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owner:: @Niko
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La Finka Internal Handbook

Welcome to the living system of La Finka, a bioregional hub for regeneration rooted in creativity, sustainability, and community care. This handbook outlines our organizational structure, working groups, responsibilities, and values.

This is a living document—designed to grow and evolve with us.

Directory

ToDo:: Directory to quickly navigate this file and to other relevant files

Mission & Vision

Mission
To ignite creativity, cultivate innovation, and empower a vibrant community to build a thriving future. We harness the power of art and technology, integrated with sustainable practices, to inspire action, share knowledge, and create a self-sustaining model of community engagement and support.

Vision
La Finka is a bioregional hub for regeneration: a living lab and cultural third place grounded in the high desert. Through creative infrastructure, permaculture, mutual aid, and radical imagination, we are cultivating the conditions for a more regenerative and interconnected future.

First Time Here???

New Member Orientation Checklist

• Be sure to check out our Welcome Letter
• Community Agreements & Code of Conduct
• How La Finka Works
• Getting Involved - Volunteer

Departments & Working Groups

I. Agriculture & Land Stewardship

Cultivating food, habitat, and ecological knowledge.

• Lead Gardener / Land Steward Coordinator

  • Oversees site-wide land-based operations
  • Plans garden layout, planting schedules, water systems

• Community Garden Lead

  • Coordinates volunteer gardeners
  • Manages bed assignments, tool access, and seasonal workdays

• La Finka Water Master

• Develops & Maintains La Finka's Water Systems

• Compost & Soil Team

  • Operates composting systems
  • Maintains mulch/tea/biochar processes

• Groundskeeping Crew

  • Maintains pathways, tool sheds, irrigation lines

• Native Nursery Coordinator

  • Grows native plants and climate-adapted species
  • Tracks propagation and distribution

• Greenhouse Operations (subgroup)

  • Manages temperature, starts, and crop cycling

• Seed Keeper / Life Archivist (future role)

  • Maintains seed library and life-cycle memory of La Finka

• Animal Housing Team (future role)

  • Develops plans for chickens, ducks, etc.

II. Infrastructure & Technology

Supporting the systems that enable creative and collaborative work.

• Infrastructure Coordinator / Facilities Steward

  • Oversees shop tools, systems, storage, safety, and repair

• Network & IT Lead

  • Manages server, Wi-Fi, Home Assistant, smart systems

• Electronics Lab Team

  • Maintains maker space for sensors, microcontrollers, music tech

• Woodshop Team

  • Maintains woodworking tools, handles fabrication

• Tool Librarian

  • Tracks inventory, check-outs, maintenance, and documentation

• Energy Systems Lead (optional)

  • Maintains solar, battery, and energy monitoring systems

III. Community & Culture

Holding space for connection, creativity, celebration, and shared learning.

• Community Coordinator / Welcomer

  • Orients new members and volunteers
  • Manages shared calendar and communal agreements

• Moon Boom Coordinator

  • Curates artists, coordinates A/V and hosting for the monthly show

• Banana Business Bureau (BBB)

  • Creative/logistics team behind the annual Banana Rodeo

• Events & Hospitality Team

  • Coordinates food, flow, safety, signage, and clean-up

• Media Team

  • Capture: Photo, video, and audio recording
  • Edit/Production: Post-processing, publishing
  • Social Media & Outreach: Sharing events and stories with the world

• Education & Workshop Facilitation (emerging)

  • Schedules workshops, supports instructors, and gathers feedback

Meta Roles & Culture-Keepers

• Core Team

  • Oversees site-wide decisions, planning, fundraising, and community health

• Finance & Fundraising

  • Manages budget, donations, grant writing, and sponsor relations

• Safety & Legal

  • Handles waivers, compliance, insurance, event risk

• Tech & Data Ops

  • Maintains Obsidian intranet, shared docs, Airtable/Notion boards

Governance Values

• Decentralized stewardship: Roles over titles, rotating leadership
• Consent-based action: Clear agreements, shared accountability
• Transparency & documentation: Write it down, share it widely
• Seasonal pacing: Build in rest, reflection, and celebration

✍ Want to add a new role or working group? Fork this doc, write a proposal, and share it with the Core Team.

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Updated::

Created: 250412-00:19

Updated: 250516-12:36