Hartwood

1. The community is to be named Solas.
2. Solas is to search for 20 to 40 members
3. Each member is to contribute 5000 pounds before or on the 21st December 2011 (THE WINTER SOLSTICE).
4. Hartwood has provided a separate deposit account for holding Solas funds.
5. Members can join at anytime by paying 100 pounds towards their £5000 total, and agreeing to become full members of Hartwood.
6. All funds paid in to Solas may be returned to members before 21/12/11.
7. After this date, funds are committed to, and in the control of the Solas project.
8. The Solas project will use the amassed savings to buy a piece of land of over 70 acres.
9. Members will meet each month to define the the actual site, plan and constitution residents will agree to commit to at Winter Solstice 2011, have fun and get to know each other.
10. Gatherings will be hosted in turn in the different homes and areas where members presently live.

1. To be made by consensus at monthly meetings.
2. Solas meeting minutes to be posted on forum as soon as possible for non-present members to agree/object with.
3. It is possible to object to any decisions made in the previous month’s Solas meeting. Requests to reconsider decisions to be posted no later than one week before the next meeting. Any changes to decisions will be discussed at the next meeting.
4. Decisions are categorised as follows:
   1. finalised
   2. under discussion
   3. yet to be discussed
5. Potential new members will be informed of the body of decisions finalised, and can decide to join on that basis.
6. Develop hierarchies for ongoing decisions – not everything needs to be discussed (but will need consent) at general meetings.

1. Solas will be a trust or an IPS co-operative, whichever proves more suitable.
2. Solas (‘the legal body’) will own all the land and fixed property upon it. Members will not own any of the land, nor buildings, and will receive no payment for these assets should they leave.
3. Decision of all issues pertaining to the land will be based on consensus decision making by the Solas members (aka residents).

Land Use

1. Households who do not want land to work and only reside at Solas:
   1. These plots would pay rent for small plots for their house and leisure garden.
2. Households who may want land for a land based livelihood/business:
   1. Community consensus decision on the desired land use, location of plot, size, etc.
3. Households wishing to take on a lot of land:
   1. Community consensus decision on ability of household to carry out all the work effectively.
4. Communally worked projects:
   1. Households may have similar ideas to others about land based businesses.
   2. ALL households may want to communally own land for coppices, grazing, a barn, storage.
   3. ALL households may want to leave land to nature for it to be minimally or completely unworked.
5. Rents according to size of plots, possibly according to use of resources and other criteria)

1. Possibility of ideal land being in excess of our pooled savings of £5000 per household, therefore systems for raising money will be researched.
2. Funding may be sought from other bodies to make up shortfall between cash and cost of land, eg Radical Routes, family members etc.
3. IPS “Loanstock” will be considered:
   1. Loanstock to be repaid through monthly rents of acreage to community members.
   2. These rents could also be paid for by:
      1. land based businesses or livelihoods
      2. outside employment
      3. Work in lieu of rent
      4. LETS (Local Exchange Trading Systems)

Financial Issues

1. For members who may not make the £5K
   1. Solstice deadline may be extended
   2. Members who have fundraised little or nothing possibly not committed to or suitable for the project
   3. Loanstock will not be used to sub people for the initial £5k contribution
   4. Personal loans from one member to another are an option

1. The further South and West the land, the better assumed the climate.
2. The land should be not less than 150ft/50m above sea level.
3. Close proximity to the sea for the further natural resources it would offer a fledgling community.
4. A sea loch was assumed the most favorable option.
5. Water courses necessary for various reasons : Drinking water, energy generation, to drive machinery, etc.
6. Mixed forestry
   1. Standing wood of harvestable age (30+ years for soft woods) an advantage for building materials, business plans, etc.
   2. Spruce plantations create acidic peat bogs beneath them, which will take time to regenerate to a useful state for crop growing.
7. Field nearby or next to woodland for immediate production of food and crops.
8. Generally, locations with climates less extreme or favourable micro-climates
9. Preferably with minimal midges!

1. All agriculture is to be carried out using organic methods
   1. Organic registration with the Soil Association may be considered by individuals in the future.
2. One of the main aims of Solas is to increase biodiversity for the good of the planet as a whole and to increase our quality of life within a diverse ecosystem
3. Only non-invasive species may be introduced
4. No chemical use accepted for community food production and individual plot use
5. No GM species
6. Ideally no F1 hybrids. Gifts (of plants and seeds) may be taken
7. No commercial composts to be used
8. An ethic of growing for the community first rather than aiming to sell should encourage people to care for the land and increase biodiversity.

1. Solas will actively minimise vehicle use.
2. Community vehicles will be fueled with communally grown oil seed rape or similar to replace fossil fuels.
3. Communal vehicles will be promoted with the aspiration to completely replace private vehicles within the community.
4. The community seeks to live off grid:
   1. Hydro, wind and solar power to provide electricity
   2. strictly no mains electricity is a goal of the community.
5. The ‘Hub’ area will have communal energy intensive facilities available e.g. a laundrette.
   a. Households are free to have and power their own using suitable renewable energy technologies that they have provided for their own domestic needs and by means which have been agreed to by the rest of the community
6. The community will generate electricity for a small grid in the ‘Hub’ area.
7. A specific “noise time” will be allocated for the use of power tools.
8. Following the statements above, the community seeks to minimise dependence on fossil fuels.

1. Production must not be maximised or in any way industrialised
2. No animals may be transported in fearful or cruel conditions
3. No animals are to leave the land for monetary benefit
4. No animal products are to leave the land for monetary benefit
5. Slaughter must take place on Solas land
6. If a community member benefits in any way from an animal or its products, that community member is responsible in its upkeep
7. Community animals must experience minimal fear and suffering during life and death

1. The community will be able to forbid unethical private livelihoods:
   1. Depending on their effects on the community
   2. Community permission must be sought before undertaking (what?)
2. There is allowance to make a private/personal livelihood off personal plots
3. There is a requirement for all members of the Solas community to work HOURS for the community
   1. It was suggested that the only fair way to equally divide community work between members of varying abilities and skills doing differing types of work (manual vs. mental for example) was to divide by HOURS – this was not formalised and needs further discussion
   2. It was hoped that a master carpenter’s hours would be equal to the goat milker’s hard worked hours
   3. What work each member does during their community work hours depends on: Skill, Ability, Preference, What is needed,

Rotations between duties

1. It was agreed that every member should get the chance to do every job/task
   1. For educational value
   2. For diversity of members capable of carrying out essential duties – e.g. to provide holiday or illness cover
   3. Every member knows something of the requirements for every job
   4. So every member is familiar with each aspect of the system they rely on or use
2. Community work on community land/resources is for the sustenance, NOT the profit of the community. Members wishing to use community resources to make a livelihood:
   1. Must seek permission of the community
   2. Something must go back into the community in exchange
   3. Must not jeopardise the community through debt or criminal prosecution

1. Community members will aspire to be:
   1. Honest
   2. Peaceful
   3. Mindful
   4. Responsible
   5. Respectful
   6. Supportive
2. The community will aspire to create a sanctuary to life and soul