The founders of Valle Armonia used the book Creating a Life Together by Diana Leafe Christian as the tool to design this community. The end result is that it was exceedingly well designed from the beginning.
Our community uses the legal construct of a corporation under Costa Rican law. The land and infrastructure were placed in this corporation; we own approximately 30 hectares (75 acres). Individuals can buy shares in our corporation — up to two per person — making you a "co-owner." With your share comes a lot of one-quarter hectare (0.6 acres). You can build several homes and sheds on your lot, and on your land you have the right to as much privacy as you require. Developing your own gardens, fruit forest, and businesses is permitted, as long as they don't infringe on the integrity of the whole. Every co-owner must sign an internal agreement that states what types of behaviours are unacceptable, as well as potential repercussions for activities that compromise the well-being of their neighbours or the entire community.
After six months of being a co-owner, you can ask to become an official "member." If the other members agree — basically, you haven't already created too many problems — you are voted in, assume voting rights, and hopefully take on meaningful responsibility in helping to run this place. We are actively calling in members who possess practical skills, ideally ones that complement previous members' strengths, in order to create a more successful team.
The most successful teams — whether in sport or in business — invariably seem to have created a group culture that meets the needs of the individual, and yet still manages to place the success of the whole as paramount in importance. When accomplished skilfully, no easy task, everyone is happy and feels fulfilled on deep, almost indescribable levels. If they can do it, we can too.