| Earthaven is an aspiring ecovillage founded in 1994 on 320 acres in the mountain forests of western North Carolina, about 50 minutes from Asheville. We are spiritually diverse, and value sustainable ecological systems, permaculture design, elegant simplicity, right livelihood, and healthy social relations. We have both vegetarians and omnivores, and some of us raise livestock. We hope to become empowered, responsible, ecologically literate citizens who model bioregionally appropriate culture for our time and place.
We intend to become a village of at least 150. We use consensus decision-making, and have paid for and own title to our land. Members lease homesites from the community and pay annual dues. As of 2006 we have 35-40 members living at Earthaven. While much of Earthaven is still under construction, we have built roads and bridges, community buildings, members’ homes, multi-household residences, gardens, constructed wetlands, and off-grid power and water systems.
We are developing a small village-scale economy, and most of us work in small on-site businesses or nonprofits, including Red Moon Herbs, Imani Farm, Yellowroot Farm CSA, White Owl Lodge, and Useful Plants Nursery, among others, or by offering services like carpentry and home construction, child care, and healing arts. As a learning community dedicated to sharing our resources with the public, we offer workshops in permaculture design, natural building, consensus, creating new ecovillages, herbal medicine, health and healing, and women’s mysteries. We also host large events such as the Continental Bioregional Congress in 2005, the annual Southeast Regional Permaculture Gathering, and others. We welcome student and other learning groups and support a homeschool enrichment program called the Forest Children Program. We're seeking emotionally mature, cooperative, entrepreneurial people, including but not limited to organic growers and farmers; people with solar system, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical skills; healers; artists; and families with children. | |
Population Open to new children: Yes Gender Balance: 54% M 46% F | Government Decision Making: By consensus Leadership Core Group: No | Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances Labor Contribution: Expected (2-4 hours/month; 1500 hours in 1st 10 years) Join Fee: Yes ($4,000 one-time Joining Fee, plus one-time Site Lease fee (renewable, transferrable site lease).In 2006 full site (which can be shared by up to 4 members) is $20,000; compact site (which can be shared by up to 2 members) is $12,000.)) Regular Fees: Yes (Annual dues & fees range between approximately $350 to $600 per year.) | Land and Buildings Rural Area: 320 acres (129.5 hectares) Land Owned By: The community Cohousing: No (One of our neighborhoods, Village Terraces, is based on the cohousing model.) | Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: 6-20% (We intend to lease agricultural fields sto members to grow food for the community, once we've cleared more land for agriculture.) Share Community Meals: Nearly all dinners (Most members eat dinner with others in their neighborhood; in 2007 we have about five different neighborhoods with shared meals.) Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Diet is up to each individual Dietary Practice: Omnivorous (Most members are omnivores; some are vegetarians.) Alcohol Use: Used occasionally Tobacco Use: Used Occasionally | Social Factors Open to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender members: Yes Shared Spiritual Path: No Which Spiritual Path(s): Other (Spiritually eclectic.Most members share ecospiritual values.) Educational Style(s): Home schooling :: Other (Some children attend a local alternative school; others attend the Forest Chilcren Program (which is not a school) at Earthaven.) | |
