Elementary Agreements
SOIL
We plan and work to halt erosion, retaining and rebuilding soils. We keep soils 'organic' and toxin-free. This means no non-local, inorganic 'agricultural' chemicals, oils or other pollutants (including refuse) are to enter our soils.
All soil, rock, clay, minerals (including crystals) etc are to remain on the land.
Any roads must follow a plan previously agreed to by a general meeting and all internal roads are RingWood property and responsibilities.
Any earthworks must follow an agreed plan discussed at a general meeting and all earthworks (dams, swales, berms etc) are RingWood property and responsibilities.
Composting or similar recycling system toilets must be built and maintained at each dwelling site. All refuse will be regularly sorted; non-recyclable waste will not be stored on RingWood land for more than a month. Where possible all refuse will be recycled on-site and toxic or non-recyclable materials (household or otherwise) will be removed regularly.
WATER
The quality and quantity of water are to be optimised and protected. All outflows from the land will be at least as pure in substance and appearance as water flowing into the land.
Sufficient rainwater and water from other sources within the catchment must be kept available at all structures for human consumption, plant use and essential fire control.
Gravity-feed systems will be employed where possible, with minimal use of power sources imported from off-site.
Swales, irrigation systems and water pipes are community responsibilities.
All inorganic chemicals (which cannot be safely absorbed and diluted) are banned from Association land - insect treatments for timber, dangerous �household�, agricultural or industrial chemicals, and paints with toxic ingredients are included. Personal insect sprays, cleansers and soaps will be kept from waterways.
Ground cover will be maximised to ensure soil and water storage. All watercourses will be protected with filter strip verges of native vegetation.
FIRE
All fireplaces must be safely constructed and maintained and have water or other extinguishing equipment on hand. Chimneys must be covered with caps and screens and indoor fires contained and grated.
RingWood will be represented by member/s in the local volunteer fire brigade.
�Burning off� of refuse or vegetation will not be practiced on RingWood land.
Fire management and a firebreak plan is developed and practiced by all RingWood members.
No connection to mains electrical power grid or outside piped services or fuels will be permitted except to pass surplus energy OUT of Association land.
AIR
Air, visual and noise pollution will be minimised.
LIFE
Commercial or large crops may only be grown and harvested by plan arranged at a general meeting, with equity and shares arranged in advance where applicable. RingWood must receive at least ten percent of any gross income derived from such projects, to be directed to improvement of soil and land.
Diversity of ecosystems will be increased and optimised on RingWood lands.
All children are a community responsibility. All structures will be child safe.
Areas of entirely native habitat will be retained and where possible expanded under a formulated plan. No 'Old Growth' plants (over 100 years) may be damaged in any way.
No non-native carnivores (dogs, cats, etc) or pests (rabbits, etc) will be introduced or allowed on RingWood land. All non-native animals must have a single responsible owner. Livestock must be adequately contained.
Introduction of any non-native plant or animal species must be agreed to in advance by a general meeting; they must be restricted from threatening local biodiversity.
Vegetation such as trees or shrubs may only be cut or cleared after agreement at a general meeting.
Flora and fauna indigenous (or originally indigenous) to RingWood land will be encouraged to flourish and hold precedence over introduced species where they may compete (except in areas zoned exclusively for food production or habitation).
RingWood will retain substantial areas of wild land as perpetual conservation areas. All RingWood land is considered a wildlife sanctuary.
We shall eat no creature with an identifiable nervous system while on Ringwood land (this means we are vegetarians who do not eat animals).
We agree to keep the RingWood community & land free from the following:
Firearms;
Alcoholism or alcoholic behaviour
Pharmaceutical, intravenous and other drug abuse (including alcoholism) which threatens community peace or security
Violence or violent behaviour (including intimidation, threats, screaming fits etc)
Theft (includes borrowing without asking, etc)
Deliberate Deceit
Enforcement of these agreements is a community responsibility.
No occupant will knowingly or through negligence endanger the community in any way (including through adverse legal exposure).
A guest may be invited to the land by any Member or Resident. Guests may not invite guests without prior consent of a meeting of RingWood Residents and Members. Guests may be asked to leave any RingWood meeting immediately. Guests who break RingWood agreements may be asked to leave immediately. All guests must have a member or resident who acts as their host and/or sponsor, who is considered responsible for the ensuring the guest is aware of these Agreements, and who is responsible for their guest's actions for purposes of any restitution if such is unrecoverable from the guest within 3 months. The host is also responsible for collecting and passing on camping fees, which will be paid in arrears by all guests after the first 7 days, for which no camping fees may be charged. Fees may be waived by a meeting in any individual case for reasons of destitution. Arrangements may be made at a meeting for guests to work on specific projects in lieu of payment.
These RingWood agreements must be promptly explained to all guests by their host.
After three months a guest may be considered a Resident, if they have occupied RingWood land for at least two-thirds of the preceding three months. This decision must be arrived at unanimously at a meeting; or the decision can be deferred for a further 3 months, particularly where guests have broken any Agreement.
After a further nine months as a Resident, full membership is automatically granted to the resident if; NO Agreements have been knowingly or wilfully breached by the resident;
the resident has been present on RingWood land for at least two-thirds of the preceding year;
and all contributions or fees have been paid by the resident and their guest/s. These details must be considered by a meeting prior to membership being granted.
Unanimous consent by all members is required to convert a Resident into a Member (except where any member has been prohibited from voting on that issue; see above). Members have the right to build a legally approvable structure to inhabit if they wish (see agreements on structures below).
