Heart-Culture Farm Community

xidai

Heart-Culture Farm Community

Located in Eugene, Oregon, United States

Mission Statement
Cooperative Childraising, Sustainable Food Production

Community Description
Located on an historical 1890’s homestead on the West edge of the city of Eugene, Oregon, Heart-Culture Farm Community is committed to experiments in sustainability. Our setting, on the edge of the Fern Ridge Wetlands Wildlife Preserve, lends unique opportunities and challenges, as we work to listen to the land, encourage rare wetlands species to thrive, and learn to steward our livestock in a way that increases the health of our local ecosystems.

Much of our food is grown on-site, including fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, and meats. Some long-term residents are experienced in traditional farm skills, including butchering and wildcrafting. We pasture our livestock and feed them organic and non-GMO as much as possible. Weston Price and traditional diet life-ways are an inspiration.

Heart-Culture is a family-oriented community, with primarily home-schooled children. The Continuum Concept, Attachment Parenting, Hand in Hand Parenting, and Waldorf have all influenced our community parenting style. Most babies and toddlers are raised diaper free (Elimination Communication), with extended breastfeeding and cooperative parenting as the norm.

We recognize the importance of both ecological and interpersonal sustainability. We are committed to personal and interpersonal growth. Each individual is responsible for their own growth path, with some group activities. Participation in mediation processes is mandatory. Our members’ growth paths range from Re-Evaluation Co-Counseling, to Shamanism, to Polyamory. Everyone has personal challenges, and that’s fine as long as we keep it moving. Emotional growth is key to sustainable communities, and living in community is, in itself, a part of our growth path.

All forms of loving relationships are welcome at Heart-Culture. Monogamy, Polyamory, hetero- and homo-sexuality, and celibacy are all potentially loving lifestyle/relationship options. We recognize the value of fluid relationship forms, and strive to make choices from our true selves instead of being confined to society’s boxes. Some of our members are married and monogamous (both hetero- and homosexual); some are single parents, others have polyamorous relationships. Whatever we choose, we remain aware of the family-oriented nature of our community.

Housing
Status: We have land we have developed on
Area: 33 acres
Current Residence Types: Single-family homes, Multi-family homes, Room(s) in a house or building, Tiny house, Yurt, tee-pee, dome, treehouse, or tent, Mobile homes, RV’s, converted buses, Natural built structues
Current Number of Residences: 7
Housing Provided: Rental, Included in Membership
Land owned by: A subgroup of community members
Additional Comments:
25 acres of wetlands/pasture
3 main houses with kitchen and bath, several smaller structures.

Membership
Adult Members: 16
Child Members: 8
Percent Women: 50%
Percent Men: 50%
Percent Transgender: 1-10%
Visitors accepted: Yes
Visitor Process:
Call or email to set a day and time. If you plan to stay overnight, we ask for $10 per adult per night, with a three night maximum.
Open to new Members: Yes
Membership Process:
1. Decide which space you would move in to; 2. Get consensus from current community members; 3. Sign a rental contract and pay first and last months’ rent and move-in fees.
Additional Comments:
Spiritual practices are not restricted.

Economics
Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: Yes
Shared Income: None
Required Labor Contribution per Week: 0
Open to members with existing debt: Yes
Additional Comments:
$80,000 buy-in to become a land-owner. Land owners have ongoing financial obligations (for repairs, taxes, etc). Others pay rent and utilities, averaging $500 per month.

Sustainability Practices
Energy Infrastructure: We are connected to the grid.
Current renewable energy generation: 0%, or close to 0%
Planned renewable energy generation: 50-75%
Current food produced: Between 26-49%
Planned food produced: Almost All, around 90%
Food produced locally: From 50-75%

Lifestyle
Common Facilities: Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Outdoor Kitchen, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Internet
Internet Available: Yes, community provides it
Internet Fast?: Yes, it’s fine.
Cell Phone Service: Good for some people.
Shared meals: About once a week
Dietary Practice: Omnivorous (plants and animals), Local (food sourced within 150 miles), Organic (no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers), GMO Free (only non-genetically modified organisms)
Dietary Choice or Restrictions: No – people may eat however they wish.
Special Diets OK: Sometimes
Alcohol Use: Yes, used seldomly, or ceremoniously.
Tobacco Use: No, this community does not permit tobacco use.
Additional Diet Comments:
Some members eat 90% or more from the land, while others buy most of their food in town.
We have dairy animals and egg-laying flocks. Meat animals are raised and butchered on-site.
Alcohol for cooking and medicine is encouraged, but social drinking is rare.
Common Spiritual Practice(s): Wiccan, Quaker, Native American, Unitarian Universalist, Paganism or Earth Religions, Mixed Eastern Philosophy or Practice, Rainbow Family
Education Style(s): Home Schooling, Private School off the property, Up to each family or individual
Healthcare Options: Up to each family or individual

Source: https://www.ic.org/directory/heart-culture-farm-community/