Grow Your Community a presentation by Manx Thrive Society
- Carla Fargher
- Jan 7, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 15, 2023
This week we attended Thive Farms' presentation on community collaborations. Attendees were invited to become members of Thrive Farm's exciting plans.
Thrive Farm is a Community Benefit Society here are our notes from the meeting
What is a Community Benefit Society?
A co-operative society is run for the mutual benefit of its members while a community benefit society provides services for the wider community as well as its members.
Thrive Farms has adopted a simple constitution…
The inherent law of the land principles, do no harm, do not steal, or cause damage to others property.
Living in a way that benefits the next 8 generations as is the philosophy of some ancient tribes.
HOW COULD MANX THRIVE SOCIETY BENEFIT YOU?
Be part of a collaborative community
Work together towards common goals
We can provide some solutions to potential threats?
Food Shortages
Adulterated Foods
Healthcare provision
Central Bank Digital Currency - CBDC
Living on an island we depend on the boat
A number of our local food producing producers and communities
are currently under threat due to a wide variety of factors therefore we need to be more community sufficient
How will Manx Thrive Society work?
Some of you may be aware of Thrive Farms from last year. For those that haven’t, we took over some well established, horticultural land. Together with a group of volunteers from MPCS, we took a step into the unknown, we named this new project Thrive farms. The idea was to grow seasonal, unadulterated local produce.
Built upon the success of last year, we felt we could expand this basic model to incorporate a larger enterprise, to do this, we envisage a much larger community driven enterprise.
The great thing about this particular model is that we can expand or retract as circumstances dictate.
A few examples on how we can expand in future phases are first of all, more farmland.
We could also go in to livestock and food delivery.
Once we are well established and the initial ventures are working profitably, as all profits remain in the community for potential future enterprises, if a member of the society has a great idea, they can present it to the members and a decision can be made together.
Where do each of us fit in?
◦ Become a member
◦ Quarterly meetings open to all members
◦ The council of elders meeting will be within 2 weeks of the community meeting
◦ Email the admin with any comments or suggestions for the meetings.
◦ WE ARE A COMMUNITY!! LET’S TALK TO EACH OTHER.
There will be a Council of elders
◦ 12 members
◦ Their role is to action the wishes of the people.
◦ 6 members step down each year and 6 more voted in.
◦ This happens at the end of financial year AGM.
Volunteers and time banking
◦ The farm will work best with consistent weekly volunteers.
◦ Weekly farm jobs will be on the timebank software for society members to book their slot.
◦ For every 3 hours banked through the farm, the member will receive 25% off their next thrive farms order.
◦ Going forward in phase 2, you can also bank their time used on the farm. This is for future reference.
◦ The main volunteer times are:
4pm – 7:30pm every day
All day Friday & Sunday
Or members can book in anytime they have some time available
◦ Jobs list: Weeding, harvesting, watering and packaging.
◦ Come along and enjoy the community comradery!
Do a spot of earthing whilst enjoying the company of like-minded individuals :-)
More about Time banking
Time banking is a bartering system for services, where people exchange services for labour-time based credits, rather than money
Phase 1 – Community farm
Phase 2 – Community time swap
Investment and donation
◦ Donations will be a driving force behind getting MTS off the ground.
◦ You can either donate or loan to us. Loans can be paid back upon donators request, as fund become available.
◦ You can pay for the 2023 season subscription of vegetable boxes up front and receive an approximate 10% discount.
Looking ahead - Possibilities for the future
Livestock?
Food delivery?
Anything any member wants to create that benefits the community as a whole, subject to funds and member agreement.
Want to get involved?
You will receive an automatic email with all documents and details attached including how to sign up to Tol 2 (Timebank software)
Please read all documents including the society rules
Find them online
LinkedIn – Manx Thrive Society
Youtube recording of first presentation to be uploaded here shortly.
Thrive Frams will be presenting again on Saturday 22nd April at 3.30 at The Pilates, Yoga & Dance Studio Ramsey (above the Maddhatters cafe).
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