Camphill Communities California

xidai

Camphill Communities California

Located in Soquel, California, United States

Mission Statement
Our mission is to create a community that supports all individual abilities and recognizes the potential of every person. Camphill California is part of the International Camphill Movement, a worldwide initiative for social change with over a hundred affiliates worldwide, founded by Karl König and inspired by the anthroposophical teachings of Rudolf Steiner.

Community Description
Camphill Communities California is a life-sharing community for adults with developmental disabilities located near Santa Cruz, California. Our vision of community living involves relationships of mutual respect, ongoing education, meaningful work, and natural circles of support.

Residents of Camphill California are dedicated organic, biodynamic gardeners. During our long growing season, we produce more than one third of the fruits and vegetables that we consume from over seven acres of carefully tended land, including a small vineyard donated by Bonny Doon.

In addition to gardening, residents work in our weaving studio, crafting a variety of hand-woven items. Our culinary workshop is also a favorite workplace and produces products including soothing herb tea and delicious culinary mixes. Some Camphill residents even participate in supported employment programs.

Housing
Status: We have land we have developed on
Area: 5 acres
Current Number of Residences: 5
Land owned by: The Community

Membership
Adult Members: 32
Child Members: 2
Percent Women: 41-49%
Percent Men: 51-60%
Visitor Process:
Email Ronald Sanchez at coworker@camphillca.org or telephone 831-476-7194.
Visitors accepted: No
Open to new Members: Yes

Economics
Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: No
Shared Income: All or close to all
Required Labor Contribution per Week: 0
Additional Comments:
No one gets a wage for work. All is shared, needs are met.)
We work 6 days a week.
Sustainability Practices
Current food produced: Up to 25%

Lifestyle
Shared meals: Approximately all meals
Dietary Practice: Omnivorous (plants and animals)
Tobacco Use: Yes, used occasionally.
Education Style(s): Private School off the property

Home Life



Currently, Camphill California is a community with eight homes that include two large licensed residential homes, five small homes and one home for our residents aging in place. Meals are prepared and eaten in a community setting and house members share responsibilities and decision-making. Members of our large and small homes support one another and form cooperative “neighborhoods”. Once a week, all of the houses come together for Lunch café, a community-building event when everyone enjoys a delicious meal together.

Festival and Cultural Life



Camphill California is inspired by the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, a philosopher and social reformer. It is founded on the principles and ideals of Dr. Karl König, an Austrian pediatrician who created the intentional community movement for children and adults with special needs. Plays, dramatic readings, expressive movement, singing and theraputic music are all essential ingredients of Camphill life. Individuals are encouraged to take part in artistic activities as a means of self-discovery, relationship-building and as a way of engaging with the world and the universe.

Work Life:



Land Work

At Camphill California, community members are responsible for maintaining six acres of organic flower, herb, and vegetable gardens, as well as an orchard and a vineyard. Camphill California cultivates all of this land by following biodynamic and organic gardening practices that heal and revitalize the earth. Our houses enjoy the rich harvests year-round and incorporate these delectable fruits and vegetables into our meals whenever possible. Throughout the year we grow, harvest, and dry our herbs. In the winter months we process the herbs and produce teas, a culinary mix, and herb salt. In addition to processing herbs, we also make oils from pressing fresh flowers from our gardens.

Weavery

Some of our members work in the weaving studio, crafting a variety of hand-woven items. The weavery contains multiple looms and with an assortment of organic cotton and wool materials, the weavers produce gorgeous items including wall hangings, blankets, pillows, table runners, scarves, shalls, tote bags, purses, hand-woven rugs, and placemats – just to name a few! We display our items around town throughout the year at places like the Santa Cruz County Fair and our local Waldorf School. If you are asking yourself how you can get your hands on one of these one-of-a-kind items, you’re in luck! All of the finished weavery items are on display and available for purchase in our studio, so stop on by on your next tour or contact us at info@camphillca.org or 831-476-7194!

Felting and Paper-making

Camphill California’s paper-making and felting workshops take place during the winter season. In the felting workshop, participants use a dry felting technique that requires them to mix and match dyed wool to create a pattern or image and then press and poke it together with a needle.  In the paper-making workshop, there is a job for everyone in the creative process of shredding, breaking down, reforming, and drying recycled paper. Our artists tap into their creativity and decorate the paper with colors and materials, like leaves, flowers, and magazine clippings, to create beautifully crafted paper and cards.

Lunch Café and Baking

Once a week, the entire community comes together for one shared meal we call Lunch Café. A handful of our community members work together to prepare a delicious organic meal for around 50 people. This meal is a wonderful opportunity for community members to catch up with one another and enjoy the company of good friends. Additionally, our community bakers get together twice a week and make fresh and delicious granola, bread rolls, cookies, and much more for our community to enjoy.

Food Processing

This workshop processes various fruits, veggies and herbs from the Camphill gardens into kimchi, sauerkraut,  jams, chutneys, pestos, and fermented and pickled vegetables. Aside from food grown at Camphill, this workshop also receives and processes generous food donations from the organic CSA farm, Live Earth Farm, in Watsonville, California.

Source: http://camphillca.org
             https://www.ic.org/directory/camphill-communities-california/