Wanna co-own land with other greenies?
Sharon Pollitt founder of Land Roots talks about this pioneering land share co-operative which is now open for members.

I went down to the big green gathering a couple of years ago with a bunch of ideas in a booklet that I had put together and searched out Simon Fairlie from 'This Land Is Ours' for a chat – he set me right on a few points of land law and permitted developments and I went away and formed the Land Roots committee… last year we went down there together to network the ideas wider…. this year were going there to sell membership in Land Roots Co-operative.

There is a fire in the belly of many young people to tap into their enormous super hero potential energy and do something to save the world.  – but it can seem overwhelming – the challenges are so great. We the masses need to work together and respond to these challenges in positive and empowering ways, on behalf of ourselves, our communities and our planet - were gonna need all the solidarity we can muster in the years to come.

Land Roots Co-operative is a new land share organisation and is now open for membership. Our aim is that thousands of people will join together to collectively buy and manage land that will be held in trust for members and as a legacy for future generations - a home from home where we can and share in the pleasures and responsibilities collective land has to offer.

Imagine planting trees that you know your kids and grandkids can enjoy – to feel that sense of belonging to land and place without having the sole responsibility of the single land owner or farmer or having to give up your life in the city -  and off setting your carbon footprint in the bargain – its gotta be a winner.

The Land - Land Roots primary aim is to buy land and protect it through collective ownership and good stewardship. We are looking to acquire farmland, hopefully with woodland and existing buildings, of between 50 and 500 acres.

The core group - If we buy land with farmhouse and outbuildings we can have a core group of around 10 – 50 people on each site, depending on the size of the land, the accomodation offered in the buildings and planning permissions we can gain for change of use, extensions and new low impact dwellings.
The core group will will have the skills and experience to organise and facilitate all the activities and events that take place on the land and they will form the housing and workers co-op.
Accomodation will be tied to working on the land - each piece of land will have different needs and opportunities and drawing on local skills and knowledge will be essential therefore a % of the accomodation will be offered to people from the local area.
In our research we asked people where they would you like to co-own land, most people said near to home - less miles to travel - smaller carbon footprint - growing local food.
 
What Land Roots are looking for:
*  Thousands of new members to invest £250 each – to build up the capitol for the land.
*  Help to network and promote Land Roots and to set up local Land Roots clans across the UK

What will the land be used for?
* Green gatherings and seasonal celebrations.
* Growing healthy food - the next step on from the allotment!
* Workshops on traditional crafts, sustainable technologies and low impact living.

The land will be developed as a showcase of permaculture design, good land stewardship and sustainable community living. We hope to offer some smallholding plots from each piece of collective land on long lease, we will also apply for planning permission to develop eco-villages on appropriate plots.

Working with the planning system - Britains planning system doesn't make it easy for people with low income to settle in the countryside. It doesn't meet the needs of today or the demands of the future, for dwellings, farming, livelihoods or a healthy environment. However some forms of development can be carried out on the land without having to obtain planning permission. The 28-day rule is a 'Permitted Development Right', and allows temporary use of land, for camping, gatherings, festivals, and other informal activities to take place on a piece of land, for up to 28 days in a single calendar year. The Land Roots collective land model is designed to be sustainable, affordable and repeatable, whilst working within the boundaries of  the planning system using this 28 day rule.

Green Gatherings - Going to festivals and gatherings is fast becoming the holiday of choice for hundreds of  thousands of people. We plan to use the 28 day rule to hold Green Gatherings That's a whole 4 weeks of each year that we can have fun and frolics on the land - and there'll be loads to do – from eco-building and permaculture to green craft workshops, arts and music – lotsa music – Now theres a recipe for eco-holidays that don't cost the earth !

Money - We aim to raise funds for the Land by selling membership and in any other ethically sound way. Affordability for everyone will be the key to Land Roots growth - so general membership and will cost £250 – (could be paid at £5 per week for 1 year). All the membership money will go to buy land, run the organisation and develop the land in an economically and environmentally sustainable way, any profits made will be reinvested into developing the land. Imagine 4000 investors at £250 each – that adds up to £1,000,000 - enough  money to buy land to host a gathering for 4000 people and grow food too.

We are also developing several eco-business plans to bring in revenue for developing the land including market gardening, eco training centre, green garden centre, craft workshop, café, retreats, production of eco-fuels the list goes on - however this will depend on where the land is and who the core group are that live on and manage the land.

Membership - will be open to everyone and comes with a stewardship responsibility to nurture the land for future generations. We would especially like to encourage farmers, gardeners, eco-builders, community organisers, fundraisers, artists, musicians, workshop leaders, holistic healers, parents, young people and YOU to join. The more people that join the more collective land we can reclaim.

Members get a say - if enough members want to see a huge jungle gym or a pond then working together these will be possible.

Be empowered to set up your own local Land Roots Green Gathering land !   The Land Roots formula is a repeatable process that will enable groups of ordinary people to buy collective land throughout the country  - creating a wild life corridor for human beings! We intend to put together info on the website to help groups set up a Land Roots clan in your area - - the limits of this community are boundless!

Farming crisis versus sustainable food production - The long term sustainability and security of UK food production is at risk, there needs to be a shift in our relationship with the food system from passive consumers to responsible citizens. It is therefore in everyones interests to learn how to grow healthy food for themselves and their families.
* Around 70% of the land in Britain now owned by around 1% of the population.
* In 1939 Britain had farm workforce of 15%, in 2000 it's was only 2%.
* In 1960 small independent food retailers had a 60% share of the food retail market, by 2000 there share was reduced to 6%.
* Four supermarkets now control 70% of food sales.

Land Roots aims to play its part in rebalancing the food system by opening up large areas of  local collective land for local food production, enabling members and their childern to have a hand in the growing and providing continuity with the land throughout the year through the veg box schemes.
  
   Food Security - Solidarity - Stewardship of the Land!

Offset your carbon footprint - Joining Land Roots will enable people to offset their carbon footprint, through the growing of local food for local consumption, planting trees, production of onsite renewable energy and eco-holidaying at the green gatherings instead of flying abroad.

This is crunch time . If we are to survive past the next few decades it is essential that we grow to understand our interconnectedness and interdependence with all life on Earth and strengthen our commitment to work together to protect it.

The green movement has a huge wave of positive energy behind it that grows bigger everyday. Land Roots is part of this wave - the more land that the green network collectively own, the more power we will have to improve the quality of life of our communities, ourselves and our planet. We need to attract a critical mass of people to buy back enough of the land to tip the balance of power, and that's exactly what we are aiming for.

The Land Roots Land will offer multi-purpose meeting places where members can come together, focal points for the green community to converge, to learn from each other, share skills, plan, train, play, celebrate our sucesses and ground our energies in practical land work.

We want to co-create places where you can feel a sense of hope and belonging, on land that we have all helped to buy. A step towards 'Making the Earth a common treasury for all'.

We need to realize the power that we have
believe in our ability to create positive change and take action !

Land bought by the people for the people
and protected through common ownership
and good stewardship
for all to enjoy
So dip your hand in your pocket – lets get it rolling !
or go on the myspace and offer us a song - or download songs...

You may never know what results come of your action,
but if you do nothing there will be no result"
Mahatma Ghandi

If you are part of a group aiming to buy land and you have similar aims to Land Roots, there may be ways of linking together to our mutual advantage – please get in touch.

www.landroots.co.uk