# Introduction We created this short guide to ensure you receive the most vital information for living at Terra Frutis, including details that are easily forgotten. If anything is missing in this guide, you have any questions, or if you have suggestions for improvement, please let us know. # Fees / utilities There are a few things that you are able to use here that carry a fee to cover their expense. These are listed below: - Utilities including internet and electricity, $25/month. - The washing machine, $1.50 per load. **Before each use**, log it on the dedicated form. - The dryer can be used at $2 per load. **Before each use**, log it on the dedicated form. - The hot tub can be filled once per week (Saturday) for everyone to use for free. Every additional day of use is $5. - Laundry and utilities are billed monthly. An email is sent out to inform of how much is owed. If you're planning on staying several months, you're encouraged to pay for several months at a time. In case of departure, any excess is fully refundable. ## For renters For those renting, the following are already included in the rent price: - Internet and electricity - Two washing machine loads and one dryer load per month # Breakages If you break or damage anytthing that doesn't bellong to you, we request that you write it promptly on the sheet pinned in the kitchen bulletin board. # Compost toilet We use compost toilets here, which means we poop in a designated bucket and then we cover the poop with a couple handfuls of sawdust. We recommend water or leaves to clean your bum after pooping. Some (two) toilets have a bidet, otherwise, a small bottle of water does the job. We don't provide toilet paper, buy your own if you want some. We request that you poop in the bucket because this provides valuable fertilizer (humanure) and limits the risks of having poop where we don't want. If you poop outside (in an emergency), make sure it's buried under soil in a hole that's at least 5 cm deep. Don't dig a hole near a fruit tree or buildings to avoid damaging their roots. The buckets designated for the toilets are marked with a red ring or are red. No other buckets should be used for poop. They should exclusively be used for poop and should not be brought into/by the kitchen or other living spaces. Paper and cardboard are welcome in the compost. ## Urine When you're at an toilet to poop, it's fine to pee in the bucket. Otherwise, it's preferable not to, instead please urinate outside on a useful plant, ask to be shown the recommend places. An alternative, especially good at night, is to pee in an appropriate container (this can then be used to fertilize further away). # Work Everyone (except renters) is expected to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. Most hours are met with farm-work. Sometimes there is organised group-work in the mornings led by an experienced TF member. For any hours not met by group-work (or in the case that there is no group-work), tasks will be assigned in the weekly work meeting. Taking out compost buckets, attending specific classes such as NVC or permaculture workshops count towards your hours. Other responsibilities related to your skills / interests may be assigned to you, and those will also go towards your hours. One option is to contribute to the social environment with any skills that you have, for example teaching yoga, Spanish, NVC or anything that can benefit the community. Let us know at a community meeting if you want to do this. If you take time off, please compensate with a donation of $2.5 per hour. # Safety tips ## Snakes **The main concern** is snakes. They appear from time to time. **Be aware, keep your eyes open**. Although snake bites are very rare here, there are venomous, potentially deadly, snakes around. Tell someone (long term resident) if you are bitten so we can assist you to go to the hospital. If possible, remember what the snake looked like so they can provide the right anti-venom. ## Machete Be careful when using the machete to prevent getting injured. **We've had a few people injure themselves**. Ask for a tutorial from an experienced member. ## Minor threats ### Spiders There is one spider here that we know is venomous. It is brownish and hairy. They are fairly big, commonly with a leg span of 13 cm (5.1 in). They like to hide in dark, dry places such as cardboard boxes, behind objects inside buildings etc. and even in towels. Keep your eyes open and don't stick your hand where you cannot see. Our experience with its bite is significant pain, but no-one has had any complications from it. ![](../res/spider.jpg) **Check your boots before putting them on** ### Wasps ### Caterpillars Don't touch the "furry" ones. ### Ants Some have painful bites, but normally cause no other complications. ### Plants #### Urticants (nettle style) #### Thorns, spines, and prickles There are a big range of those, probably the most notable ones are peach palm (local name "chonta") and citrus trees. ### Theft There have been instances of petty theft here, so please use the safes provided, and lock your rooms if you have any valuables. Thieves generally are mostly looking for money or phones. ### Parasites They can be found in the water, soil, and on food you bring home from the market. Please wash your produce, **especially if preparing for others**. It is easy to get tested for parasites in town for $2, and both natural and conventional medicine is freely available. # Community meetings We have community meetings, usually once a week on Sundays at 09:00, where we discuss and take decisions on various subjects concerning the community. We use a consensus process where everyone's opinions and suggestions are taken into consideration. We use unanimity as decision rule. All are welcome to join the meeting but attendance is not mandatory. If you do not attend you will need to read the meeting minutes to not miss any important decisions that could affect you. **Before you participate to meeting, we request you get familiar with consensus decision making** as we practice it. Options are the ["Consensus 101: Basic Training in Consensus"](https://youtu.be/_m3yjrC23Fc) video or the "Consensus-Oriented Decision-Making" book by Tim Hartnett. # Conflict resolution All residents are requested to communicate in accordance with the Marshall Rosenberg model of communication called "Non Violent Communication". The community will organise or provide training and/or materials. We encourage issues to be discussed as early as possible, not letting them linger and accumulate. Avoid involving more people than necessary, for example in a group email or chat involving many, or at the community meeting. 1. First, exchange directly and privately with the person you have an issue with. As much as practical, use NVC (observation, feeling, need, request), and be respectful. 2. If that fails, ask someone to mediate (Greyson, Nikolaos are suggested mediator). 3. If that fails, bring it to a community meeting. For guidance during this process, refer to chapter 11 about conflict resolution in the NVC book.