Earth-Haven Project Concept Note
“In order to change an existing paradigm you do not struggle to try and change the problematic model. You create a new model and make the old one obsolete. That, in essence, is the higher service to which we are all being called.”
—Buckminister Fuller
Project Summary
The overall objective of this project is to build a Sustainable Living Display Centre as a working ‘Display Village’ prototype model with infrastructure and management systems that introduce and demonstrate everyday lifestyle practices and innovative eco-friendly, low-cost sustainable living resources that help to provide occupants with healthy natural environments that are in harmony with surrounding external eco-systems.
To facilitate learning opportunities through the medium of workshops to increase knowledge of self-sufficient living and sustainable house building methods from design, construction, and lifetime operation, with considerations focused on:
- Environmental sustainability. Water, energy, emissions, waste, food, vegetation, pollutants, and contamination.
- Social sustainability. Esthetics, safety, security, accessibility, functionality, future modifications, and livability for the future generation.
- Economic sustainability. Cost and materials for construction, utilities, property charges, maintenance, upgrades, major replacements, and resale value.
The specific location for the initial ‘Sustainable Living Display Centre’ is planned for our 137-acre property on the Gold Coast Hinterland. We envisage this project will be duplicated, adapted to suit other locations, and scaled to a national level.
Problem Relevance
The overarching reasons for why the project should exist are:
- Growing dependency upon governments or multinational corporations for everyday resources is both unsustainable economically and environmentally.
- Minimize impact and potential damage on local ecosystems and environments. Provide solutions to marginalized Australians, taking local action on a global problem.
- Lessen the growing gap between the haves and have not’s by assisting people to become self-sufficient and attain life’s basics of food, shelter, security, and community Everyday Australians have been impacted greatly by the continued global Coronavirus crisis restrictions, causing increased financial hardship, limiting earning capacities, causing separation from family support, and more. Ultimately causing fear and stress that impacts people’s sense of well-being and overall health.
- Provide potential avenues for individuals, families, groups, and small communities to offset their carbon footprint.
Project Output
Project Strategy/ Listing of Project Activities
What we aim to achieve from this project are:
- Construction of ten to twelve fully functional sustainable living home display models complete with differing examples of waste management, power storage, toilets, and hydroponics as contracted on the property.
- Conduct a minimum of 3 workshops, quarterly.
- Increased community awareness and education of self-sustainable living practices, for a sustainable future.
Project Beneficiaries
The project’s beneficiaries will ultimately be the people who understand the need for eco and self-sufficient living, workshop clients, local stakeholders, and future generations.
Examples
- Our project builds self-sustainable homes for 12 individual families. The 12 families that receive the homes are the direct beneficiaries. The entire community is the indirect beneficiary, as the general living conditions in the village improve.
- 20 farmers/families learn how to grow their own food gardens and forests. These 20 farmers are the direct beneficiaries of the project. Communities that purchase excess produce from the grower are the indirect beneficiaries, as their health is improved through eating local, naturally grown produce.
Values
•To be a valued partner with the many eco/sustainable businesses wishing to let the public know of their products and services.
•To provide insight and information on new eco products as they become available.
•Making a difference via teaching best practices to all who seek to live in a way that is in harmony with their environment
•We aim to achieve a common good by meeting our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
•Continually seek out new and improved practices
•Make this model duplicable, as it seems there is a demand for this sort of information centre
Workshops and Learning
We aim to set up on the 137 acres a fully functional sustainable living model able to sustain a small group, that is a showcase and teaching centre for sustainable homes, energy and waste management systems, and living-off-the-grid practices, including how to deal with zoning and local council regulations, etc.,
Everything you would want to know to do it alone, as a family group or in a small group of like-minded. Our objective is to step-by-step people so that they understand enough to be confident in creating their own or group’s sustainable lifestyle.
In other words, we aim to teach all aspects of the best models of living in harmony with our surroundings and being as self-sufficient as possible.
To provide quality education in relation to everything sustainable, including how to build a sustainable home.
Workshops planned will cover know-how across:
•Construction, especially building, for effective lifestyle and efficient energy use, using various materials and techniques including air-crete, concrete canvas, rammed earth, and earthbag
•Water
•Energy — Solar power storage
•Animals (beehives, chickens, aquaponics . . . ) and Plants
•Food — Fruit and Vegetable garden beds and the how-to of growing with less water
•Shelter
•Wellbeing and Health — e.g., medicinal herb garden, preparing for emergency situations, . ..
•Learning through life from early years
•Culture and Arts
•Entrepreneurship
•Innovation, Automation, Robotics, Electronics, Mechanics, Machining, Computers, Chemistry, Biology
•Values and strategic thinking. Mental strengthening.
Drawing on the wisdom and skills of local artisans and tribal elders.
We would be excited to collaborate with you on making our community better and achieving our goals of the world’s first Sustainable Living Centre and working Display Village.
Final Notes
This Project aims to teach a lifestyle that reduces an individual or community’s use of natural resources, without harming our environment or compromising the availability of essential resources for future generations. To live sustainably we must use less of the earth’s natural resources, replenish what we can and produce less polluting waste, and manage all waste in general.
The principles for living on the property will be to create an interconnected working community of like-minded individuals; where knowledge and resources are shared. A healthy safe environment that fosters mutual respect.
We at Earth-Haven thank you for the opportunity to present to you in the hope of creating something truly special together
There has never been a time like Right-Now to work together and show the way forward for those that are keen to take responsibility for their own survival and not be dependent on the multination chain stores for their basic needs.
Note: This project is in alignment with Scenic Rim Council Regulations
We will be Building to code and standards in the event of the council giving us grief down the track. This includes building in suitable areas as close to their guidelines as possible, taking pics, getting engineering, having it reviewed by a building certifier, etc.
Shane Sylvanspring is our man who works with council and town planning. Shane has had nearly 2 decades of experience working with the council and hence we have found the right man for the job.
Budget Summary
Earth-Haven Holdings P/L requests a total contribution of AUD$ 3.5 million which can be summarized as follows on request:
Project Budget Estimate
Legal & related expenses.
Planning and construction of 8 – 10 self-sufficient buildings and infrastructure.
Planning and construction of Community Centre
Plant and Equipment.
Management and operational working capital.
Building materials .
Technical expert’s consultation fees.
Civic and Governmental consultation fees and associated costs.
Workshop development and related expenses.
Communications and website management.
Administration and auditing expenses.
Project evaluation fees
Upgrade all roads on the property.
Diamond Grid for the main driveway
6 Cattle Grids
4 Tiny Homes
3 x 15 metre Domes
1 x Yurt
6 composting toilets around the property
Purchase plants for a food forest, herb, and vegetable gardens
3 large grow tunnels for seedlings and small plants
Bee Hives
30-40 Chickens
6 large water tanks
Solar power centers on home allotments
60 Compost units
Concrete Canvas for pond areas
Solar lighting throughout the property
Master Plan development by Planning Regenerative Communities Pty Ltd
The total budget sent on request
The Project management company is Earth-Haven Holdings P/L
Note on shares in the project:
All purchasers have legal security over their investment and will have quiet enjoyment of their allotment and the ability to on-sell their share.
Investors are simply buying shares in a company and then leasing an allotment within the site.
An equity position is assured by a shareholding and the equity rights are assured by the lease.
Any tax exposure is a result of an on-sale of shares.
Concept Note Prepared by:
Samantha Bachman