The following project timeline serves as a vision of what might occur, and will undoubtedly be modified as the project unfolds
3 months:
9 months:
The Garden Commission will have selected a site for the project and sufficient funds will have been raised to proceed with the purchase. The Commission will have identified volunteers to participate on a variety of strategic planning committees focused on the critical components of the project, I.e., agriculture, energy, worship, community governance, arts, training of spiritual leaders, service outreach, etc. All contributors will receive updates on the Garden’s progress and efforts will continue to raise public awareness about the project. If the proposal for a Garden Workshop at the Parliament of World Religions is accepted, that will faciliate interfaith involvement in the project
18 months:
Strategic planning committees will have developed and submitted detailed plans to the commissioners for their approval. Initial agricultural and botanical gardens will be underway. Simple residential facilities for youth leadership training will be in place, and short term training camps will begin to be offered. Plans for service activities in the neighborhood will be implemented and young spiritual leaders in training will be encouraged to participate. Worship services will be a daily activity where there are people on the property. A design for community development will be in place and small building sites will be offered for sale, initially to the original contributors and then to others. The art center and the fresh produce raised as well as the sale of building sites and the offering of spiritual retreats will help subsidize costs.
3 years:
The first simple residences will appear on the property of those who would like to live in the Garden. Healthy organic food will be raised on the property, and a system providing for energy generation for the community will be functioning. Youth who are interested in being trained as spiritual leaders will volunteer their time in the gardens and art center to earn their keep while in residence. They will also participate with other community members in service activities in neighboring areas. A fresh air Temple to the Father will be built to hold worship services. Spiritually minded ‘artists in residence’ will help to begin an art center, perhaps utilizing the plans and substantive art collection offered by a magnanimous donor as a foundation of art for the Garden.
5 years:
The art center will now include a facility/museum to house works of art, which, along with beautiful grounds and botanicals may attract outsiders to visit the Garden for paid admission. A simple health care facility incorporating the best of traditional medicine and spiritual healing will be on the grounds. Daily worship will be an important part of life in the community, and contemplatives will reside on the property to pray for the Garden. A training facility for training spiritual leaders will now operate year round and begin sending forth a flow of ‘new apostles’ which can help regenerate a spiritual renaissance on the planet. Many who teach in the training facility will reside in the Garden. Service opportunities and projects both in the neighborhood and internationally will abound and a network of exchange and internet connection will begin to build between the Garden and other spiritual communities around the globe. Men and women will be equally involved in decision making through a system of community governance. The Garden will be environmentally self-sustaining, growing all of its’ own food and producing it’s own energy.