FAQ
Q: What is the Sunflower Collective The Sunflower Collective is a rural community model that combines sustainable agriculture, affordable housing, and part-time farming opportunities. We build and operate housing communities of part-time farmers on small farms. We aim to help local farms thrive while providing individuals a way to connect with the land and contribute to local food systems.
Q: Why does it exist? The Sunflower Collective exists to address several interconnected issues:
The decline of small farms
The growing desire for sustainable living and connection to food sources
The need for affordable housing options
The challenge of making small-scale farming economically viable. Our model seeks to create a win-win solution for farmers, individuals seeking a rural lifestyle, and local communities.
Q: Where did the idea come from? The idea for the Sunflower Collective grew from personal experiences with family farming, observations of the challenges facing small farms, and inspiration from various sustainable living and community farming models. It combines elements of traditional farming communities, modern co-living concepts, and sustainable agriculture practices.
Q: Rent and labor: how are people paid for their work? Participants receive a combination of reduced rent and monetary compensation based on hours worked on the farm. These exact numbers will be based on the costs associated with the building and management of the communities and will be transparent for all members to review.
Q: How is the non-profit model implemented? The housing co-op operates as a non-profit, reinvesting surplus into improving facilities, expanding programs, and supporting community initiatives.
Q: Can the farmworkers consume what they produce? Yes, part of the compensation includes access to farm produce for personal consumption.
Q: How are decisions made? This is still a work in progress as we work to form the non-profit and create the bylaws. We will use some form of participatory decision-making process, involving all members in major decisions through regular meetings and voting systems. There will also be a board of directors.
Q: Why should I join instead of buying my own farm? Joining offers lower initial costs, shared resources, community support, and hands-on learning without the full financial and operational responsibilities of farm ownership.
Q: How does this address housing affordability? By offering reduced rent in exchange for part-time farm work, we aim to provide an affordable housing option in rural areas on land that traditionally is not allows to have housing built on it.
Q: How is this different from WWOOFing? Unlike short-term WWOOF arrangements, our model offers mid to long-term residency in private dwellings with wifi and amenities conducive to longer stays of working professionals, students, retirees, and freelancers that have income and/or work outside of the farm operation.
Q: How is this not a commune? Unlike communes, our model maintains individual autonomy. Participants have private living spaces and independent incomes, choosing their level of involvement in farm activities. Often communes require residence to give up their assets in exchange for joining. This is not the case here. Communes also often have some form of social engineering as a requirement for membership. This model is about facilitating a partnership between farms and a new labor model for small farms- Communities of part-time farmers.
Q: How is this not feudalism? Feudalism involves hierarchical power structures. Our model is based on voluntary participation, equal rights, and shared decision-making among members of the co-op. Subscribe to our email newsletter or join a meetup to help shape the bylaws of the organization.
Q: How is this not share cropping? Share cropping typically involves exploitative arrangements where wages are contingent on the profits of the farm. Our model offers fair compensation and benefits that are clearly spelled out in a contractual agreement.
Q: How is this not indentured servitude? Indentured servitude involves debt bondage. Our participants are free to leave at any time, with no financial obligations tying them to the farm operation, the housing co-op, or the land.