Building Community

I've been pondering community lately - not only the churchy-type community, but your general social garden-variety community, and specifically the one in which I live and work. I've been wondering why we seem so disconnected, and why we'd prefer to try get out of this one than stay and make it good.

And I think it has a lot to do with vibes. Negative vibes. Though there are a lot of factors at work.

It's well known that local morale is down. There's quite a bit of in-fighting and a lack of communication. If a bottom-feeder has a good idea (that's us folk at the bottom of the organizational tree), it's more likely to be shot down than encouraged and worked with. Decisions hit walls before they hit the folk they influence, and all that kind of stuff. Which is sad, really. People often say "there's a lot of potential here", meaning good things could happen but they're not, and no-one quite knows how to fix it. Everyone tends to keep to themselves, living their own lives without really interacting beyond the office. A lot of top management don't even live here, they commute in from afar and yet still expect to be able to pinpoint the problem or influence what happens/doesn't happen.

And all of that gives a really negative vibe - you start to think "why bother" after a while, so community input and building just falls away, bit by bit.

Unfortunately I'm the sort that sees a problem and then uses up my brain-time to find solutions, and I'm wondering if a bit of effort on my part can't make a big difference.

You see, there are things I can do to disperse many of the negative vibes. Things I don't need top-feeder approval for, or a whole lot of cash. Like holding regular block parties to bring people together (bring and braai/barbecue type occasions). Or baking extra when I make something, and taking it to the folk next door. Without expecting reciprocation. Just greeting people and spending time chatting over the fence, or inviting them to join me for a meal. I've lived next to some neighbours for 8 years now, and we've never seen the inside of each other's houses!

Then there are things I'd like to speak to the mega-boss about. Creating a playground for the campus kids (they have nothing, nowhere to go, so they wander the property getting into trouble), perhaps with a skate-park and jungle-gym, a few shade trees and sandpits, and benches for parents to be there too. There's no shortage of land - just a shortage of effort and co-ordination to do something with it.

Or how about a community garden. We're constantly told we have "starving students" here, but there's no effort beyond occasional cash donations made to change it. Our cafeteria buys in its food from a market in the city - we could be producing just a little of that ourselves, and creating a place for people to interact with both their food and the wonderful natural world around us.

Many people are blessed to have fruit trees in their yards. Most of the fruit falls uneaten to the ground. Veggie gardens produce a lot, but it's not all used up. A system of collection, donation, re-distribution could make a big difference to the way we eat and the amounts we pay for our groceries. Edible landscaping - not chopping down everything in sight, as is the current trend (I've seen marvellous almond and plum trees felled in the past week).

Perhaps learning how to celebrate and party again would also help - taking note of events and occasions, or creating traditions here. Years ago the entire place would pack up into the bus once a year and go cherry-picking. Or they'd hold huge picnics regularly. Not anymore - but perhaps it's time to try it again?

Then there's the issue of "garbage removal". Yup, dumpster-diver me talking again. Too often I see things that could be re-used thrown out. Robbymac mentioned a while ago that while in college they had a "free" shop - if you had something that you didn't want/need anymore, you could take it there for someone else to use. Yesterday I received an old computer and printer, still in working order, which I'm trying to find a new home for. Same folk have given me pens, groceries, vases, you name it - they're moving to a smaller place, and can't take them with. Another neighbour has a fridge seeking a home. And my garage is filled with old clothes, a TV awaiting repair, various items of furniture that I can't fit in my house. I'm sure I'm not the only one. All of these could be used by someone else, if we could just co-ordinate the thing.

See, many ideas. But the negative vibes sometimes get so strong. I'm not sure I can stand up to them and push through. It's a whole lot easier just to keep to myself, not care, live life for me and let community slide. I'm thinking, though. I'm thinking. And perhaps all this thinking will finally result in action. Perhaps if I spread the ideas around, I won't have to do it alone.