Why Eat Like Breathe Co-op???

What is the problem?

Environmental: Life on our planet is slowly dying due to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and soil erosion.
Social: Many people are depressed and struggling to survive, especially after COVID-19.
Economic: Major economies (USA, EU, China) are on the verge of collapse or facing economic downturn.

A lot of people realize that our lifestyle causes these problems. Many are trying to change their habits: becoming eco-activists, growing food in their backyards, transitioning to organic/permaculture farming, and building ecovillages. However, these efforts are not becoming major trends, and the changes are happening slowly. One key reason lies in the socio-economic dimension. We live in a world focused on money, meaning that ecovillages and small organic farms often fail to succeed because there is no sustainable source of income.

What is the decision?

The idea is to combine a food co-op, organic farm, ecovillage, and forest garden into one project: EatLikeBreathe!

Project Overview: The project is divided into two stages:

Food Co-op (based on the CSA model) + Organic Farm
Ecovillage + Food Forest

Stage 1:
Food co-op

Participants of the community will create a fund/source of income through the food co-op. The co-op will unite people who prefer buying food from local farmers (preferably organic/sustainable) using a farm-to-home delivery model (1-2 times a week). The average California resident spends about $1,300 per month on food. If we can convert 50% of this spending to the co-op, that’s around $700 per month. Transferring 10% of that into a special fund yields $70 per month (savings achieved through bulk buying). This equates to $840 per year per person or household, which can help finance land acquisition in California.

The average price of land in California varies from $5,000 to $12,000 per acre, so let’s estimate $7,000 per acre. For this project, we need 500 acres. The land will be divided into two parcels:

Land for Settlement: 2.5 acres per household, accommodating 100 households on the first lot acquired. This totals about 250 acres.
Common Land: Another 250 acres will be used for the organic farm and food forest.

Total cost of Stage 1

The total cost is approximately $3.5 million. With a mortgage, we would need to pay only 30% of the value upfront. Thirty percent of $3.5 million is roughly $1 million, which divided by 100 households means each household would need a down payment of about $10,000—quite reasonable.

For the remaining $2.5 million, typical terms vary from 5 to 30 years. Assuming a 15-year fixed rate at 10% (the worst-case scenario), the monthly payment would be around $27,000, or $330,000 annually. To break even, we would need 500 co-op members, which is quite feasible. With a 30-year fixed rate at 5%, the monthly payment drops to about $13,500, or $162,000 annually, requiring around 250 full-time co-op members to break even. By years 2 or 3 of Stage 1, we will be able to purchase our own land.

Stage 2: Organic Farm

Once we acquire the land, the project will operate in two parallel dimensions:

Food Co-op + Organic Farm: The co-op will continue generating income and attracting more members.
Organic Farm: This will generate additional income for members and lead to the development of the organic food forest and ecovillage. Each private lot will be part of a larger food forest project, incorporating private gardens into the common area to create one cohesive biotic system. This does not restrict households in their gardening choices but encourages common principles.

Destined For Success

It allows individuals to contribute without needing to drastically change their lifestyles. By leveraging new technologies (such as online apps and cryptocurrencies), we can build sustainable cash flow and a fair resource distribution mechanism among members and volunteers.

Where? Central California. Central Coast (San Luis Obispo County).

Minimum size: 250+50+250=550 acres.

When?

Food Co-op: The minimum goal is to reach a breakeven point of 500 members within 2 years.
Organic Farm: Planning to start in years 2-3 of the project.
Food Forest: Development will occur between years 7-30 of the project.

Who? Co-op members, volunteers, and employees. This is not a 100% volunteer-based model; volunteers will earn points/coins within the co-op, which can be converted into discounts or seasonal deals. This model allows those who want to effect change without relocating to the land to contribute.

Profit/Nonprofit: While the project is for-profit, profits will be distributed among members based on fair algorithms written into the core of the crypto/blockchain tools we employ.

Regarding the Permaculture Project:

Our food forest will be arranged with 50% on rural land and 50% on residential areas, tailored to the various climate zones. This approach is entirely feasible in a Mediterranean climate, and we have identified San Luis Obispo County as an ideal location, centrally situated between Los Angeles and San Francisco. We are also confident in exploring its potential in desert climates.

The project will primarily consist of perennial fruits, vegetables, and nut gardens, ensuring a diverse and sustainable food source for our community. We will determine the most suitable crops for different climate zones in Southern California based on permaculture principles.

As we move forward, we will address the specific yields of various trees and shrubs in California using permaculture methods, outline a step-by-step process for developing a farm and garden of this size, and establish timelines and economic feasibility. Our commitment is to create a thriving ecosystem that benefits all members.