The land needs people

A one year covenant in service to Gaia

Following on from the Growing Radicles event in March it has become increasingly clear that the land needs people. With too few people, growing food depends on machines and chemical inputs. With sufficient people collaboration with nature is possible and the result is abundance and healthy ecosystems.

140,000 hectares

New Zealand has 140,000 hectares of lifestyle blocks and small farms, situated between the urban and the large scale agriculture. These small farms change hands every 3.3 years on average, according to a NZ Herald article.

The potential of the land, and the dreams of each new owner, are often well beyond what is realised.

Buyers of these small blocks often struggle with the reality of life on the land, and having to deal with the wide range of tasks associated with care for animals and plants. Frequently one or more of the family ‘team’ have to engage in paid work off the land, in order to meet the mortgage repayments. Then they try to squeeze in all the farm’s needs after hours and on the weekends.

But a solution already exists in the form of an abundance of tiny house owners. Home ownership in NZ is at its lowest rate since 1951, and is expected to fall further. A 2010 government report found evidence of a structural shift — that younger people are less likely to achieve home ownership than ever before.

This expanding demographic is made up of people who have chosen not to complain about the inflated cost of owning a home, but have instead taken responsibility for it, within their means. However, their next step of finding a place to put their tiny house can be a challenge.

What an opportunity!

To marry the needs of these two demographics, those needing help on the land and those looking for a place to ‘land’.

Collaboration and social systems

Collaboration happens between people. And we do it well, or we do it badly. We either achieve our intentions, or fail to.

Sometimes a collaboration finds its wings, and despite struggles, continues and achieves more than it imagined! But sometimes a collaboration starts with a hiss and a roar, then fades as the realities hit!

If this is your situation, then you might be interested in what I have been researching with my partner, Janet Redmond.

We have found that what makes the difference is the presence or lack, of skills needed to articulate a shared intention, make clear agreements, and practise adult communication processes.

Fortunately these processes are learnable. The maps have been drawn, and once learnt they can be practised, until a new way of navigating the communications landscape becomes natural.

Janet and I are offering trainings for owners of land and owners of tiny houses. Over time and as needed, we will build a team to deliver these trainings and offer the ongoing support.

If you are looking to collaborate with others to benefit the land, this is for you.

Shared intention

In any land share collaboration it will be necessary to acknowledge that the land owner inherently has more power, and this could create challenging relationship dynamics.

We are looking for owners who are willing to put the matter of ownership to one side for a one year experiment. The legal structure wouldn’t change, but the focus is on ‘what does the land need?’.

This is a bold step, of people coming together in service of the earth, of Gaia, to see the potential when people assume a level of radically responsible collaboration.

Legal agreements and radical responsibility

Imagine you’ve made an agreement and have engaged a lawyer to craft it into a legal document. Great, all is clear. Well, maybe. What happens when the other party doesn’t keep their end of the agreement as you understand it? Will you use the document as a weapon and threaten legal action, and let the lawyers fight it out for you. Maybe it even goes to court.

Feel the pain of this for a moment, and notice what’s happening.

You are no longer relating to the other party in the agreement, and have now given away your power and responsibility for the outcome, and put it in the hands of a third party. The lawyers or the judge in the court will end up making a ruling and both parties are expected to go along with it. You may or may not be happy with it, but almost certainly you won’t be sitting around with each other over a cup of tea.

Is there another way?

As the cornerstone of a collaboration we can co-create covenants / agreements that have sufficient clarity to be a starting point for dialogue when things are not going well. When disagreements arise we can call on our support team, to help us navigate communications, so that both sides are heard and felt. So we can discover the next collaborative step.

Imagine a one year covenant that can be updated by agreement, but that puts no obligation on either party beyond that term.

Communications processes and upcoming events

At the ongoing centre of any collaboration is communication. And communication can come in many different forms, and produce many different results.

The invitation is to learn and practise new communication skills, knowing you will not always get it right, but that you can periodically call on your support team and go again.

We are here and ready to assist, so reach out and have a chat. Trainings are designed to meet the specific needs of land share collaboration and are informed by possibility management.

Wednesday August 14th, from 7pm — 8:30pm at Riverside Centre, Lower Moutere

A public meeting will be your chance to hear more about the ideas, the vision and how it might support you.

Saturday August 17th, from 9am — 4pm at Riverside Centre, Lower Moutere

A one day training where you will learn and practice, how to build communication bridges. You will take away maps that can assist your practice of these skills.

First step: Register here — the link now works :-)

Or email jmsinnz@gmail.com to express interest