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                                                                  May 23, 1997

Some thoughts on setting up an irrevocable trust for my duplex house in Cambridge and my interest in a farm in Gill, Massachusetts, referred to as the real property. These notes are preceded only by my May 12, 1997 letter to "Friends and neighbors."

Goals: 1. To insure the use of the real property for socially constructive grassroots efforts during and after my lifetime.
            2. To prevent the sale, mortgaging, speculation on, or any other activity that negates or may negate the continuing integrity of the real property or its continuing use for the purpose of Goal 1.
            3. To help promote, by example, development of local ecological efforts oriented towards an achievable, sustainable degree of community self-sufficiency and autonomy.
            4. To initiate formation of a communal grassroots infrastructure with a material base to provide underpinning.

Corporate structure: There are a number of socially constructive local grassroots organizations with IRS 501(C)3 tax-exempt status, e.g. the Lucy Parsons Center, an autonomous bookstore and radical education project. The trust might be set up, for legal purposes, as the Ecological Education Trust, a project of the Lucy Parsons Center (or of another suitable 501(C)3 group). However, the group of Trustees, who determine the specific activities of the Trust, ought to be representative of a number of grassroots groups, and include a small number of neighborhood people. (Note. This differs in emphasis from my thinking of 2 years ago, which was more restricted to the immediate neighborhood of the duplex house in Cambridge.)

Rationale and general comments: Contemporary capitalism is devastatingly destructive of people and of the biosphere because it combines the institutionalization of greed (the legitimacy of unbounded private profit and acquisitiveness) with the sophistication of science and technology in the hands of powerful nation-states and transnational corporations and institutions. In order to make a decent world for all people, we must not only understand theoretically how and why the destructive institutions act as they do. We must consolidate an alternative infrastructure. The extent to which individuals can contribute material and other resources to the alternative infrastructure will of course depend on their individual circumstances. I believe that initially a major task will be to encourage a change of perspective that allows people to begin thinking, Maybe it's not crazy. Maybe it's a good idea. And then, gradually, they can begin to participate to the extent they feel comfortable with. And the infrastructure can grow, and with it the practice of mutual aid as an everyday occurrence.

Practicalities regarding the house: Of what use would the duplex house in Cambridge be to a developing grasssroots infrastructure? And what responsibilities would the Trust have to assume?

      Usefulness. Aside from the direct ecological education role sketched in my May 12, 1997 letter, a possible use might be to provide a limited amount of inexpensive living space for people whose volunteer efforts in one or another grassroots projects involve substantially reduced personal income. The house has 2 kitchens, 3 bathrooms, 2 living rooms, and 7 bedrooms. Currently 6 people share the house. I retain one of the bedrooms as a guest room, and we each have a bedroom. Until now the yearly rents from my housemates have been less than the expenses because of high costs for repair, renovation and maintenance. However, the house, over 160 years old, is getting to be in good condition and it should be possible to meet ongoing maintenance and other obligatory costs from rents (at reasonable rates) paid by 4 or 5 housemates. They now pay 315/month plus all utilities. After my death that would enable the Trust to provide modestly priced housing for 2 or 3 people.

      Responsibilities. As resident-owner I've been in close touch with whatever needed attention (plumbing emergency, roof leak, taxes, etc.) After the house becomes Trust property, I expect to continue in much the same way, but working with other Trustees, so that after my death the Trust will be well placed to continue maintaining and running the house.

Practicalities regarding the farm: It is a 65-acre spread one mile from the Connecticut River and about 6 miles northeast of the center of Greenfield, 90 miles from my home in Cambridge. Driving time (via Route 2) is under two hours. I am one of three equal partners. Eric and I have use of one house, the "stone" house, Ted uses a second one, the "frame" house. There is also a frame "cottage", which has been rented for many years, three barns, and a greenhouse. Perhaps about 12 acres -- maybe 15 -- are suitable for field crops. A car or pickup is a really essential item for people living there.

      Usefulness. It might be used both for living and growing food, and as a kind of rural refuge and respite site for those of us in the city who need sometimes to see the stars in a dark sky and waken to the early morning fog blanketing the fields. And it could be used for occasional "retreats" by various grassroots groups.

      Responsibilities. The major costs in recent years have been taxes and insurance, which can be met from modest rents paid by people living there. Heating is by a wood stove, and cooking by a gas range. There is electricity and phone service. My share (one third) of the 1999 fiscal year tax is 1,415.63 and of last year's insurance bill was 219.33.