TLDR: A secular, utopian settlement with a strong leaning towards Communism, led by a Council of seven leaders. Everyone is given a role to play in furthering the community as a whole. Secretive and restrictive in the name of “the greater good”.
In April of 2023, a group of climate activists decided it was time to form a safe community in the face of the recent Blackout and natural disasters plaguing the planet. They made the trek from the heart of Chicago to Crete, Illinois – a suburb of the city boasting expansive farmland and room to grow. They named their settlement The Garden, an ode to the Garden of Eden.
Although The Garden’s population was once small, by 2035 it’s expanded to include 150 residents. The settlement is structured like a commune, wherein each resident holds a pivotal role in keeping the community functioning. At the head of the commune is The Council – a group of seven residents who make all major decisions for the settlement, including assigning each resident to their job at age sixteen.
RESIDENTS ARE ASSIGNED ONE OF THE FOLLOWING JOBS:
Enforcers: Carry out the law within the settlement and protect The Garden from other settlements and Wastelanders. They are assigned to a specific post (gate guard, external patrol, etc.), usually for life.
Farmers: Responsible for tending to the expansive farmland, which produces food, medicine, and essential ingredients for many other goods used in the settlement. Makers: Create the necessary goods (such as clothing, soap, etc.) to keep The Garden functioning.
Transporters: Deliver all supplies and goods to peoples’ homes and coordinate expeditions to bring in new supplies.
Medics: Responsible for treating all physical ailments in the settlement, from minor to life-threatening. This is the smallest job group.
Teachers: Some educate the residents who are under 16, while others specifically train residents for their assigned jobs once they reach age 16.
Laborer: Build and maintain the infrastructure and essential systems in the settlement. This is the largest job group.
Adults are expected to work a shift of five days on, with two days off per week. Days off are staggered so that each job is tended to throughout the week with full coverage.
The structure of the settlement has yielded impressive results – The Garden has managed to sustain a small surplus of goods, meaning most of its residents are in good health and are protected from the dangers beyond the settlement’s gates. However, not all residents can turn a blind eye to the lack of freedom within The Garden’s confines.
Despite its insular nature, The Garden has gained a reputation as a utopia in a post-apocalyptic world – a reputation that may put its safety at risk. Perhaps this is why The Council has secretly obtained its own working radio, to listen for outside communications about their sacred oasis. As of 2035, only The Council and a select few others in The Garden know of the radio’s existence, though it’s unclear how long this secret can be kept.
THE GARDEN'S CORE VALUES:
No Waste: Strictly enforced, which is why all food is delivered directly to households daily, and other goods are delivered on a weekly basis. Any surplus is collected and redistributed or reused/recycled.
Community above Person: The community is able to thrive only because everyone contributes in their daily work. There is no form of currency in the settlement, but instead people benefit from the contributions of others.
Respect for Nature: The council looks down on the use of technology or attempts to return to the way society used to be, despite their secrecy surrounding the use of radio. They believe the current state of the world is an intentional “reset” by Nature itself.
Privacy: The Garden Council keeps communications with other settlements minimal, and tries not to disclose much about how they operate with other settlements or Wastelanders. Citizens are forbidden from communicating with those outside The Garden.
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