Given the growing polycrisis, the chances of major regional catastrophes are rising everywhere. These catastrophes can be any combination of environmental, economic, and political/military.
Many such catastrophes are potential trigger-points for Integration Centers, as Centers are designed to readily endure many kinds of economic disruptions.
Integration Centers should be prepared for an influx of refugees, and to help support the local community’s disaster response… while simultaneously maintaining the health of the village.
The following is a basis for planning for those future situations. It is just an initial framework, and will be expanded over time.
Planning Considerations
In all planning processes, keep the following possible future conditions in mind.
- Weather/climate-related events:
- multi-year droughts
- long, intense heat spells
- intense cold snaps
- ice storms & heavy snowstorms
- intense wet seasons
- intense and/or out-of-place tropical storms
- tornadoes & hailstorms
- permanent changes to local/regional climate
- Secondary environmental events:
- extreme floods
- local wildfires
- regional wildfires causing darkened skies
- Biological outcomes:
- disease outbreaks (human, livestock, crops, and trees)
- invasive species booms
- critical shifts in wildlife and/or flora populations
- pollinator declines
- Economic effects:
- supply chain disruptions and/or hyperinflation
- outages of grid electric, comms/internet, and/or transportation
- mass-migrations (especially out of nearby cities)
Site Design
From the moment you begin work on the master permaculture design for the site, include polycrisis response planning in all considerations.
- Maintain large water stores (in whatever form) for multi-year droughts.
- Implement low-tech water filtration (e.g., aquaculture, bio-filtration), because in extended periods of crisis, local water resources may become contaminated by breakdowns of septic-handling systems.
- As allowable by law, prefer low-tech toilet-composting systems over less-reliable sanitation systems that require outside maintenance services.
- Build firebreaks (and other fire resistance measures) as needed.
- Minimize dependency on electronic technology. Consider durable/repairable mid-tech (i.e., mechanical, non-electronic technology) whenever possible.
- Consider off-grid power such as solar panels for essential systems like water pumps. But be conservative in implementing such things, being mindful of the significant environmental damage necessary to create them. Also be wary of power systems that rely on many electronic components (that can only be replaced in a functioning economy).
- Minimize dependency on gasoline-powered vehicles (including tractors and on-site transport).
- Consider building trails that facilitate low-tech transport (e.g., handcarts & bikes).
Site Practices
- Minimize dependency on outside food and other resources. The Center can still use outside resources, the key is to not depend on them.
- Preserve food the Center has grown, and set up FIFO storage/use.
- Do not try to stockpile an excessive amount of food, as this can just make the Center a target. Instead, work any food surplus into the local community’s crisis response plans, as noted below.
- Maintain a portfolio of seeds for all crops grown.
- Maintain breeding capability of livestock (e.g., have roosters, not just hens).
- Maintain a small back-stock of vital external supplies and set up FIFO storage/use.
- Maintain a diverse medicinal herb garden.
- Continually ensure that two or more Members have first-aid training, and keep a reasonable amount of medical supplies on hand.
- Maintain a small library of medical and engineering knowledge, focused on practical and accessible solutions. Include copies of Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual as well as When Technology Fails.
Community Practices
It is always a good idea to optimize relations with neighbors and with the local community. In times of crisis and instability, close relations with neighbors provides both the optimal defense and the strongest resilience.
These practices need to begin as soon as the Center is founded, and be nurtured often.
- Regularly deliver food to all nearby neighbors. Make it a social visit as well, when possible.
- Continually work on positive relations with neighbors, in an ever-growing circle. Visit with them, offer them help, invite them to dinner, etc.
- Maintain high respect for neighbors’ expectations: minimize noise, present appealing road frontage, respect neighbors’ privacy, etc.
- Maintain a good reputation in the local community: follow all laws and regulations, contribute to community efforts, be good citizens.
- Partner, collaborate, and trade with nearby farms.
- Always prefer the most local vendors, as much as possible.
- Turn vendors into partners, as possible.
- Over time, consider having some Partner Members responsibly serve in local/town government.
- Involve the Center in community crisis planning, as noted below.
Crisis Planning
- Define an overall emergency operating procedure, including decision protocols, and a roster of roles. Keep printed copies of emergency procedures. Periodically practice elements of those procedure.
- Plan in advance for an influx of potential residents. Develop fair selection protocols in advance, so that decisions can be made based on protocol rather than as a panicked crisis-response.
- Plan in advance for high demand for food. When supply chains are interrupted, grocery store shelves may not remain stocked. Develop fair food-distribution protocols in advance, prioritizing the health of the village, but sharing as much as possible.
- As possible, develop crisis-response plans with neighbors, based on mutual-aid network designs.
- As much as possible, coordinate with the crisis response plan of the local municipality. Start developing ways that the Center can fit into the larger community plan. Integrate the Center’s food surplus into the community response plan.
Crisis Response
- Do not go into a defensive posture. Your best defense is your strong local social connections.
- Immediately coordinate with the neighbors with whom you have been developing good relations over the years.
- Rely on the plans you have already set up, but be flexible. Those plans were made in calm times by calm minds, and should be adhered to as much as possible. But the plans may need to be altered to respond to unanticipated events.
- Continue the healing work of the Center. Times of crisis are especially hard on people, and Integration Centers can provide crucial support to people who are struggling to cope.
This page will continue to expand as more lessons are learned. Feedback is welcome as well.
Return to: Integration Center Open Business Plan
Further reading: Effective Action for the Polycrisis
Further reading: Vision Beyond the Polycrisis