Membership

 

MMV ‘s current population is in the process of forming. We will accept six to eight families/individuals within the next two to three years. Accommodations are rustic; this is wilderness living and is not for everyone. Currently, members must be able to provide for most their own food as we prepare the infrastructure for agriculture, beehives in place for honey, and our farm animals adequately penned.

We encourage potential members to write us, ask questions, and complete the Membership Application. Arrange for a visit; at least two weeks are recommended. It can sometimes take several visits in order to agree that it’s a good match. Understanding the objectives and project vision is key. When a potential member’s values are in line with the MMV vision, we can agree to Provisional Membership, which lasts one year. At that time consideration for Council Membership takes place. Living here is free, work is volunteered, and individual living arrangements are made together with individuals.



Decision making
The decision to agree to Resident Membership can be made while the visitor is still here, but we make no commitment to that. You should make plans to leave for one week at the end of your visitor period. We will contact you when a consensus decision has been made. If either you or the community believe more time is necessary to make a well-informed decision, occasionally the visitor period can be extended, usually for one week.

Our general policy is "If it's not an obvious 'yes,' it's not yes." In other words, all members need to feel reasonably confident that you are the right person for our community. If we are uncertain, or don't feel like we know you well enough, we will not offer membership. We may ask you to visit again.

We believe that applicants have the right to know why they were accepted or rejected. Reasons for accepting or rejecting tend to include things such as ability to get along with other people, willingness to accept feedback, organization and responsibility, completion of useful work, needs of the group at that time, dedication, respect of boundaries, ability to cope with existing mental or emotional issues, and commitment to nonviolence, community living and egalitarianism.


Acceptance
If accepted for membership, you are welcome to move in immediately if there is a room available or if you are willing to camp. Once you are a Resident Member, there is a provisional period of at least one year. In most ways Resident and Council members are treated exactly the same. The main differences are that the community can decide to expel a Resident Member for any reason at any time (although this may be extremely rare), and Resident Members technically cannot block any community decision. However, their input is still taken seriously. Since we operate by consensus, any one Council Member may block someone's provisional period from continuing or from moving to become a Council Member. However, except in cases of violence, abuse, or serious violation of policy, any member who has issues with another member is expected to make a full, good faith effort to work out the problems rather than force someone to leave the community.


Resident Membership
Once provisional membership begins, we’ll assign or build a residence to suit. All matters relating to financial responsibility, work sharing and community function will be agreed upon. All decision-making is done by consensus, so plan to be integrally involved in your roles here. Life here is relatively simple, but there’s much to be done. And we’ll have a good time while we’re at it.

After one year, the group and the Resident Member deliberate for the relationship to continue.

Internships
An Internship at MMV is an opportunity to be a part of something special. Growing organic food, building intentional community, and endeavoring to live a sustainable lifestyle is vital to our future. Interns participate, as non-members, in all aspects of the community for the length of their stay. This includes our meetings and consensus decision making process, cooking for the community, alternative construction methods, and creative design and problem solving for projects. Live here for free, volunteer your work -- learn alternative building techniques (cob, cordwood masonry, straw bale, living roof, etc). Help create permaculture design, organic gardens and water systems. Stay short-term or long-term