Managements & Plans - UPDATED JANUARY 16th 2012

NEW INFORMATION - UPDATED 16th January 2012

Right now, I am inviting all those who are seriously considering joining to come to either one of these meetings - 27th February or 27th April. If you feel you are committed to the vision of creating this community and would like to form part of the core committee to help steer and guide the start up process, then please attend, ideally in person or, as a last resort, via Skype conference that we will set up. Some of you, if possible, would be able to join before the summer and you may live here, at least part time, in order to work with me on the many practical aspects of what we have to do.

These two meetings mark the official start of the community - if you wish to join, please be there either in person or on Skype conference. Applications to join this year and next will only be taken by those who attend one of these meetings.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for people who are ready to make a commitment to the Eco Chateau Project. This group of people will be unique and have an energy that is very clear, vital and loving as well as combining to contribute all the practical skills we will need to make the project as success. We will then attract those of a similar kind to form the rest of the community.

These people will either be able to

 purchase a share outright (cash buyers)

 purchase a share ‘in kind’ with equipment and/or materials

and/or

 purchase a share ‘in kind’ with work.

The latter two options will enable those who have masses to offer but no capital, to join and form a vital part of the project. The community building & agriculture team, building homes and growing food, will be the first focus although other skills will also be important.

Each share that is bought outright (i.e. cash purchase) will allow us to join up a member without cash funds. This will:

A- Secure the future of the chateau
B-Bring cash into the community business to build homes enabling the community builders to draw a wage
C-And inject some capital into the community fund for the basic infrastructure set up costs enabling other key working members involved in this to draw a wage.

Special joining agreement if you have building, food growing or other important skills

So, as stated above, apart from cash buyers, we are inviting some very special people to join the community without paying any upfront joining fees. We will only be able to offer these arrangements as we join cash buyers up to a maximum of 5 families in the initial stage. As key working members, they will be able to draw a wage from the early stages:

A) at least 3 or 4 people who have the skills to build houses including, wherever possible, electrics, plumbing, roofing and carpentry.
B) 1 or 2 people who are experienced in permaculture and/or all aspects of organic/biodynamic food growing.
The spouses and children of these people would, of course, join too!

Where can you build your home during the founding stage?

We do not yet have the change of use for the land for the wider proposed building areas. (The original date for this permission was May 2012, but French administration is such that it could take some months longer.) So I am inviting the first members to join on the basis of building their houses in the field behind the chateau (which is already in our ‘constructible zone’).

Later, once we have the permissions, there will be the opportunity to sell existing homes and build in other areas of the property as desired.

Please watch this video of the proposed building area which is featured at the start of the video and you will note the beautiful views from there:

http://youtu.be/2wb7qezDrBQ

There you will see the barn which will create 140 square metres of beautiful living space and can be divided to make two homes if required. Further homes will be added to extend this building and might form a further 3 homes in a terrace style each with their own gardens and direct access to the pool area.

MEETING AT THE CHATEAU the week of 27th FEBRUARY, 2012

What will the community own?

Most of the land around the chateau will be separated from the chateau. The community will own the land which will be in the common ownership of all members up to a maximum number of households. Within this, each home owner will also own their own home, once it is built.

There will be interconnected rights and obligations between the the company which owns the chateau and the community company. I will retain ownership of the chateau company for the time being and continue to run it as an accommodation business, as I do now. I will also be a member of the community. The community business will provide all the services to guests including meals, courses, workshops, products and other services and will receive the income earned from these activities.

Both businesses will be interconnected and form part of the whole which is Eco Chateau. Agreements will be in place from the outset to ensure continuity of purpose and mutually beneficial activities, with a clear definition of the contribution and responsibilities of each.

In addition, the community will be able to set up accommodation for workshop participants, volunteers and guests in yurts and other 'temporary' structures, depending on planning permissions gained.

Use of additional space around the chateau (such as the large barn) will be arranged to provide space for community activities and workshops. Use of the chateau pool will be included in the initial agreement for community members who will also be able to use the chateau accommodation at very preferential rates (to ensure that utilities' costs etc. are covered) when it is not booked, for themselves and/or for friends and relatives.

Sizes of homes
The price of a share depends on which size of home you need to build.

Design & number of homes
As per the original plans, the design and layout of homes will be agreed and decided upon by each group of individuals or families as they join and are ready to build together. There may eventually be up to 24 homes of different sizes as membership grows gradually over time The exact number of community shares will be defined before you join.

Communal fund
Each person who joins as a 'cash buyer' will contribute €15,000 to a communal fund which will go towards the setting up costs of the community, the land modifications, agriculture, energy & services and shared facilities. This amount will be included in the purchase price and will be managed by the community.

The community business & income for community members
The community business will generate income from building homes for those members who do not wish to build their own, as well as providing workshops, goods, services and meals to the chateau guests and the local community. We will aim to provide sufficient income from the outset to cover income for those who require it. This will be drawn from the community fund and the house building fund. Not all those interested in joining Eco Chateau want to participate in the running of the community business and some do not require an income from it at all. Good planning and full participation of members should ensure that those who need to will receive an income.