Neot Semadar was founded in 1989 in the Negev Desert by a group of friends from Jerusalem. This step came about after years of self-inquiry and collective study of the problems all individuals face worldwide--alienation, prejudice, competition--all that which leads to a life devoid of true joy, depth, and creativity. Today we number 110 adults and 70 children, professionally trained and educated in a large variety of fields, which has allowed us to branch out into many different areas simultaneously. It is through special projects that our common interest in forming this learning community gets truly expressed. A challenge to one's preconceived notions and fixed habits, these projects foster a conducive space for meeting the obstacles that get in the way of true cooperation through self-observation, and they provide the community with an opportunity to experience the joy of being together. They have also become a source of steady income. We have invested most of our energy into organic agriculture and organic food processing plants that include Dairy for fresh goat milk products: yogurt, soft cheeses, hard cheeses. Winery, producing red and white wines from the grapes of the local vineyard (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet, Muscat Canelli, Merlot) Fruit processing plant, producing juices, nectars, jams and dried fruit .

Other branches include a documentary film company, a construction company, a roadside tavern, and a souvenir shop. The Arts and Crafts Center is our main project that all members helped to build. An experiment in desert architecture, it provides an educational center for the kibbutz, for foreign and local students, for tourists and volunteers. Interested colearners can write us.