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Forming Formed: 2008
Big Oak Ridge
Franklin, Pennsylvania,
United States
Mother House
 01.01.2008 Forming
Location: Northwest Pennsylvania
Government: Patriarchal eldership.
Structure: The community will consist of both cohousing and cooperative aspects. Currently five families belong, two of which live on the property and the other three co-op.
Purpose: pursue and promote healthy, economically sound life-style that is ecologically sustainable and modeled after the New Testament Church as described in the book of Acts.
Admission: voted on by existing members, final approval by community elders.
Current membership: Five families, all related. Membership is not closed.
Future plans: Form non-profit foundation as holding entity for property and to promote the purposes of the community; investigate various business ventures to support the community. Plans include raising meat goats, poultry, and expanding the organic garden. We would like to reduce consumption and move toward more of a stewardship lifestyle.
 
Website: http://www.bigoakridge.org
Contact:
Big Oak Ridge
449 Bowman Road
Franklin, Pennsylvania 16323 United States

Send an Email
Links:
Umhangtrager's Domain: Web site of community leader
Last Updated:1/29/2008
 
Visitors Accepted
 (A weekend visit is required, and a donation of $250.00 to defray the cost of the visit is suggested. If a person or family is then interested in joining the community a longer visit is arranged.)
Visitor Process: email to umhangtrager@cornmesser.com. Include a brief note about the visitors including number of adults and number of children, and contact information. We suggest visits be arranged during the warmer months, as it is hard to get a "feel" for the area during the winter.
Population
Adult Members:
4
(The community currently includes 4 resident adults and 6 adults who are not residents.)
Child Members:
4
Non-member Residents:
0
Open to new adults:
Yes
Open to new children:
Yes
Gender Balance:
50% M 50% F
Open to which gender(s):
All genders welcome
Ethnic Diversity:
0% identify as 'people of color'
(we are open to people of all ethnic backgrounds)
Age Focus:
No Focus
Age Restrictions:
No
Government
Decision Making:
By a group of elders or other leaders
(Adult males in the community serve as elders. We are considering inviting a couple of non-members to serve as elders just for "objective outside input". Decisions are largely by consensus of the community, but elders provide an avenue for final decision making and arbitration.)
Identified Leader:
Yes
(The leader is currently the property owner.)
Leadership Core Group:
Yes
(Community meetings are primary means of decision making; elders approve decisions that impact community.)
Labor and Money
Financial Style:
Members have independent finances
Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt:
Yes
Labor Contribution:
Expected
(hours vary based on need. Some combination of financial contribution and/or labor contribution is required of all members.)
Join Fee:
Yes
Regular Fees:
Yes
(Combination of labor and financial contribution may vary based on individual needs and circumstances.)
Land and Buildings
Rural
Area:
20 acres (8.1 hectares)
Land Owned By:
Individual community member(s)
(community is currently forming; land is currently owned by private owner. We are interested in exploring a land trust or other non-profit way of holding the land.)
Number of Residences:
2
(Mother house plus one traditional single family dwelling. Plans call for six additional free-standing dwellings and an addition to the motherhouse.)
Cohousing:
Yes
(Community will include both cohousing and cooperative elements.)
Food, etc.
Percentage of Food Grown:
6-20%
(Garden is currently under expansion; adding livestock 2008.)
Share Community Meals:
1 time/week
(This may increase as we move forward.)
Dietary Choice or Restrictions:
Diet is up to each individual
Dietary Practice:
Omnivorous
Alcohol Use:
Seldom used
Tobacco Use:
Prohibited
Social Factors
Open to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender members:
No
Restrictions on Romantic Relationships (between consenting adults):
Yes
(cohabitation outside of marriage is not permitted. Courtship is the expected model of developing romantic relationships.)
Shared Spiritual Path:
Yes
(Christianity)
Which Spiritual Path(s):
Other
(New Testament Christianity)
Educational Style(s):
Home schooling
(school choice is not prohibited or regulated by the community.)
Cohousing Details
Cohousing Status:
Building
(Currently finishing mother house and planning additional units.)
Number of Units:
mother house plus one other single family dwelling. Future plans call for up to six more freestanding units, and a major addition to the mother house.
Square Feet in Common House:
3600
(includes five bedrooms, 3 common rooms, 4 bathrooms, kitchen, dining, laundry, office.)
Architect:
The mother house is a six year old modular building. The other house on the property is a 100+ year old farmhouse.
Developer:
The community will develop.
Commercial Lender:
Private bank held mortgage at present.
 
 
Mother House
Motherhouse entrance in winter
Click an image to see it full size.


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