MMV Covenants

Sustainability Guidelines
Affirmation of Values
Membership Agreements

Sustainability Guidelines

1) The Maitreya Mountain Village accepts a holistic, peaceful, harmonious world view that takes into account all impacts of its actions on individuals, community, and the environment.

Explanation: Our Maitreyan Culture values collective decision making -- consensus -- which may require a synthesis of many different viewpoints.

2) Maitreya Mountain Village strives to utilize only renewable resources, and to use them at a rate less than their replacement.

Explanation: Coal and petroleum are naturally replaced at a small fraction of our current rate of consumption. Responsible resource management requires that we use wood only as fast as the forests grow, build topsoil instead of deplete it, and use water only at the rate it is replenished in catchments or aquifers. Fortunately, we are surrounded by a vast supply of all three of these.

Lifestyle Application:
Energy. Homes are designed to use passive solar energy. Supplemental thermal energy needs are supplied with wood or other biomass. Electricity production from hydro, wind, and solar (and other renewable) sources are valued. Energy consumption is minimized. Efficient recycling of plastics, metals and paper products is practiced.

Travel. MMV members value renewably-powered vehicles, muscle-powered transportation, mass transit systems, and carpooling for long distance travel. Ownership of personal vehicles may be limited. Travel needs may be met by a vehicle co-op.

Commerce. We strive to buy locally as much as possible, as fossil fuels used for transporting the goods accounts for a great deal of the purchased item’s embodied energy. Members take into account their impact on distant ecosystems when purchasing imported products.

Food. We eat locally grown food, in season, and organic, as much as possible. We emphasize the need for less ruminant animals, especially cows, because of their inefficient conversion of plant energy and pollution production (such as methane.)

Land management. All gardening, landscaping, horticulture, silviculture and agriculture conducted on Maitreya Mountain Village property must conform to the standards as set by OCIA for organic procedures and processing. In addition, no petrochemical biocides may be used or stored on MMV property for household or other purposes.

Water. Water systems at MMV incorporate catchments, cisterns, and positive displacement pumps (ram pumps) from on-property springs and streams. Water is conserved through the use of composting toilets and gray water systems and other conservation practices.

Soil. Soil building is an integral and important part of MMV’s agricultural program.

Timber. We strive to sustainably harvest onsite using primarily trees felled for land management purposes (clearing build site, defensible (fire) space, and road maintenance).

3) Maitreya Mountain Village respects, preserves and rebuilds healthy ecosystems.

Explanation: Ecosystem health and biodiversity are vital to maintain resources for human beings. Both the ecosystems and the individual life-forms they contain have intrinsic value, aside from any benefits humans may derive from them, and deserve compassion and consideration for that reason alone.

Lifestyle Application: MMV will make efforts to sustain local ecosystems by reintroducing native species, preserving and expanding wildlife habitat. We can help maintain biodiversity in our agricultural systems by growing heirloom and endangered varieties of food plants and using open-pollinated seeds that store genetic diversity. While animals can be a vital part of a permacultural system, the use of animal products is limited by the resources available.

4) Maitreya Mountain Village members strive for a closed resource loop where by-products are reintegrated as useful resources.

Explanation: There is no waste in nature. End products of one biological process are constructive materials for another. Using nature as a model, our members reuse our by-products when possible and minimize what must be discarded. Toxic substances that damage life are avoided. We strive for the use of durable, recyclable, and/or biodegradable materials.

Lifestyle Application: Members compost kitchen and human waste and minimize packaging and disposability in products they buy. Toxic substances such as used motor oil and batteries should be dealt with properly to minimize their negative impacts.

5) Maitreya Mountain Village members avoid exploiting people and other cultures.

Explanation: The exploitation of people is intimately linked with the exploitation of the planet. The ecosystem degradation resulting from consumerist, industrial cultures often takes place in impoverished, “developing” regions. Oppressive economic systems dictate that disadvantaged people often have no choice but to impact the ecosphere negatively simply to survive. Standard of living disparities also causes ecosystem degradation as poorer cultures strive for a consumerist lifestyle. A sustainable and stable ecological system will only be achieved when worldwide peace and equity is achieved.

Lifestyle Application: Members thoughtfully consider their actions, such as buying imported products that support oppressive economic systems and boycotting certain materials, products, or companies toward responsible social and ecological ends.

 

 

Statement of Values

 

Community. We value community and wish to create a sense of family, interaction and fun balanced with individual needs for privacy and quiet. We are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment for families and individuals with diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences.

Consensus. We value inclusive decision making and are committed to making community decisions by consensus, a process where we have the responsibility to participate and where every voice is heard.

Sustainability. We value a community that has a low impact on the environment and on natural resources. We will use environmentally sound building practices, energy systems, gardening and landscaping. By sharing space, skills and resources we will lighten our footprint on the land.

Peace, Nonviolence and Social Justice. While we have no specific political affiliation as a group; we value the harmony and compassion that a communal lifestyle brings.

Balance. We wish to strike a balance of all these ideals and realize this requires a willingness to compromise. We will honor our community by coming together to share meals, celebrations, chores and open, respectful communication. We will honor individual needs for solitude, creativity and growth.

Membership Agreements (all MMV members sign this)

As a member of Maitreya Mountain Village:

I agree to help Maitreya Mountain Village achieve its stated goals and mission.

I am committed to pioneering a lifestyle that will serve as an example of ecological sustainability, as explained in the Sustainability Guidelines. I will weigh the implications of my actions, continually striving to minimize any negative impacts and increase my positive impact on the earth. I will participate in the creation of a physical and social structure and culture that will move us towards long term sustainability.

I agree to pay agreed upon dues (money and/or time) as set by the membership, in a timely manner.

I will participate in an inclusive democratic decision making structure of Maitreya Mountain Village government (or consciously waive my right to express my opinions) and abide by the decisions made, including those made before my membership in Maitreya Mountain Village. I understand that a democratic government depends on the integrity of its participants and their commitment to the ideals of trust, respect, self-empowerment, cooperation, equal access to power, and non-violence.

I agree to resolve conflict peacefully.

I am committed to the vision of diverse membership of Maitreya Mountain Village and will not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, creed, age, ability, educational level, or economic background.

I agree to release and void my membership upon request of the members and according to the process outlined in Maitreya Mountain Village bylaws.

I understand that part of the Maitreya Mountain Village mission is to serve as an example of sustainable living through outreach and education. I understand that Maitreya Mountain Village will continually pursue this goal by welcoming new members (as resources allow), guests, and visitors and by promoting the intentions and activities.