This document outlines how to create an ethical guideline for Blossom Branch Homestead, an intentional community I helped to establish in Western North Carolina 2021-2026 **Vision:** _The change we wish to see_ Blossom Branch Homestead provides sanctuary to those creating positive change in our World. We provide a space to live a wholesome lifestyle, have fun, develop skills and participate in healing the land, home and ourselves. * * * **Mission:** _How we manifest our vision_ As Stewards, we aim to give back to our world. We create gardens, community living, art, workshops, classes, non-profit and for profit ventures. Stewardship is actively engaging in service to the community & landscape. These endeavours create an atmosphere of Wholesome Living; a safe & supportive environment as a sanctuary for healing & empowerment. We make it our personal responsibility to achieve our highest potential for the benefit of our greater community. As community members, we cooperate with each other to support each other. * * * **Values:** _The characteristics and qualities that we deem as our Ideal._ * Giver's heart - service orientated, altruistic, a desire to contribute * Gardener's spirit - a wish to cultivate a more beautiful world * Grateful mindset - cooperative with all Life, collaborative with all members, humble to all that is given to us and from us * Wholesome lifestyle - clean and respectful way of life with play & service in equal measure * Altruistic Worldview - We do not hold mainstream beliefs or strong political views so we can be the change we wish to see, without judgement or bias of others. * Stewards of the Earth - By accepting the responsibility of cultivating Wholesome Living, we step into a position as Stewards of Blossom Branch Homestead, of the world beyond our home, and of our own Self. * * * **Interests:** _Activities that empower & motivate how we spend our time alone and together._ * Gardening * Community Gatherings * Animal Partnership * Horticulture & Botany * Reforestation * Yoga * Meditation * Music * Crafting * Eco & natural building * Cottage industries * Teaching We hope that members help this list expands. Everyone who comes here shares their interests to influence the culture of our community. When entering BBH as a member, please add to this list! * * * **Ethics** Just as we protect & nurture delicate seedlings in our garden, we aim to ensure our community members are safe & healthy. This agreement between all members allows each of us the space to grow & mature. We agree, as community leaders, members & representatives of BBH, to respect the ethics and integrity of Stewardship by considering the Yamas & Niyamas of the Yoga Sutra for the welfare of all of our community members and for our own personal benefit.  **Why have Ethics?** **Yoga Sutra II.31** **jāti deśa kāla samaya anavacchinnāḥ sārva bhaumā mahāvratam** **_These various forms of self control are mighty codes of conduct, meant for people in every stage of personal development. They go beyond differences in race or social status, borders between countries, what is modern or old, and beyond various creeds & convictions._** This community supports one another in realizing our highest potential. We cannot expect anyone to be perfect and uphold these Ethics to their highest degree. In the least, we do actively practice the consideration and care for others, regardless of how they appear to us, our personal opinions or our judgements. We use the Yamas & Niyamas of the Yoga Sutra to outline our Ethics. We also make a distinction between Personal Standards and Community Boundaries. **As a Blossom Branch Homestead community member, I will do my best to allow every community member to feel comfortable and welcome.** * * * **Distinction between Personal Standards & Community Boundaries** **Personal Standards - My practice is different than your practice, and that's okay.** Personal Standards help us as individuals determine how we typically will respond to life's circumstances. As we grow, we adapt our standards to fit who we are becoming. We encourage all members to explore the Yamas & Niyamas and apply them to their personal life, to the best of their capacity. The discipline of adhering to one's personal standards take us from where we are now to where we want to go. **Boundaries - What we agree to while living in community to maintain a beneficial & wholesome ecosystem.** The Ethics presented in this document are consider to be Boundaries. Boundaries, unlike Standards, are set by the community Leaders and are more rigid than personal Standards. They are in place for the benefit of the whole. Failing to uphold or willfully going against these Boundaries may result in expulsion from the community If community members believe a Boundary is inappropriate, or more should be added, they can request for the revision of this document. * * * **Community Ethics - Yamas** **Ahinsa - Protecting Life** * We protect the life of all people, animals or living beings while at BBH. * We honor and respect the all who come to this homestead to visit or live. * Respect other's animal companions as if they were your own. * We aim to be resourceful to reduce waste in all of our activities. * We discourage physical, verbal, nonverbal and virtual harassment. **Asteya - Honoring Property** * We honor our place in the community by contributing a fair value for our stay at BBH. This exchange is agreed upon on a member-to-member basis. * We each contribute to weekly community service. * We each contribute to household chores. * Calm Hours  \[10:00pm-9:00am\] * We honor members' need for peace & quietude for practices and rest. * Community WiFi turned off during Calm Hours, unless earlier or later times are agreed upon * Overnight Guest policy * no unapproved, overnight guests during Calm Hours, unless consensus is received from all members who will be affected by the guest * exceptions are given ahead of time for relatives, out of town guests and relationships * cabins should receive Consideration from Cedar, Hickory & Artemisia * suites should receive Consideration from Suzette, Sundrop, Chicory & Yarrow * this policy helps us keep our spaces clean energetically & physically, and allows all members to feel safe in their own home. * We treat other members' & communal property with care. * Please avoid any modifications to the cabins or suites without prior consent * We ensure communal space is accessible. * Pets reside in their owner's private living space and in accordance with home & land standards * We conserve resources by composting, being thrifty, recycling, burning appropriate materials & properly disposing what cannot be recycled or burned. **Satya - Being Truthful** * We aim to actively listen to each other, and to be clear & compassionate in our communication with honesty as the basis of our speech. * We refrain from divisive talk, gossiping and speaking badly of other members, others outside the community, or other communities & their practices. * Hold in confidence what is explicitly told to each other in confidence. * Don't make all problems your problem - any members can allow Community Leaders to address issues beyond their comfortability. * Make recommendations, when asked, that are suitable for community members in a way that supports their well being. **Brahmacharya - Moderation & Honoring Boundaries** * We honor our community by participating in community events, when schedules can allow. * We ensure social media & virtual content fits our ethical guidelines. * We are respectful of other people's physical, emotional and spiritual boundaries. * We wear outfits that provide appropriate coverage in the home & on the land. * We honor the boundaries of our personal relationships and the agreements that others have in their relationships. * * * **Community Ethics - Niyamas** **Shauca - Cleanliness** * Recognize when exposed to unclean environments or persons and be accountable for the hygiene practices necessary to maintain cleanliness of your person & health of community members * Wellness is an inside job - consider managing your health by asking for help, researching how to fortify immune system, exercise, get fresh air, work, learn to be still, reduce social media influence, uphold morals and live by core values. * Communal & personal items are organized throughout the day, leaving all areas tidy with tools and all items put away * No use of hard drugs or over consumption of alcohol while on site. * Please attend community events and meetings sober. * No manipulative magical workings. * Don't open portals you don't have the ability to maintain and close properly * Ceremonial use of plants may only be used with Community Leaders approval. **Santosha - Contentment** * Please use appropriate language in communal spaces * Don't force it, embrace it; Be solution orientated and advocate for your own and others highest good * Check-ins & Conflict Resolution: * Members check-in with Leaders and/or Members to resolve conflict. * We attempt to be patient & available to help each other grow and heal old wounds concerning relationships with others and ourselves. * Don't disturb the peace of the community - Use non-communal areas to regulate and resolve conflict. * Ask for help if and when you need it. **Tapas - Self Discipline** * We encourage & support practices that help us grow and transform, realizing our highest potential & true self * We understand that life is challenging and that we are doing our best **Svadhyaya - Self Goverance** * We aim to be responsible for all our actions, by avoiding harmful reactions triggered by limiting beliefs, traumas and misunderstandings * Be honest and open about your spiritual practices. Keep them within your own space or during community events. * Respect & understand where community consensus makes decisions, where leaders make decisions and what is appropriate for us as individuals. **Ishvara pranidhana - Accountability / Sovereignty** * Community members and community leaders have different roles that evolve over time and those roles are adapting with the community's evolution \[please see community governance overview\] * We respect our members for the time and effort they have invested to grow as individuals and to contribute to home & land of BBH. * None of us are perfect and each have ancestral & personal challenges we face. We welcome the process to understand who we are, and accept that we will make mistakes on our path to realizing the ideal. * In this community, we aim to cooperate as allies & friends while holding ourselves accountable for our actions, whether those actions are harmful or beneficial. * * * **Community Decision Making & Governance Overview** * Roles * Community Leaders * Community Caretaker * Community Members * Integrating Members * Apprentice * Guest * **Community Leaders** make major policy decisions using consensus decision making * Leaders include the land owner, land caretaker and one elected community member selected to represent the community (when more than 50% of the spaces are occupied) * **Decisions made by leaders:** inviting new members, expulsion of community members, financial spending of loans, grants, donations & community fees * **Community members** include those who have been offered an extended stay beyond the trial month * **Decisions made with all community members & leaders:** workshops, event planning, service projects, financial spending of community funds earned through events * **Integrating Members** are those who are living on-site during their trial period. After 1 month, Integrating Members will be asked to stay longer or asked to move on from BBH. * Trial members are guests that are respected by all members * Trial members are not included in making community decisions, though their input is seen as valuable **References:** * <https://www.sociocracyforall.org/community/> * * * **Integrating Member Policy** * Member needs to understand and feel aligned with this document * All Members live on-site on a month-to-month basis * Integrating Trial Members may attend community events prior to living on site * Community Leaders will make consensus decision to invite new members to live on site with Community Members' input * * * **Community Labor and Fees** * Community members pay a fee for use of their private room or shelter, and a community fee for use of community spaces indoors and outdoors. * Rental fees cover the use of assigned suite or cabin, utilizes (electric, propane and basic internet), cleaning supplies and a $100 community fee. * Community fees contribute to gardens, livestock, communal property and expenses of community projects. This does not include private property or personal expenses. * All community members are asked to contribute a minimum of 4 service hours per week to land and 1 hour to households chores. (Revised 7/21) * Service hours are completed during service shifts with the community caretaker, unless services are previously discussed and approved. * Land service must be agreed upon with the Community Caretaker, prior to service provided, to be considered service hours. * * * **To be Completed...** Living & Working Together Conflict resolution Document Food policy Financial planning Land Planning Environmental guidelines for building Forestry policy On-land business policy