Wilder Waters Community
Wilder Waters Community 
Located in Canton, Maine, United States Mission Statement Our mission statement is to establish and maintain an eco-centered community that allows sovereign humans to experience healthy social interactions, deep connections to the landscape, and sustainable living in a manner that reinforces our biological and ancestral norms and honors the need for humans to interact in a cooperative manner with other wild beings. Community Description We began Wilder Waters Community here on 150 acres of forest in central Maine—a real community, based on our ancestral birthright to a deep connection with each other and the land. A community where we share food, but also other types of nourishment: songs, stories, and rituals. Where the economy is based on reciprocity rather than extraction. Where the nuclear home is replaced by the community lodge, and life is lived according to the principles knit in your bones. We were all physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick of living in opposition to our ancestors– living without community. That’s why we began Wilder Waters Community on 150+ acres of forest here in central Maine. We are a small tribe of people who wish to disengage, to the extent possible, with the stress, lack of empathy, and ego-centric living presented by the dominant society. We feel best when outdoors and sharing real living experiences with our community members. While there is much to be sorrowful for, we are happy, vibrant, and have a strong positive outlook for our living here in the mountains of western Maine. Currently, there is the original solar-powered house where we do most of our social gathering, group meals, and food processing. The main house has two bedrooms; one, which will be occupied as of January 2018 by a couple and the other, which is currently vacant. Surrounding the main house is mostly forest and there are 2 occupied living structures (1 yurt and 1 cabin) and an additional 5 or 6 spaces where small living structures can be built. We will cluster our homes so they are close enough to not fragment the landscape but far enough to feel a sense of privacy as we adjust to communal living. We currently have a small cabin in the making for people to come live in before they decide to build a structure of their own. Housing Status: We have land we have developed on Area: 150 acres Current Residence Types: Room(s) in a house or building, Lots to build on Current Number of Residences: 3 Planned number of residences: 6 Planned Residence Types: Tiny house, Yurt, tee-pee, dome, treehouse, or tent, Natural built structues Housing Provided: Included in Membership Land owned by: A subgroup of community members Additional Comments: Three community members own the land with plans to place new land purchased through our non-profit into a community land trust. We have one big house to share with community members and one small cabin in which one of our members live. We are in the process of building a cabin for new members. Membership Adult Members: 6 Child Members: 2 Non-member Residents: 0 Percent Women: 61-70% Percent Men: 31-40% Percent Transgender: 0% Visitors accepted: Yes Visitor Process: Send Sara an email describing when and why you would like to visit! We’d be happy to have you Open to new Members: Yes Economics Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: Yes Regular Fee per Month: $300 Shared Income: None Required Labor Contribution: Encouraged or suggested Open to members with existing debt: Yes (some debt) Additional Comments: The $300 comprises of a weekly food share, which covers kitchen staples and our daily meal ($50 per person per week, $200/month) and an approximate $100/month of community housing expenses (propane, snow-plow, firewood, etc). This $100 varies depending on the season and other bills that may come up (ex. recently, we had to pay to fix a communal freezer). Sustainability Practices Energy Infrastructure: We are totally off grid. Current renewable energy generation: 100% Energy sources: Solar Planned renewable energy generation: 100% Current food produced: Between 26-49% Planned food produced: 100% Food produced locally: Almost All, around 90% Lifestyle Common Facilities: Common House, Garden(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Swimming pond or pool, Large Scale Kitchen, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Internet Internet Available: Yes, both the community and individuals provide it Internet Fast?: Yes, exceptionally. Cell Phone Service: Good for some people. Shared meals: 2-5 times per 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), We eat lots of wild harvested food Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Yes – we all share a common diet. Special Diets OK: Yes Alcohol Use: Yes, used occasionally. Tobacco Use: Yes, used seldomly, or ceremoniously. Additional Diet Comments: We share the wild food that we harvest together and we share a garden. We also share kitchen staples. We eat one meal together a day, occasionally less, occasionally more. We also buy organic, local food from nearby farms. Common Spiritual Practice(s): Mostly Animism, Some Unspecified Spiritual Practice Expected?: No Education Style(s): Home Schooling Healthcare Options: Up to each family or individual Source: https://www.ic.org/directory/wilder-waters-community/ |