The Honeydew Network Charter

At a time of global crisis, the Honeydew network exists to forge our collective future. Honeydew is now a globally-recognised pioneer in creating community, and our network seeks to expand this model, based on the principles of collective liberation, solidarity, sustainability, creativity, mutual care, and shared joy. We are committed to devising communal solutions to the deep cultural problems of consumerism and hyper-individualism. We take on the responsibility – in often difficult circumstances – to map the blueprint for the communities of the future.

Our model is decentralised. Each community is given a large degree of autonomy over governance. We expect – and hope – that every Honeydew community will look different, reflecting the social and cultural diversity of the network. The global network offers opportunities for economic collaboration and growth, yet each community must be governed in a fiscally sustainable manner: indeed, self-sufficiency (or ‘community sufficiency’) is one of the key precepts of the project.

Our model is globally interconnected. The purpose of the network is to share knowledge, resources, and personnel in a way that enriches every group associated with the project. This means a degree of ‘freedom of movement’ between communities – each site should reserve space for visiting Honeydewers who are able to share the experience of building community elsewhere. In time, we will develop a ‘Honeydew passport’ that allows trusted members to stay at sister sites around the world, abiding by the rules and culture of each community.

Our model is locally diverse. Our aim is to create a triangle of communities in each particular region or state, preferably within 90 minutes of each other. The intention of this model is to avoid the isolation that harms so many eco-communities and, crucially, to offer an exchange of goods and services on a local level, creating a degree of inter-communal sustainability. One community may focus on growing agricultural staples; another may specialise in sustainable building practices; and a third may act as a retreat venue – each are able to share their expertise in a way that benefits the other sites in the triangle. The purpose is not to create identikit communities, but to play to the strengths of each; this expresses the philosophy of ‘unity in diversity’ that is at the heart of our project.

Our model is committed to integration. The consumer culture thrives off a sense of incompleteness: our role is to create a space for integrare (becoming whole). The network is an experiment in collective dreaming: after the isolation of the pandemic, and with pervasive climate anxiety, a new generation yearns for reconnection. At a time of acute crisis, a network of eco-villages is not a retreat from the world, but a catalyst for emergence – for a new kind of ‘social soul’, supported by the balm of community and the spirit of solidarity.

Hosts will:

• Receive a seat on Honeydew’s Global Leadership Council, which takes executive decisions about the direction and composition of the network. This group will be organised via WhatsApp and meet in person once a year.

• Benefit from the promotional power of the Honeydew network. This includes (but is not restricted to) finding volunteers and longer-term community members through our press publicity and social media platforms.

• Have the opportunity to generate funds through our retreat network, which attracts international clients seeking authentic transformational experiences.

• Benefit from the ‘purchasing power’ of a globally recognised network. After just one year, Honeydew has received extensive media coverage (The Guardian, ELLE, Forbes, Euronews, etc.) and is establishing itself as a leader in the space. This offers enormous opportunities for start-up communities.

Hosts will:

• Provide a warm, welcoming experience of community, in a nurturing and nourishing atmosphere. The concept of ‘radical trust’ is at the core of our philosophy – a deep belief in the untapped capacity and generosity of people – and we seek to create a container in which this can flourish.

• Protect the reputation of the Honeydew network by treating volunteers with care, and by communicating in a conscious manner the ideals and practices of the project – especially to outsiders and curious visitors. This extends to responding to media requests and liaising with our press team.

• Show consciousness of the key tenets of the Honeydew ethos, including the concept of social ecology (‘ecology in community’) and the focus on challenging the scarcity mentality of consumer culture. Honeydew is committed to creating an intergenerational legacy, against the habits of disposability that dominate the market economy.

• In public pronouncements, refer to yourselves as ‘part of the Honeydew global network’.

• Collaborate with other Honeydew communities and potential network partners, in a patient and productive manner. The growth of our network offers real hope to a world in crisis, as we work to create a new social reality, in which we live with greater harmony with the natural world and with each other.