White Paper, Time Travelers off-grid Guest House
The vision
A non-profit organization situated in Spring Vale, the parish of St Catherine, Jamaica.
Motto: Be the Change
Theme: Creativity and Sustainability
Creativity
Must have:
Recording studio
Studio for painting
Video production capabilities
Connections with local creatives
An abundance of art and instruments
An attractive appeal for artists, musicians, painters and other creatives from around the world.
Vision:
Tattoo studio
Yearly festival
Shipwreck stage
Boat production out of recycled material.
A great environment for invention, innovation and change making.
Multi-sport field (basketball, volleyball, football, beach handball etc).
Actual Time Travel (after sufficient research into potential implications).
Sustainability (environmental, social, spiritual and more)
Must have:
Internet
Website
Solar power
Jungle gym
Eco-pool/pond
Thai-boxing ring
Rainwater collection
Free fruit for all guests.
Recycling - manufacturing
Permaculture/food-forrest (food production).
Chickens, goats, cats, dogs and beekeeping.
Great work conditions (to attract great people).
Support the local community (attract tourism, use local drivers/businesses, trade with local farmers etc).
Vision:
A Horse
3d printer
Wind power
Water power
Hydroponics
Bicycle repair shop
Restaurant/Coffeeshop
Sponsor a plant program
Ayahuasca/Psilocybin retreats.
Legal Medicinal Marijuana production.
Involve a veterinarian and set up an animal shelter.
Work with homeless, addicts and other vulnerable people.
25 hour work week or perhaps work tasks rather than hours.
Spreading ideas and work methods throughout Jamaica and the world.
Setting up a MMA or Thai boxing gym - for personal interest, exercise and to connect with the local community.
Becoming the worlds greatest work place.
General
Comforts will be limited the first few months. We will shortly be accepting volunteers, working for food and accommodation. Permanent staff and/or co-founders will in addition receive salary. We will not pay salary until the business is generating enough income to do so. This project is restricted by a tight budget. An economically sustainable (and replicable) business model is emerging in the process. The ideas and methods will spread throughout the world. Possibly spreading the business name with it in one form or the other.
Decision making
The components listed above as ”must-haves” are the core of the project. Without them the project would lack a foundation. If you wish to join, you should first make sure that you are attracted to those components. The same goes for the main themes of Creativity and Sustainability as well as the motto of Being the Change (you wish to see in this world).
Apart from that we need to form a modell for decision making. I am open to suggestions. My wish is that the modell should empower and uplift anyone working with the project. I strive to create a sense of participation and inclusiveness. The people eventually turning out to actively participate will all have a say and together we will form a model that will suit our needs. A thought is that people who are actively involved in the long term should have more to say than someone who is volunteering for just a few weeks. At least when it comes to major decisions.
Economy
We will need to discuss how we wish to set up the economy of the business in a way that benefits us all and the projects future growth/expansion to different regions of the world. I consider my initial investments a loan to the business which I expect to get back when financially possible. Time will tell exactly how and when that will happen. If at all possible some form of basic income could be applied. As an initiator I will not demand to make more money than anyone else involved. I will however hold a door open to side-projects that might generate an additional income for myself. Others will be welcome to do the same. All in full transparency.
Roles
We need to work out the difference between a volunteer, a co-founder and permanent staff. A volunteer should be relatively straight forward. But the latter two will need further contemplation. It is likely that further financial investment will not be necessary. If that statement turns out to be wrong our options would mainly be to attract additional co-founders or through crowdfunding. A large number of people have shown interest in the project and out of them there are already a few potential investors despite the fact that I haven’t felt ready to market the project fully, just yet. The venture capitalist model of investing for future profit will not be an option. Investors should rather take active part in the project and expect their money in return much like my initial investment. Details need to be worked out if that scenario proves needed and necessary. The most suitable way to raise additional funds could very well prove to be crowdfunding. We would in that case offer great rewards and market with daily updates throughout the campaign, related to our creative theme. Such a scenario would demand further planning. Considering the potential attention the project could receive it could be a good idea to go through with the campaign regardless of how great our need of funds are at the time.
About me
My name is Palle. I was born in Sweden but have traveled in most parts of the world (I still mainly look forward to exploring South America). I have had many professions in my life including janitor, youth recreational leader, costumer service, retail, personal trainer and coach. I have also studied various courses on various universities such as economy, video editing, sports, international aid and art. I also plan on becoming a sound producer which is a 2 year online course from a Swedish university. I have had the urge to start something like this for about 5 years. The past year I have been in an intense planning stage in which I have educated myself in order to achieve the knowledge necessary to go through with this project. I trust my ability to be in charge of raising the physical and mental structures needed for the project both in a very practical but also on a philosophical level. I will however not insist to lead all parts of the project as I am often perfectly content with working on anything from ”special projects” to the necessary dirty work.
Buildings (open to suggestions)
Main building (reception, bar, restaurant etc 2-3 stories, earth ship building techniques).
3 work shops for manufacturing/recycling/repairing
5-15 Bungalows
2 main dormitories
Spa/silent section
Office/recording and painting studios (same building)
Building materials: bamboo, clay, limestone, sand, mud, hemp, car tires, glass bottles, recycled plastics, recycled metal etc.
Tools: bare hands. Possibly a machete.
Future work:
Decide whether it’s a Guest House or a Hostel!
Settle on the land
Plant trees
Start building a few simple structures (including composting toilet and rainwater-showers) - all in accordance with local laws and regulations.
Buy chickens and goats (eventually dogs and cats).
Inventory the land for opportunities
Submit a Nepa (National Environmental Protection agency) permit application
Submit a building permit application to the Parish council
Install solar and Internet
Start building
Do you feel attracted? Let me know. PM me on Facebook or send an email to: [email protected].
Include in your message when you would like to participate, approximately for how long and some skills and visions you would like to contribute with.
The ideas and methods mentioned in this white paper is a fraction of the knowledge, inspiration and wisdom we will access as we grow and more people gets involved. Everything depends on who feels attracted to co-create the future of this project. I am very much open to ideas.
Also… To the people who have been telling me that I could never succeed with this project: I invite you to visit after 6 months. At that point the comforts you need to survive should be in place. I will welcome you and forgive you for your ignorance.
Kind Regards
Palle