EcoVillages
Ecovillages, or intentional living communities, are a unique way of jointly accessing property. While most ecovillages only offer shared housing/community opportunities, often with self-sustaining gardens onsite, some can include a shared agricultural project or leased farmland. Although starting an ecovillage in order to co-own an operational farm is still a very new and relatively unproven idea, there are some determined groups pursuing joint living and farming ventures.
Ecovillages of any scale are ambitious projects that require exceptional communication and conflict resolution skills. Farmers interested in pursuing an ecovillage will need to find creative ways to finance the project, and identify real estate agents and attorneys who can help guide the process.
In Oregon, farmers will face an uphill battle in finding land suitably zoned for a co-living project. Nevertheless, interested farmers can find ways to get creative within zoning restrictions, or attempt to apply for a zoning variance.
Case Study: Cob Hill Co-Housing
Photo courtesy of the Cob Hill Co-Housing website
Founded in 1997, Cobb Hill Co-Housing is an intentional living community in Vermont constructed on land that once belonged to two dairy farms. Members of the community have continued dairy production, as well as vegetable farming, mushroom production, and maple syrup production. The food produced on their shared farmland is not just for their own consumption—the farm business are food enterprises that sell to the local community.
Read more about Cobb Hill Co-Housing on page 15 of the Cooperative Farming Guidebook, or on their website.
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Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities
This book by Diana Leafe Christian is a thorough practical guide for folks interested in forming an intentional community. It covers everything from finding land, financing, governance models, case studies, and sample documents. Many of the tools and resources inside are useful for people pursuing any form of joint project, co-living or not.
Should You Buy Land as a Group?
This YouTube video by Flock Finger Lakes, a newer, smaller intentional community, walks through their process of co-purchasing land. On their land, they are hoping to host horticultural and garden residencies.
I Bought 30 Acres With 7 Friends: A Starter Guide to Communal Ownership
This article from a nine-member intentional living community talks through their process of co-purchasing land and outlines recommendations based on their experience. Farming is not part of their project, but their wisdom is applicable to any group wanting to share land.
The Mega Guide to Co-Buying Property with Friends
This article (also available in webinar form by the same author) includes a step-by-step guide for folks interested in co-purchasing property. Again, while farming is not part of the guide, the information will be applicable to farmers interested in co-buying property.
This guidebook by Greenhorns is all about financing options for farmers looking to purchase or lease land. Farmers interested in ecovillage projects will have to get creative when it comes to financing—traditional lending will potentially not be an option. This guidebook includes information on less typical options, like owner-financing, that might be a better fit for farmers looking to form an ecovillage.
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Ecovillage at Ithaca is one of the largest and most established ecovillages in the US. Most of the community is not involved in farming, but the ecovillage is home to three farms, including an incubator farm. You can learn more about the farms on their website. This video includes information on how the ecovillage is structured.
Founded in 1993, Acorn Community Farm is an intentional living community in Virginia. They practice egalitarian values and share everything from land to labor to income. In 1999, the community purchased Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, and supports themselves through the seed business. The community grows seeds on their certified organic farm for the business, as well as food crops for their own sustenance.