Mission Statement

Mission:

Clients and Members (ie Target Markets)

1. For "greenovators" green elite, investors, thinkers, journalists, and other people and organizations in the movement,

a) To develop upon existing trends and projects in the movement through services, opportunities, and contributions.

b) Networking. Skills training in new technology. Floor models / show room in the actual setting; a place to display wares in their element. A place to speak to a high-end crowd via conferences, etc. with a resort atmosphere and a hands-on learning approach.

2. For Urban business owners, foreign diplomats, speakers, teachers, officials,

a) To provide a safe, private place to relax in a natural Rural Canadian setting.

b) The cottage experience for those who aren't from Rural Ontario or Quebec,

c)The camping experience for those who don't tent or don't have forests to explore,

d) A way to experience life in an eco-sustainable dwelling and see how life in an intentional eco-village would operate and how people interact differently with each other and with their environment there.

3. For Youth groups, Religious groups, Families, campers, travellers, etc.

a) To provide space for a behind the scenes experience, where they actively participate in the operation of the resort,

b) to gain hands on experience of the labour, challenges and rewards that arise in daily life on a farm/campground/retreat center type village.

c) real work experience that can be transferred to other endeavours

d) space for events that involve being in nature/rural/agrarian settings or camps.

4. For Middle class specialists, travelling workers with skills to share; (nutritionists, nurses, earthship builders, wwoofers, playwrights and musicians, veterenarians, social workers - stress management, at risk youth, etc - , smiths, artisans,)

a) A place to come and practice the work they already do in a novel/new/fresh/stimulating setting,

b) to develop a different, more diverse client base for themselves through cooperation with the resort,

c) to do environmental projects on an experimental/trial basis, find apprentices, etc. by contributing something to the organization on a medium-term.

Programs, Products and Services

1. For Trade-show style exhibitions of technologies and services in the green / eco-sustainability stream.

a) space will be rented or bartered to vendors, for example a percentage of earnings, a flat rate or a one-time donation of goods.

b) for vendors who sell something the resort would benefit from, the showroom program will be offered, for example a heating and cooling professional might install a geothermal unit as a floor model, and someone at the resort will give a demo on operation and maintenance to anyone interested in purchasing or investing, with the agreement that they will do business with this person.

c) Unlike a one-room show, we will set up a wooded clearing for booths or mock shopfronts for those whose wares are portable.

2. For campground facilities.

a) there will be outbuildings, cabins for campers to come stay in, youth groups, religious organizations, outers' clubs etc. and space for people to pitch tents and a few shared firepits.

b) unlike a campground, there will normally be some free activities ongoing, for campers to participate in. Some of these will be labour and maintenance jobs. Some will be nature hikes along trails, in caves, etc. or birdwatching, plant and fungus identification, etc. led by residents.

c) There will be a swimming area.

d) The fee will be low for campers, because they are low maintenance. Outhouses will be maintained.

3. For farming, gardening, greenhouse and indoor cultivations.

a) there will be an organic farm component (or biodynamic, etc) which will focus on feeding residents and workers, high-end clients and trade with other farms in the neighborhood (CSA) as well as shipping excess product to farmers' markets.

b) this will include greenhouses, a field to rotate several crops, animal areas, as well as herb and flower gardens. All outbuildings will have gardens. We will focus on native species and any plant that will be used for manufacturing projects, such as hemp.

c) this will include a security strategy against wild animals who would threaten the crops, such as foxes, raccoons, hawks, hares, but not to the point where insect pests are dominant because of a shift in the food chain

d) a compost area will be essential, and not secure against animals.

e) all visitors, without exception, will work a shift on farm activities. This may include fertilizing, weeding and watering, at one extreme, to preserving, brewing and cheesemaking at the other. Signups happen the morning of their arrival.

4. For resort facilities.

a) The main farmhouse will be a bed and breakfast type motel. it will have large living, dining and recreation areas. It will have a professional kitchen, several bedrooms of various sizes and capacities, and a few bathrooms for patrons to share. It will include a sauna, bar, library, billiards, etc.

b) it will cater to a high-end crowd who are visiting for conferences, guest speakers, retreat organizers, greenovators, etc. to network with other business people for their own ventures, and to invest in the technologies or services they provide.

c) It will include gardens outside, a hot tub, tennis court and patio outside in the main farmhouse area. It will be surrounded by fruit trees, rose bushes and herb gardens. There will be a small campfire area. There will be a view of the farmland and bike trails leading into the wooded area. It will be accessible to the road and ample parking. Wind power will be near parking.

d) It will have wireless internet. There will be secure lockers on site at the farmhouse and guests will be encouraged to leave electronics and valuables behind before going onto the land, both for relaxation and to be prepared for changes in weather.

e) All visitors will participate in 4 hours of volunteer shifts on the land during their stay. No exceptions.

f) On a few-hour, sign-out basis, things like drums, inner tubes, etc. will be made available.

5. As an Eco-village.

a) the resort will be planned as an eco-village where permanent residents will maintain their own sustainable, eco-friendly dwelling somewhere on the grounds.

b) there will be a 'downtown' area in the forested area beyond the greenhouses and animal barns. This area will be used mostly for lumber and will become parkland with a few strategic trees remaining. There will be lawn, benches, solar lamps and flowerbeds. Empty stalls will be available for temporary vendors and special events, to serve multiple purposes when there are no vendors occupying the space.

c) Permanent and semi-permanent structures will be erected for craftspeople and crop sales, eg. metal smiths, jewelers, arts and crafts, clothiers, etc.

d) permanent residents work full time on the land and contribute monthly and annually to taxes, bills, maintenance and other core expenses.

e) Experts from other eco-villages in north america and around the world will consult for us.

6. As an educational organization

a) although no certifications will initially be given to students, a learning environment will be fostered as a core element.

b) specialists will be encouraged to take on apprentices and all visitors will learn skills as a part of a volunteer shift.

c) guest speakers and teachers will be a large source of generating clients and a library will be installed in the main farmhouse recreational area.

d) Educational tours, including birdwatching, identifying plants and fungi, trailblazing and marking, swimming lessons, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, crafting and snowshoeing workshops, to give some examples, will be available seasonally.

e) Spiritual leaders from various traditions will be invited for eg. meditation retreats, and healers of many alternative streams will teach visitors how to improve their bodies and lifestyles.

f) There will be no 'tuition', classes and programs will be by donation and sliding scale, or included in the price of the admission package.

7. As a sanctuary

a) a place for travellers, at risk youth and persons in spiritual need to find their feet and move onwards and upwards.

b) a multi-faith temple for persons of nature-based and eco-conscious spiritualities.

8. As a networking hub

a) visitors will get to know each other during a volunteer shift where a necessary task is assigned in the visitor's desired department (kitchen, logistics, etc.) and they will work co-operatively with other visitors and staff.

b) meals will be served three times a day in a common area where visitors and staff are encouraged to mingle with each other as they enjoy their meals.

c) participation in programming will give visitors more opportunities to network with each other and staff.

d) one of the goals of gathering a diverse group of individuals together on the resort is to help each other help the world.