototype community in East Sussex aimed at achieving food sovereignty and sustainable living by 2035. The discussion covered various aspects including farming models, community structures, and plans for an upcoming weekend event at My Little Farm near Lewes, which will serve as a visioning session for the project. The group addressed technical considerations for future meetings, explored alternative currencies and community building approaches, and discussed plans for regenerative housing projects while emphasising the importance of love, compassion, and understanding in community development.

Next steps

• Chay and Keivor: Host an in-person weekend meet-up on August 23-24 at My Little Farm in East Sussex.
• Keivor: Continue developing the portal inside the members portal on the My Little Farm website for storing documents and vision materials related to the sovereign village.
• Chay and Keivor: Move future calls to the private membership portal rather than keeping them public.
• Becky: Activate the event registration link at 8 o'clock.
• Vikki: Send out the link for the August 23-24 event through email after the meeting.
• Vikki: Provide information about alternative accommodation options near the event for those who don't want to camp.
• Team: Find an alternative platform for future calls that can accommodate more than 100 participants.
• Vikki: Share the link to the first call recording for those who missed it.
• Team: Send out the recording of the meeting to those who couldn't join.
• Team: Compile emails from participants to build a distribution list for updates.
• Keivor: Continue developing the FAQ section in the members portal.
• Team: Send out email with links for the next Zoom call on August 21 and the weekend event.
• Vikki: Collect and address questions from community members via hello@mylittlefarm.uk.

Summary

Community Meeting Welcome and Format

The meeting began with Vikki welcoming a large number of attendees, encouraging them to introduce themselves and join the discussion. She noted the high turnout, which was unexpected, and emphasised the importance of the community's commitment. Vikki explained that the meeting would be recorded and outlined the format, asking participants to mute themselves and type questions in the chat or ask them at the end. She also mentioned that the session would include an overview of the previous call's content.

Sovereign Village Prototype Vision

Vikki introduced the vision for the Sovereign Village, a 1,000-acre prototype in East Sussex aimed at empowering families through food sovereignty, regenerative farming, and community living by 2035. Keivor and Chay elaborated on the vision, highlighting elements such as mixed farming, smallholding gardens, ecological homes, shared spaces, holistic education, and spiritual connection. They emphasised the creation of a circular village economy, free energy systems, and opportunities for guests and members to immerse in a slower, more grounded lifestyle. The team plans to store documents and vision materials in a members-only portal on the My Little Farm website.

Community Shared Farms Collaboration Framework

Chay and Keivor discussed their collaboration on community shared farms, combining two contrasting models to create a sustainable community structure. Chay outlined their "5 steps to freedom" framework, which includes food, education, medicine, energy, and natural housing, along with a comprehensive social and economic structure. They emphasised the importance of decentralised decision-making and self-responsibility in building a thriving society, with plans to involve landowners and bridge the gap between mainstream and alternative living approaches.

Community Farming Vision Explained

Keivor explained the mission of his farm, which focuses on connecting people with the land and producing nutrient-dense food through a co-ownership model. He described plans to collectively purchase and protect farmland for future generations, while also creating community spaces. Chay emphasised the importance of building the vision together and noted that the current focus is on the farm's crops and not a retail shop. Both speakers stressed the need for people to join and support the community effort.

Sovereign Village Visioning Weekend

Chay and Keivor announced an in-person weekend event on August 23-24, offering a visioning session for a sovereign village project on 1,000 acres of land. The event, priced at £35 per person with food included, will be held at Keivor's farm near Lewes, with limited spaces available. The project aims to create a blueprint for sustainable community living over 5-10 years, with plans to transition decision-making to the community as it grows. The land purchase is being considered for two sites, one in Somerset and one in Sussex, with the immediate focus on developing the current farm while exploring future opportunities.

Wild Camping Event Planning Meeting

The group discussed plans for an upcoming weekend event, which will take place from Friday to Sunday with 100 spaces available. Chay and Vikki explained that the event will involve wild camping, with basic facilities, and will cost £8 per person per month for membership. They mentioned that Becky had created a link for signing up, which will be shared soon. The team also addressed technical issues with the Zoom meeting, which was limited to 100 participants, and discussed finding an alternative platform for future meetings. Keivor mentioned creating an FAQ section on the My Little Farm website to better manage questions from the community.

Community Currency Transition Discussion

The group discussed the future of currency, with Keivor and Chay explaining they are temporarily using sterling to acquire farmland and infrastructure while transitioning to a community-based system focused on essentials like food and energy. Zak introduced the concept of decentralised autonomous organisations and blockchain-based alternatives to traditional currency, while Laura shared her experience building a community near Pendle Hill and offered to connect with others in the Northwest. The discussion concluded with Vikki addressing Natalie's question about housing, though the specific details were not provided in the transcript.

Regenerative Community Building Initiative

The group discussed plans for a regenerative community project, focusing on building homes using natural and locally sourced materials. Chay emphasized the importance of integrating local resources and sustainable practices, while Finn shared his passion for off-grid living using simple, cost-effective building methods. Shena offered insights on project management, advocating for a collaborative approach with designated vision keepers. Poppy expressed interest in joining the project, highlighting the need for community and addressing concerns about commitment, while also suggesting the use of horses for land work. Keivor clarified that the current focus is on establishing a blueprint for the first community location before considering expansion to other areas.

Community of Love and Understanding

The meeting focused on building a community based on love, compassion, and understanding, with Riki emphasising the importance of these values despite potential disagreements. Keivor expressed gratitude for the attendees' participation and highlighted the opportunity to create a new earth together, while Chay discussed the upcoming weekend celebration at My Little Farm, which will involve immersive experiences and require full attendance due to limited spaces. The next steps include a Zoom call on August 21st and the weekend event on August 23-24, with links to be shared via email for those interested in joining.