Quaker Intentional Village-Canaan

  • Community
  • 0 followers

About the Community

  • Established
  • Rural

What we do

We are currently a community of about 10 households living close to the land on 135 acres of mixed woodland and pasture. We range in age from toddler to 90’s, with more than 15 adults, a number of young adults, and an abundant handful of children.

We are on land in the gorgeous Hudson Valley and Capital Region of upstate New York, and in the foothills of the Berkshires. East Chatham is in Columbia County and by car is 35 minutes from Albany, 2.5 hours from NYC/Boston, and 10 minutes from our local Quaker Meeting in Old Chatham (http://oldchathamquakers.org/) as well as the Powell House Conference Center (https://powellhouse.org) of New York Yearly Meeting (https://nyym.org).

We are thriving in a range of green homes that use technologies including plastered strawbale walls, slip-and-chip walls, stick-building, timber-framing, passive solar design, solar hot-water systems, and wood heat; many of us built our own. Many of us garden organically, raise chickens, and eat increasingly more from what we grow. We join together in our big farmhouse or around a campfire for potlucks, occasional community dinners, workdays, committee meetings, spontaneous game nights and tea times, presentations on topics of interest, monthly community business meetings, and extended weekend retreats. We use Quaker processes in our self-government, including a form of consensus that seeks a spiritually led way forward, individual and corporate discernment, and the clearness process. We value equality, simplicity, and diversity of experience and viewpoints.

We are currently seeking new members! We regularly have (a) home(s) and rooms available for rent or purchase. We also have one house building site available. Our membership process starts with a mutual getting-to-know-each-other time, during which the potential member or member family gets involved with the community in various ways and gets to know us (and vice-versa). This often takes up to a year. The goal is to come to a sense of clearness, for the applicant as well as the community members, about whether the fit is a good one. More about our membership process can be found on our web site (https://community.qivc.org/faq-qivc#Participation).

We believe conscious culture creation in community can be a means to advance our intentions to:
* live in worship, increasing our mindfulness, spiritual focus, and God-centeredness by intertwining our daily lives with others who share these intentions
* create a village setting that values and engages participation by people of all ages, expands our experience of family, and supports our expression in the world
* create wealth that embodies integrity and Truth by carefully examining our engagement in the current economic order and stepping away from its destructive elements
* live in unity & harmony with the earth by considering the near and far environmental impact of our actions while striving for thrivability
* include a good measure of joy, fun, creativity, and service in our lives

QIVP (https://qivp.org) believes that our communities’ successes in achieving these five intentions will be aided by memberships diverse in race, age, ethnicity, sexual preference, and economic situations, and therefore it is our aim to gather communities whose members are diverse in these ways as well as others.

Our Vision

We strive to live spirit-focused lives that are simple, sustainable, and joyful, benefitting from and enjoying our close connections with each other and the land. We don’t all need to identify explicitly as Quaker (Religious Society of Friends). We welcome diversity of all sorts.

Our Mission

We strive to live spirit-focused lives that are simple, sustainable, and joyful, benefitting from and enjoying our close connections with each other and the land. We don’t all need to identify explicitly as Quaker (Religious Society of Friends). We welcome diversity of all sorts.

  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Spiritual Retreat Centers
  • 31 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
  • Open to volunteers
Total
31

How to join

Prospective members get to know the community by participating in its activities, then write letters requesting membership and explaining how they and the community are a good fit. A committee of members and advisors meets with the prospective members to arrive at a recommendation, which is then considered by the entire membership. For more see the Steps in Membership section of our website: https://community.qivc.org/membership-qivc

(We’re actively seeking new members who share our intentions for community living, who have a healthy sense of self, and who are open to and able to hear other points of view. We have one house building site available now, two more possibly available in the future, and an existing house to purchase by a member household–see pictures of red house below.)

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Visitor Process: We welcome visits in person — please contact us by e-mail at [email protected]. To make your visit more informative, get some background beforehand from our web site, qivc.org. Visits on Friday afternoon/evening work best for guests and the community, with potluck or campfires regularly scheduled on Friday evenings. Overnight hospitality is available, usually, for those traveling from outside the area.

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: Yes (amount not specified)
Labor required: Yes
Members with pre-existing debt: Yes
Annual operating fee per adult member is about $2,500; this is the average amount based on annual budget needs. It is often adjusted per household based on need/ability. Members with more money generally contribute more on an annual basis. The operating fees cover property taxes, capital loan repayments, insurance, and maintenance of commonly held assets as well as other community operating costs. We are not setup to offer work exchange.

There’s a required capital loan of $30 per square foot of living space (2011 figure) for homeowner members, and a capital loan equivalent to one month’s rent for renter members.

All are required to serve on committees and are encouraged to participate in seasonal work days, weekly chores to care for our Common House, and other projects.

Shared resources and amenities that are accessible to everyone in the community

Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Outbuilding(s), Large Scale Kitchen, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Internet

Frequency of communal meals

  • About once a week

Substance use culture

  • Substance use occurs primarily at celebrations or ceremonies
  • Religions
  • Christian
  • Buddhist
  • Jewish
  • Quaker

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a Land Trust, Home Owners Association, or corporation

Setting

  • Rural

Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.

Self-produced energy

  • Up to 33%

Energy sources used

  • Photovoltaic Solar
  • Biomass (from wood or other organic materials)

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%
  • Land area size
    135 acres

Reviews

Location

  • New York, United States

Quaker Intentional Village-Canaan

Promoted Needs and Offers

Need
11 months ago

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Ready to actually visit some communities? Take the next step on your journey towards intentional community living. Join an Ecovillage Tour! ✓ All-inclusive guided trips ✓ Visit a variety of communities, cohousings & ecovillages ✓ Meet community founders & residents ✓ Learn group governance, permaculture, eco-living & more ✓ Make lifelong friends within your traveling group ✓ Transformative adventure awaits! About Ecovillage Tours The only transformative travel experience that brings you to regenerative intentional communities. Find your next home, get guidance on how to start a community, or simply have a values-aligned vacation. www.ecovillagetours.com Upcoming Trips  Vermont | Jul 19–26, 2025   Italy | Sept 30–Oct 9, 2025   Hawaii | Jan 4–11, 2026   India | Feb 26–Mar 12, 2026  Bali | Jan 26–Feb 4, 2026  Costa Rica: Central | Jan 17–24, 2026 Southern | Feb 4–15, 2026 Caribbean | Mar 21–30, 2026 Guanacaste | April 12–21, 2026 See all the pricing, lodging, and itinerary information on the webpage for each tour. Or explore them all at www.ecovillagetours.com/upcoming-tours. Spots on trips are limited and fill up quickly. Book your spot today!   Questions? Email us at [email protected] Call us at +1 (734) 245-8745 Or schedule a 30-min Discovery Call with our team.   We look forward to hearing from you! Excited to journey together soon, —Cynthia Ecovillage Tours, Founder Hear what many past tour participants have to say about their experience:   “For anyone thinking of joining or starting an intentional community, or an ecovillage, this is an absolute must.” — Adam Bates, tour participant       “I had an amazing time on the tour!  It gave me an opportunity to experience things that I could have never done on my own.” — Lobsterbird, tour participant       “It is an experience worth paying for. You get to know places and people who are on the real hands on effort for bringing change and make local ecosystems more resilient.” — Eduardo Bryce, tour participant
Need
  • Communities with Openings
9 months ago

Seeking Couples Interested in Long Term Deep Connection & Farming (open to singles)

Description Our  sloped and terraced community farm has far more potential than we have time and energy to use to the fullest. We have been in community for 15 years now, but feeling pulled to the deeper nourishment we find in long-term residents over shorter-term interns.  We seek one to two couples (or super aligned singles) who are interested in conscious connection, intimate conversation, personal growth and healing, regenerative agriculture, and serious about a building a life in community.  Although we hold space and flexibility for shifts in needs, we desire humans who plan to stay for all or part of a season (1-3 months at a minimum), after which we would explore longer-term alignment and relationships.  We MAY also be open to folks wanting to live off-site, as long as we prioritize ample time to explore how we work together before we get too deep. Current Use Heart 2 Heart Farms is a small, forested, 10 acre Permaculture farm nestled in the fertile hills of the Willamette Valley. Between the quaint towns of Newberg and Sherwood, this oasis is in the middle of wine country, just 30 minutes south of Portland, has been an intentional community and teaching facility for over 15 years, hosting a myriad of community outreach, up-cycling, homesteading, and prepping workshops.  Although we have recently slowed substantially, residents should be prepared for both a busy environment, and shared, informal, mixed-use spaces. We are almost completely self-sufficient, producing large varieties of heirloom fruits and vegetables, and we breed, butcher, and sometimes sell heritage chickens, turkeys, rabbits, pigs, goats, sheep, and cattle. We tan hides, carve bone, save seed, occasionally blow glass, throw pottery, create alternative/green energy, dig root cellars, and build constantly. We have three large un/under-utilized areas available: The front hill is a terraced and amended south-facing slope that has LOTS of room and potential. We also have a poultry pasture is 2 acres of partially wooded Douglas Fir, an additional 4 acres of wooded mixed use browsing space and native habitat that’s virtually unused at the moment, two large greenhouses (including one set up aquaponically), and lots of space to expand the orchard and rotational grazing system. Additionally, we have a 20’x40′ healing center and sacred space we use for yoga, massage, reiki, ceremony (including traditional Lakota sweat lodge and grief/trauma work), and make available to local practitioners to offer their services to the community. If you are wanting to connect deeply, work hard, learn and expand your experience base, and participate in a small but established intentional community, shoot us a note and let’s explore. Owner’s Short Term Vision for the Property Our short-term goal is to find/train a few young/new farmers to assist with land stewardship and increase productivity of the existing space to spread out the work/responsibility and assist in overall streamlining and cleanup of the existing farm/operations. Owner’s Long Term Vision for the Property Our long-term vision is to continue to use this space as a teaching and educational facility, expanding the diversity and frequency of events we can host and services we can offer. Over the next few years, we hope to find an a couple interested in learning/independently managing most of the farm production, which will allow us to dig deeper into the training and certification we make available, to include natural building, basic and advanced Permaculture technique and application, beekeeping, horticulture, animal husbandry, food preservation, fermentation, plant identification/natural foraging, and primitive skills. Available Water / Irrigation Extensive rainwater collection on site, as well as a high-flow/capacity well. Soil Type / Quality Sandy loam with great organic matter, good clay content, and established vermiculture and mycorrhizal network. Buildings and Structures Available for Farm Use We have multiple barns and greenhouse space for use, or lease, depending on the particulars of use/situation. Farm Equipment Available for Use We have a skid steer on site, as well as rototiller, chipper, 26′ truck, and pickup trucks for use. Hand tools are also available, depending on the arrangement. Any Restrictions That Could Limit Agricultural Production Creating and supporting natural borders, food forests, and wildlife habitat (and incorporating these into a holistic/natural pest management strategy) is a very high priority to us, so intensive mono-crop/large machine harvesting and/or crops needing spraying/chemicals are not likely a fit on this site. County: Washington Total Acreage: 10 Acreage Available to Landseeker: 5 Current Farming Practices: Organic, Not Certified, Biodynamic, Dry Farming, Season Extension Farming Practices Allowed: Certified Organic, Organic, Not Certified, Biodynamic, Dry Farming, Season Extension Agriculture Types Suitable: Beans, Bees, Berries, Dairy, Fiber Animals, Flowers, Goats, Herbs, Hogs, Mushrooms, Nursery Stock, Nuts, Orchard/Fruit, Pasture, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, Vegetables, Vineyard, Other
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