FAQ

The property and all community holdings are being set up as a Community Trust - Civil Association and all members will be listed as parts of that.

Under Mexican law foreign residents cannot “own land” within 100 kilometers of the coast, or borders.

First Option being that Foreign residents are normally compensated for this via having their properties held by banks in trust with a 50 year lease, renewable for as long as it is renewed and which can be passed down to family or onto friends or business associates. Such trusts accounts cost considerably more to maintain than native or nationalized citizens would normally pay in property taxes on owned land, which are very low in Mexico. This is the least desirable means for the Eco Village community and its’ members as each home would be held independently in bank trust and would be outrageously expensive to maintain.

A Second Option would be to establish a Mexican Corporation which can be owned by foreigners and the property and holdings would be in the name of such corporation and its’ Board of Directors. This is normally done for businesses with limited owners and is subject to commercial, rules, regulations & taxes normal to all businesses. Better than the bank trust but still not appropriate for the Eco Village community needs.

The Third Option is setting up a Community Trust as a Civil Association which can be comprised of anybody listed regardless of nationality as long as each has a residents visa (FM3 which is good for one year and renewable, or FM2 that is good for 5 years and which implies one is going for citizenship, though also can be renewed and just stay with that status) that can be obtained via any Mexican Consulate or Embassy in your country or nearby, or in country starting with a Tourists Card or Visa. Generally easier and faster to obtain FM3s or FM2s in your present country of residence/citizenship. Normally you would sit out your 6 month Tourist Card/Visa and then apply for an FM3 in country before your Tourist Card or Visa expires, however that would mean that you could not officially be listed as a member of the Civil Association until you obtain your residence document. No doubt the community would consider you a valid member if you contribute your fair share so that would not be an issue among ourselves, but if you would like the legal status and protections a residence visa is required.

A Civil Association/Community Trust can apportion home sites and homes to each of its’ members, as well as designate Community spaces, Cottage Industries spaces, Educational spaces, etc. though the property itself is held in Community Trust, which is essentially the same as the first option of a Bank Held Lease/Trust but without the excessive fees, taxes and rules/regulations that go with that. Of course being a member of the Community Trust also gives one much more control over their living spaces and all community endeavors.

We begin working with our attorney this week (between August 17^th-22^nd 2009) to write up the articles of incorporation for the Civil Association which will take possession of the property at signing of the papers since this is the most intelligent and viable means for the project and its’ members.

HOW WILL HOUSING BE ARRANGED FOR MEMBERS?

To begin with we will have to work with what we have on the land as a start. This includes a small two bedroom house, a house trailer (both immediately habitable) and the main building which needs completion and is a 6 bedroom structure so would mean co-habitation once each bedroom is ready for occupancy. An option would be to obtain other house trailers/camper type vehicles and no doubt some folks will be arriving with such (many second hand ones available at reasonable prices in the area), or for those in less need of fancy living spaces establish a Tipi/Yurt Village which can later be used for guests at events and volunteers when more permanent home spaces are created for long term residents.
Although some members may prefer to live in co-habitation type settings and in what would essentially be the Eco Village Center, the objective is for each individual and family unit to have the option of their own homes and areas around them that they would be responsible for caretaking in their natural states, other than smaller personal/family organic garden areas. Though community orchards and gardens are the optimal option some folks may wish to have more specialized herbs, vegetables and fruits that smaller gardens may be more suitable for. All housing units and community spaces will be powered by solar and/or wind sources (though other environmentally friendly options may also be used).
Ideally each housing unit will be designed by those who will inhabit them, using the best of low tech green housing methods. For those who may be architecturally challenged other community members with more knowledge would work with them to come up with the best designs possible.
Since the $25,000. membership will include the cost of homes for the members (co-habitational, individual or family type dwellings) the homes would be basic and provide adequate living quarters for each resident, with kitchens and general living areas. Anything past a basic home space would require the inhabitants to fund structural additions and of course improvements will be the responsibilities and additional cost factors of the occupants. Even creating basic housing at this low cost will require community volunteers assisting each other in the construction of homes (and of community spaces). Outside labor costs will have to be carried by those using it and each will be encouraged to use the skills of our neighbors and surrounding community who may need the work.
We well have a certain number of local volunteers coming out to help and also the services of networks of Eco/Sustainable Village volunteers from around the world via such networks a www.ic.org which we are already listed on and whose volunteers come in a work/trade agreement that provides them basic housing and food while there for prearranged periods of time.
Personally I, Rainbow Hawk, will be living out of my VW Westphalia camper van with solar power under a palapa until everybody else has adequate housing. Using office space in the main building for those and my cottage industry needs.

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WILL EXIST FOR FUND RAISING
(Both the community’s and individuals)

One of our first focuses will be fund raising events for the community needs. The first tentatively planned for Nov. 2009 Besides featuring in community talent we will reach out to the community-at-large to volunteer music, arts & crafts, theater and dance. Workshops on a myriad of subjects are possible and would include such things as organic gardening/permaculture, wholistic healing, natural farming in all forms, workshops in all of the arts people wish to share, alternative energy workshops, perhaps fashion shows featuring creations in natural textiles created by locals and residents of the village, green housing workshops, etc.
We would plan for events to happen on all the Solstices and Equinoxes every year as major events and perhaps monthly events as well.
Of course we expect our gardens and farm products to produce a surplus past our immediate community consumption needs and such would be marketed outside of the village proper.
Individuals and groups within the community would also have the ability and space needed for cottage industries in their fields of expertise in both goods and services. Such can also be marketed throughout the State and perhaps beyond at major events in Mexico.
We will put together a strong focus on internet compatible businesses and utilize our website which has basically limitless potentials and use our Paypal account to accommodate purchases. An example of course would be my own sales of art prints and other products created with my designs. Such could also be expanded to other community members’ art as well. We would of course like for all cottage industry products to be of high quality and original in concept.
Each individual and/or cottage industry group would have to determine what products they wish to specialize in and how they will run their own businesses, albeit advisory assistance would be available from other community members as well as folks more into the marketing end of things to get the products out there.
Although as yet not determined as to what percentage of all cottage industries profits would go into a Community Fund to help others start more and to fund general community needs such should be one of the communities priority decision making needs. Councils would have to decide how much but it can be assumed that it would be somewhere between 10% & 25% of net profits. Community spaces and resources used for the cottage industries would be covered by that.
Of course some individuals may opt to tutor classes for locals in languages and specific career skills which there may be a market for among locals and visitors to the region who frequent the area for the traditional seasons for tourists which is Nov. - Mid August (mid July to mid August being more Mexican National Tourism).
There may also be the possibility to obtain permits for guided Eco Tours of the Sierra de Laguna World Heritage Bio-Reserve which borders the Eco Village property and such type tours can also be done on site and on surrounding ranchos with the permission of their owners for flora and fauna identification and traditional uses of herbs, both common and endemic to the region, as well of course of the importance to living in the best possible balance with the natural world.

That each individual and family unit deserves the absolute right to privacy is a given for this Eco Village Community. The broader issue of privacy for the community-at-large is also a given. If somebody, or Community Council, decides that particular information or parts of the project are for community members to know and not to be broadcast universally that must be respected by all community members and visitors, or guest of members.

Generally speaking there will likely be very little outside of peoples personal lives that are really privacy issues, but when such might be the case it must be honored.

As the policy of this project is that it is both a-political and a-religious, but respects each persons rights to their own beliefs, those subjects are a matter of privacy and are not to be imposed upon others. The community will not be hosting political or religious events and any attempts to foster those subjects upon community members who chose not to participate in discussions about them must be respected. As such they are not topics for community areas or events. In the privacy of your own space do your own thing with whomever wishes to be part. Added should definitely be stated that Mexico frowns upon foreigners getting involved in it’s political process and to do so can get you thrown out of the country. If affiliated with the Eco Village it can cause some pretty serious problems so that is an absolute no no. You can pretty much talk about individual politicians and environmental issues they may be able to affect, but cannot get involved in anything that may be considered campaigning on any parties’ or candidates behalf. All that said, comedy/jokes about politicians is a national pastime so likely fair game as it is in most of the world.

As has been noted, full membership requires the contribution of $25,000. U.S. which can either be done in one lump sum (much preferable as the purchase needs must be met), or in the case that such is not possible via a Good Faith down payment of 1/10^th that amount, or $2,500. U.S. and follow-up monthly payments of a minimum of $350. or as much more as is feasible for each person. We either need to raise $200.000. cash by the date of closing so as to avoid interest payments, or pay an additional 5% interest on a 3 ½ year contract unless we can pay it off within the first 6 months of occupancy of the property. in which case we would get a 2 ½ % rebate.

All agreements have now been completed with the sellers of the property and we are sending a $2,500. Good Faith deposit to remove the property from real estate listings and begin the final paperwork for the property transfer into the forthcoming La Peace Eco Village A.C. (Civil Association & Community Trust). We have about a $3,000. bill coming for the needs to establish the Civil Association, cover attorney fees, do a final Title Search/Transfer of Title and cover minor running around expenses. That could be slightly higher when all is said and done. We will need at minimum another $67,500. To cover the full down payment at time of closing, though as mentioned would love to have the first 10 full paid members on board by that time so that we can just pay off the land in totality at time of signing to avoid interest payments which could be better spent on the actual needs of the project, first and foremost being the completion of the Main Building which will cost at minimum $30,000. and to put it in very good shape as much as $50,000. For those needs to be met with will need 12 full paid members involved by the end of October when we feel that we can comfortably close the deal with the full $70,000. down payment at minimum. If we can get 12 full paid members and 12 with the minimum good faith deposit and commitment to monthly follow-up payments we will be a total success at that point, can begin finishing the Main Building and setting into motion more individual housing units. We do plan to add 3-4 additional units on the roof of the Main Building with rooftop gardens and a big palapa shaded area.

Ideally we will be able to do the official kick off opening celebration in Nov. with a minimum of 20-30 community members on hand and perhaps a few hundred folks coming to be parts of the celebration. The opening celebration would last 1-2 weeks (though possibly the whole month of November) and include volunteer work parties to help get things underway well. With the proper funding and volunteer work parties we could finish off the Main Building during that event and have a really great reason to celebrate. With a 1^st Annual Winter Solstice Celebration for the last 10 days of December.