The Grateful Belly Collective

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The Grateful Belly Collective

Located in Savannah, TN, Tennessee, United States

Mission Statement
Our mission here at the farm is to get off grid and be self-sustainable. We are looking for driven individuals who wish to improve their quality of life by joining with others who share the common desire for community and autonomy. We believe that this can be achieved by working together as a community rather than individuals. Many hands make light work. We want our children and ourselves to live free and experience life as it should be lived…without constraints. We have a 7-acre property with very fertile soil where we can grow our own food and stay out of the grocery store. We know that whoever controls the food, controls the people. Let’s take that control back and live free! Let’s work hard and celebrate with potlucks and a bonfire. Let’s breathe and not be stressed out by poverty and isolation! If this sounds like you, please contact us.

Community Description
We are a family-friendly farm located on 7 acres in Western TN. Our mission is to become self-sustainable by growing our own food, relying on alternative energy sources, and working together as a community to ensure the well being and prosperity of all of our members. We are planning on selling our produce at farmer’s markets and at our store at our farm. Our goal is to have our farm-based business supporting the farm so that we can stay here and work on what matters. We currently have 10 adults and 10 children here. We currently do not have a community cabin built and therefore, you must have something to live/sleep in while visiting. There is a rather large open barn that you could pitch a tent in as to not get rained on. We do not have extra tents. We require anyone who wants to visit contact either Jen or Chris so that we can plan for your arrival. We have a strict no-violence policy here. It is not tolerated and you will be told to leave. We look forward to meeting you!

Housing
Status: We have land we have developed on
Area: 7 acres
Current Residence Types: Lots to build on
Planned number of residences: 10
Housing Provided: Purchase, Rental
Land owned by: Individual community member(s)
Additional Comments:
We seek assistance in building tiny homes or other alternative housing for the residents who will live here.

Membership
Adult Members: 10
Child Members: 10
Percent Women: 21-30%
Percent Men: 61-70%
Percent Transgender: 0%
Visitors accepted: Yes
Visitor Process:
If you’d like to visit the farm, please contact either Jen (jenpmobley@hotmail.com) or Chris (jdacp@gmail.com). We check our email daily.
Open to new Members: Yes
Membership Process:
You can visit for a one week trial period. During this stay, we will determine whether or not you are a good fit for our community. We are working on an application process that you must fill out prior to visiting. Until the application has been completed (on our end) feel free to contact either Jen or Chris to schedule a visit.
Additional Comments:
Please note that we hold a very strict no violence policy. Please know that there are children living on site and we will not have them exposed to violence, verbal or physical. We allow drinking but you must be able to control yourself or you will be asked to leave. Thank you for your understanding.

Government
Decision Making: By a board, council, group of elders, or leadership group
Identified Leader: Yes
Leadership Core Group: No

Economics
Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: Yes
Regular Fee per Month: $200
Shared Income: Partial share of income
Required Labor Contribution per Week: 10
Open to members with existing debt: Yes
Additional Comments:
Your $200 monthly payment will go towards the land payment. You have the option of helping to build community cabins or tiny homes on the property that you may choose to live in. As more families move here, the monthly contribution may be lowered. You also have access to the produce grown in the garden, solar showers, potlucks, seed swap parties, and community outreach projects.

Sustainability Practices
Energy Infrastructure: We use both systems.
Current renewable energy generation: 0%, or close to 0%
Planned renewable energy generation: Almost All, around 90%
Current food produced: Between 26-49%
Planned food produced: Almost All, around 90%

Lifestyle
Cell Phone Service: Good for most people.
Shared meals: Approximately all dinners
Dietary Practice: Omnivorous (plants and animals), Local (food sourced within 150 miles), Organic (no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers), GMO Free (only non-genetically modified organisms), Mostly Vegetarian, Mostly Vegan, Opportunivore (dumpster diving, nature harvesting, etc.), Dairy-Free
Dietary Choice or Restrictions: No – people may eat however they wish.
Special Diets OK: Sometimes
Alcohol Use: Yes, used occasionally.
Tobacco Use: Yes, used occasionally.
Common Spiritual Practice(s): Ecumenical (accepts all religions or spiritual practices), Buddhist, Unitarian Universalist, Paganism or Earth Religions, Rainbow Family, Atheist, Agnostic, Humanist
Education Style(s): Home Schooling
Healthcare Options: Up to each family or individual

Source: https://www.ic.org/directory/the-grateful-belly-collective/