Communities Directory: The Homestead at Denison University

Formed: 1976 Established: 1977

The Homestead at Denison University

Granville, Ohio,

United States

The Homestead is a community offering a living alternative for students at Denison University. Started as a short experiment in living simply off the land, the Homestead has outlived its expectations and is flourishing 30 years later.

A trio of cabins about a mile from Denison's campus can house 12 students who share space with cats, dogs. We are off the grid, utilizing solar energy to pump water and to power some appliances. Cooking and heating are accomplished with wood-burning stoves.

We are striving toward sustainability but must struggle with an ever-changing population and with the balance of academic work and homestead living. We attempt to integrate the two and utilize available resources and expertise from the university, and we presently have ambitious plans for increasing efficiency and capacity.

Important aspects of homesteading include the opportunity to take responsibility for our own lives; the empowerment of admitted interdependence; the intensity of living, working, and playing together; and the opportunity to integrate lifestyle with personal ideologies. The Homestead is an amazing opportunity for students to learn far more than we could ever learn in the classroom.

Status: Active

Website: http://www.denison.edu/homestead/

Contact:

1385 North St
Granville, Ohio 43023-9465 United States
Phone: 740-587-5679

Last Updated:2/3/2005

Visitors Accepted

Visitor Process: Stop on by, everyone is always welcome. Dinner is from 6-8 on weekdays and you can be assured that someone will be around during that time. Please leave your car at the gate and walk back (about .75m) to the Homestead. Come take the tour!

Population Adult Members: 12 Child Members: 0 Open to new adults: Yes Open to new children: No Gender Balance: 50% M 50% F	Government Decision Making: Other (informal consensus) Identified Leader: No Leadership Core Group: No	Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances Labor Contribution: Expected (~20 hours/month) Join Fee: Yes ($2000/semester) Regular Fees: Yes ($250 food money/semester)
Land and Buildings Small Town Area: 10 acres (4.0 hectares) Land Owned By: Another form of Non-profit Number of Residences: 3 Cohousing: No	Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: 6-20% Share Community Meals: Nearly all dinners Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Diet is up to each individual Dietary Practice: Primarily vegetarian Alcohol Use: Used occasionally Tobacco Use: Used Occasionally	Social Factors Open to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender members: Yes Shared Spiritual Path: No

Become an Editor Current editor(s): mattch1

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