Headlands was founded in 1971 by five people on Amherst Island, Ontario. The commune dissolved amicably in 1975. Three communal members and a friend bought the farming assets and most of the land from the other 12 members.
We are now five people living (somewhat) cooperatively. We are equal shareholders in Topsy Farms, which owns the real estate and a sheep flock of over 1,200 ewes.
Headlands rents two homes from Topsy and charges each of us a monthly levy for accommodation. Members are responsible for their own monthly Headlands' payment. We support each other's income work.
Each house is private; those living there decide how things are done. We cooperate with each other in a spirit of mutual self-interest enriched by feelings of family and friendship. The sharing of resources and abilities allows each of us more personal freedom than we would have in more traditional living and working arrangements.
We find our land on the shores of Lake Ontario to be very beautiful. Each of us is active in the island community (400 people) mainly by publishing a monthly newsletter, the Amherst Island Beacon.
Contact:
14775 Front Rd Stella, Ontario K0H 2S0 Canada Phone: 613-389-3444
Links:
topsyfarms.com: Mainly a marketing device for our sheep products but there is also a history of our community as well as a farming journal
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:4/22/2006
Visitors Accepted
Visitor Process: Write or phone and tell us why you want to visit an operating sheep farm run by (what some would call) aging hippies.
Statement of Housing Non-discrimination:
No Answer Provided
Population
Members(adults and children):
5
Open to new members:
No
Government
Decision Making:
By majority rule
Identified Leader:
No
Leadership Core Group:
No
Labor and Money
Financial Style:
Members have independent finances
Labor Contribution:
Join Fee:
No
Regular Fees:
No
Land and Buildings
Rural
Area:
350 acres (141.6 hectares)
(We also rent about 1000 acres.)
Land Owned By:
Other
(limited corp. owned by the 5 adult co-op members owns the land.)
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