Please stay for or join the potluck afterwards!!

We will be having a dinner potluck after the workshop so please bring food if you are able and interested in staying for dinner after the workshop.

We look forward to seeing one, some, many of you there!

from the 'Intentions and Traditions Summary' May 3 2013

We are an intentional community and research/teaching/practice centre that deeply aims to live sustainably socially, spiritually, environmentally and economically. Our desire is to be the change we want to see in the world.

We share meals/cooking, groceries, cleaning/ chores, music/art/ideas, joint parties, community dinners, collective space and household items, a mixture of privacy and community. We have positive shared values / enthusiasm for sustainable transportation (bikes, no cars owned), local organic vegan food, natural materials (plastic free) and fair trade. Inclusion and diversity are highly valued and desired e.g. no labels / all ages / all abilities / queer-positive / all backgrounds / all social (including marginalized) groups etc. We practice the Plum Village/Order of Interbeing tradition of engaged Zen Buddhism as described by Thich Nhat Hanh as a source of wisdom. We also pursue and choose practices supported by the best available scientific evidence.

Our house is medium to large, we really like having people around as well as having a balance of privacy, we like having guests.Our members positively contribute to our community and to the network of similar homes that we are a part of.

Physically: We live in a century home at the north end of Brunswick Ave in Toronto. The house has 6 bedrooms and there are lots of shared spaces - a kitchen, 2 bathrooms, sunroom, dining room, living room, patio-deck, and garden. We generally have 6-8 housemates including couples and kids.

Our members tend to be and have included community activists, social change agents, artists, trades people, professionals, scientists and farmers.

We host:

• community wide sunday dinners once a month (last sunday of the month - potluck optional with a music jam) all are welcome
• workshops (anything and everything - politics, art, sustainability, social justice)
• music and art events (house concerts, readings and the like)
• guests from all over

Teaching/Practice Membership Streams

The Barley Jar, as a developing training and practice centre, welcomes individuals to be a part of the community as short term guests,  or 1 year residents. The 1 year resident options are 1) the intense training, practice, and contributing residency (with an aim toward a deepening practice and long term membership), 2) the learning experience and  contributing residency, 3) the learning experience residency, 4) the  learning and healing residency.  All 4 can be renewed annually, however in the case of limited space, the first (intense training) stream will be given priority and a spot will always be reserved for the 4th (healing) stream. Priority for the 4th option will be given to individuals who have been chronically homeless  who might join us after the community is close to residency capacity.

There are a variety of ways to visit the Barley Jar. You can come to one of our community events or stay as a guest resident to get the full experience!

Whichever way you decide to come, and especially if stay as a guest, you'll want to look at our Quick Orientation Guide.

Barley Jar Events

Events are generally open to anyone in our community. Our community is defined as anyone who hears about or is invited to our event by one of our members and anyone they know or meet and wish to invite to an event. If you are interested in coming to an event you can contact any member of the community and get invited or get put onto our mailing list and receive regular invitations from our members. Events include workshops, monthly potluck dinner and other parties and events set up by house or community members.

Barley Jar Guest Resident Program

Being a guest resident at the Barley Jar is a chance to live and learn together with us for a 1 month period. As a guest you will get to experience living and learning with us and it will give us an opportunity to to live and learn with you! This is an opportunity to get to know what it's like to live in an intentional community, in particular one with our intentions and traditions, living sustainably from both a social, physical, spiritual and environmental standpoint.

Those who are paying rent in another location are not asked to contribute to rent to make such a stay feasible. Guests are asked to contribute to other operational costs such as utilities and food. If guests are not paying rent elsewhere, they are expected to contribute financially in the same way others at the Barley Jar do. No preference will be given to those who are paying rent or not.

On our end, we really want to and intend to make being a guest with us a really full, enjoyable and inspiring experience.

For more information on how to become a guest resident, click here.

Strong traditions have been established and some fine tuned over years by members. These are rarely changed and if so generally by the most committed members.

1. Social / Art Traditions

i. Decorating and furnishing spaces tradition –

Members are encouraged to decorate and rearrange furnishings while maintaining the intended function of designated areas

ii. Sunday Dinners –

We have Sunday dinners and jam on the last Sunday or each month. They are a joint internal and external community event open to all.

iii. Overnight Guests –

Overnight guests are encouraged. Members sponsor guests and ensure their guests are oriented. Members can invite guests to stay in their person al rooms any time without discussing with community, guests who stay in guest room for up to three nights can be invited without discussion with community but giving a heads up to other members and entering dates in house calendar, guests who stay for longer than 3 nights are discussed with the community. Guests who stay two weeks or longer contribute to rental/utility costs. Guests who stay for more than a night contribute to food costs.

iv. Day guests / dinners -

We enjoy guests in our house and invite them to house food and dinners when they are visiting. If there are a large number of guests or a party then discussion is had with community and contributions for food are made by the sponsoring member.

v. Parties / Meetings tradition:

Members are encouraged to have parties and meetings in the house and to ask permission

2. House Maintenance/operations Traditions

i. Spaces clear –

Spaces such as rooms, chairs, counter tops, tables in all common areas are kept clear or personal or household items.

ii. Please claim me / items in their place tradition:

Household items/tools have designated storage places. Items not in their designated places can be returned by any member to their designated space unless they are actively being used that day. All items are returned to their places are returned to their places by the end of the day. Members can put items in please claim me box if they do not know who an item belongs to or where it belongs. The de-clutter fairy de-clutters the house on a daily and weekly basis.

iii. Items returned to their places:

Items are returned to their designated storage place by the end of the day or after use unless the community is made aware under special circumstances e.g. large project etc.

iv. Storage of all food in glass, metal or ceramic jars or containers:

All food that is brought into the house is immediately stored in such containers rather than in boxes, bags, plastic bottles etc.

v. Labeling and dating of food items:

All food items in containers are labeled and perishable items, especially cooked meals have their preparation date labeled on the container.
Empty kitchen sink/sink bowl tradition: The sink is always left empty and clear of dishes. The sink has a large bowl in it that collects grey water which is emptied and cleaned at least once per day.

vi. House Chore Fairy Traditions:

All members are assigned fairy chores which they do each week to increase the harmony and functioning of the home. The chores as described are strong traditions. These amount to about 3-4 hours/week.

3. Activities of Daily Living Traditions

i. Food and supply shopping at Karma Food Coop:

Other than in special circumstances, all community food and supplies are predominantly purchased at Karma Food Coop to preserve and support the many benefits offered by this community.

ii. Food purchased local and organic:

Food purchased follows the 100 mile diet or is bioregionally within the 100 mile limit of our community. Bioregionally means that if the food cannot be sourced within 100miles, but could bioregionally grow within this limit, then the next closest source for this food is used with a limit of a few provinces or states away. Exceptions may include some staples like salt or some spices/herbs as decided by community.

iii. Approach to splitting food/supplies costs

a. Food costs are mathematically split adjusting for the following factors:

• each individual's daily metabolic rate (to adjust for how much food an individual consumes per day)
• the proportion of all meals that a person consumes in a month that are meals from the Barley Jar
• adjustments to these numbers are recorded on the Food splitting/ contributions summary sheet

b. Contributions to food costs can be made in different ways. Each are recorded on the Food splitting/contributions summary sheet:

• purchased groceries - receipts from these purchases are stored and given to money fairy
• food brought and contributed to house (e.g. food from parents, food from events at work, dumpstered food, food grown on farm project, food brought from previous residence etc.). An estimate is made of how much the food would have cost if it were purchased at Karma Food Coop and this is recorded on Food splitting/contributions summary sheet
• canned items are purchased by the house. Food taken from the pantry is recorded in the canned food accounting sheet which are then included as purchases for that month
• bulk items are purchased by the house and the cost is split over the period of a year going forward and added to each months grocery costs

c. Supplies are split according to the proportion of days someone has stayed at the Barley Jar that month.

4. Social/Membership Traditions

i. Finding new members process tradition:

Potential new house members are provided a summary sheet describing the community, if they are interested in joining they are sent essay questions, if they send replies that indicate interest they are interviewed and provided with the intention and traditions summary.

ii. Freedom to practice intentions and traditions tradition:

We don’t oppress members’ desire to live in a community of shared practice by choosing not to practice or grow in our practice or be diligent in the growth of our practice and we don’t oppress those who are deepening their practice with pressure to grow or adhere to a community practice or intention.

ii. Leaving/Allowing Community to Practice Tradition:

Those of us who feel we wish to practice differently than those more deeply invested in the community and its intentions reduce our degree of membership or leave the community.

iii. Non-sexual / romantic intentions tradition:

Outside of established relationships, sexual or romantic advances or sexual/romantic flirtation toward internal or external community members are made outside of the home rather than in the home.

B. Traditions that are flexible, optional or growing/strengthening

Intentionally Flexible or optional traditions

These intentions are meant to be easily changed by the community as a whole by what makes the most sense or is most desirable at the time or are traditions adopted by some and not all. Flexible traditions are meant to be adhered to by everyone while optional traditions are those that members can choose not to adopt or adhere to.

• 1. Location of furnishings and art
• 2. Family time tradition

C. Traditions  that are Growing/Strengthening

These are strong traditions that the community is working on strengthening or which are not yet fully and widely adopted.

1. Welcoming to all persons and newcomers –

all newcomers to the community are actively made to feel welcome by a sponsor or one of the house members

2. Compassionate / Non-violent communication tradition:

We practice compassionate/non-violent communication and actions.

3. Conflicts are addressed and resolved directly and quickly:

We practice compassionate and loving forms of conflict resolution in a timely manner so that harmony is maintained within ourselves and within our community.

4. “Sacred cloth” tradition:

Cloths are tools and are designated and used as: tea/hand towels, mats, table cloths, napkins, body towels, counter rags, floor rags

5. Projects Tradition:

Projects both personal and communal that affect the communal space are taken on by a member with a completion time.

6. Clothes drying tradition:

Clothes are hung on outside clothes lines or on laundry racks in members own rooms or the basement landing area rather than the sunroom, living room or other common spaces.

7. Maintenance/repair/losses tradition and fund:

We repair, return or replace household items or losses. We collect a monthly fund for the purposes of covering such losses communally. Use of these funds are agreed upon collectively.

8. Intentions and traditions summary:

The house intentions and traditions are written out and developed by those who have been recognized as having mastered the intentions and traditions according to the decision making/deepening commitment tradition. Collective input is always sought and considered in developing traditions and intentions.

9. Moving out of house traditions:

• All belongings are taken: All personal belonging are taken by members who are moving out, or personal items kept in common are donated to members or the community.
• Permission and terms for leaving items: If a member wishes to temporarily leave items when moving, they discuss this with community and determine clear agreed upon terms of leaving an item including: 1) who ultimately owns the item, 2) how the item is to be treated in the meantime 3) how and when the item will eventually leave the house
• Cleaning and repair of room and items being left: Members moving out ensure that their room and related community items are clean and in repair suitable for the next person moving in.

D. Tradition Road Map

• Depth of Membership designations: e.g. external house member, core member, resident member, community member etc.
• External Member Tradition
• Social Drop in hour Tradition

E. House Mindful Manners

• Welcoming to all persons and newcomers
• Return all tools to where they belong
• Leave spaces 10% cleaner and more organized than they were found
• Store personal items large and small in own rooms or designated places:
• Permission when borrowing items not your own out of the house

F. Values

• Fun
• Inclusive
• Sustainable
• Loving
• Kind
• Compassionate
• Honest
• Clean

Document History

Drafts:

Tomislav Svoboda May 3, 2013 4:58pm

Reviewed and approved October 2 2014.

1. Gratitude:

Tomislav: Thanks to Jai De for cooking, Bobby and Norman for moving furniture, Julie for organizing and preparing home for her trip, Kachak for meditating in the morning and her studies.
Jai De: Thank you to the new guests, Kachak for coming back, for housemates being supportive and friendly.
Kachak: Thank you to Tomislav for fixing table, meditation, breakfast and canning. Thank you Julie for being a good friend.
Julie: Thank you Tomislav for your love, friendship and encouragement, Kachak for friendship, Jai De for cooking, Bobby for music.

2. Please claim me box

Jae De noted that there weren't many things in the box but that people could check for themselves.

3. Repairs:

back stairs, Tomislav to add a new sheet to the repair book, fix edge of banister out front.

4. Closing the doors for Mikki:

Tomislav will fix the front door latch, possibly add a spring so that door automatically closes.
Tomislav will place emphasis on this during the orientation.
To do: Fix the front gate.

5. Guest update:

Bobby and Alix in East room until end of October
Norman leaving end of September.
Maddie in Julie's room until Nov 10th or longer. (she might be a guest for November or rent until the end of November)
Ilia is interested in guesting with us for 1 month program
Tomislav proposed Frank from Karma as a potential guest for 1 month program.
Bobby proposed a friend of his from Vancouver as a guest for a few days

6. Dietary requests:

Kachak is going garlic and onion free. Please cook these items separately.

7. Announcements:

Climate change march- Tomislav and Julie might be going to NYC. There is also a march in Nathan Philips Square.
Bobby and Alix going up North.
Sunday the 28th is Sunday night dinner.
Please check your mail. Past roommates mail have been sorted in bundles.
Bobby and Alix would like to do a presentation about their trip. Date undecided.

8. Reminders:

No scent policy -chemical scents especially
Washing dishes as soon as possible, labeling and washing pots.
Empty grey water into sieve to prevent clogging the sink.
Please label pots of oatmeal. Is it to share? Who will clean pot afterwards.
Storage jars are considered to be dishes. Please wash them and don't leave for jar fairy.
Please remember to store compost bin in cupboard with lid on. (was left on floor and Mikki was sick)
Please only feed Mikki dog food until further notice. Tomislav and Maddie ok for treats.
Please remember to label food in fridge with dates.
Please sign up for regular cooking nights for the month.

9. Decision Making at Barley Jar

Discuss transparency around making decisions at next meeting.

i. Sustainability (no plastic) and conservation of materials

In common spaces, we use and retain common or shared items made entirely of materials that are recyclable, biodegradeable, reusable, non-toxic and non-toxic emitting or forming. These include glass, metal, wood, natural fibers and ceramics rather than plastic or plastic like materials. This includes all items – art, furniture, fabrics, containers etc. Electronic devices and personal items kept in our rooms are excepted. We strive to get such items that are refurbished/reused, recyclable or maximize sustainable materials in their manufacture. We build and obtain household objects by practicing in order of priority: rethinking, reducing, reusing, and recycling to the greatest degree possible.

ii. Local organic food

In common spaces, we eat and cook food that is local or bioregionally local, unless given to us as a gift. We aspire to the 100 mile diet.

iii. Vegan

We only eat and cook food in the house that is vegan.

iv. Sustainable transportation

We own bikes rather than cars, use active modes of transportation such as walking, public transit, and cycling. We make decisions about the quantity and types of transportation we use based on the long term protection of human and non-human life and the planet. We make these choices to prevent and reverse the processes of global warming and prevent and reverse other ways in which our transportation choices negatively impact life on our planet.

v. Energy and water conservation

We use the least amount of water and energy required for any task. We use furnishings and equipment that have the highest ratings on water and energy conservation (e.g. we have rain barrels and we reuse grey-water in the kitchen, use CFL bulbs and cool the house using natural means).

vi. Non-toxic / biodegradable waste

We use household cleaners for personal and common spaces/items that are obtained in bulk in the form of basic raw materials such as soap, washing soda, borax, baking soda, salt, vinegar for all cleaning purposes. We dispose of toxic electronic and other waste through public toxic waste disposal.

vii. Humanure/human waste composting

Aware of how our soils are being depleted of nutrients while our waters and lands are being polluted by our waste, we practice restoring the cycle of life by transforming our bodily waste and transforming it into rich compost which used to replenish the soil and grow new food to feed us.

viii. Garden native ecosystem

The house grounds are reserved for native plant and animal species. Aliens are removed and indigenous species returned. These may include food bearing and medicinal species.

ix. Protect life

This includes creatures we would rather have live outside of our space such as bed bugs, mice, moths, ants, cockroaches, flies, mosquitoes etc. By adhering to our intentions, traditions, and predisposing conditions, our home remains clear of such creatures.

We protect the life of all living beings we might have contact with directly or indirectly in the house, in our community and on our planet. We adopt the best practices, intentions and traditions that protect life by protecting what we have, and promoting the restoration of what has been lost.

2. Social Intentions

i. Art, music, social change

We encourage activities related to art, music and social change advocacy and activism. This may range from hosting meetings, house concerts, decorating of rooms and spaces and supporting the social change and artistic endeavours of those in and outside our community.

ii. Social inclusion

We encourage people of all ages, genders, sexual orientation/practices, spiritual traditions, socioeconomic status, educational background, as well as physical and mental abilities to be part of our community as long as they are non-violent and non-oppressive. We include rather than exclude individuals who have different characteristics, origins, affinities, and interests.

iii. High sociability / fondness of company

We are gregarious and happy to have many guests living with us, and visiting us. We enjoy each others company and strive to spend intentional time together.

iv. Shared space

We share all common spaces – kitchen, bathrooms, dining room, living room, sun room, storage spaces, house grounds, patio and roof. Rooms are private unless members wish to share these.

v. Shared tools and items

In common spaces, we share all tools and materials

vi. Shared food

We share all food stored in common spaces

viii. Smoke free, and low/no alcohol/intoxicants

We do not smoke in the house and use minimal or no alcohol or other intoxicants in the house.

3. Spiritual and Personal Growth Intentions

i. Deepening scientific understanding / cessation of ignorance

We spend regular intentional time as a community to explore, study, exercise and deepen our scientific understanding of the interbeing nature of all that is especially the interbeing nature of our thoughts, speech and actions and how they impact and inter-are with the health, happiness and safety of ourselves, each other and all beings.

ii. Following the Zen traditions and teachings of Plum Village

As a house we adopt the common spiritual Zen traditions and teachings of Plum Village. We follow this tradition as a common approach to deepening our relationship with each other and all beings. This includes all traditions and teachings offered by Plum Village relating to communication, living in community, conflict resolution, dealing with anger, peace building, meditation practices etc. We do this in a way that does not align with any political, religious, therapeutic group or persuasion or approach. As individuals we may choose to be part of or pursue outside groups, teachings or beliefs and to share these with our community members in various forums if these align with and enhance the practice of our traditions and intentions.

iii. Spiritual / personal growth practice

Spending regular intentional time as a community to explore, study and exercise practices that strengthen personal and spiritual growth, harmony, love, kindness, compassion, peace and understanding while reducing conflict and other types of spiritual and personal suffering.

iv. Deep listening, loving speech (NVC) and loving action

We practice loving and kind speech and actions toward members of our community and those outside of our community. We refrain from speech/non-speech and actions we know will cause others to suffer or feel excluded.

v. Freedom to practice, feel, be and grow (anti-oppressive)

As a house we value freedom and support for our practices, feelings and growth. We wish to be free and autonomous and we wish others to be free and autonomous. This includes freedom to practice intentions and traditions, as well as other areas of inclusion. We live here because we wish to live in a community that shares the practices, intentions and traditions of our community. We ask that those who want to live with us as guests or as residents respect our freedom, wish and aspiration to live in a household community where all residents aspire to explore, learn, live by and practice the intentions and traditions of the house.

vi. Self supporting, generous and interdependent

As individuals and as a community we are self supporting, generous and interdependent financially, physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. We choose to accept the responsibility to balance our resources to pay our own way; maintain ourselves, mind, body and spirit; maintain our community and practice its intentions and traditions. Aware of the interbeing nature of our reality and our spiritual purpose to reduce the suffering and increase the health, safety and happiness of all beings, within our means, we practice generosity, kindness and compassion.

vii. Protecting and expanding our capacity

Aware that in the ultimate sense we are infinite we are also aware that in the relative sense we have limited capacities, financially, emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually and with our time and our skill. We practice our intentions and traditions within the limits of our capacities so that we can better achieve them while maintaining our own health, happiness and safety and that of all beings. We endeavour to deepen our practice and personal growth individually and as a community in order to expand our love and our other capacities.

3. Decision Making Intentions:

i. Empirical practices

We adhere to, encourage and choose practices, intentions, traditions and understandings based on the best available scientific evidence, that is, experience obtained through the best available methods that is unbiased empirical, transparent and reproducible.

ii. Consensus decision making by depth of membership

Decisions appropriate to depth of membership are made by consensus. If there is more than one prevailing view and these views are fixed or in a conflict, the decision may be made by different means of decision making such as by vote or by those with a more committed degree of membership, as decided by those with the greatest degree of community engagement. This includes interpretation and changes to intentions, practices and traditions.

iii. Depth of membership based on demonstrated level of commitment

Individuals are invited to levels of membership or engagement by members with deeper levels of community membership and engagement. Depth of membership is based on observed commitment, engagement, interest and involvement in the community and in supporting the intentions and traditions of the community. Decision making and responsibility grows with level of commitment, engagement and depth of membership.

iv. Decision making: hierarchy of traditions

We study and practice a set of established wisdom traditions. These traditions are, in their respective order of decision making priority: Scientific Evidence, Zen Buddhist Traditions of Plum Village, Barley Jar Traditions, and Central European culture based traditions. The order of priority reflects a balance of convention and lived experience (Barley Jar and European Traditions); the depth, richness, and inclusiveness of wisdom (Zen Buddhist Traditions of Plum Village); and the depth and strength of eliminating biases and misperceptions through rigorously tested experience (Scientific tradition).

iv. Non-attachment to intentions and traditions:

We are not attached to views, doctrines, theories, traditions, or intentions including any of the house intentions or traditions described here. House intentions and traditions are guiding means and aspirations rather than absolute truth.

4. Community Intentions

i. Community growth

Aware that as our practice strengthens, our practice community will grow by attraction rather than by promotion. We support the growth of our community materially, financially, mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and socially.

ii. Community inter-connectedness

Aware that there are many other neighbourhood, community, and global endeavours that align with our aspirations, intentions and traditions and that there is strength in community and cooperation, we practice exploring and connecting with others outside of our community to strengthen our practice and the impact of our practice on ourselves and all beings.

5. Intentions being Implemented

i. Social repair/healing

Aware of the suffering caused by social segregation and exclusion, we strive to bridge the divides of marginalization by having members in our home and extended community who live or have lived on different sides of all manners of marginalization, including homelessness, homophobia/transphobia, ableism, patriarchy, social elitism, cliques etc.

Intention Road Map:

• Zero garbage
• Net Zero Energy Consumption
• Net Zero carbon footprint
• Other intentions that support social and environmental sustainability as evidence becomes more apparent
• Fair Trade Intention
• Substance/Intention Harm Reduction Tradition

Had in Barley Jar Dining Room from 8pm - 9:30pm

Absent: Jae De, Ilya Firer

Regrets: Julie Groulx (in India)

Notes taken by Tomislav

1. Review of minutes from September 11 2014

Minutes from September 11 meeting were read by Bobby, their adoption was moved by Tomislav, seconded by Alix and all approved them as they were.

2. Gratitude:

Kachak: thank you Bobby for the delicious dinner and for living here and making it more pleasant and lively and for making awesome music, Alix for the delicious dinner, for talking to me about work and environment and helping me have a sense of what to do after I graduate, Tomislav for cooking a delicious dinner tonight, being joky all of the time and pleasant, Maddy for the delicious meal on sunday, house chores all of the time, being very thoughtful all of the time, Mikki for being super cute, being my best friend, JD for the lovely meal and joking and making it pleasant, Chad for the conversation last night, learned a lot about stereotypes, patriarchy, the corrupt system, mental illness, big brother, thank you so much everybody, feels like a warm loving community and family

2. Please claim me box

Deferred

3. Guest:

3. Bike fixing thing:

4. Reminders:

5. Maddy's desired chores/Equipment and Supplies Faerie

6. Chad offered to do a deep chore/project

was assigned cleaning up the brush at the side of the house. Chad will be staying with the Lotus Feast Community House.

7. Guesting:

Action Items:

1. Action items from last meeting:

fixing banister on porch by Tomislav - done

putting new project pages in house binder by Tomislav - done

fixing Mikki gate by Tomislav - carried over

fixing back stairs by Tomislav - carried over

fixing door so that there is a spring to close it to be explored by Tomislav - carried over

2. Tomislav and Maddy to come up with description for Equipment and Supplies faerie and dishwasher faery

3. Tomislav to reassign chores to incorporate Ilya and Maddy properly

4. Bobby to triage and repair bikes so we have house bikes

5. Kachak and Bobby to review bike situation and see what bikes can be stored where around the house