Lama Foundation

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Lama Foundation

Located in San Cristobal, New Mexico, United States

Mission Statement
The purpose of the Lama Foundation is to be a sustainable spiritual community and educational center dedicated to the awakening of consciousness, spiritual practice with respect for all traditions, service and stewardship of the land.

Community Description
Lama Foundation aims to serve as a sustainable spiritual community and educational center dedicated to the awakening of consciousness, service, spiritual practice with respect for all traditions, and stewardship of the land. Community life is viewed as a school of practical spirituality whose focus is individual and collective spiritual growth through service to others, simplicity of lifestyle, self-awareness, and commitment to daily spiritual practice in some form.

Members have an opportunity to learn mindfulness and responsible stewardship as well as skills such as natural building and permaculture, gardening, cooking, carpentry, and silk-screen printing. Community-building skills are a continuing focus. The community works together as a circle in caring for the foundation and strives for consensus in decision making. Summers are an out breath, with many visitors and a public program of workshops, retreats, and hermitages. We also operate a cottage industry for producing prayer flags and other items. Winters are an in breath, where members continue to serve and strive to take more time for intensive contemplative interspiritual practice and study.

The fire of 1996 offered an opportunity to explore a more sustainable lifestyle utilizing green building and permaculture techniques. Life is rustic, but very beautiful at an elevation of 8600 feet. Come and visit!

Housing
Status: We have land we have developed on
Area: 105 acres
Current Residence Types: Single-family homes, Room(s) in a house or building, Tiny house, Yurt, tee-pee, dome, treehouse, or tent, Natural built structues
Current Number of Residences: 10
Housing Provided: Work-exchange, Included in Membership
Land owned by: Another form of Non-profit
Additional Comments:
12 sturdy winterized structures & 2 yurts

Membership
Adult Members: 10
Child Members: 0
Percent Women: 50%
Percent Men: 50%
Percent Transgender: 1-10%
Visitors accepted: Yes
Visitor Process:
We are open from late May through September to visitors, retreatants, and summer stewards who help join us as community members. Summer stewardship is the gateway to residency. Summer stewards who want to be considered for residency must be stewards at Lama Foundation by August 1st, the latest. Earlier is recommended. This gives us 2 months to get to know one another and get a sense of fit. We are not open in the winter months unless an exception has been made. Call 575-586-1269 or email ahead of time to arrange a visit.
Open to new Members: Yes
Membership Process:
Summer stewardship is the gateway to residency. Summer stewards who want to be considered for residency must be stewards at Lama Foundation by August 1st, the latest. Earlier is recommended. This gives us 2 months to get to know one another and get a sense of fit. There is an application process for summer stewardship. Please visit our website to apply.

Economics
Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: Yes
Shared Income: None
Required Labor Contribution per Week: 30
Open to members with existing debt: Yes

Sustainability Practices
Energy Infrastructure: We use both systems.
Current renewable energy generation: 50-75%
Energy sources: Solar
Planned renewable energy generation: Almost All, around 90%
Current food produced: Up to 25%
Planned food produced: Between 26-49%
Food produced locally: Up to 25%

Lifestyle
Common Facilities: Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Large Scale Kitchen, Internet
Internet Available: Yes, community provides it
Internet Fast?: Yes, it’s fine.
Cell Phone Service: Good for most people.
Shared meals: Approximately all meals
Dietary Practice: Vegetarian Only (no animal meat; dairy and eggs okay) – Please check this only if you are 100% Vegetarian, Mostly Vegetarian
Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Somewhat – there are some dietary restrictions or customs.
Special Diets OK: Yes
Alcohol Use: Yes, used seldomly, or ceremoniously.
Tobacco Use: Yes, used seldomly, or ceremoniously.
Common Spiritual Practice(s): Ecumenical (accepts all religions or spiritual practices), Eclectic (integrates multiple religious or spiritual beliefs), Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Wiccan, Protestant, Quaker, Sufi, Unitarian Universalist, Paganism or Earth Religions, Mixed Eastern Philosophy or Practice, Hare Krishna, Atheist, Agnostic, Humanist
Spiritual Practice Expected?: No
Education Style(s): Up to each family or individual
Healthcare Options: Up to each family or individual

Source: https://www.ic.org/directory/lama-foundation/
              https://www.lamafoundation.org