Community Feedback on Fly Ranch

As I wrote about a month ago, I had the chance to visit a small portion of Fly Ranch during Burning Man this year.  In that same post I asked the community to comment on what they'd like to see the property used for, gathering feedback from this blog, Facebook, the ePlaya forums, private messages, and on Reddit.  

I got quite a bit of feedback, organized into 10 rough categories. One of those categories is what I'd categorize as 'cynical', though I make no judgment as to whether rightly or wrongly cynical. Those responses generally expressed the belief that Fly Ranch will be for friends of the Org, VIPs, and those with money. Personally, I hope they're wrong, and I've been repeatedly assured by those in the Org that they are, but only time will tell.

It's also worth noting that a number of responses spoke to the need to preserve the land of Fly Ranch, not trash it, and act as responsible stewards for it. 

Onto the responses, without comment from me, along with a sample quote for each category:

1. A maker space/artist/teaching retreat.
   "I think Fly ranch should be, as La Villa Médicis in Roma, a place where painters, sculptors, writers , designers ( of all kinds) , architects, filmmakers ... artists and maybe scientists can do and try what they want.” – Nicholas Stadler
   
   
2. Series of year-round miniburns.
   "What about a longer lasting/smaller year around community where people come and go for a week or two at a time? All the same rules apply to regular burning man - week-long fees/bring water/leave no trace/art/gifting, etc., just this way it opens up the experience to more bodies and those who can't make the trek at that time of year." - Aaron Golden
   ​
3. A site for experimentation with new/better kinds of living/society.
   "Is it possible to build a utopian burner city that experiments with alternative systems of government and economy? When do we stop Burning the Man, and start building a new one?" - Wick
   
   
4. Permanent city operating on the 10 Principles.
   "So as a potential burner, I can't help but notice that one must "go thru the man" in order to "burn the man". What about a place that actually follows all the principles. How can a community of gifting really operate WITHOUT a default world where resources are obtained? Is the purpose to create a space without crown or ruler? For a permanent culture to exist, however, basic needs must be met. How that is done, I don't know." - Dee


5. Retirement community for old burners.
   "It could support a retirement community of old burners, who would in turn support it. It also seems natural that it would support a fair number of people in transition, but these I don't believe could be permanent residents. I think this is a key issue, the BM culture will by its nature attract a fair number of people that believe they want to stick. However, in order to stay vital sticking needs to be discouraged. " - Eo
   
   
6. Global Leadership Conference location (though presumably not just this).
   "We should hold the next GLC on the Ranch!!!" - Buena Chica
   
   
7. Mitigation site for CO2 generation at Burning Man.
   "I think the Fly Ranch should be a kind of mitigation site for Burning Man. Let's face it, no matter how much we try, Burning Man isn't really a very "Green" event because of all the hydrocarbons we expend there. The Fly Ranch could be managed to maximize its CO2 absorption and wildlife benefits." - Carbon Buildup
   
   
8. Decompression point.
   "Looks like a decompression point, similar to what we trying to find by Tahoe lake after the burn." - Leah
   
   
9. Build something permanent and epic.
   "Build something HUGE.
   I am thinking of a Rammed Earth structure that will last for a 1,000 years (like the Great Wall, Nazca Lines in south America).
   
   A Temple Mount
   Raised shape of the Man
   A trench shape of the Man
   Amphitheater
   Something the masses can gather around, a “Permanent Man"" - The Gov
   

As you can see, there was quite a variety of responses! It'll be pretty interesting to see what comes out of Fly Ranch, but I wouldn't hold my breath on them moving quickly. My understanding is they intend to move in a slow and considered fashion on this, which I think is wise.

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