Frequently Asked Questions--Canaan
Frequently Asked Questions--Canaan
What is QIV-C?
The Quaker Intentional Village - Canaan (QIV-C) is a member community of the Quaker Intentional Village Project (QIVP). We are located on a 135 acre ex-farm and managed forest in the town of Canaan (pop. 1,800) in rural Columbia County, NY, 35 minutes from Albany, NY, Pittsfield, MA and Great Barrington, MA.
What is the relationship between QIV-C and QIVP?
QIVP was incorporated in April 2001 as a non-profit umbrella organization to support the five project objectives and has tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Meanwhile, two groups of people are actively working on starting Intentional Villages in Columbia County, New York and in Finland, Minnesota. We envision other Friends following their leadings to establish additional villages in other rural, suburban, and urban locales, under the auspices of QIVP, thus creating a network of villages that will support each other in living our lives in accordance with the QIVP objectives.
If QIVP is a tax-exempt nonprofit, and QIV-C is a member community of QIVP, will QIV-C members have to pay property and school taxes?
Yes, members of QIV-C will be paying taxes on their houses and other property. QIV-C is not a tax-exempt nonprofit. We also feel it is important to be contributing members of our town in more ways than just through our tax dollars.
What sort of governance structure does QIV-C have?
The QIV-C group meets monthly and conducts its business in the traditional manner of the Religious Society of Friends (by seeking the sense of the meeting or seeking unity). Decisions are made by those attending the meetings. QIV-C has membership, land, finance, nominating, outreach and community-life committees working on details and bringing recommendations to the monthly business meetings. We have an active group of Advisors providing spiritual guidance, assisting with the clearness process for membership and otherwise supporting the project.
What is the status of building the community in Canaan?
The land we acquired in 2000 was a working farm from 1795 through about
1965 and now has open pastures, quiet woods, small streams, and a pond.
In 2000 and 2001 we rehabilitated the 1940s house. The rebuilding of the old farmhouse
is currently underway. At the same time, we
are working with the town to obtain approval for our
site plan so that we may begin building our houses. We also continue to improve the land with gardens, fruit trees, and grape vines.
How big will the community be?
Currently we have six member households of various sizes, with two on the land and one renting next door. In total the six households comprise 11 adults and 10 children ages 1-19. Over the years, as we have dreamed, planned, and gotten more familiar with the land and zoning regulations, we have discussed many possible sizes for our community. Our current zoning status would allow for 10 to 12 households, but we do not know at this point how many more families will join us.
We plan to gain more members, but will always seek to balance our growth with our desire to not over-develop the land or tax natural resources.
Will members of the community share housing?
The community is working to group the homes as much as possible so that the majority of the land can be dedicated to other purposes, including open space, gardening, pasture, and conservation. Members will own their homes. We have great interest in ecologically sound construction, water and septic systems, and energy production.
Will there be a common house and communal meals?
The farmhouse we are rebuilding can accomodate communal activities such as cooking, eating, talking, and worshipping, and also has a playroom, library, and laundry room. One member family also resides in the building. With respect to communal meals, once we are living on the land we anticipate having optional communal meals a few times a week. We currently gather for a weekly communal meal.
Will members of the community share income? Will the community have
income-generating projects?
Members will not pool their income. It is likely that some members will
instigate income-generating activities on their own or in partnership
with other members. Of most interest to people so far are organic
gardening--even someday starting a Community-Supported
Agriculture (CSA) farm--and selling community-made goods like honey, eggs, and maple syrup on a small scale.
Will members have jobs outside the community?
We expect that most of us will earn our money outside the community,
especially at first. Community businesses may be started eventually, as
noted above, and as allowed by the town's zoning law.
How easy is it to find jobs in the area?
While the answer to that question is likely to be different depending on what you are looking for, we are within commuting distance of Albany, the capital of New York State, and to a few large towns in Massachusetts. Nearby are colleges, businesses of every variety, artist and professional practices, and government employment.
Members of QIV-C have made the transition to the area in a variety of ways. For example, one couple easily moved their Internet-based home business when they moved from Connecticut to Columbia County, while someone else moved from Atlanta, Georgia by finding a new job doing fund raising at one of the area's private schools. Another couple is self-employed and commuted to New Jersey for a few days a week until they were able to build up business in the area. Someone else does consulting for non-profits from home or on-site around the world, while her husband was able to find work at the nearby Quaker conference center. Yet another couple teaches at a local college.
The members and friends of QIV-C have many connections among them, and are willing and able to help people find employment when they are ready to make the move.
What will the financial commitment be?
Beyond the initial non-refundable membership-application fee of $1,000
for single-adult households and $1,500 for households with two or more
adults, there is an annual per-adult assessment to cover ongoing costs
(professional services, property taxes, land maintenance and improvement,
insurance). This amount is determined each year based on the year's operating
budget and the number of adult members. Members also contribute $20 per
year to QIVP for subscription to the project newsletter and other communications.
To buy into the project and select a house lot, members are required to
make a payment in the tens of thousands of dollars, the amount of which
is linked to house size. At this point, we are trying to organize the
economic side so that limited financial resources do not preclude participation
by interested families and individuals.
How can I get more information? How can I get involved?
If you want to find out more, we encourage you to e-mail us at qiv-c@
qivp.com or call Dee Duckworth at 518-758-8236. We ask supporters to contribute a recommended minimum of $20 per year per household which helps cover communications and outreach.As a supporter, you can receive the print edition of our newsletter (rather than the electronic version). To explore further, we encourage you to visit the QIV-C land and to attend our monthly business meetings. Those who feel
led to take an active part in the decision-making process of QIVP are
asked to become "attenders" and pay $50 a year. Those desiring to join QIV-C as members will go through a clearness process for
membership in the manner of Friends and will be making increasingly large
financial commitments to realize our leading to create this village.
Last revised September 6, 2007
Contact: qiv-c@qivp.org
Quaker Intentional
Village - Canaan
235 Bradley's Crossing Rd.
East Chatham, NY
12060
Copyright © 2006 QIVP/QIV-C