The Rudolf Steiner Fellowship Community

  • Community
  • 2 followers

About the Community

  • Established
  • Suburban

What we do

Founded in 1966 by an anthroposophical doctor and his wife for the purpose of providing for an intergenerational therapeutic work-based community centered around the care of our elderly Members. Approximately 60 elder Members and 60 Co-workers and their families live on 80 acres in suburban Rockland County, NY. on 80 acres. Most of the Co-workers children attend the neighborhood Green Meadow Waldorf School grades; nursery -12th grade. Coworkers are primarily interested in care giving, crafts such as; pottery, candle and book making, wood and metal shops or farming/gardening, or in supportive activities such as cooking, cleaning, maintenance, landscaping, vehicle maintenance, administration, etc. We have a biodynamic farm education/training initiative where we raise produce, a dairy for raw milk & yogurt. As an intergenerational community we encourage the elderly to participate at all levels in our cultural/social life. We welcome volunteers. Families with children are most welcome. The Rudolf Steiner Fellowship Community & Foundation exist to provide a healthy way of life for everyone of all ages living here. We provide housing for Co-workers and financial support is individually determined. We want to provide everyone with opportunities to be engaged in all the activities of life long learning and to enjoy in the company of others all the cultural events taking place in the course of the year. The Fellowship believes that a rhythm of varied work and artistic activity lead to continuing health and awareness of the meaning of life on earth.

Our Vision

The Fellowship Community is a dynamic, work based, intergenerational community founded on the ideas of Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophy. Our mission is to care for the elderly and to nurture the body, soul and spirit of the human being during all phases of life; to create a social process worthy of our common humanity; to be responsible for the care of the earth upon which we live.
Human centered, long term care for the elderly:
therapeutic and medical support and services that meet the individual needs,
meaningful and fulfilling work in service,
continuing education,
working together for the renewal of social, economic and cultural life,
providing a model for human centered care and
Biodynamic agriculture.

Our Mission

The Fellowship Community is a dynamic, work based, intergenerational community founded on the ideas of Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophy. Our mission is to care for the elderly and to nurture the body, soul and spirit of the human being during all phases of life; to create a social process worthy of our common humanity; to be responsible for the care of the earth upon which we live.
Human centered, long term care for the elderly:
therapeutic and medical support and services that meet the individual needs,
meaningful and fulfilling work in service,
continuing education,
working together for the renewal of social, economic and cultural life,
providing a model for human centered care and
Biodynamic agriculture.

  • Community type
  • Ecovillage
  • Spiritual Retreat Centers
  • Activities
  • Education
  • 170 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
  • Open to volunteers
Total
170

How to join

Elder Members over 65 fill out an application.
Co-workers also fill out an application and will have several interviews. The Fellowship will ask some applicants to stay with us and do a “work-a-long”.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

We now offer group tours a couple of times a month. People can see when the next tour is by emailing [email protected]

Primary decision-making authority

  • Small Leadership Group

A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.

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
  • 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)
Labor required: Yes
Members with pre-existing debt: Yes
We pride ourselves on not paying ” fee for service.” That is we do pay by the hour or day but base payment on individual/family needs. Everyone is different. We have two different categories of membership: Retired Elderly pay rent & Coworkers who receive housing & meals & financial support based on need. Some professional “shift” staff who do not live on campus are paid by the hour.

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

Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Large Scale Kitchen, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Internet, We have a common dining room where the elderly and coworkers eat together. Coworkers & volunteers serve and independent elderly from 3 lodges join in if they so desire.

Frequency of communal meals

  • Approximately all meals

Substance use culture

  • Substance use appears in public spaces but no pressure
  • Religions
  • Christian
  • Buddhist
  • Jewish
  • Muslim
  • Quaker
  • Unitarian Universalist

Property status

  • Privately owned

Setting

  • Suburban

Residential areas outside city centers but within metropolitan regions.

Self-produced energy

  • 33 - 66%

Energy sources used

  • Photovoltaic Solar

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%
  • Land area size
    80 acres

Reviews

Location

  • New York, United States

The Rudolf Steiner Fellowship Community

Promoted Needs and Offers

Need
  • Communities with Openings
8 months ago

Oak Park Commons Cohousing – Plan to Move in Fall 2025

Illinois’ first cohousing community fosters intergenerational connection, diversity, and inclusiveness. We welcome all those who share our vision of creating a sustainable residential community in a vibrant urban suburb. Oak Park Commons Cohousing seeks new members. Join the dozen households that have already helped plan and design a five story, 24-unit building near the commercial heart of Oak Park, Illinois. The building includes a mix of one, two, and three, bedroom ADA accessible units. A package friendly first floor mailroom adjoins the lobby, elevator, and parking entrances. Noise mitigation and energy efficient air conditioning assure year-round comfort. The Carpenter & Madison streets corner location includes within a pedestrian friendly half mile radius: a middle school, bus stop, grocery co-op, drug store, bank, CTA train station, Unity Temple, Rush Hospital, Fox Park, Mills Park, and many restaurants. Madison has traffic calming and bike lanes. The Village commercial center, barely a mile away offers the Lake Theatre Cinema, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Formula Fitness Center, Public Library, Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, and specialty retail and service shops. Oak Park includes excellent K-12 schools. Lincoln public elementary school offers an optional Spanish bilingual program, Gwendolyn Brooks middle school’s wonderful performing arts opportunities and OPRF high school’s great college and career prep. Eight two and three bedroom units are still available for purchase starting at $406,640. Buyers pay a five percent earnest fee when signing a purchase agreement that goes toward down payment at closing. Units available for occupancy starting the last week of October 2025. Visit our website and talk with some of our members to learn more about who we are and how we envision building our community together.   Website: https://oakparkcommons.com/ Contacts: Charles Hoch 708-721-8817; Susan Stall 708-772-8817

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