Michael Stevens discussed Earth Haven, a sustainable community in North Carolina

Comment

Comment by Michael Levin on October 7, 2008 at 12:58pm

Mycol,

You bet I paid attention. I know when someone knows what he's talking about. I'm trying to document information like your facts about Earth Haven here on Zoobird as a reference.

Thanks for the info!

...Michael

Comment by mycol stevens on October 6, 2008 at 7:19pm

michael you really paid attention to my presentation! Earth Haven is an amazing place. You should look to see when they have organized events there. This is a newly forged community into action. Hard working to say the least...much to learn from here. I have known about 6 friends who lived there and now only one (ANDY) still lives there that I know. It seems that the younger permies work their arse off and if anyone has an issue with you you can be in essence kicked off as a consensus vote keeps you there. ..not majority but consensus! My perception is that community building has a lot of issues and that building a utopian village as such can have some INTENSE things go on. How do you develop an equity from one that is financially rich to one that isn't and does much of the work? I will not add details.
regardless of some issues this place is amazing and well respected and I honor them for doing what they are doing!

Comment by Michael Levin on October 5, 2008 at 3:51pm

Founded in 1994, Earthaven is located on 320 acres in culturally rich, biologically diverse western North Carolina, about 40 minutes southeast of Asheville. We are dedicated to caring for people and the Earth by learning and demonstrating a holistic, sustainable culture.



Lying between 2000 and 2600 feet elevation, our forested mountain land consists of three converging valleys with abundant streams and springs, flood plains, bottom land, and steeper ridge slopes.



We intend to become a village of at least 150 people on 56 homesites. As of 2004 Earthaven has 60 members, with 50 living on the land, including several young families with children. Our permaculture site plan includes residential neighborhoods and compact business sites, as well as areas suitable for orchards, market gardens, and wetlands.


Much of Earthaven is still under construction. Physical infrastructure so far includes roads, footpaths, bridges, campgrounds, ponds, constructed wetlands, off-grid power systems, gardens, our Council Hall, a kitchen-dining room, many small dwellings, and several homes.

We govern ourselves with a consensus decision-making process and a Council and committee structure. We own title to our land, which we financed with private loans from members. Members pay their share of the cost of the land by leasing homesites from the community.