Responsible Resource Stewardship through Eco-social Co-Living

Every act of conservation nurtures our shared prospertiy & resilience

Transitioning into a communitarian “communal union” co-living situation is not only a lifestyle choice, it is also a commitment to adopting the principles of conservation by embracing a simple, eco-aligned way of life. As communitarian associates integrate into Deep Union collaborative living spaces, they take on responsibilities that go beyond personal gain, focusing on environmental sustainability, shared economic security, and collective well-being.

This shift requires adopting practices that align with the core values of living simply that supplies the foundations of participation in Right Livelihood common purse, collaborative ethical production and distribution of the life-supports of clean-green organic living food, clean water, shelter, clothing, renewable energy generation, health and dental care, transport and education, ensuring economic security while supporting ethical work practices.

Living Light, Living Ethically

Practicing the one cloak tenent of ethical consumption within communal union

Financial Stability through Reduced Consumption: One of the key benefits of living a conservation-focused life is the reduction in personal expenses. By adopting simpler habits – such as minimizing consumption, recycling, repairing and repurposing materials, along with pooling and sharing resources within the co-living union – individuals reduce their overall cost of living. This allows for greater financial stability and freedom, further alleviating financial burdens, as members contribute to and benefit from pooled wealth, reducing the need for excessive individual spending.

Improved Well-Being through Minimalism: A Conservation mindset promotes simplicity, which often leads to a greater sense of personal fulfillment of both individual and collaborative missions. By embracing minimalism, communitarian associates often find themselves less weighed down by material possessions and relieved from the constant pressure to consume. This mental and emotional shift creates space for more meaningful experiences, deeper connections with others, and a heightened appreciation for nature and the simple joys of life. A dedicated commitment to eco-social conservation also helps align our daily actions with values of mindfulness and intentional living, which in turn, fosters greater levels of personal peace and contentment, along with measurable attainment of personal goals.

Stronger Sense of Community and Belonging: When communitarians actively participate in conserving resources within a co-living ‘Deep Union’ environment, they foster a culture of cooperation and mutual care which leads to stronger bonds between members and a shared sense of responsibility for the well-being of the entire group. The collective nature of conservation efforts – whether through collaboratively contributing to planting, maintaining and harvesting organic food from Kitchen Gardens and Permanent Agriculture Food Forests, sharing in renewable energy generation and energy-saving initiatives, or sustainable transport practices – trust and collaboration which are vital for the success of a communal union, will be greatly bolstered.

Alignment with Environmental and Ethical Values: Dedication to conservation practices aligns communitarians with environmental and ethical values that help us to live in harmony with the planet. By making conscious decisions to reduce waste, conserve energy, and live sustainably, members of communal unions significantly reduce their ecological footprint, while also contributing to the larger goals of responsible planetary stewardship. This provides a deep sense of purpose, as personal actions directly contribute to preserving the Earth’s resources for future generations.

Personal Responsibilities of Conservation within Communal Union

Living Simply: The Core of Conservation

Living simply is the foundation of conservation within a communal union. Simplicity means using only what is necessary, avoiding excess, and embracing the idea that less can often be more. Members are responsible for cultivating a lifestyle that prioritizes needs over wants and recognizes that individual consumption affects the entire community.

Key Responsibilities:

*Conscious Consumption: Choosing to purchase or use only what is essential, with a focus on quality over quantity.

Waste Minimization: Adopting habits like reusing, recycling, and composting to minimize the waste footprint.

Time and Energy Management: Being mindful of how time and energy are used within the community, avoiding unnecessary tasks, and respecting others’ resources and efforts.

Participating in Right Livelihood Common Purse Cooperatives

Integration into an eco-aligned Right Livelihood production & distribution cooperative is a significant aspect of ‘common purse’ co-living economic life. This cooperative structure pools the incomes and resources of members, ensuring that everyone’s needs are met, while supporting work that is ethical, sustainable, and aligned with the values of the whole of the global network of communitarian unions. Each member’s contributions, whether through work, skills, or time – are vital to maintaining the financial and access to available resources within the union.

Key Responsibilities:

*Contributing Meaningfully: Associates commit to engaging in work that supports the economic and environmental sustainability of the network of local, regionally-connected communal unions. This includes participating in varying and rotational roles within eco-friendly enterprises such as organic food production, renewable energy projects, or sharing skills which culminates in the common good of all.

*Fair Distribution of Resources: communitarian associates are responsible for ensuring that the wealth generated through the collaborative enterprises is distributed (according to need) to support the well-being of all who are entitled to draw from the ‘common purse’.

*Upholding Ethical Practices: Right Livelihood means engaging in work that is in harmony with both human dignity and environmental sustainability. Each associate is responsible for ensuring that their economic contributions reflect these values.

Aligning with Sustainable Ethical Consumption Practices

As communitarians progress through the different stages of adopting the principles and practices of associative living and loving, they actively contribute to sustainability and ethical practices within the collective. This involves ensuring that all communal activities -from food production to energy use, are carried out in an environmentally resource-efficient and responsible way. As part of the conservation effort, communitarian associates are tasked with constantly finding new ways to strengthen the communal union’s contribution to ecological preservation and restoration.

Key Responsibilities:

*Sustainable Sourcing: Ensuring the communal unions source goods (e.g., food, clothing, energy) from ethical and environmentally responsible providers.

*Encouraging Communal Participation: Fostering a culture where every communitarian participates in conservation efforts, whether through gardening, food preparation that includes composting, or energy management.

*Education and Awareness: Sharing knowledge and raising awareness within the community about sustainable living practices, ensuring that all members are informed and engaged.

Balancing Personal & Communal Needs

Within “Rich By Association Shared Prosperity” settings, commitment to conservation of the Earth’s finite resources, requires awareness and conscious effort to align personal consumption with the overall capacity of the collective to produce, procure and distribute – essentials first, and added extras as secondary considerations. In practical terms, observing this form of ethical consumption that aligns with the principles and practice of preservation and restoration of the Earth – our only home, requires associates to ensure they do not overconsume, or worse, contribute to wasting the world.

As responsible stewards of the earth’s resources, the communal unions’ collaborative provisioning committees focus on ensuring that all who contribute to and draw from the common pot have enough to meet both their daily and future needs, supporting a quality of life worthy of the human experience. Additionally, communal unions establish sufficient reserves to ensure food security for both local and regional communal unions in times of need.

Key Responsibilities:

Responsible Use of Resources: communitarians strive to ensure that their personal use of communal resources is proportionate to their needs, avoiding excess that would otherwise deprive others.

Material Security: Recognizing that some within the communal unions may require more resources due to health, age, or other circumstances, communitarians living within Deep Union are tasked with supporting these needs while maintaining the social and economic viability of unions. It is for these reasons that communitarians living a collaborative lifestyle and love-style, are charged with the responsibility to contribute to reserves of ‘life supports’ to ensure the sustainability of communal unions through Mutual Banking, where both financial reserves and resource reserves are collectively maintained. These reserves allow for responsive support to those with greater needs while preserving the economic and social stability of the unions.

Achieving Economic Security through Right Livelihood & Ethical Consumption

A key pillar of economic security within the network of communal unions is Right Livelihood ‘common’ wealth, collaborative provisioning, which provides financial stability through income-sharing coupled to pooling resources. Conservation directly supports this model by reducing individual expenses to ensure the global network of communal unions’ wealth is used efficiently and sustainably. As communitarians work together, contributing to eco-aligned enterprises committed to minimizing waste, they create a resilient, self-sustaining economy that protects both the environment and their long-term health, wealth and happiness.

Living simply and practicing conservation allows for more sustainable economic growth, as members focus on the essentials and avoid the costs associated with overconsumption and waste. By aligning their personal and economic lives with the communal values of conservation and shared wealth, associates within a communal union can enjoy a secure, sustainable, and meaningful existence.