Dustin Spellicy
After living there for eight months, I think it could be beneficial to let those know who may be interested in living in intentional community that Maitreya Mountain Village is owned by one person, Dan Shultz. He makes all of the major decisions, including financial decisions. There is no consensus process, no membership process, or any other full member besides Dan. How could there be, with no membership process? This project is basically one person who owns the land , and has work exchange people come and help him with his projects, and take care of his cabin rental buisness while he works at his chiropractic office three times a week, and goes takes off on the weekends, so he's usually at Maitreya about two and a half days a week. I don't think this is the idea most people have when they think of community, or eco village, including me, And he seems to have no intention of changing that, or at least has taken no actions to change that during my stay there. It seems to me what he wants is a dictatorship eco village, where he has full control of major decisions and finances, or a buisness instead of community where he is the boss, but he doesn't want to pay people to work? That's the best assessment I can make of his intentions.
I also think it would be beneficial to make more clear that during my stay there I would estimate that 70-80 percent of our food came from the grocery store, at times close to 100 percent, as we went grocery shopping at least once a week the hole time I was there.
For people who are going to Maitreya in the hopes of finding a fully sustainable community they can join with membership rights, income sharing, consensus, or democratic decision making, then I would give Maitreya one star. For those only looking to do work exchange, or vacation I would give it four.
It is a beautiful place, and has a lot going for it, but if your going with the hopes of finding an established community you can join, I think you will be disappointed.
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