Social Ecology focuses on the relationships between people and groups that come together at the farm. This includes interpersonal dynamics in the Cedar Moon community, the working groups of TLC Farm and the relationships between the farm and outside volunteers and organizations. We tune in to challenges and conflicts that arise and try to provide the support that is needed. We often create systems and structures to help organize our work and find that some of our ideas work wonderfully and others don't (in which case we learn lessons and come back to the drawing board). We pay attention to the relationship between economics and ethics and strive to make our economic systems meet our values. We try to create an environment where everyone involved with TLC Farm feels respected, effective and connected.

MEETINGS: Social Ecology meetings are open to any farm residents or volunteers from the larger community. We meet once a week for about an hour and a half. We often have kids running around our meetings because 3 of the 4 current core members are parents! Each meeting there is a facilitator and a note-taker- we try to keep these roles rotating. Throughout the meeting individuals take on tasks and projects that come up in the discussions. (for example writing a grievance policy or checking in with a community member) Our meeting notes help us follow through on work we've started and allow people who weren't present to see what we've discussed.

Agenda items you may find us talking about at a meeting:

Adressing power dynamics in the community
Working group check-ins (how are each of the working groups functioning, what support do they need?)
Integrating new residents
Issues about children in the community
Supporting community member's goals
Conflict Resolution Procedure