Intentional Communities - A Project of the FIC
Register or Login
UsernamePassword
  View Your Shopping Cart 
Directory Home | Community List: by State/Country, Type, Newest | Maps | Add Your Community | Order the Book | Find a Community:
 
Forming Formed: 2004 Established: 2005
Beaver Creek Homestead
Nolalu, Ontario,
Canada
The main building in progress this fall
 This homestead is just starting and is fairly primitive as of yet, but is loaded with possibilities. The objective is to make a largely self-sufficient, eco-friendly, co-operative commune that will be sustainable for many generations. The core values are longevity, learning and liberty although the actual constitution is still being drafted. (feedback appreciated)
We have 65 acres, an older home, a sauna, a pond and are building an in-ground passive solar home that combines cob, straw bales, solar energy and as many natural building techniques as we can incorporate. It is still a very young "commune" as there are only 2 members, but we have big plans.
There is no specific religious agenda and no political affiliations however a deep commitment to scientific inquiry and the scientific method is required.
In the first Spring/Summer/Fall much was learned. The power was derived entirely from the solar array but the garden did not produce as much as necessary. The existing buildings could do with some work, although what exactly is not clear. The new building needs to be finished. Currently my investigations have led me into some esoteric areas of database theory so the homestead as been neglected as a result. It will get more attention again once that diversion has been completed.
The approach taken at the homestead is one consistent with the scientific method. This means every communal decision is made with respect to what it is expected to accomplish and is subsequently measured on that basis. If it does not succeed in fullfilling its' stated goals, then it is a bad policy and must be abandoned.
People must be comfortable in a wilderness setting if they are interested in joining us. There are bears that share the land and have taken a liking to my compost pile. There is an outhouse and no phone on the property although cell phones may now work in the area. It is a great place to acquire some peace and quiet. The surrounding population is not great enough to be likely to support a service or sales based business approach.
Inquiries and visitors are more than welcome.
Cheers.
 
Website: http://www.bradneufeld.com
Contact:
Brad Neufeld
RR#2
Nolalu, Ontario P0T 2K0 Canada
Phone: no primary phone, 425-605-1279
Send an Email
Last Updated:2/11/2007
 
Visitors Accepted
 (Visitors always welcome)
Visitor Process: Give me a call or drop me a line or send me a letter and I will be happy to tell you how to get here. Be prepared for a "camping" kind of experience although much more comfortable.
Network Affiliations:
No affiliations
Population
Adult Members:
2
(Brad and sometimes Debbie)
Child Members:
0
Non-member Residents:
0
Open to new adults:
Yes
Open to new children:
No
(It is not sufficiently advanced yet to accomodate children)
Gender Balance:
50% M 50% F
Age Restrictions:
No
(Only a functional requirement)
Government
Decision Making:
By consensus
(It is easy to achieve consensus when there is only one. :))
Identified Leader:
Yes
(Brad Neufeld)
Leadership Core Group:
No
Labor and Money
Financial Style:
Members have independent finances
(Financial contributions are appreciated and voluntary)
Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt:
Yes
(Your finances are your responsibility. You don't get taxed but you also cannot expect any assistance)
Labor Contribution:
Expected
(Hard to say how many hours per day will be required. It all depends on how comfortably you want to live.)
Join Fee:
No
Regular Fees:
No
Land and Buildings
Rural
(There is a road that goes by but it is largely in the woods.)
Area:
65 acres (26.3 hectares)
Land Owned By:
Individual community member(s)
(Owned by Brad but a new means of ownership to be determined later.)
Number of Residences:
3
Cohousing:
Yes
(All of the buildings are currently in a little "rough" shape though.)
Food, etc.
Percentage of Food Grown:
1-5%
(The goal is to eventually grow 100% but last years experiment was not very successfull)
Share Community Meals:
Nearly all meals
Dietary Choice or Restrictions:
There are some dietary restrictions
(The foods that are produced locally are all that are available however there is no other specific restriction on diet beyond practicality)
Dietary Practice:
Primarily vegetarian
(Most of the foods that are grown are vegetarian. The homestead is not set up to handle livestock at this time so any meat would have to be procured outside.)
Alcohol Use:
Seldom used
(It is not produced on the homestead so it must be obtained elsewhere. If used, it must be in moderation.)
Tobacco Use:
Seldom used
(No smoking indoors and it is preferred that it is not done however using it for rituals is acceptable.)
Social Factors
Open to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender members:
Yes
(There is no discrimination based on sexual preference or any other factor)
Restrictions on Romantic Relationships (between consenting adults):
No
(Adults are free to decide these matters for themselves and expected to behave with decorum)
Shared Spiritual Path:
No
(We all choose our own path to enlightenment. Currently we have only an athiest and an agnostic so spirituality beyond pantheism is not practiced)
Which Spiritual Path(s):
Eclectic (integrates pieces from many religions)
(I have my way, you have your way. As for THE way, that does not exist. - Friedrich Nietzsche)
Educational Style(s):
Home schooling
(There is already the start of a library and participation in the education is expected of all members, regardless of age.)
 
 
The main building in progress this fall
Part of the pond that divides the property
Click an image to see it full size.


Become an Editor Current editor(s): bradneufeld
Comments from Directory Readers This community selects which reader comments to display (more info). You can add yours below.
There are no Reader Comments on this community.

Add Your Comment on Beaver Creek Homestead

We encourage comments from those who have first hand experience with a community so that others may benefit from your experience. Please share information you think will be useful to other users of this site, in a clear, concise, and polite manner. Each community can choose to display all comments, display selected comments, or not to display comments (more info). Communities will be shown email addresses of those who comment so that they might communicate with you if they choose.

We reserve the right to edit or delete any comment.

You must be logged in to add a comment. Login here or if you have not yet registered on our site Register here.

More Info on Display Options
Communities can choose one of three options for how reader comments are displayed.
  1. Display all reader comments.
  2. Do not display any reader comments.
  3. Display only comments selected by the community (this is the default value).
Communities may have a variety of reasons for choosing these options so we encourage you to not be quick to judge.