River Farm

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River Farm

Located in Deming, Washington, United States

Mission Statement
To maintain wildlife sanctuaries within the boundaries of an on-going, organic farm; to serve as a meeting place for outside groups studying organic farming practices; and promote cooperative community that provides political, spiritual, economic, educational and social development to its members.

Community Description
We live in the northwest corner of the United States; one of the seven communities in the Evergreen Land Trust. We live in separate households on an 85-acre cooperative, subsistence farm in rural Whatcom County, about forty minutes by bus or car from Bellingham, Washington.

Our community is focused on ecologically-based farming and forestry, homesteading skills, habitat restoration, and hosting educational events. The farm is a mixture of forests, gardens, fields, and wetlands along the South Fork Nooksack River. We raise chickens, goats, pigs, and oxen. We have some houses on the electrical grid and some off grid.

We operate by consensus and have monthly business meetings. We also gather regularly for work parties, weekly potlucks, and various projects. The land is held in trust, so we share the basic costs of stewardship (land taxes, insurance, tractor repairs, etc.) by each adult member paying monthly dues, which creates our annual budget. Each adult member also contributes work hours on the farm, sharing in the responsibility of upholding the purposes of the trust. Members are engaged in many different passions and professions off of the Farm as well, but all share in the commitment to caring for the land, and learning how to live sustainably and cooperatively.

Housing
Status: We have land we have developed on
Area: 85 acres
Current Residence Types: Single-family homes, Multi-family homes, Room(s) in a house or building, Yurt, tee-pee, dome, treehouse, or tent, Natural built structues
Current Number of Residences: 8
Housing Provided: Purchase
Land owned by: Evergreen Land Trust land trust

Membership
Adult Members: 10
Child Members: 2
Non-member Residents: 3
Percent Women: 51-60%
Percent Men: 41-49%
Percent Transgender: 0%
Visitors accepted: Yes
Visitor Process:
Email us well in advance at [email protected] or contact us through our Facebook page.
Open to new Members: Yes
Membership Process:
The residency process begins with a three month trial period, then a minimum of nine more months of residency before membership may be applied for at the one year mark. Membership decisions are made by consensus of the current members and membership confers the responsibility of land and community stewardship to accepted residents.
Additional Comments:
Members gain the ability to block consensus and hold equity in community and personal structures.

Economics
Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: Yes
Shared Income: None
Required Labor Contribution per Week: 8
Open to members with existing debt: Yes
Additional Comments:
Everyone pays dues; additional payments for housing equity are made by members and vary by house.

Sustainability Practices
Energy Infrastructure: We use both systems.
Current renewable energy generation: Up to 25%
Energy sources: Solar, Hydro-Electric
Planned renewable energy generation: 100%
Current food produced: Up to 25%
Planned food produced: Almost All, around 90%
Food produced locally: Up to 25%

Lifestyle
Common Facilities: Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Outdoor Kitchen, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Stage or Auditorium, Fire pit, Waterfront access, Internet, Sauna
Internet Available: Yes, both the community and individuals provide it
Internet Fast?: No, it is slow.
Cell Phone Service: Good for some people.
Shared meals: About once a week
Dietary Practice: Omnivorous (plants and animals)
Dietary Choice or Restrictions: No – people may eat however they wish.
Special Diets OK: Sometimes
Alcohol Use: Yes, used occasionally.
Tobacco Use: Yes, used occasionally.
Common Spiritual Practice(s): Eclectic (integrates multiple religious or spiritual beliefs), Not a particularly spiritual or religious community
Education Style(s): Up to each family or individual
Healthcare Options: Up to each family or individual

Source: https://www.ic.org/directory/river-farm/
             http://www.evergreenlandtrust.org