• home
  • posts
  • category
  • commoning
  • Info, news & debate

    Commoning posts

    Beyond Conservation: The Farmland Commons 

    The Farmers Land Trust is diversifying participation in our food system and helping to create stronger communities that can not only survive the land, climate, and social injustices of the world, but can thrive while helping to heal them. Learn more about the work of The Farmers Land Trust and the Farmland Commons. Read more

    ‘Climbing commons’: community-owned climbing centres

    We’re following the exploits of Stroud Commons, in trying to build a commons economy for the town, and helping groups to launch in other towns. As well as a core group, there are now groups forming for various sectors of the economy, including housing, energy, land/food/water, community spaces – and now, climbing! Read more

    New commons group and public event: Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire

    Paul Jennings of Criafolen | 16-Sep-2023 | 0

    Llandeilo commons: invitation to join a formative group and public event in West Wales. Read more

    How to bring the water industry into community ownership: Julian Jones of Water21, Part 2

    Julian Jones of Water21 | 26-Aug-2023 | 0

    part 2 of an interview (see video below for more details – well worth it!) with Julian Jones, a water engineer and distinguished fellow of the Schumacher Institute, who has worked and provided consultancy for water companies, NGOs, the Environment Agency, universities and governments. Read more

    Taking the water industry off the water companies: Julian Jones of Water21, Part 1

    Julian Jones of Water21 | 12-Aug-2023 | 0

    Part 1 of an interview with Julian Jones, a water engineer and distinguished fellow of the Schumacher Institute, about building a water commons for Stroud. Read more

    More on the money problem: it doesn’t have to be ‘scarce’

    Following on from a recent post by Tom Greco, on the essential nature of money, Dil Green of Lowimpact.org and Mutual Credit Services here talks about its apparent scarcity, how that negatively affects our communities and our well-being, and how it could be different – based on mutual credit and the commons economy. Read more

    How to solve the money problem in a nutshell

    Tom Greco of Beyond Money | 30-Jul-2023 | 2

    This article from Tom Greco contains the basics of what you need to know about money, currency, credit and exchange. Read more

    Stroud Commons 5: forming a ‘commoners’ group for each sector of the economy

    Amrit Sachar of Stroud Commons | 23-Jul-2023 | 0

    This is the latest in a series of articles documenting our group’s attempts to build the commons economy in Stroud, in a way that can be implemented in other towns, and connected together to build the foundations of a new, commons economy. It covers what we’ve done so far, and how people can get involved. Read more

    An authoritarian world government is not going to save us

    A growing question for environmentalists is the extent to which the existential threat we face means that countries and populations should be forced to reduce consumption, and hence whether an authoritarian politics is the best way to face the future. Read more

    Conversation with Jem Bendell, part 2: how should we respond to the collapse of capitalism?

    Jem Bendell of JemBendell.com | 02-Jul-2023 | 0

    This is the second part of a conversation between Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org and Jem Bendell, professor of sustainability leadership at the University of Cumbria, and author of the now famous 2018 Deep Adaptation paper that claimed that we’re on an inevitable path to civilisational collapse. Read more

    Move over #DeFi & #ReFi; hello #CoFi – collaborative finance for the commons

    Matthew Slater reports on the first Collaborative Finance Gathering at the Commons Hub, Austria, May 22-28, 2023, where the concept of ‘co-fi’ was born. Read more

    Community Orchards – tragedy or victory of the commons?

    Community orchards at their best are many things at once: a social space, a coming together of people to work together on a common task; a celebration of the abundant harvest of fruit; a haven for wildlife and a pocket of biodiversity. Read more

    Regenerative traditions in Africa: inspiration for the commons everywhere

    Building the commons may be hard in wealthier countries, where traditions of mutual aid were lost many years ago. But they’re still alive and well in other parts of the world – as this article by Janet of Grassroots Economics / Sarafu Network shows. I interviewed the director of Grassroots Economics, Shaila Agha, who told me about ‘chamas’ in Kenya – mutual savings groups, built on trusted relationships in local communities. Read more

    How co-operation developed in nature and humans: implications for building the commons

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 28-May-2023 | 3

    I came across a fascinating study from the Journal of Economic Behaviour & Organisation, and I’d like to share a summary with you. It’s a fascinating read if (like me) you’re interested in helping build the commons in your community. Read more

    Stroud Commons 4: new website

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 14-May-2023 | 0

    Stroud Commons now has a website – stroudcommons.org. Please tell anyone you know in Stroud about us. We’re looking for people to get involved. Read more

    Stroud Commons part 3: ‘Money Talks’ public event with Brett Scott, May 19

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 23-Apr-2023 | 0

    Stroud ‘commoners club’ is hosting a public event at the Trinity Rooms in Stroud on Friday, May 19 at 7pm. If you live in Stroud, please do come along, and if you know anyone in Stroud, please let them know. Read more

    Stroud Commons part 2: starting a ‘commoners club’

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 12-Mar-2023 | 3

    A group of us in Stroud (Gloucs) have formed a ‘commoners club’ to try to build commons infrastructure here, and to document what happens so that it can be replicated in other towns. Read more

    Career change? Work with Mutual Credit Services

    Invitation to apply to work with Mutual Credit Services. We’ve got more work in prospect than we can handle, and what we really need now is more creative human capacity. Read more

    Commons housing: another brief explainer, this time by Dil Green

    Brief introduction to a new model of commons housing to replace the current, broken housing market. Read more

    Stroud Commons part 1: We’re putting our house into the ‘commons’. Follow our progress and replicate it in your community

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 08-Jan-2023 | 5

    In 2023 I’d like to see a move towards a new system, rather than futile attempts to ‘fix’ capitalism. I don’t think it’s necessary to to try to persuade the majority of people of this. There are enough of us already to kick-start the necessary change. I’d just like to bring to your attention the new ideas that are emerging for building this new system – the commons economy. Read more

    Subscribe to blog

    Enter Your Email Address:

    The human impact on nature and on each other is accelerating and needs systemic change to reverse.

    We’re not advocating poverty, or a hair-shirt existence. We advocate changes that will mean better lives for almost everyone.

    Facebook icon Twitter icon Youtube icon

    All rights reserved © lowimpact 2023