The Rhizome Collective

We are working to build the world we want to live in. In our worldview, the dominant values of competition, greed and exploitation would be replaced with cooperation, autonomy and egalitarianism. We believe that all struggles against oppression and for self-determination are connected, and that it is important to construct viable alternatives while simultaneously fighting for social justice.  

Greetings from the Rhizome Collective,

For the last 11 years the Rhizome Collective has been an important part of the radical community in Austin and beyond. It has been a collection of people and groups involved in creating local alternatives and solutions to global problems. For 10 years it was based out of a warehouse in East Austin that served as a home to wide variety of social justice organizations, a demonstration center for urban sustainability, and community art projects, events, and parties.  

Tragically, in March of 2009, we lost our warehouse, and with it, the ability to continue our work as we had known it. Though we continue to own the Grove Field, a ten acre piece of land in East Austin, the activities that had thrived in our warehouse and that were at the heart of our collective, were unable to be transplanted to such a different landscape. Fortunately, much of the work that had taken place in the warehouse continues in other locations around town. As collective members focus on continuing these important projects in different locations, the Rhizome Collective has become fragmented and the Grove Field has been left unused.  

Though the Rhizome Collective in its current form is unable to make use of this land, we recognize its amazing potential and feel heartbroken to see it unused while we are focusing on our other projects. Therefore, we have decided to offer the land and collective’s other assets to community groups and individuals committed to utilizing them to achieve the ideals the Rhizome Collective was founded on.  To that end we are accepting proposals for projects that we hope will bring in ideas from committed, energetic, creative people who are excited to take advantage of this valuable resource in the name of social justice.  

This is a very broad call and is very open to whatever ideas people have. It is important to us to see this land and these assets put to use, without accelerating the gentrification process that the Montopolis neighborhood area is being assaulted with.  This land wants to be a tool for its neighborhood and community's struggles without being a charity.  It is important to us that this land be utilized without paving it over and running off the deer.  This is an opportunity to show the city that development should benefit the people of an area, not the developer.  The Rhizome Collective invites you and your group to help build the future of Grove Field.  

Please review the attachments and application materials before submitting your proposal.  Please only submit complete applications.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us.  And please feel free to spread this call far and wide.  

We look forward to hearing from you!  

In Solidarity,

The Rhizome Collective 

History of Grove Field

In 2004, the Rhizome Collective was donated a 9.8 acre brownfield in the Montopolis neighborhood. The property served as a legally operated municipal landfill from 1967 to 1970, and was illegally dumped on for approximately fifteen years following the closure of the landfill. We received a $200,000 EPA Brownfield Cleanup Award to clean the property (and completed the project in 2006).  In 2006 The city of Austin changed the status of the field from brownfield to a Greenfield.   A stroll away from the Colorado River, the resulting grove field is a beautiful wooded area populated by herds of deer and little else. 

There are a few structures that we had built over the years as well as one of the first permitted composting toilets in Texas.  We have no running water or electricity, however we have a decent rainwater collection system which irrigates some vegetable gardens and feeds the solar shower.  Basically, Grove Field is an undeveloped gem unlike any other property in Central Austin.   

  Assets

·         See asset list below.

·         Approximately $7000 in cash available for use on projects.

  Liabilities

·         No running water or electricity on the land.  Estimate $1350 to install city water.

·         There is currently a City Building Code violation due to the unpermitted building of structures on the grove field.  We are currently engaged in the process of obtaining building permits.  If your proposal includes taking over management or ownership of the property completely, you may be required to complete this process.

·         There is an unfinished City of Austin right of way that is currently a gravel road giving access to the property from Kemp street.  This primitive road requires maintenance.

·         The level of contamination of soil on the grove field is currently unknown, but believed to be approximately equivalent to typical urban soil.

  Scope

We are open all sorts of project ideas. At the broadest level, any project proposal we approve must be in line with our stated mission:

We are working to build the world we want to live in. In our worldview, the dominant values of competition, greed and exploitation would be replaced with cooperation, autonomy and egalitarianism. We believe that all struggles against oppression and for self-determination are connected, and that it is important to construct viable alternatives while simultaneously fighting for social justice.  

More specifically, we will give priority to projects that:

·         are organized horizontally – without intentional hierarchy
·         Rooted in environmental and social justice
·         Promote community resident participation and engagement  

Logistically, there are many ways that we can imagine our resources being used, and multiple different projects could be accepted and work together. At this point the Rhizome Collective may need to undergo a transformation to reflect the needs of the new groups using the grove field. 

Some potential types of proposals we anticipate are:

·         Your group could take over ownership and management of the land, resources, and non-profit status of the Rhizome Collective 501c(3) for a project on Grove Field that your group would carry out.
·         Your group could take over management of the land and rent or give use of it to organizations doing certain types of projects. This proposal would include criteria for organizations wanting to use the land and what the management organization would do with the funds.
·         Your group could rent the land, or a portion of it, without taking on any management responsibilities.
·         Your group could use part of the land and a representative of your group could join other groups using the land on a new board of directors for the Rhizome Collective.  

Application Procedures  

Please submit an application containing all of the items specified below, including attachments. Applications are due March 31st, 2010.  We will contact you if we have questions or require additional information. We will acknowledge your application within two weeks of its receipt.

If we are interested in funding your proposal, we will contact you to discuss your application within three months.  

Your application must include:  

1.      Project Narrative (no more than three pages) that includes:
a.       Brief Summary of Project
b.      Goals and objectives
c.       How many People will be involved
d.      Project activities
e.       Discussion of how project fits with Montopolis neighborhood and its role, if any, in gentrificationf.       Contact person, and either contact phone number, address, e-mail, and best time to contact   

2. Projected Project Budget (expenses and income).     
3. Organization Background (mission, major activities, and credentials for carrying out project)     
4. Time line: 1 year and 5 year    
5. Appendices, if applicable            
* Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws          
* Organization Operating Budget          
* List of other current funding sources and uses.          
* Support letters or endorsements (limited to maximum of two)  

Feel free to contact us at rhizomeoffice@earthlink.net if you have any questions, want to chat with us, or want to come see the land.  

Thanks,

Rhizome collective      

The following is an inventory of all of the assets the Rhizome has available for use with proposed projects. Please review this list, and note in your proposal which items your project would utilize. This could be a single item, a lump sum of money, a collection of items and tools, or even everything listed. If it is more appropriate to list the things you will NOT be using, that can been done instead.

Land: see above section on Grove Field
Money: $7,000
Materials/tools:
-Kitchen Equipment-
1 industrial propane stove w/ 6 burners, griddle, and oven
2 basin steel sink
3 basin steel sink
3 gallon sauce pan
2 large strainers
8 gallon pot w/ lid
20 gallon stew pot
10 gallon stew pot

-Power Tools-
generator S5500 Powersystems diesel
12 gallon 5hp Shopvac
2 gallon Handvac
2 compressor hoses
17 gallon Husky compressor
GMC 10' drill press
2 gallon mini-welder w/ 30ft hose
cement mixer 1.25 cf 1/4 hp
1000W halogen worklight w/ stand
chainsaw 1/4 hp gas powered stihl w/protective uniform, helmet, and ear protection

-Dewalt Power Tools-
18 V cordless reciprocating saw
2 18v drills/ driver
18V headsheer
4 18v batteries & 2 chargers
12 v drill
18 v grinder
18 v light
2 120v grinders
120v drywall drill

-Tools-
Assortment of approximately 30 wrenches
2 2ft levels
2 respirators

-Tools with potential damage (should be inspected)-
chipper/shredder 8.5 hp Craftsman
tiller- Troybilt
10" radial table saw
10" miter saw
auger
4 auger bits
compressor

-Electrical equipment-
large copper grounding rod
little solar setup on trailer
safety switch 30 amp 240V 3 wire indoor
125 A 240V fuse box
250 ft 12 guage indoor wiring
6 660 watt BP Solar panels
1,000 watt inverter
windmill-airlift technologies

-Garden tools-
4 rakes
5 sledge hammers
rock bar
various garden hand tools
9 shovels
3 shooter spades
4 hoes
2 picks
assorted garden hoses
2 wheelbarrows

-permaculture accessories-
4 2,500 gallon water storage tanks
6 ' livestock watering tank
2 5' pond liners
1 portable composting toilet
solar powered UV water filter
1 outhouse

-Random-
giant velvet curtain
2 20 lb propane tanks
50 lb propane tank
10 ft step ladder
2 6ft stepladders
17' extension ladder
2 dollies
rolling cart
10 folding chairs
assortment of radical literature (approximately 300 books, all fairly weathered)
hydraulic jack
surveying sight
100 ft extension cord with light fixtures
13 extension cords
4 solar power floating lights
2 pony kegs
6 ft aluminum bike trailer
attic fan
Jobsite shipping container (10 ft x 20 ft)
large travel trailer in very poor condition

-Assorted construction material-
lumber
plywood
tin pieces
nails
screws
(for a better sense of what we have in this category, please visit the Grove Field)