Lowimpact.org is joining a group of commons-oriented organisations and individuals that will provide:
- a Substack, with commons-related articles by members and other groups/individuals
- a forum, for commons discussions and getting queries answered
- a knowledge commons, with teams of specialists updating information on commons and self-provisioning topics
Here are the founders and the tools they’re providing:
- Commons Lab: research, toolkits, playbooks, support and advice.
- Credit Commons Protocol: federation / interoperability of commons projects.
- Credit Commons Society: ‘foundation’ to nurture/support the protocol.
- Festival of Commoning: annual commons festival.
- ISWE: governance tools, including citizens’ assemblies.
- Katja Durrani of Bristol Commons.
- Local Loop Merseyside (LLM): commons ‘money’, via credit clearing and mutual credit, model clearing city.
- Lowimpact.org: commons / self-provisioning knowledge commons.
- Michel Rauchs, Research Affiliate at the Centre for Alternative Finance at Cambridge University.
- Mutual Credit Services (MCS): design of commons models for economic sectors.
- Organisation for Identity and Cultural Development (OICD): social tools, research and narrative strategy for healing community divisions.
- P2P Foundation: research and promotion of commons-based tech models.
- Stroud Commons: housing commons, climbing commons, model commons town.
Below, Michel Rauchs, a member of the editorial team, explains the reasons behind the collaboration.
We are launching Growing Commons, a new Substack blog developed and maintained collaboratively by a group of individuals and organisations that share a common interest in the Commons movement. The core mission of the publication is to strategically promote, support, and cultivate the Commons––a growing ecosystem of community-led systems, tools, and practices for sustainable provisioning and governance.
Why this, why now?
We recognise that today’s interlinked crises—ecological breakdown, economic inequality, social fragmentation, democratic erosion—are symptoms of a deeper systemic failure. Dominant responses in public discourse range from top-down reform and radical overturn to abstract utopias. But neither offers a practical, timely, or realistic solution.
Instead, we believe there is another, underappreciated path: bottom-up transcendence. This is the gradual construction of parallel economic and social systems—rooted in community ownership, local governance, and mutual provisioning—that deliver tangible benefits now, without relying on state-led reforms or market-driven solutions. These alternatives, what we call the Commons Economy, are already operating in practice across finance, housing, energy, food, care, and more.
The problem is that these efforts remain under-recognised, misunderstood, and siloed.
Our vision for this Substack is to introduce the Commons to a wider public as a viable, scalable, and immediately actionable alternative to our dominant system. Our mission is to make this emerging ecosystem visible, accessible, and compelling––not through theory or ideology, but through solutions-oriented storytelling. By showing how it works in practice––who is building it, how it is governed, and what it delivers––we aim to restore belief in the possibility of meaningful change and inspire more people to take part.
This publication has three main objectives:
- Introduce the Commons as a viable, bottom-up response to our polycrisis;
- Show it in action through real tools, stories, and communities; and
- Grow the movement by inviting broader participation and connecting practitioners.
Note: While this blog is not specifically about the “Commons Economy”, we recognise that economic transformation (facilitated by a range of defensive economic, legal, and governance tools/frameworks) is one of the most powerful entry points and critical strategic levers for systemic change. It is where the crises are most keenly felt, where action is most immediately possible, and where transformation has the greatest impact. People need housing, food, care, energy, money, and savings. By addressing these needs through Commons-based approaches, we begin shifting economic life toward more cooperative, localised, and resilient forms.
What this publication is (and isn’t)
Growing Commons is a shared publishing platform developed and maintained collaboratively by a group of individuals and organisations committed to strengthening the Commons. It is not a new organisation, and not a competitor to existing efforts. Instead, it will serve as a single communications channel designed to amplify what already exists, reach beyond our current networks, and offer readers a coherent, hopeful, and practical alternative vision.
This initiative will not replace or centralise the diversity of voices within the Commons. It is simply a shared space—a “front door”, if you will—that allows contributors to speak with a single, coherent voice to a wider public while preserving and respecting the diversity of perspectives within.
Our tone will be welcoming, solutions-oriented, and inspiring, with a focus on practical action. Special series may occasionally explore the root causes of systemic issues, but our main focus will always return to what can be built now, by whom, and how.
Who we’re trying to reach
Our primary audience is not (only) convinced and active commoners, but the much larger—and growing—group of people who:
- Sense that something is deeply wrong with our current economic, financial, and political systems;
- Struggle to articulate the root causes or see viable alternatives; and
have grown disillusioned with reform or change, yet remain open to hopeful possibilities.
Many are disillusioned reformers, quiet quitters, or cautious explorers. What unites them is a combination of latent desire for change, lack of exposure to realistic alternatives, and healthy scepticism towards new solutions. We aim to reach this group and offer the Commons as a credible and compelling alternative worth considering—and ideally, worth contributing to.
Within this broader audience, we are particularly—but not exclusively, of course— focused on strategists, builders, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds: finance, law, public policy, social sciences, governance, economics, technology, software development, systems design, and more. Many of them have the skills and motivation to help grow the Commons but haven’t yet found a meaningful outlet for their creativity and talent.
Our messaging philosophy
The Commons doesn’t need to win a debate—it needs to show that it works. Rather than provoke or persuade, we aim to inspire participation through example. Given the diversity, curiosity, and scepticism of our target audience, our messaging must remain grounded, credible, and inclusive. We seek to transcend political and ideological divides to offer a unifying vision. Our approach will therefore be conciliatory, non-partisan, and solutions-oriented.
While we acknowledge systemic problems, our emphasis is always on grounded hope, tangible alternatives, and clear paths for involvement. By focusing on real-world implementations across all realms and domains of mutual provisioning, we demonstrate that systemic change is already underway—bottom-up, community-led, and quietly transformative. These stories, rooted in lived experience rather than abstract critique, are our most effective tool for converting interest into engagement, and engagement into contribution.
Our tone will be:
- Clear and accessible, avoiding jargon and insider language;
- Optimistic and solutions-oriented, without ignoring systemic roots;
- Neutral and credible, steering clear of polarisation and adversarial framing;
- Honest and grounded, sharing both successes and failures, and avoiding utopian promises;
Practical and positive, offering tangible ways to engage and get involved.
Editorial approach: what we’ll publish
We intend to structure the publication around four content dimensions that together offer readers a rich, layered understanding of the Commons:
- The Big Picture: Explainers and framing pieces about the Commons as a whole—what it is, where it came from, why it matters, and how it can scale.
- Components & Tools: Deep dives into the how—the economic, monetary, financial, legal, governance, and cultural frameworks and tools that underpin the sectoral models of the Commons.
- Implementations: Real-world case studies and features on working examples (past, present, and imminent) around the world—stories of success and learning.
- People & Projects: Interviews, profiles, and organisational spotlights showcasing the thinkers and builders of the Commons—giving the ecosystem a human dimension and face.
Content will be drawn from a mix of sources:
- Original writing created specifically for this Substack (editors, contributors);
- Repurposed materials from contributors’ existing articles, blogs, and publications;
- Adapted reposts from allied platforms, with permission and added context; and
- Reader-submitted guest posts and articles—please get in touch if this speaks to you!
We also plan to experiment with other content types:
- Long-form essays and opinion pieces: offering a place for deeper analysis, measured critiques, balanced debates, or visionary perspectives.
- Roundtables: bringing together people or organisations with multiple perspectives (e.g. complementary, conflicting).
- Curated digests: compiling updates, resources, and links relevant to the Commons.
- Community-submitted stories: opening the platform to first-hand experiences and ideas from a growing audience.
- Multimedia: incorporating formats such as infographics, annotated diagrams, or short video explainers.
There are some potential recurring series that we are exploring as well:
- “Commons Builders”: profiles of organisers, communicators, and custodians building the ecosystem.
- “Voices of the Commons”: personal narratives and interviews with everyday participants in Commons projects.
- “Commons in Action”: spotlights on active projects and their impact.
- “The Commons Toolbox”: accessible explainers and deep dives on major tools such as liquidity savings mechanisms, UCOs, nondominium, viable system model, sociocracy, and others.
- “How to Start a Commons”: practical, reader-facing guides on initiating Commons-based initiatives locally (and links to potential partners/supporters).
- “The Commons Digest”: a regular roundup of news, tools, and resources from the broader Commons world.
- “Ask a Commoner”: potentially interactive formats including glossary entries, myth-busting, and community Q&A.
- “Common(s) Myths”: regular articles about what the Commons are not.
Please let us know if you have any suggestions, ideas, or general feedback—we’d love to hear from you!
A launch series for introducing the Commons
We know that for many (especially new) readers, the Commons might be unfamiliar, or feel broad, abstract, or hard to pin down. That’s why we’re beginning with an initial series of articles to offer an accessible introduction from a few different angles. These first posts will lay a shared foundation: explaining what the Commons is, why it matters, how it works in practice, where it’s already taking root, and how people can get involved.
Whether you’re completely new or just looking for a clearer picture, this series is here to help you get oriented and explore at your own pace.
How to get involved
This publication is only as strong as the network it serves. Here are a few ways to contribute:
- Subscribe to receive new posts by email and follow along.
- Share the publication with others who may be curious or looking for alternatives.
- Join the conversation—leave comments on posts or join the discussion via Notes and threads on Substack.
- Send us your stories—tell us about your Commons-based projects and experiments.
- Contribute an article—we welcome guest writing and co-authored pieces.
- Suggest topics or questions you want us to explore
- Introduce tools or resources that others should know about
We especially welcome collaborators—writers, editors, practitioners, curators—who want to help shape this space. If you’re building or documenting community-led alternatives, we’d love to hear from you!
Final word
The Commons grows when we grow it together. If you’re ready to explore a more collaborative, resilient, and community-led future, we hope this space can support your journey. We look forward to hearing your stories, your questions, and your ideas. Let’s see where this journey will take us!
