v0.1

This module defines the minimum structure required to integrate ecological care and food production into a very small RCOS-aligned community (typically 3–15 members).

Its purpose is to enable land care without creating hidden ownership, invisible labor, or informal power.

This module is intentionally minimal.

This module is suitable when:

• the community has fewer than ~15 members,
• ecological systems are small-scale,
• governance and operations are lightweight,
• formal specialization is limited.

If ecological systems become system-critical or scale significantly, this module SHOULD be replaced by the full Permaculture Module.

• Ecology is infrastructure, not identity.
• Care does not imply control.
• No land or system becomes “someone’s” by default.
• Burnout prevention is more important than optimization.

The community MUST explicitly state:

• which land or systems are governed (e.g. garden, compost, water),
• which are informal or personal.

Anything not explicitly governed is out of scope.

Ecological care MAY be assigned via:

• a single rotating steward role, or
• a shared caretaker agreement.

At minimum, the community MUST define:

• who is currently responsible,
• how long the responsibility lasts,
• how responsibility can be handed over.

No ecological responsibility may exist indefinitely without review.

The community MUST answer, explicitly but simply:

• Is ecological work expected of all members, optional, or role-based?
• Is substitution (money, outsourcing) allowed?

If labor is expected, care work MUST be:

• visible,
• discussable,
• renegotiable.

Invisible or morally coerced labor is a violation.

Day-to-day ecological decisions MAY be made by the current steward(s).

Structural decisions (e.g. expanding gardens, removing trees, locking land use) MUST:

• follow RCOS Layer 2 decision rules,
• be reviewable,
• be reversible where possible.

Expertise informs decisions but does not override process.

Land or systems used by the community:

• MUST NOT be privatized through care or investment,
• MUST remain reclaimable by the community,
• MUST have an exit path for both caretakers and non-caretakers.

If ownership exists, usage rights MUST be explicit.

The following conditions REQUIRE review or escalation:

• one person becomes indispensable for ecological systems,
• care work causes recurring burnout,
• land use decisions become emotionally or morally coercive,
• exit from stewardship feels unsafe or punished.

The following MAY be sufficient:

• a short Ecology Scope Note,
• a Stewardship Log (even informal),
• a simple labor agreement.

Excess documentation is discouraged.

This module MUST NOT override:

• RCOS Layer 0 invariants,
• governance rules,
• exit rights.

Ecology may evolve. Power must not.