Waste Not, Want Not

Living Lean, Sharing Plenty 

Out here, we don’t throw good things away. Folks used to fix what broke, share what they didn’t need, and trade what might still be useful to someone else. That mindset built strong homesteads and stronger communities. Sovereign Communities aim to bring that back. We don’t waste what still has use, and we don’t let a neighbor go without if we’ve got what they’re looking for.

Principle: Before tossing anything, we give our neighbors a first look. One’s junk might patch another’s roof.

Step-by-Step Implementation:

Step 1: Establish a “Don’t Dump It Yet” Forum

Each Sovereign Community will create a simple, accessible platform—physical or digital—where members can post items they intend to discard. This could be a shared group chat, a bulletin board, or a shared notebook or app.

Each post should include:

  • A photo or brief description of the item
  • Condition of the item (working, repairable, scrap value, etc.)
  • Date of posting
  • Deadline for claiming (typically 3–7 days)

 

Step 2: Pickup or Repurpose

If another resident can make use of the item—whether directly, as parts, or for salvage—they arrange for pickup or exchange. This system encourages skill-building in repair, crafting, and fabrication, while fostering inter-residence cooperation.

 

Step 3: Responsible Disposal 

If no one claims the item after the designated period:

  • It is either recycled (if possible), repurposed by the Fabrication Team, or finally discarded in a responsible manner.
  • Certain items (metal, wood, cloth, broken electronics) may be offered to the neighborhood salvage program or fabrication hub for potential reuse.

 

Step 4: Host Quarterly “Swap & Salvage” Days

Encourage a quarterly gathering where residents bring unneeded items for open exchange or group salvage.

These events:

  • Reinforce community bonds
  • Highlight the value of reuse
  • Reduce dependence on new, corporate goods

 

Operational Features

  • Neighborhood Salvage Coordinator: One volunteer helps manage the forum and coordinates with Fabrication Scouts.
  • Scrap & Salvage Inventory: A record of common reusable materials (hinges, gears, wood scraps, fabrics) available in the community.
  • Repair Circles: Residents come together to fix or repurpose discarded items, teaching others useful skills in the process.

 

Cultural Impact

This isn’t just about thrift—it’s about resistance. Every item reused is a rejection of the system that demands we buy more, waste more, and depend more. A Sovereign Community that wastes nothing builds not only resilience, but reverence for resources. In such a system, even the discarded is honored.

“The revolution respects the hands that mend what others throw away.”

— Adapted from Black Panther Community Tenets

“The company gave us nothing. So we made everything last.”

— Blair Mountain Miner, 1921

“We didn't have a lot, but we had each other. That made everything stretch.”

— Appalachian Homesteader, 1934