Edge Esmeralda is a co-created village — the culture emerges through the people in it, not from a top-down rulebook. These are the shared agreements that hold it together. 
Everyone who arrives in the village agrees to act in accordance with these guidelines. Think of them as a shared reference point for the culture we’re building together.
Foundational principles
- Co-Create and Build. We’re here to build, beyond consuming knowledge. The emphasis is on hands-on application — new tech, cultures, ideas, and organizations during our month together.
- Healthy by Default. Movement, sleep, food, recovery, hydration. The village is set up so the healthy choice is the default one. Leave healthier than you arrived.
- Multigenerational. The community spans newborns to centenarians. Different life stages learning from each other.
- Multidisciplinary. The biggest breakthroughs happen at the intersections — scientists, artists, engineers, urban planners, philosophers, mechanics, all in the same room.
- Care for One Another. A village only works when people look out for each other. Notice who is new. Notice who is overwhelmed. Help someone find their group. Hold space for someone having a hard day.
Cultural norms
- Invite Emergence. The best moments will not be planned in advance. Leave room for them.
- Practice JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). It’s impossible to do it all. Choose with intention, and be fully present for what you choose.
- Contribute Meaningfully. You don’t have to host a session. Show up fully to a workshop. Offer help behind the scenes. Ask a thoughtful question.
- Disagree with Care. Strong perspectives are welcome. Engage with generosity — listen before reacting; ask clarifying questions; speak from your own experience; default to kindness when in doubt.
- Leave No Trace (Physically and Socially). Clean up after yourself. Tend to communal spaces. Same for social space.
- Be a Good Neighbor. Healdsburg is a town with its own pace and community. Support local shops. Tip well. Move through town with attentiveness.
Consent culture
Consent is not only about sexuality — it’s how we build trust across conversation, touch, photography, collaboration, emotional processing, invitations, substances, time and attention.
Consent must be: freely given · informed · specific · reversible · enthusiastic.
- A “no” does not require justification.
- Silence is not consent.
- Past interactions do not create future entitlement.
What doesn’t serve the community
These erode trust and participation:
- Harassment or intimidation
- Coercion or repeated unwanted contact
- Discriminatory behavior
- Ignoring boundaries
- Non-consensual touching or photography
- Aggressive networking or repeated unsolicited pitching
- Behavior that makes others feel unsafe or unable to participate fully
Impact matters, not only intention.
Community Care Stewards
Community Care Stewards help support the relational health of the village — receiving reports, supporting participants, helping navigate difficult situations, protecting the wider community when necessary.
Current stewards:
- Jess Luibrand (Community Care + Connection Lead) — Telegram
@jessluibrand - Cait Chizmar
Stewards recuse themselves from situations involving close personal relationships. Reports are handled confidentially.
Report something
If you experience or witness something concerning, harmful, unsafe, or misaligned with our community agreements, please reach out. Either:
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Message a Community Care steward directly, or
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Submit the Incident Form:
To help create shared language for response, three broad categories (from the full Care & Culture Guide):
- Level 1 — Uncomfortable: boundary crossings or interactions that create discomfort
- Level 2 — Harassment: sustained, coercive, intimidating, discriminatory, or repeated unwanted behavior
- Level 3 — Violation: assault, violence, restraint, or situations involving immediate physical danger
Different situations require different levels of response, support, accountability, and escalation. Full Community Care & Accountability Process:
Volunteer with Community Care
We’re looking for grounded, kind, high-agency humans to help support the relational fabric of the village. The role is stewardship — helping create an environment where people feel welcomed, connected, respected, and able to fully participate. If you’re interested, reach out to Jess (see above) or via Volunteering & Scholarships.
Source post:
Synthesized from the 2026-05-27 Substack guidelines post and Jess Luibrand’s full Community Care & Culture Guide document. The Level 1/2/3 framework and Accountability Process link above are from the full Guide, not the Substack post — see the document for full text.