Page 18 - C.A.L.L. #36 - Summer 2013

Economy

The money income of TO amounts to about $5,000 per member per year. This is
misleading. For example, add the fact that TO is 75% self-sufficient in food. This is a
decision made on principle – even if it is not always economic to be self-sufficient. The
crops from fields and orchards, the meat and milk products from 30 cows and the
poultry products are not considered as income – even though their direct expenses and
labor are budgeted.

The main income is from the branches which produce tofu and hammocks. The
hammocks are TO’s signature branch even though currently tofu makes more money.
Additional branches include a book-indexing service and seeds.

Members work 42 hours a week and
every hour constitutes a “labor
credit”. The 2012 labor budget is
188,660 hours. On average, TO
members take six to eight weeks of
vacation every year. This is
possible only because in reality
most members accumulate extra
credits over and above 42 per week
and then use them for vacations.
15,000 hours are budgeted for
pension. From the age of 50, every

Twin Oaks have been making hammocks since 1967 member is credited with one hour
per week as pension. In effect, at
age 55 a member will work only 37 hours and five hours will be budgeted for pension. In
addition, senior members can work full hours or more – and take longer vacations.

TO maintains 16 cars and vans. They serve all needs including private needs of
members. Members are charged 35 - 67 cents per mile (1.6 km.) depending on the size
of the vehicle. Pocket money per member is $85/month. Clearly, it pays to pool
vacation trips if cars are allocated.

After being challenged in court by the Internal Revenue Service, TO was granted 501 D
status basically like a monastery with a “common purse”. TO bookkeeping makes out a
form for every member as if he/she was making $5,000 a year. This is below the
threshold for paying income tax.

Life in TO

TO members live in residences. No two residences are alike. Typically, seven to nine
members live in a residence – each has his/her own room. If there are children, they
too will have a room. There is a small kitchen as well as a common “living-room” area.
Members eat breakfast in the residence but lunch and supper are served in the Kitchen

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