I love all the optimism folks are showing here. (I too am trying to shut off my criticisms 😀 )

I was unaware of your original intent villager, and am impressed by your original approach. Each area needs to be worked out and and your trying to create an acceptable approach to get members to join is likely a chapter in itself. Cernon5 is correct that money can't be the only factor as a "thorn underfoot remains until it is removed"! The work on a trade system evolving inside the community is a concept that I never imagined and it could either unite or divide a community, but those issues could be dealt with by a Council most likely.

I'd figured to add more parameters to this scenario such as say an initial 10 families as a start-up group to base this design on. Out of that , we might decide specific trades or such to cover as many bases regarding construction, medical, educational and horticultural requirements. There are so many aspects that we need to cover that we should just likely sort things as we go. Then the Admins can move or even copy pertinent info into it's subject area for further expansion.

This is what I can see as sub- categories so far:

Chapter 1: Location: size requirements, water, sewer, expansion, etc.,

Chapter 2: Membership: # of families, things they bring to the table, and how to sell it to others etc.

Chapter 3: Layout: what goes where and why and best way to build it

Chapter 4: Resources: garden, water usage, solar energy, root cellars and all that stuff I know nothing about

Chapter 5: Defenses: yup, you know all this entails...

Chapter 6: Communications: electronically and even socially

Chapter 7: Economics: how to pay for what yo need, barter, communal equipment vs personal, etc.,

Chapter 8: Education: sharing knowledge, passing it on, cross-training, etc.,

Chapter 10: Council: communal laws, enforcement, settle disputes, pay peacetime taxes, etc.

Did I miss anything????

I'd like to propose an additional Chapter : Community and personal sport and recreation.

You have done an excellent job describing the bones that this community would need to consider to get up and running. Depending on the size of the community and the diversity of the members I think it would be necessary to think about how to keep people engaged as a community. This would be particularly true for members whose background was not agricultural and for children. For the first several seasons I am certain that everyone would be up to their armpits in the real work of developing the community however we know how the saying goes, "all work and no play..." You also want to ensure that there is a place for you once you age and can no longer contribute with your back.

Good one Antsy. I added it and mixed it with medical and health to form a chapter 11.

I got to thinking about villager's method and then wondered how our farmers viewed things, placed both thoughts in a pot, stirred gently and this is what I got!

In a SHTF situation, folks need a safe place to retreat. Most can't afford the dual properties or the time to prepare such a place. They also can't afford to travel and maintain a garden so it is already functional when they arrive. On the other hand, those with farms would have a hard to protecting their properties and crops should a situation arise. Then they would be immersed with folks offering to back them up and not knowing who to trust or having ones who have brought nothing to the table and yet wish a seat there anyways.

What kind of rules need to be applied to get farmers to agree with pre-selected individuals to hold them a place? Monetary of course would be part, but how much and not so much that others couldn't afford it. So heres a start point!

1/ Farmer builds a basic guesthouse on their premises for visitors during interviews.
2/ Framer places add on our forums
3/ They meet potential clients and if acceptable, set up a trail 3-6 month visitation
4/ Farmer now gets free labour while teaching client and family required knowledge ie: gardening,feeding, shoveling crap, etc.
5/ if acceptable, they hash out agreement of what is required for them to set them a place at their table during SHTF period.
6/ Both parties build premisses for the new member and thus clear the road for the next potential client.

That's the jist of it! I need farmer/client input to know if this concept is worth continuing. This is likely to be a temporary situation which may last months to a few years. Likely the garden would have to grow proportionately and the sharing of product becomes an asset to share /sell. Obviously many other things need to be considered to make this endeavor worth it to the farmer and here is their chance.

Don't worry villager, we are going to work on your ideas too because they promise another approach for a more permanent situation.

One issue with one of the descriptions listed under the chapter sub-sections:
Proposing a general "you need X land" - the land itself dictates how much of it you need for sustainability in growing foods and in fuels, especially, but also with livestock.

Helo is moving to AL. With the longer growing season (9 months without covers, varying crops) he needs a lot less land per person, and due to rainfall, needs a lot less irrigation in some schemes and has much greater water catchment opportunities.
I have 5-6 months, so I need 1/3rd more space than Helo, at least, and I actually need about 1/4-1/2 more unless I have cover.
On the other hand, I have more woodlands and better soil, so my preps there takes fewer resources to maintain.
I also have longer small game breeding seasons (heat shuts some of his rabbit and squirrel season down) and I have more fatty-game, fatty-livestock opportunities, because his wildlife/livestock doesn't need fat stores for as long or as thick.

That all contributes to how we plan our production, and how much space we need for it.

Move a little farther north, and the growing season gets even more cramped, so more land is needed. Move out to the SW or inner Rockies, and water becomes a major limiting factor. Add elevation, and you need more space again due to cooler climates. Focus on non-temperate, non-tropical food forests, and you need more land than you do with a greater focus on larger annuals as calorie and protein staples.

With certain types of livestock, you get more and less fats that can be kept for cooking and preserving, so you need more or less oil seed planting space or forage/fodder space for livestock.

Add in a pond, slender minnow and duckweed fodder pool, or series of pools, and the size and stocking capabilities (climate & oxygenation driven) again play a major factor in how much space you actually need per person.

There are ROT guides for "how much to plant" based on production per plant or per foot, but they almost always have wiggle room and ranges because productivity changes by soil, water, sun, and temperature, plus pests and growing style.

Using me and Helo as examples again, I have to stock and-or grow more pectin, salt alternatives, and things that I can use for powering preservation methods because my home-grown foods have to last longer. With a few hoops and one small, slightly heated greenhouse plus exposed-to-elements cold weather crops, Helo can maintain more livestock and himself with year-round produce with much less processing and preservation of crops needed.

It would be possible to sit down and come up with general numbers, probably, taking into account various types and numbers of livestock, water features, a couple general growing methods, and temperatures, assuming good soil, pest control and water availability (which would have to be factored into space elsewhere) and there are ways to figure out how much heating is needed, smoking or smoke drying is needed (which also need space), and how much fodder/forage space livestock need with general categories of harvest feed crop or natural browse, but the matrix would be ENORMOUS.
To develop it for a general North American climate or even the HUGE climate ranges experienced by either the U.S. or Canada, you'd need to basically compile multiple good sources for each plant in each zone.

That is probably why nobody has ever done it.
There's just too much wiggle room to confidently define "minimum" land counts across all the produce/livestock variables plus all the variables that come with climate over a 7.5-8 MILLION square mile stretch of earth (just the U.S. and Canada).

That is a lot to take in. I can see now that there are alot of variables and therefore many will have to start from observing successful gardens and emulating those who succeed. We have a May-Aug season without usual frost and require hearty vegetables to survive here. Folks still manage to have a few gardens here but wildlife is harder to keep at bay. A few are even keeping horses now but require numerous dogs present at all times to stop the wolves from spooking them into jumping the fences. Deer come in for protection and wolves often drop them within town boundaries. But what we lack in decent soils, we make up for in wild meat. Seems many animals from the south are moving north nowadays and while turkey vultures and cougars showed up back in 84, pelicans came in around 2000. I'm sure that most places in North America can support humans, but the closer one is to population, the greater the defenses required to remain alive.

As per your MO, you have worked hard to feed knowledge for others to better enable them to make decisions. I hope alot "copy/paste" your comments into their prep collection so as to have it for those rainy days ahead....and just when you think you can take a break, I dumped more homework in your lap! Just read up a couple lines earlier...

Re the farmers:
Big Ag is dependent upon fuels and shipping in many, many ways.
I think, to overcome the OPSEC trust issues, that people would be reliant upon the farmers who would be interested in labor during a crisis to make postings, yes, and then submit themselves for review.

One way to get an edge, given the number with large farms currently open to preparedness, would be to already be a known quantity. The possibility exists to approach non-corporation farms with either trade, direct-buy, or interest in the operation, and ask to do a ride-along, offer to [pick a skill or item] in exchange for a tour and some hands-on learning, and the opportunity to pick brains, especially if it's offered as a "I'm interested in large-scale growing" vein. Can I come out a couple of hours these days, are there a couple of days I can come help and watch, could I come out one weekend a month and help/watch?

My target would be a mixed farm, somewhere in the middle-size wise, or a relatively small farm, with a focus on mixed produce and organic/sustainable practices. CSA opportunities might exist in some places, as well.

Smaller farms - essentially homesteads - might be more willing to do direct buy and barter for goods, and many who live a permaculture or sustainable farming lifestyle are just delighted to bring people out, show them how to graft and layer, how to chop-and-drop or cut wood and chop wood, how they move pens, how to milk and trim feathers or nails, how to shear and muck out, and some to many can show some basic vetting/nursing, machining, building, planting, harvesting.
Don't be late.
Don't hold them up.
Take notes or a recording.
Ask, but the ability to hear each other may be limited.
Be polite.
Admit when you don't get it.
Try not to pass out when somebody delivers lambs or has to put a cow hip back in place.
Follow up with a thank you - some level, big or small, just words or token something; hand-written words on paper make a big impact in the e-society.
Don't leave early (unless it's prearranged, and then don't leave early in the middle of a really nasty job that showed up).

If they have room, if you're a known quantity, especially if over that time you've picked out what they seem to always be lacking and develop skills their extended family and friends don't (that's the biggest drawback I see of getting on at a farm - friends and family are going to be in line before you), you might have a shot after things go badly.

Another option might be to plan to be more mobile, or take a small piece of land that touches a large farm. Your microclimate, soil condition, irrigation and pests might be different, but the general climate and weather are the same. That allows "practice" for you.
After a collapse, you can look at essentially sharecropping the stretch nearest you, exchanging part of your yield or a set amount of goods or produce or hoarded coin or fuel for farming rights to that section. It's not a for-certain, but for cash-strapped and those unable to currently maintain, it might be a backup.
The drawback there is that if the government during collapse or during reconstruction swoops in and takes control of the Big Ag farms that run on fossil fuels and subsidies, you could lose your investment and-or the opportunity.

OK, I figured that this would likely be an option to the small farms only. Those who are maybe already struggling with today's economic instability, and therefore may be short on money and could use this option to stay afloat . I present this option because it could be a means for some to maybe see a solution to their losing the farm when this avenue was a road still unexplored. As when I earlier mentioned my gopher plinking for archery practice, I offered something to a farmer that benefited both of us until one agreed.

Yet I felt a few doors slam shut in my head as I read through your above response...is this something that isn't worth others pursuing further? I don't know the answer from a farmer's perspective...I just see the logic in how folks might band together and build that bond of trust.

Where I live, I already see the start of hyperinflation. Taxes went up 20% this last year along with gas and electricity. Those who were already having it tough are likely facing personal economic collapse this year, and each that falls is an extra burden on our society. Lots of folks might get thru these coming hard times if they can learn to work together for a common goal. I dislike the thought that only the strong will survive because that will obviously leave the remainder of mankind in the hands of the unscrupulous. With that thought in mind, more of you might want to help folks level the playing field.

Possibly Knuckle, location has a lot todo with how people will work together. I believe you've said you
are in a remote area up north in a small community ? I would think people would be more trusting and helping up there, and
also in similar smaller communities in other locations.

Just guessing. I seem to be more suspicous of people and their intentions now that I am older, so I
could be totally wrong on your situation , but while I live in a rural area, it is more populated here and close
enough to the city , and most people are not very friendly. So my outlook is probably jaded from the
cold unfriendly people.

I even get strange looks when I say something to people in the grocery store. I seem to remember
years ago people being more friendly ?

Out for the day and so many good points made, that once again, I am at a loss on where to start..

So first, I could not agree more, the land mass required would be darn near impossible to figure out on a general way because there is so many different things to think and wonder about.. the know and skills that folks have will make a huge difference..

Just throwing out a rough thought here.. even today, you find gardeners that are totally tradional, plow the land, keep the soil bare, plant in rows, only plant from this time to that time, harvest at this time and there is little to no flex..

Then you have folks that do it a hundred different ways.. and I swear, you can learn more new ways every single year if you are willing to look and learn.. that knowledge was not available when other folks settled, not like it is now..

Just a little example, potash is considered a must have, I mean look at the Canadian government would not allow the sale of the company as it was a national interest.. and most gardeners just go buy it.. what if you couldn't..

How many folks on the boards, know how to grow and harvest their own zero mile potash for the gardens.. if you can grow sunflowers, you have 0 mile potash.. but I only heard of it a few years ago.. and only because I tracked down the info from a odd study done way back when by the US in a area, that need it, but didn't have it naturally..

As for the small farmer.. I am in fact inline with your thinking, I work and build close knit ties with a few locals that I feel would be well worth it if something happened, its been long and slow in coming.. but I do feel that we would have support locally, but I also have a agreement with certain families, that they are welcome on the farm.. I have put away certain things, and I have done certain things with them over the years..

If something were to happen, and they showed up with their gear, they would be welcome, if they showed up just themselves with the cloths on their backs, they would be welcome.. I am a lot different then others, I don't ask anyone to put money into my land, I don't ask them to put things in storage on my land, I don't even want them working on my land much, I am open to teaching and working back and forth on, I know their skills, I know them as people and I know they are worth it.. but I don't feel the need for anyone to know what I do or don't have..

General's sure.. but otherwise, the only one that needs to know what I do or don't have is myself and hubby.. but that's just me..

So in a nut shell, yes, I want more people on the farm to help, work and protect, do I feel the need for them to be on the farm working those skills, no.. if I died, there would be a void for sure.. but that is why I have hundreds of hard copy books, that cover the everything on the farm.. that is why I have the farm books, that track went to plant, what to put where, what each tree, bush, plant is.. where to fish locally, where to harvest wild mushrooms locally, where certain of this or that is..

Do I think they would struggle, sure, do I think they could make it with what would be considered the start and leg up, yes, or I would not have agreed and or asked for them to come..

My response was based on things people can do now to learn, on several levels, based on the first suggestion:

In a SHTF situation, folks need a safe place to retreat. Most can't afford the dual properties or the time to prepare such a place. They also can't afford to travel and maintain a garden so it is already functional when they arrive. On the other hand, those with farms would have a hard to protecting their properties and crops should a situation arise. Then they would be immersed with folks offering to back them up and not knowing who to trust or having ones who have brought nothing to the table and yet wish a seat there anyways.
...
4/ Farmer now gets free labour while teaching client and family required knowledge ie: gardening,feeding, shoveling crap, etc.
5/ if acceptable, they hash out agreement of what is required for them to set them a place at their table during SHTF period.
6/ Both parties build premisses for the new member and thus clear the road for the next potential client.
..... This is likely to be a temporary situation which may last months to a few years. Likely the garden would have to grow proportionately and the sharing of product becomes an asset to share /sell.

I'm having a hard time meshing the above with the below:

Those who are maybe already struggling with today's economic instability, and therefore may be short on money and could use this option to stay afloat . I present this option because it could be a means for some to maybe see a solution to their losing the farm when this avenue was a road still unexplored. As when I earlier mentioned my gopher plinking for archery practice, I offered something to a farmer that benefited both of us until one agreed.
...

I think they both have valid places, but one is set up for the future, and one is set up for a "now" concern.
The first suggests a farmer who is equally troubled about coming times and willing to enter into essentially a small MAG agreement. Essentially, farmgal is doing that without a buy-in.
The second is talking about right now (slow/soft collapse concerns notwithstanding). The gopher and some of my examples involved mutual benefit/learning now but without having to immediately out yourself should you not be able to find a farmer who has already outted themselves, and without a long-term commitment.

I finished growing up in a place where chatting with strangers in stores, lifting hands to people as you pass, and over the fence gossip was still common, where you rarely go to Wal-Mart without seeing somebody you know, day or night. For some, absolutely, offering to hunt small pests or varmints is totally normal, but they'd want to know what was in it if you were trying to get into other stuff without some sort of explanation.
If you showed up and mentioned, hey, see the problems, I have these problems, what if we worked this out so you can save on fuel or whatever else and I can maybe have a percentage of what that labor yields (second suggestion), that might very well work as well, but it's not exactly what was proposed the first time around.

If a small commercial production farm is struggling, sure, get in early, see if labor is all they need to help pull through, but depending on what production level and growing scheme is being used, and what the problem they're struggling through is, labor may not be enough of a band-aid. Also, there may not be surplus in exchange for that labor - just education. There's nothing wrong with giving and learning. If a "trade" is the goal, the learning might be the only benefit, depending on what is being grown or struggled through.

A lot of people have a hard time finding a MAG or a coexistence network even now, in the best of times, and without too many requirements attached to the relationship or property type and size or skill levels.

I don't think finding a willing farmer and creating a pre-arranged set of standards as proposed first is a bad idea, but in a lot of places, like-minded is hard to find and in small towns, it's even easier to end up with a farmer who isn't actually like-minded and out yourself. Then there's the "they're coming to my door" fear that everybody has to fight through, with the possibility that the farmer is talking about Crazy Joe who showed up talking about how maybe at the end of the world...

Depending on the pick collapse cause and results, the loss of heavy machines due to fuels or loss of power for pumps might very well open the door to more farm laborers on multiple levels, or even sharecropping.

In the absence of a farmer who makes the first offer (or some other land owner where old pasture or farmland is offered at buy-in prices or in exchange for labor), there are still ways to learn now, without long term agreements. Through them, people can build a relationship that might make it easier to get a foot in the door should a need exist or take that education and apply it elsewhere if there are no openings.

Sorry MrsPrep, seems your getting your back to the wall while your looking for the hidden angle! I don't do angles! 😎 😆 My wording was poor regarding the archery practice. I had to ask many farmers if I could shoot their gophers and even talked with one of them for an hour to convince him let me. I had to tell him alot of my upbringing to show I wasn't a crazy city slicker. And since I didn't see any gophers while gabbing, I did tag a squirrel to show him I could hit it without punching a cow instead.

I'm trying to imagine back to when I was starting out and had little to my name. So I still have a strong back, but little useful knowledge to provide my family in bad times(just like my kids today who are presently in cities)...or say I'm more useful due to military background. Say I have a house and a job but know that if I walked away during SHTF, I have little or nothing. But while I have that job, I invest some money into your farm, and offer maybe years of free labour to show my worth and earn your trust should that day arise that I hope the door is open when we arrive. The money is in good faith, not on paper, as the open door too has to be in good faith! Getting to know one another during this process is how we would learn to judge the other trustworthy enough to overcome our lack of trust that we have developed so well over these many years. It sounds hard because it likely would be hard to do in these times!

And BTW, your description of meeting folks at Walmart is the same even here, where we travel 90 miles only to bump into neighbours shopping there too!

Great stuff, folks! ...much necessary to see the thought processes as each one continues to evaluate one's current and future priorities.
Soft collapse aside, the resolve for viable change should not get equally soft. As was noted, these are still relatively easy times to take co-operative steps.
I operated my csa community supported agriculture on leased land for 12 years, and learned a great deal about peoples' evaluation of labour/food/security/sovereignty. Trust/worthiness.
Following that, i've just completed a 10yr. period of co-founding/operating a thriving unique community garden, which is now ending because the borrowed land is to be sold for housing to pay for deficit in donor's budget. All organic farmers surely know that you can't put a price on built-up fertility, ecosystem-savvy and sense of place ...terroir... as french vintners have used the term to define their brands.
During all this time, the compelling factors were noted, : ownership, honor,governance,consciousness,values,humankinship,... all yearning for its own space to co-learn and thrive beyond the status quo. Conclusion... Intentional community (ies).
Putting $ where mouth is ....done. , but not enough, alone or by a few. How much do we really care, or are we still con-vinced that things will turn around gradually? No matter what the speculation around that, is it not obvious that such enterprises/associations could only add to social enrichment, if not most relevant experience/maturity...characterized by youthful zest at any age ?

So, just considering all these factors is well worth it, as it will not let complacency bring slumber...and the notes take its place in memory.

As was noted, these are still relatively easy times to take co-operative steps.
I operated my csa community supported agriculture on leased land for 12 years, and learned a great deal about peoples' evaluation of labour/food/security/sovereignty. Trust/worthiness.
Following that, i've just completed a 10yr. period of co-founding/operating a thriving unique community garden, which is now ending because the borrowed land is to be sold for housing to pay for deficit in donor's budget. All organic farmers surely know that you can't put a price on built-up fertility, ecosystem-savvy and sense of place ...terroir... as french vintners have used the term to define their brands.
During all this time, the compelling factors were noted, : ownership, honor,governance,consciousness,values,humankinship,... all yearning for its own space to co-learn and thrive beyond the status quo. Conclusion... Intentional community (ies).

I'm impressed villager! This knowledge that you've acquired is invaluable to others who may have to overcome the same obstacles in the near future. Learning the process to attaining trust amidst a world of deception could speed up successes if we all knew the techniques that worked vs those that didn't. As humans, we spend alot of time arguing our perspective while not realizing we are shutting our ears to others. (like "I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken" 🙄 )

Could you write (in point form if possible), details of this 10 year period. Imagine that it is an essay assignment, and that you have to walk some dumba$$es like that Knuckle fella through something he knows little about (ie:community gardening or even basic gardening 😆 ). With the KISS theory in mind (cause MrsPrep thought I could keep up when talking gardens)walk us thru how you worked together and shared the spoils.....

I can only say a bit more right now, as i'm swamped with things to do, and some major truck repairs.
Had to chuckle about "point form if possible" since it is not really my style...you know,.. linear thinking.
...especially with the dynamic nature of conscious gardening.
Each point begs an understood premise in order to be of wholistic value, though it could be a starting point for anyone truly open to learning.
I would say the most important things are concurrently : attitudinal in nature , longterm vision, momentary intent, humility,and open observation concerning the garden as a distinct dynamic entity.
It is the most basic "common ground" on which we all can exercise/know clear interdependence in nourishment for life , (with water of course)... a responsibility shared, whose value is usually only appreciated when practised sufficiently, together.
"L' esprit du corps" at this most basic participatory level is a matrix for life-relevant cohesion in a group, and puts all other preparation into a unique perspective of values.

Some random points:
Assuming there is some mentorship on hand...and there is sufficient deference to their knowledge by participants, in an orchestrated approach to "what does our garden need most today?"...rather than just each person doing their own "allotment style". That can be also be a valuable separate endeavor if there is space.
The main thing is: "what are the needs of the whole garden", as discerned by a qualified practitioner...or one aspiring to provide that focus.
Support them, and learn non-judgmentally from the results of the intent.
Apparently, in Africa, it was a practise of tribes to always make sure that the village gardener/elder was the first to be fed, no matter what, because the longterm village survival depended on their skills and long view of cyclic factors in any one place.
All variables, depending on location,history,climate.

1- assess whether you are able to nourish your adopted soil beyond the nutrients you take from it in form of produce. (compost, free leaves, straw,manure,kelp,comfrey,etc.)
2- learn how to do this well in advance...how to effectively compost, greenmanure, interplant, understand humus creation.Feed the worms.
3- begin to learn, or at least trust ancient knowledge of the cycles of the moon and planets affecting different plant types at different times.
4- elevate soil-beds to have more choice of moisture control. and/or container gardening for rabbit-delicate lettuces, etc.
5 -Learn double-digging process early ,to be able to do without machinery tillage eventually. (ok to use sometimes/conditions)
6- Never walk on soilbeds which have been lifted/prepared...until harvest is over, and then sparingly if necessary because of broadforking work.
7- if you have the space,and sufficient preparation time, it is an advantage to begin with creating a level , field or area of short, hardy, non-creeping grasses, and once established, cultivate the beds in strips, approximately 3'-4' wide to enable most folks to reach to the middle from the greengrass paths between beds.
I usually make these paths about 40" so it can accommodate a wheelbarrow, garden cart or a mower/cart for harvesting, and virtually eliminate the muddy feet at harvest or weeding. The diversity of this grass-path complements the cultivated beds through their extended root systems into the beds for nutrient exchange, moisture retention, resilient,productive workpath, mini-species shelter.
8- learn to accept the weather patterns into your flexible maintenance regimen,waiting, doing the least harm possible in terms of wet/soil compaction whose effects last for years, etc.
There's a ton of such points, as others have already shown and know well.

So, seeing this particular approach as being well suited for any level of experience to work in , and learn/accept the parameters , a measure of confidence emerges with enthusiasm at seeing how things work together.
At any stage, everyone's time is valued the same, and at the end of the selfselected period of designated work in the garden, a member's stroke thru the square of the name/date/calendar grid chart signifies each 1/2 hr. of work input....visible to everyone thru the season.
These are added up , and each produce type's volume is divided by the members' hours and that is their share.
Gradually everyone develops a certain proficiency in an area, and is able to mentor newcomers as part of their input, show and tell.
Compost making is ideally a group process,each one having sequential tasks to build/mix the cake layers....infusing the new-trient with the group's energy.

There is considerable detail in all this, but necessarily requires relevant premises understood.
Hope this triggers some more direction for some, in addition to what others have offered....g'nite.

So, seeing this particular approach as being well suited for any level of experience to work in , and learn/accept the parameters , a measure of confidence emerges with enthusiasm at seeing how things work together.
At any stage, everyone's time is valued the same, and at the end of the selfselected period of designated work in the garden, a member's stroke thru the square of the name/date/calendar grid chart signifies each 1/2 hr. of work input....visible to everyone thru the season.
These are added up , and each produce type's volume is divided by the members' hours and that is their share.
Gradually everyone develops a certain proficiency in an area, and is able to mentor newcomers as part of their input, show and tell.
Compost making is ideally a group process,each one having sequential tasks to build/mix the cake layers....infusing the new-trient with the group's energy.

There is considerable detail in all this, but necessarily requires relevant premises understood.
Hope this triggers some more direction for some, in addition to what others have offered....g'nite.

All said was noteworthy but I selected this area as it targets a method of distribution which needs to be pointed out. Many garden but few have likely done community gardening.

Using the KISS theory is best when teaching others anything. I see the Zen Master approach in villager and it reminds me of a native elder imparting their knowledge to the young. I admire the Mother Earth approach as it builds character to those who would make it their own. The success of instilling this thought process here would surely be low as usually it needs the core basics be instilled at an early age. I know it is hard to formulate thought without personal influence intervening. This is why I often state point form as the best method of success when teaching others their knowledge thru written words. It keeps things focused and the instructor better able to impress his methodology.