About Us
West Marin Commons Working Mission
West Marin Commons is dedicated to the practice of community in West Marin.
We seek to establish, preserve, and enhance both common spaces and the life that occurs in them;
and to create social infrastructure for resource sharing, conservation, and learning.
How we came to be
West Marin Commons was born of a desire to foster a social complement to the scenic landscape and natural ecology that we in West Marin work so hard to protect. In particular, we are working to create common spaces for spontaneous sociability and community activities; to cultivate native plants in a way that reinforces the symbiosis between inhabitants and habitat; and to establish social infrastructure for the sharing of rides, garden produce, tools and household stuff.
The organization began as a series of gatherings in living rooms and public venues to discuss the concept of the commons and how it could enrich life here in West Marin. Then came a talk and slide presentation by Mark Lakeman, a founder of the City Repair Project in Portland, Oregon, which has led a commons revival in that city at the neighborhood level.
There was such enthusiasm after Lakeman’s talk that we set aside a day to survey the state of the commons in our town. (In Medieval times such surveys were annual events called “perambulations.” ) On a rainy Saturday in February, 2007, over 70 residents walked through town in small groups, to see our common spaces and places as they are, and to imagine how they could be. The groups gathered afterwards to share ideas; and local architects took their ideas and, over the following weeks, rendered them in visual form.
The architects presented the ideas at another community meeting, and West Marin Commons emerged from this process. The early community brainstorming is an inspiration rather than a blueprint. We have had to focus on a few projects and seize upon opportunities and new ideas as they have arisen.
Organization
West Marin Commons is a self-governing project of On the Commons (formerly the Tomales Bay Institute), which handles most of our bookkeeping and check writing.
Overall direction of the organization lies in a steering committee of no more than nine members, together with the two co-directors, Elizabeth Barnet and Jonathan Rowe.
Any resident can propose a project to the steering committee. Typically, those who propose projects play a leadership role in them.
Steering Committee
Founding members:
Elizabeth Barnet, Steve Costa, John Gouldthorpe, Ann Sheree Greenbaum, Madeline Hope, Jonathan Rowe.
Current Members:
John Gouldthorpe, Julia Peters, Madeline Hope, Mark Switzer
Staff
Founding Co-directors
Elizabeth Barnet and Jonathan Rowe
Community Participants/Supporters
The commons embodies the economics of community. The West Marin Commons functions on lots of volunteer time – in garden and pathway projects, resource sharing, barn dances and community discussions, to name just a few.
We have an ongoing need for volunteer office help, grant writing, graphic design, and the like. If you would like to give some time, please contact Elizabeth Barnet at westmarincommons@svn.net.
Donations are welcome from those who can contribute financially. These are tax-deductible and should be sent to:
West Marin Commons/On the Commons
PO Box 127
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
Founding Advisory Committee
Jim Campe
Jon Fernandez
Lyons Filmer
Ann Sheree Greenbaum
Sarah Hobson
Rae Levine
Chris Reding
Sim VanderRyn
Ron Wagner
Working Groups
Common Spaces – Gathering places and pathways
Mesa Road Pathway in Point Reyes Station
California Native Garden at Livery Stable in Point Reyes Station
Place Making Initiative: A Village Green or Zocalo
Existing Commons
Preserve and amplify the commons that exist already, such as:
Public libraries, Community Health and Resources, Toby’s Community Playground, Inverness Pocket Park, Corner lot next to Bovine Bakery, Benches on Main Street, Paths for walking, KWMR-FM, on and on.
The Economics of Community
SHARING AND COOPERATION
The following includes Google discussion groups that have been set up to facilitate sharing and cooperation within our communities. Over-the-Hill-Gang Ride and Errand Sharing Board, and West Marin Share, help reduce our dependence on cars and fossil fuels, promote sharing and re-use, and build a local culture of mutual aid.
FOOD AND GARDEN
Local Food System Initiative – a West Marin Commons Google group (produce swaps, gleaning, fermentation and canning parties, bulk buying and possibly a cow share.)
You can link here: http://groups.google.com/group/food-system-initiative?hl=en
Heart and Harvest – a food co-op organized by Sebastian Ellis, now has a blog:
http://www.hearthandharvestorganic.org/
RIDES AND ERRANDS
Over-the-Hill-Gang Ride and Errand Sharing – Save gas, spare the air, make a friend. A West Marin Commons Google group
You can link here: http://groups.google.com/group/o-t-h-g?hl=en
REUSE MATERIALS, HOUSING, INFORMATION ABOUT LIVING IN WEST MARIN
West Marin Share – Tools, toys, household stuff and more, somebody might have a spare of what you need. Also, housing, housesitting, and household needs like where to find a seamstress, what internet service is working for you, etc. Free Exchange of Practical Information. A West Marin Commons Google group
You can link here: http://groups.google.com/group/wmshare?hl=en
Announcement Board next to Toby’s Coffee Bar in Point Reyes Station
Recycle Circus — support this free-market annual event in April
PARENTS COORDINATE
West Marin Parents Network – Play dates, music teachers, recommendations on dentists and consignment stores. A West Marin Commons Google group
OPINION
West Marin Soapbox – If you don’t say it, who will? A West Marin Commons Google group: http://groups.google.com/group/wmsbx
ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES AND PRACTICE
This West Marin Commons Project area, takes its inspiration and guidance from a study group initiated after a talk by Tending the Wild author Kat Anderson. The group evolved further with the involvement of Nick Tipon, Judith Lowry, Barbara Deutsch, Brock Dolman, Rufus Blunk, and others. To facilitate communication and encourage networking, Ethnobiology Google Group was established. You can find out more on this page and link to the group here: http://groups.google.com/group/wmcommons-ethnobiology-project-a-tending-the-wild-collaborative/about
Other Project Areas
Research and Learning
The State of Our Common Wealth - How to measure it? What is it to begin with? This project tries to start with the questions that don’t often get asked.
Public Art, Street Animation, Historical Awareness
Hand Tile Wall at Toby’s Community Playground (with local artist Madeline Hope).
Reclaimed Redwood Fence and Arbor at Livery Stable Green (with local artist Rufus Blunk).
Native Creatures Installation Piece at Livery Stable Green (in planning stage).
Seasonal Native Plant Poster at Livery Stable Native Garden (with local artist Heather Pratt).
Partnership with Gallery Route One’s Latino Photography Project. The theme for 2009 is Mirando en Verde/Seeing in Green.
Speakers and Community Discussions, Events, A Commons Reader
March 25 and 26, 2010: Creating Community Gathering Spaces with Milenko Matanovic of the Pomegranate Center
Fall 2009 Series: Illuminating Landscape: Inquiries into Land, History, and Culture
Friday, September 25th, Nick Tipon, Southern Pomo Elder, on Sacred Sites
Friday, October 9th, Ignacio Chapela, U.C. Berkeley, on The Wilderness Within
Sunday, December 13th, 2pm Lillian Vallee, poet, writer, teacher brings us Singing Back the Lake – Restoration in the Central Valley
All talks were held at the Dance Palace Community Center, 5th and B Streets, Point Reyes Station
A Commons Reader – a collection of writings on the commons
West Marin Barn Dance Hub
West Marin Commons Quarterly Dances at Toby’s Feed Barn in Point Reyes Station
Musicians: Ingrid Noyes, Michael Harmon, Paul Shelasky, Sue Walters, Erik Hoffman, Ned Riley, Morgan Meadow, Tawnya Kovach, Morgan Meadow, Tim Weed, Sam Sajjapan, and bicycling musical troubadours from Salt Lake City via Seattle, James Miska and Chaz Prymek.
Callers: Erik Hoffman, Evie Ladin
Committees
Fundraising – John Gouldthorpe, Julie Peters, Mark Switzer
Website and Publications – Elizabeth Barnet, Lisa Thompson (www.duckdogdesign.com), Jasper Blunk and Josh Luftig (technical assistance)
Outreach – Julie Peters, Elizabeth Barnet, Jonathan Rowe with support from Nancy Bertelsen, Murray Suid. Josh Luftig, Madeline Hope
Speaker Series – Elizabeth Barnet, Judith Lowry, John Gouldthorpe with support from Kat Anderson
Online Networks – Murray Suid, Josh Luftig, Elizabeth Barnet
Contact
PO Box 127
Point Reyes Station, California 94956