Harmony Woods Homesteading & Freedom Community

  • Community
  • 0 followers

About the Community

  • Forming
  • Rural

What we do

Harmony Woods is a forming community in rural northeast Alabama 30 mins from Chattanooga, TN that is based on  sustainability, simple living and personal freedom. Why Chattanooga area?

 

1. Natural beauty. There are mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls in abundance.

2. Outdoor activities. Hiking, biking, kayaking (white water), boating, hang gliding, rock climbing, etc.

3. Moderate climate. Moderate climate = long growing season.

4. Abundant rainfall. This makes it easy to supply our needs with just water catchment. It also obviously reduces the need for crop irrigation.

5. Good soil for growing food.

6. Low cost of living.

7. More freedom and less restrictive building and zoning restrictions.

 

Our goals are to grow as much of our own food as possible and use as many local and free resources as possible to live lightly on the earth.

 

We are looking for open-minded, non-dogmatic , non-judgmental souls who share our values and are committed to the difficult work of transitioning to a life of authentic community.

 

As someone who has almost single-handedly built a rural homestead, I can tell you that this project is not for the faint of heart, the immature, or the lazy. The challenges can be overwhelming at times and take courage, strength, discipline and strong will. If that is not you, this project is not for you.

 

We need help in every aspect of community building including planning, marketing, construction, etc. Membership costs will be determined once infrastructure is installed but should be less than $10,000. Initially, there will be no up-front membership cost for those without financial means. Only a work exchange is required.

Our Vision

Harmony Woods is an ecovillage focused on the values of personal freedom, sustainability, land stewardship, conservation/minimalism, local resource use, cooperation/interdependence and education . We aspire to be an example of how humans can live in harmony with the earth as opposed to the current model of destruction of and fighting against nature.

Our Mission

Harmony Woods is an ecovillage focused on the values of personal freedom, sustainability, land stewardship, conservation/minimalism, local resource use, cooperation/interdependence and education . We aspire to be an example of how humans can live in harmony with the earth as opposed to the current model of destruction of and fighting against nature.

  • Community type
  • Ecovillage
  • Activities
  • Education
  • Services Business
  • Others

Gallery

  • 6 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
  • Open to volunteers
Total
6

How to join

Those seeking membership need to first fill out a “getting to know you” questionnaire. Then a visit will be required to meet members in person. Then members will vote on membership. Membership costs will be determined once infrastructure is installed. Initially, there will be no up-front membership cost for those without financial means. Only a work exchange is required. There will be a 6 month probation period and then each member will have to be approved by at least 90% of current members. If you are interested in being part of this community, please go to http://harmonywoods.net/how-does-it-work.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Please go to http://harmonywoods.net/how-does-it-work

Primary decision-making authority

  • All Community Members Together

The whole membership decides collectively.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Economic model

  • Independent Finances

Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • There is a one-time fee, investment, or share purchase to join the community separate from accessing housing
  • Members need to pay fees, dues, or similar to live there on a per month or per year basis
  • There is a labor obligation
  • Members typically need to have their own job or other personal source of income to cover their expenses while living in the community?

Additional economic information

Join fee: Yes (amount not specified)
Monthly fees/dues: $20
Labor: Encouraged or suggested
Members with pre-existing debt: Yes

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a single individual, couple, or Family Trust

Setting

  • Rural

Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.

Self-produced energy

  • Up to 33%

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%
  • Land area size
    10 acres

Reviews

Location

  • Alabama, United States

Harmony Woods Homesteading & Freedom Community

Promoted Needs and Offers

Need
  • Communities with Openings
12 months ago

Water Birch Co-op. Urban living in central Denver.

Large, lovely house built in 1900, two blocks from Cheeseman Park in downtown Denver.  5000 square feet. The house was a Buddhist Meditation Center for 20 years before we got it and has lovely, calm vibes. We currently have ten people and have room for one more. We are an intentional community sharing dinners, 3 living rooms, 2 new kitchens and a kitchenette, & 5 baths. Staple food (organic) is bought together. The group is self-regulating as a co-op; it decides together how the house runs. There are chores ;-) Average cost per room is about $1000 ranging from $650 to $1354. Currently available room is $875. We are just finishing renovation of three bedrooms on the third floor  they are $875 each and share our largest, newest bath (shower and separate claw foot tub) and a brand new kitchenette  they all have beautiful windows and lots of light. PLEASE CHECK OUT COMMUNITY LISTINGS FOR MORE INFO. Initial lease for 3-6 months while we and you decide if we are a good fit for each other.  Deposit in the amount of one months rent is required prior to move in.  We do background checks on all members. Utilities are currently $130 per person per month and are all-inclusive.  They will change if costs go up, that amount is insufficient to cover utilities, or more people mean the cost per person goes down.  WiFi is via mesh network from gig-speed fiberoptic service.  Heat is with radiators.  Cooling is evaporative.  We have a storage room in a nearby commercial facility.  And a new large workshop in the garage. Shared food is $125 per month per person; it is a pass-through cost divided evenly among residents; it does NOT include meat or alternative protein nor any alcohol.  We will not be surprised if that needs to go up some soon ($10 or 15). We have two dogs and three cats in the house  that seems like a sufficient quantity of furry friends for now. Our community intentions include: Communication with compassion. Shared space and life. Shared meals. Shared staple foods which are non-GMO and Organic. Group decision making. Safe, inclusive space: queer and trans friendly, anti-racist, non-violent, and feminist. The purchase of the house by the co-op in about five years. The expansion of the co-op, possibly to include other housing types (like separate apartments). Weekly meetings and house committees to manage our community. We are considering implementing Sociocracy as an organizing method. Quiet hours are from 10:00pm to 8:00am. We are looking for community members who: Want to live in a community not just have a place to sleep and eat. Want to live in a beautiful, clean, and organized house and are willing to help make and keep it that way. Residents should expect to spend 16 hours per month towards this goal. Are curious, compassionate, flexible, and open to living with others who will undoubtedly have different ideas about many things. Are interested in pioneering a new co-op. There will be work involved to get there. Are responsible and communicative. Embrace enthusiastically that living in community requires introspection and personal growth. Are not joining the community as a way of running away from something.
Need
  • Communities with Openings
5 months ago

Join us in the mountains of Western North Carolina

Coweeta Heritage Center/Talking Rock Farm is located in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Coweeta is located in a beautiful and diverse temperate rain forest. It feels very remote here yet we are just 12 miles from Franklin, NC. Winters can be mild. Coweeta is blessed with springs and a stream, pristine forests, and abundant wildlife. Power is provided by a hydro-electric system which is not connected to the grid. An organic garden and trout pond provide healthy food that is also shared with the local community. Hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities are just out the back door. Coweeta is looking for others who would like to join together to form an Intentional Community embracing the principles of Voluntary Simplicity. Simply put (no pun intended): We wish “to live simply so that others may simply live.” It is a recognition that nature provides us with valuable services and resources that we can use to enrich our lives. Utilizing local resources, appropriate technology, and working cooperatively, we can discover creative ways to meet our needs as “directly and simply as possible.”. An example of this, in the tradition of many Indigenous People”, is to gather, and use wildcrafted foods as part of our diet. There is great joy in going to nature’s grocery for our sustenance. Voluntary Simplicity is based on the recognition that “very little is needed to live well” and that “abundance is a state of mind.” Living lower on the economic ladder allows us more time and freedom to pursue other life goals: community and social engagement, family time, artistic or intellectual projects, more fulfilling employment, political participation, sustainable living, spiritual exploration, and more. According to the Voluntary Collective, “The grounding assumption of Voluntary Simplicity is that all human beings have the potential to live meaningful, free, happy and infinitely diverse lives while consuming no more than an equitable share of (the world’s) resources.” We affirm the need for a work/life balance, the right to a healthy environment and healthy food, and healthy community relationships supporting a diverse population. It is our responsibility as engineers of a new generation to make the changes that we want to see happen and pass this on to the next generations. We can’t wait for someone else to do this important work. Voluntary Simplicity is a quiet revolution that can change the world. As one person said, “we must be poets of our own lives and of a new generation.” We hope you will join us here at Coweeta or elsewhere on our journey to a healthier and more sustainable future! Temporary housing is available in a 27 foot trailer trailer with attached deck next to a creek while we build additional housing. Your basic living expenses (shelter, basic food items, power and water) are met through our market garden or other fundraising projects that you will participate in. You are expected to contribute a given amount of your time and energy to help grow our community and meet our financial obligations. Possible future plans include establishing a retreat center for healing our earth and each other. Work includes organic gardening, construction projects and other community building activities. Come join Coweeta and learn how to live lightly on the land and enjoy the Earth’s bounty! For more information, visit www.coweetaheritagecenter.com Contact [email protected] for a visit or more info.  Paul
Need

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