In 1620, the Pilgrims tried socialism – and utterly failed at it. For several years, the colony raised crops in “communal service.” It didn’t work. So Governor Bradford instituted one historic change that was to ensure the flourishing success of the colony and change American history ever afterwards. Communal agriculture was abandoned and private planting was established. Here is Bradford’s own account from the original source documents:

“This was very successful. It made all hands very industrious, so that much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could devise, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better satisfaction. The women now went willingly into the field, and took their little ones with them to plant corn, while before they would allege weakness and inability; and to have compelled them would have been thought great tyranny and oppression.

The failure of this experiment of communal service, which was tried for several years, and by good and honest men, proves the emptiness of the theory of Plato and other ancients, applauded by some of later times–that the taking away of private property, and the possession of it in community, by a commonwealth, would make a state happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. For in this instance, community of property (so far as it went) was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment which would have been to the general benefit and comfort.”

This story from our American heritage explains why private property ownership is so important. Let me give you another example of how we learned the same thing that Governor Bradford did. Those who have visited my website at sewaneecreek.com have seen that we tout our community garden.  This garden was never intended to feed Villagers, but rather serve as a place for training and social relationship building. But, even on that level, I proudly admit that the “community garden” has failed. The good news is that we recognized this early on and, like Governor Bradford, changed to something better. I built a nice raised bed garden and brought in good topsoil for the community garden.  But, because everyone in the Village has enough land to raise their own crops, it’s simply more convenient to farm closer to home. That fact, combined with what the Pilgrims discovered long ago, that socialism discourages real work, doomed the community garden even though it’s still there, ready to be worked by anyone who wants to.

What works better? Letting natural law take its natural course. We began assisting one another with gardening on our own land. That practice evolved further to helping one another with other projects. The key is that there is always a project sponsor who has a vested interest in getting something done with or improving something they own. An enlightened sponsor, interested in optimizing value, getting the job done effectively and efficiently, puts extra effort into organizing in advance. By managing it well, needed tools and materials are readily available. Know-how is acquired by study in advance of execution and necessary training is given.  This happens naturally when the objective is efficient production, not just hanging out together.  Not only does value-added work get done, but leadership and management skills are developed in the process.  The tangible results?

Example 1. Last winter, three families contributed real labor in the planting, tending and harvest of crops from the greenhouse that my family owns. The productivity of our assets increased as needed labor hours were contributed. We felt good about sharing the products of our combined labor. We had an abundance of winter vegetables including cabbage, kale, lettuce, carrots, beets, broccoli and cauliflower.  At times there was much more than the three participating families could consume, and much more than our family had the prior winter, when we operated the greenhouse by ourselves.

Example 2. is actually many examples. As each family realized the benefits received when others contributed labor to THEIR sponsored/owned projects, there developed a free market of labor exchange based on trust that value given would be returned and amplified. A free market requires that kind of trust and it encourages all to give their best efforts in return SO THAT they can earn the trust and contributions of others. An essential part of FREE MARKET is FREEDOM.   No one is forced, coerced, or even made to feel guilty if they don’t opt to play in the free market. But there are natural consequences, in the form of benefits.

Here is a partial list of the products of these many small projects.

ROTATING COMMUNITY PROJECTS
(by sponsor/beneficiary – in order of arrival in Village & participation)

Family #1

• Raised Bed Gardens Built
• Greenhouse Built
• Back Garden Clearing, Plowing, Planting
• Orchard Irrigation Water Tank – overflow from RWCS
• Deep Cycle Solar Battery Charging
• CONEX Guest House Built
  • Insulation
  • Exterior Siding
  • Interior paint & Paneling
  • Plumbing
  • Roof
• Power Shed
  • Concrete Foundation
  • Shed Re-Roofed
  • Lister Generator Installed
  • Wood Gasifier Installation & Training
• Micro-Hydro-Electric Generator @ Miller’s Falls
  • drilled for Re-Bar above Waterfall for Small Dam
  • Install Weir
  • Install pen-stock

Family #2

• Dam for Driveway and Pond Built
• Driveway Built, Rock Surfaced
• Outdoor Wood Furnace Installed
• Raised Bed Gardens Built
• Chicken Coop designed & Built
• Rainwater Catchment Tanks installed
• Solar PV System Installed
• Roof Repair – Main House
• Seed Lawn
• Move In: Unload truck and move furniture
• Kitchen Cabinets Finished
• Special House Cleaning for guest visit
• Solar Fence Installed
• CONEX containers for shop installed,
  • Ground work, leveling
  • Windows installed
  • Trenching for electrical connection to shop

Family #3

• Storage Shed Built
• Raised Bed Garden Built
• Garden Leveled and Plowed
• Stone Retaining Wall & Garden Bed Built
• Fallen Tree Removed
• Chicken Coop Built
• Installed 2 TV Antennas
• Move In: Unload truck and move furniture
• Rainwater Collection System Installed

Family #4

• Put Out Large Brush Fire
• Built Goat Shelter
• Re-Mapped New Lot perimeter for Solar fence and Dam

Family #5

• Raised Beds for Garden Installed
• General Yard Clean-up during Construction

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

• Tile Fired and Installed for Face of the Village Sign – Donated by a generous Villager
• Planter at the Village sign, maintenance – Family #3
• Winter Greenhouse Garden, Cabbage harvest & Kraut Processing
• Bee Keeping
  • Monthly bee club potluck And instruction
  • Continuous learning & sharing of info re: bees
  • Hives built
  • Bees installed
  • Regular weekly rotation of bee care & feeding
• Food Service Equipment donated for Commons, pending installation – another generous Villager

SOCIAL / CULTURAL & EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Weekly Monday Family Home Evening get-togethers for games, discussions, lessons, etc.
• Pot Luck Dinners
  • Christmas, New Years and Thanksgiving
  • Monthly Village Potluck – Rotating Venue
  • Ad Hoc – too many to count
• Preparedness Fair (with over 15 expert presentations)
• Preparedness Workshop (with gourmet outdoor cooking demo and feast, rock climbing and rappelling and more
• Annual July 4th Celebration (potluck, entertainment, movies, fireworks, pig roast)
• Summer movies under the stars @ the Village Amphitheater
• Movies @ the Miller’s Home Theater – Too many to count
• Plays attended together
  • Les Miserable – Nashville
  • A Mid-Summer Nights Dream – U. Of South, Sewanee
  • Julius Caesar – U. Of South, Sewanee
  • Picasso at the Lapin Agile – U. Of South, Sewanee
• Movies away from the Village
  • Defiance – U. OF South
  • Atlas Shrugged
• Educational presentations attended in Huntsville twice
• Many gulf hikes, cave explorations
• Stone Fort Park Tour – Manchester
• Local Worm Farm Tour