Do not disturb the Earth, nor harm any Creature of the Earth, Sea or Sky, except as Reasonably Necessary for the Continuity of the Tribe.

Cooperative Co-Housing Work-Life Balance Opportunity

For those interested in “Intentional Communities” or communal living, this is the Outreach page for our fledging Tribe of three. Please have a look and see if you might be interested in joining us, or corresponding with us due to a mutual interest.

Location: 

Southeast Kansas where we have rolling hills, plenty of rain, a long growing season and relatively mild winters.

Philosophy: 

Non-Religious, Non-Political, Non-Activist and just not big fans of civilization, its culture or values. 

Things we are Not: 

We are not an eco-village. We are not vegan/vegetarian. We are not off grid. We are not four twenty friendly.

Things we are: 

We are interested in food and energy independence, unschooling, acquiring a broad set of useful skills, travel, self improvement and self education, the arts, science, history, music. 

Structure: 

Our Tribe has a modern existence, but the structure and economics are modeled after tribes of primitive hunter-gatherers. Leadership is provided by those with the instincts, knowledge, skills and abilities to lead successfully, and who put the needs of the Tribe ahead of their own. One only leads with the consent of the tribe. 

We work together as a Tribal Enterprise, acquiring and pooling resources. Everyone works, and everyone has their basic needs met. We live in uncertain, disturbing times. Our primary goal is to provide economic and physical security to each other. A greater comfort and security then can be achieved alone. The Tribe Enterprise provides housing, food, healthcare and other basic needs for all of us. Additional individual needs are met via profit sharing and grants. Everyone contributes, no one goes without. 

Additional Thoughts:

Our ancient ancestors lived by this principle for nearly all of human existence. We lived beside non-humans, fairly competing for resources. It was not a paradise, but it was sustainable for humans and non-humans.

Only very, very recently, in the history of the universe, did one group of people adopt a belief system - an Anthropocentric belief system in which “The Earth was made for man and man is meant to conquer and rule it.” This belief system, combined with ever-advancing technology, and an exploding human population has led us to the world today where Techno Industrial Civilization is rapidly killing the planet.

For numerous practical and biological reasons, people cannot flee civilization to live naked in the wilderness any more than could all the zoo animals be released into the wild and be expected to survive. Among humans and non-humans, some could survive, most would not.

Intentional Communities are generally eco-villages, or the members came together through some shared religious or political views. We are not like that. We are not an eco-village. We are purposely non-religious, non-political and non-activist. We are NOT off-grid. We are Not vegan or vegetarian. From the outside our life looks ordinary, but we are philosophically and psychologically separate from civilization. 

It is our view that a Tribal way of life offers advantages over the Civilized way, in which civilization is made up of individuals and individual families. We apply a Tribal model, as used by our hunting and foraging ancestors, to a modern world. We believe in living a balanced and adaptable life. Living collectively, we all enjoy comfort and security that would be difficult to achieve and maintain alone. It’s not for everyone. It requires a great deal of trust. 

We live on a rural farm in Southeast Kansas and are supported largely by a tribal business. The “issues'' of civilization remain outside our gates. We pay close attention to economic and political matters as they affect our ability to live our lives, but we remain observers. Preferably dispassionate in our observations, but not always. Upon observing the values, beliefs, and practices of civilization, we cannot help but think “That is not us. That is not our Tribe.”  

Yes, we have opinions in regard to “issues” and Yes, we would like to see certain things happen, and other things not happen outside our gates, i.e. conserve nature and preserve biodiversity, etc but we treat the mood swings of civilization like we treat the weather. We are going to work hard and have a rewarding life regardless of the conditions and circumstances that are outside of our control. 

If you are hardworking, adventurous, open-minded, and interested in living/working as a member of a Tribe, contact us at jude.eytchison@gmail.com to introduce yourself.