ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

Name: The Hästekasen Village Foundation
Founded: 2025
Location: Bohuslän, Uddevalla, Bokenäs, Hästekasen Farm
Financial year: Calendar year
Type of foundation: Operating foundation
Founders: The Hästekasen Farm Association and Sebastian Näslund
(This document has been auto-translated from Swedish)

Amounts in this document are based on the Swedish “price base amount” (prisbasbelopp), which in 2025 was 58,800 SEK.

§1 Purpose

The purpose of the foundation is, based at Hästekasen Farm, to conduct nature conservation activities and to safeguard and preserve the cultural heritage of small-scale farming.

The foundation shall offer visitors and participants the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and skills in traditional small-scale farming and thereby promote the re-establishment of life and activity in rural areas.

The foundation shall also conduct popular adult education activities and award scholarships to individuals or organizations acting in accordance with the foundation’s purpose.

§2 Activities

§2.1

Develop and manage simple, ecologically and economically sustainable and resilient methods to locally and, where possible, independently meet basic human needs for: Shelter, Heat, Water, Food, Sanitation, Waste Management, Sewage, and also: Health, Recreation, and Culture.

§2.1.1

Develop resilient self-sufficiency methods.

§2.2

Preserve agro-cultural heritage and traditional regenerative methods related to the above activities, and seek innovative low-technology solutions in harmony with traditional ones.

§2.3

Develop a community of active participants and users who operate the activities in accordance with the purpose.

§2.4

Carry out the above activities for educational and demonstration purposes. Offer the site and its activities for digital or physical presentation.

§2.4.1

Include targeted initiatives aimed at youth.

§2.5

Create conditions for income/donations that may lead to expanded activities.

§2.6

Subject to available capital, award scholarships to individuals active on site who ideally promote the purpose.

§3 Fundamental Principles Inspired by Traditional Small-Scale Farming

§3.1 Resilience

The goals and methods of the activities shall strive toward resilience. The foundation’s functions shall be sustainable in the long term from ecological, social, and economic perspectives.

§3.2 Economic Sustainability

Work/activities shall strive toward economic sustainability, meaning efficiency — a ratio between resources used and resources produced greater than 1. To “husband” resources means to use them sparingly.

§3.3 Diversity

Activities should strive for diversity in skills, knowledge, and attitudes related to §§2–3.

§3.4 Simple Living

To achieve resilience and independence, activities shall seek solutions that use fewer resources. Explore a simpler material standard of living (compared with Sweden’s 2025 standard).

§3.5 Ecosystem Health

All activities shall be conducted with active nature conservation and in harmony with functioning ecosystems.

§4 Board

§4.1 Structure

3–7 members.

The board must include:

At least one Swedish citizen
At least one person residing adjacent to the site (if possible)
At least one non-resident (if 7 members)

Requirements:

All board members must be over 25 years of age.
No all-male or all-female boards. Strive for balance where possible.
Only one member per nuclear family or couple.

Term of office:
Board members are appointed for three-year terms.
A deputy member may be appointed if beneficial for long-term board work.

The founder, Sebastian Näslund, appoints the board during his lifetime. After his passing, the board renews itself.

Removal:
A board member/deputy may be removed by the other members after two warnings and upon a third repeated inactivity or breach of the statutes.

New board members/deputies may/shall be appointed as needed.

The board shall hold at least one annual in-person meeting and annually appoint:

A convenor (who also has the casting vote)
A treasurer

The board shall annually appoint one, possibly two, authorized signatories who may represent the foundation and have oversight and control of the foundation’s capital.

And other roles the board deems necessary.

Additional meetings may be held remotely when needed.

Auditor:
Appointed annually; may be a layperson with relevant experience if permitted by law. Preferably non-resident. The auditor has the right to continuous financial insight.

§4.2 Decisions

At least 3 members or at least 50% (whichever is higher) must be present for decisions to be made. The goal is 100% attendance and consensus decision-making. Three discussion rounds/meetings may be held if required to achieve consensus. If consensus cannot be reached or the decision cannot be postponed, a simple majority is accepted.

§4.3 Duties of Board Members

Administer the foundation in accordance with these statutes.
Notify relevant authorities if the statutes are not followed.
Hold an annual meeting or a meeting when requested by a board member.
Annually report the foundation to relevant authorities.
Maintain decision-making capacity and seek/appoint successors when needed.
If necessary, delegate daily management of land and infrastructure to a participant association.
Act as support, advisor, and oversight body toward any participant association.
Conduct audits of any participant association or other financial activities on site.
Award scholarships when capital permits.

§5 Participants / Active Members

§5.1 Categories

Board members (from age 25)
Managers residing adjacent to the land
Temporary guests/visitors
External supporters/donors
Legal entities with similar purposes

Foreign citizens are welcome in these categories.

§6.1 Participant Association

May assume daily operations through agreement with the foundation.
Must comply with both the foundation’s and the association’s statutes (the foundation’s statutes take precedence).
The association should be run according to Swedish association practice and/or be influenced by sociocracy.

If activities become inactive:

The foundation may limit expenses to necessary costs only (taxes, minimal insurance, etc.)
In extreme cases: disconnect services (electricity, waste management, etc.)

§8 Funds and Capital

Goal: a reserve of at least 4 price base amounts in liquid funds.
Goal: a repair/maintenance fund of at least 3 price base amounts.

Additional donations/income go to the land and scholarship fund (80%/20%).
If these funds are full and criteria fulfilled, surplus may remain in the foundation’s reserve.

External donations may be directed to specific purposes aligned with the foundation’s purpose.

§8.1 Land and Infrastructure Fund

Considered “full” when containing 20–40 price base amounts (board decides level).

The foundation should strive to acquire adjacent land if beneficial to the purpose. Alternatively, lease such adjacent properties.

§8.2 Scholarship Fund

Considered “full” when containing 5 price base amounts.
May be emptied annually.
Scholarships are awarded for ideal actions promoting the purpose.

§9 Miscellaneous

Matters not regulated by these statutes are decided by the board.
In case of interpretative difficulty, the board shall read each word carefully, consider the whole, make rational priorities, weigh gains against losses, and make compromises when necessary.
The foundation may never mortgage land or property as loan security.
Land may generally not be sold.
According to current law (2025), foundations generally may not own land classified as “agricultural.” If unchanged, future boards may need to be creative and pragmatic and apply for reclassification via the Swedish Mapping Authority (Lantmäteriet) and the Tax Agency, or enter into strong agreements with reliable/suitable private individuals who hold land on behalf of the foundation.
The foundation shall be subject to supervision under the Swedish Foundations Act.
Amendments to these statutes may not be made without permission from the relevant authority.
If the foundation must be dissolved, its assets shall be transferred to similar non-private activities as decided by the remaining board.

Place: Hästekasen Farm, Uddevalla

Signed
Authorized signatories / Board of The Hästekasen Village Foundation
Ulla Olausson
Sebastian Näslund
Patrycja Gas-Janczukowicz