The VOL community came into existence in 1978. It has opened and closed a number of times over the years until 1998. VOL is now permanently open and functional and will stay in operation indefinitely. Part of the above openings and closings were because of the legal status of the land and because the land was not paid for. Now, the land is now fully paid for and is owned by a Trust.
Visitor Information and Current Visitor Policy:
Visitors are welcome. People wishing to visit should write or call at least 3 weeks in advance to set up a visit. Visitors may come for 2 or 3 days to get acquainted. No contribution is required for this time period. Longer visits may be arranged. Visitors wanting to stay for longer periods are expected to take part in the work load and may be requested to pay a small daily fee for food and lodging. It is appreciated if visitors bring some food with them. The community diet is basically vegetarian, dairy and eggs possible. [See "Visitor Information" on this site for more specific information.]
Community Legal Status & a Legal Note:
VOL is ready to be incorporated as a non-profit corporation.
Please Note the Following:
Land Ownership Status:
The land was purchased in 1978. The mortgage was paid off in 1986. It was re-mortgaged in 1987 due to a divorce. It was paid off again in 1990. Ownership was transferred to the Trust in June 1994. The Trust is set up to lease 49 acres (99 year) to the community as soon as the incorporation has been completed. The lease will authorize the community to issue 20 one acre sub-leases to permanent members. This provision was included to satisfy those few people who "feel" it necessary to have a stronger legal status on the land they construct their private building on.
Permanent members do not need a sub-lease to construct their private structure on the property.
The cost of a 99 year sub-lease is 2,500.00 dollars.
A sub-lease is not saleable, nor is the lease cost refundable.
Investment Status:
The approximate current total investment in land, buildings, water system improvements and tools, to date, is some where between 150,000 to 180,00 dollars.
Location:
The VOL community is located in Northwest Arkansas, in a small valley, surrounded by low mountains, along a small river, inside a huge National Forest. There are only 2 privately owned parcels of land [totaling 120 acres] located in this particular National Forest area. One parcel is owned by our Trust, and the other by another group that is not related to VOL. The rest of the land is National Forest land, and cannot have trees cut, roads or buildings constructed on it, etc.
Currently, direct motor vehicle access to VOL land is not possible during certain parts of the year due to rainfall. We are working on several possible solutions to this, one of which is the construction of a small hover-craft, for which we have plans.
Government:
The VOL Community is an egalitarian community. Each adult has one vote. The age at which a child is given adult status is set by the Community Agreements. Community officials are elected by majority vote & serve a one year term. Provisional members have no vote, but may fully express their opinions on all issues. The community "rules" are called Community Agreements and/or Bylaws of the VOL Community Corporation structure. Community agreements are not fixed laws. They are subject to Change by discussion and membership vote. The community has weekly "business" meetings and an annual general membership meeting at which officials are elected.
Development Status:
There are two buildings, a small pole barn, a small house trailer, an old cabin and a working water system on the property. We are currently constructing two additions on one building, and an addition is planned for another building. Another residential building has been started and should be completed by summer. Tents may also be available as temporary warm weather private sleeping quarters. No one has constructed a private cabin so far.
A second pole barn, workshop and bathhouse should be completed by the middle to end of summer. Most of the building materials for the above construction projects are already on the land.
The water system needs a new large capacity tank, the existing tank repaired and the spring basin enclosed. A 1500 gallon water storage tank has been purchased, but has yet to be installed.
A reasonable amount of crop/pasture land is cleared, some raised beds
completed, some fruit trees, berries and grapes planted.
More crop land is being cleared this year.
A troybilt rototiller, hand & powered mowers, and a walk behind
sickle bar brushing mower are on the land.
There are wood working tools, both hand/power and two gasoline powered
electric generators for power.
There are also other projects in the works for which there are no buildings yet.
These include a wood fired pottery kiln, oxy welding set up, and several others.
Some items for the beekeeping/honey operation exist.
Some alternate technology projects are completed & others are in process,
including solar powered communication equipment.
Most tools needed for all homesteading and maintenance operations are on the land.
A reasonable sized library of how to books, plans for alt-tech items, school books and
fiction books exists, and is constantly being added to.
Heat is by wood burner.
A root cellar needs to be built.
A full sized wood cook stove and 2 more small wood burners are needed.
We now also have a small ford tractor with a grading blade and a 2 1/2 ton
diesel truck for hauling building supplies.
We had a full sized vegetable garden last year, planted about 150 species of
herbs, started two varieties of mushrooms and had grain patches to
provide grain seed this year.
We save seed from all our non-hybrid crops for the next years planting.
There have never been any non-organic commercial insecticides used on the land.
[note: power & telephone lines are illegal inside this forest.]
Membership:
There is a trial membership period of 3 months to 1 year, before permanent membership may be granted. A consensus vote by the active permanent members is required to change the membership status of a provisional member to a permanent member.
Provisional members are not permitted to build a permanent private dwelling until permanent membership is given.
Currently there is no fee for a provisional membership.
There is a permanent membership fee. This fee is to be paid when permanent
membership is granted.
The permanent membership fee is 2000 dollars per adult/non-refundable.
[This amount is about one percent of the total number of dollars
invested in the community so far.]
Orientation:
VOL is intended to be a spiritually oriented multi-path non-denominational community & have its members share some sort of group spiritual practice daily. What the shared practices shall be will be decided upon by the members. VOL is intended to function as an extended family. We intend to work toward being as self-sufficient as is practical. It is intended that each member/family shall be responsible for the cost of construction of their own "sleeping/private space" building, that all Members assist each other in the construction of such buildings, and that all other facilities for: food production, food processing, cooking, eating, laundry, bathing, schooling and work be shared by all.
Support:
It is intended to create community "cottage industries" as the general means of support. Those who take part in the industries will share in the proceeds of them. Small private "businesses" by individual members/families may be engaged in as long as they do not interfere with a member's community work hours.
All members share equally in community debts and operational costs.
Current membership status:
Planned # of adult members: 10 to 20
Members (on 6-25-2006):
Active Permanent: 4
Inactive Permanent 5
Active Provisional: 0
Inactive Provisional: 0
Active Supporting Members: 0
Inactive Supporting Members: 1
[5 of the current permanent members are non-active and are not expected to
return to VOL to live here.]