Katywil Farm Community :: Communities Directory

Forming Formed: 2008 Established: 2009

This page last updated:4/22/2013

Katywil Farm Community

Colrain, Massachusetts,

United States

We are a multi-generational, child-friendly, co-housing farm community in Colrain, Massachusetts, with cooperative homesteading and co-sufficiency as our core mission. We are rural but not isolated, and forming a coalition of farming enterprises, home businesses, and neighbors working together to create livelihoods that improve the quality of our lives. Being supportive and helping each other succeed makes our community thrive. We currently have a poultry CSA, and a planned cheese making venture.

There are 12 houses in Phase 1, and 4 lots are still available. Phase 2 will have an additional 5 homes. Katywil will have a total of 17 single- and two-family homes when complete.

We own individual lots and share the rest of the 112 acres, which include arable farmland, pasture to raise animals, and lots of trees for kids to climb. Katywil provides a magnificent view down the North River valley to the Catamount Mountains and an uninterrupted expanse of sky that is especially beautiful at night. Families are clustered on a south-facing slope overlooking the West Branch of the North River and Stone Mountain.

We are 20 minutes from Rte. 91; three and a half hours from Manhattan; 45 minutes from the Massachusetts towns of Amherst, Williamstown, and Northampton, as well as Brattleboro, Vermont; 20 minutes from Greenfield, Massachusetts; and 15 minutes from Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. Our location is near social, arts, and academic communities in the Berkshires.

We currently have a large community garden, bee hives, poultry tractor, orchards and earthen pizza/bread oven. Planned features include permaculture landscape design, edible forest gardens, barn, greenhouse, and hiking trails. Our common house has gathering space, bath, kitchen, living room, and workshop space for classes, woodworking, meetings, and other projects.

There are two existing architectural designs which are highly energy and space efficient, but you may choose a unique design or build your own home.

Website: http://www.katywil.com

Contact:

Bill Cole
43 Stetson Brothers Rd
Colrain, Massachusetts 01340 United States
Phone: 413-624-5599

Links:

Katywil

Community location is placed at the center of the zip/postal code, city/state, or city/country (not based on street addresses)

This page last updated:4/22/2013

Visitors Accepted

Visitor Process: Call or email Bill Cole at 413-624-5599 or bill@katywil.com

Affiliations: Katywil Farm Community

Network Affiliations:

Fellowship for Intentional Community

:: Coho/US

Statement of Housing Non-discrimination:

Our community does not discriminate in regards to housing based on race/color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, family status (i.e. having children, not having children, or being pregnant), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, source of income, age, creed, personal appearance, political affiliation, HIV infection, military/veteran status, unfavorable military discharge, gender identity or expression, receiving public assistance, or being the victim of domestic abuse.

Population Members(adults and children): 9 (15 members (some still building houses) 4 of the 12 homes in Phase 1 are still available) Non-member Residents: 0 Open to new members: Yes	Government Decision Making: Other (Sociocracy) Identified Leader: No Leadership Core Group: Yes	Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances Labor Contribution: Expected Join Fee: Yes (House-lot price) Regular Fees: Yes (Monthly/annual maintenance fee)
Land and Buildings Rural Area: 112 acres (45.3 hectares) Land Owned By: The community Number of Residences: 17 (18 single homes when complete) Cohousing: Yes	Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: over 50% (TBD by those buying into Katywil) Share Community Meals: 1-3 times/month (TBD by those buying into Katywil) Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Diet is up to each individual (TBD by those buying into Katywil) Dietary Practice: Other (We are a mix) Alcohol Use: Used occasionally Tobacco Use: Prohibited (prohibited in public spaces)	Social Factors Common Spiritual Practices: No Educational Style(s): Home schooling (Some home school children here)

Cohousing Details

Cohousing Status:

Building

(Four houses built, six being built)

Number of Units:

17 single-family homes plus common house

Architect:

Bill Austin, Austin Design, Colrain, MA

Developer:

Bill Cole

Commercial Lender:

Self-financed

Click an image to see it full size.

Become an Editor Current editor(s): BillCole, nancyatkatywil

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