One node's culture,
written in The Manual.
This is what a culture spec could look like for one kind of node: a live-work house focused on building, learning and growing together. It sits on top of the scaffold, never instead of it. Your node's culture will be different. That's the point.
What This Node Is For
Our reasons for living and working together.
Written by the founding members. Each goal is ours, not the federation's.
Economy of scale
Sharing a home, tools, food and transport lowers what each of us needs to earn, which frees time for the work we care about.
Security & mutual care
A reliable group that notices when someone is struggling, resolves conflict early and faces outside pressures together.
Growth & self-discovery
A place to change habits, start side projects and become more of who we want to be. We support each other's growth; we're not a therapy service.
Experimentation
Room to explore group psychology, ritual, practical spirituality, shared language and writing, safely and by choice.
Internal economic engines
Members may join for a limited-term stay with their own funds, or live here while working remotely. Over time we build node businesses toward self-sufficiency.
Mobility
We keep belongings light so moving between nodes in the network is easy, for visits, exchanges or a change of home.
Our Principles
A culture that favours making over talking.
These are the values this node chose. Another node might choose slowness over output, or contemplation over expansion, and that would be just as valid.
What we ask of members
- Show up prepared to councils and stand-ups
- Disagree without destabilising the group
- Bring a skill, a line of research or the capacity to execute
- Hold ideas loosely and commitments firmly
Inside the Node
How we treat each other.
Our code
- Speak directly and assume good intent
- No performative grandstanding
- Private grievances are raised privately first, then as a tension if needed
- Energy, rest and mental clarity are explicit values
Keeping ourselves honest
- Reality-test our assumptions against evidence
- Get legal advice before crossing legal thresholds
- Reject cult dynamics and demonising the outside world
- Protect dissent inside the group
How We Run a Project
Our 90-day project rhythm.
This node treats big projects as 90-day arcs across three cycles. Other nodes might run seasons, retreats or releases instead.
Explore
Choose one domain, map its weak points and evaluate three real alternatives.
Design
Design a minimum viable version, stress-test the assumptions, estimate the resources.
Deliver
Produce something usable, present it to the node, and decide where to try it for real.
How we know it's working
- Useful work is finished and shared
- Each of us is more capable than we were
- Real projects are tried and honestly evaluated
- The node is moving toward paying its own way
Warning signs
- Endless discussion with nothing made
- Personality conflict overriding purpose
- Ideas hardening into ideology
- No next step anyone owns
Project write-ups
Our bigger proposals follow a shared format: a summary; the idea and how it works; phases for 90 days, one year and five years; risks and what it needs in money and people; and how it connects with other nodes.
Your Node