Village Hill Cohousing

  • Community
  • 0 followers

About the Community

  • Established
  • Suburban

What we do

• VILLAGE HILL COHOUSING (VHC) is an inclusive, multi-generational community with 28 homes located one mile from the vibrant downtown area of Northampton, Massachusetts, next to Smith College, and adjacent wooded conservation land.

• Healthy living, personal growth, mutual support and ecologically sustainable practices – together with personal privacy – are among the major benefits Village Hill Cohousing offers.

• Walking and bike paths, plus nearby bus routes, make VHC the perfect location for eco-minded families and individuals who want to live lightly on the land in a forward-thinking larger community. Many of the current Members have worked with project developer Sunwood Builders and Fitch Architects to cooperatively design the community.

About Village Hill Cohousing:
The entire infrastructure of the Village Hill Cohousing site will be energy-efficient construction, balancing a greatly reduced ecological impact with sustainability and livability.

Core values:

• Compassionate living, sustainability, community and connection
• Working towards building a diverse, multi-generational community
• Energy-efficient homes and common house
• Green space, gardens and beautiful views, surrounded by protected conservation land

Features of VHC:

• Variety of unit sizes, types and prices
• A short walk or bike ride to downtown Northampton
• Close to restaurants, entertainment, arts, music, education (hub of the “Five-College” area)
• Close to bike rail trails, hiking, snowshoe and cross-country ski trails, waterways, and many rich opportunities for outdoor activities
• Local bus line stop and rail trail spur are in the neighborhood
• Bus and Amtrak service to major cities; 45-minute drive to Bradley International Airport
• Centrally located in New England: about 4.0 hours to New York City, less than 2 hours to Boston

About Northampton:
A city of 30,000 people, Northampton is a unique and special blend of urban and rural, historic and contemporary, intellectual, artsy, athletic, and entrepreneurial energy. The Pioneer Valley hosts five colleges and universities.

For more information, visit:
http://villagehillcohousing.org
http://www.northampton-k12.us
http://www.explorenorthampton.com
http://www.visitnorthampton.net
http://www.northamptonma.gov

If our shared values of compassionate living, sustainability, community and connection resonate with you, we look forward to speaking with you.

Our Vision

VILLAGE HILL COHOUSING aspires to be a diverse, multi-generational community committed to compassionate living—through respect, kindness, and generosity for one another, the land, and the wider community in which we live.

Village Hill is a community committed to promoting inclusiveness and respect for all. Members welcome a diversity of cultural and religious backgrounds, race, ethnicity, national origin, family status, veteran/ military background, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, education, and abilities. The goal is for all to feel included and comfortable.

Our Mission

VILLAGE HILL COHOUSING aspires to be a diverse, multi-generational community committed to compassionate living—through respect, kindness, and generosity for one another, the land, and the wider community in which we live.

Village Hill is a community committed to promoting inclusiveness and respect for all. Members welcome a diversity of cultural and religious backgrounds, race, ethnicity, national origin, family status, veteran/ military background, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, education, and abilities. The goal is for all to feel included and comfortable.

  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Ecovillage
  • 49 Total members
  • Not open to new members
  • Open to visitors
  • Open to volunteers
Total
49

How to join

Now that all units are filled by their initial owners, we are working on a process for new members to get to know the community and join a wait list going forward.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Please email us at : [email protected]

Primary decision-making authority

  • All Community Members Together

The whole membership decides collectively.

Governance structure

  • Sociocratic/Circle-Based

Organized in circles or domains with distributed authority.

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
• Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: Yes: A monthly maintenance fee will be charged.
• Required labor contribution: Yes. Adults who are physically able will have monthly jobs.

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

Common House, Garden(s), Large Scale Kitchen, Swingsets & play areas

Frequency of communal meals

  • 2-5 times per week

Substance use culture

  • Substance use appears in public spaces but no pressure

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By several individuals through an LLC or a Tenancy In Common agreement

Setting

  • Suburban

Residential areas outside city centers but within metropolitan regions.

Self-produced energy

  • Over 66%
  • Land area size
    6 acres

Reviews

Location

  • Massachusetts, United States

Village Hill Cohousing

Promoted Needs and Offers

Need
  • Communities with Openings
10 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
Offer
  • Communities with Openings
2 months ago

We welcome new members who are anchored in spirit, heart, and body.

WILD GRACE, an intentional, eco-spiritual community (Sierra foothills, 30 minutes from Grass Valley, California) is excited to have completed the creation of new homes for prospective members. Perhaps you or someone you know have been preparing for this wonderful opportunity? Spiritual community (sangha) is crucial on the personal level, as Thich Nat Hahn says: Your sangha—family, friends, and co-practitioners—is the soil, and you are the seed. If you have a sangha that is joyful, animated by the desire to practice and help, you will mature on your path of awakening. (adapted from Cultivating the Mind of Love) We also believe that spiritual community is crucial on the global level. The intentional focus of loving, mindful consciousness transmits a healing and transformative energy beyond our ability to perceive, which assists in planetary awakening. Wild Grace provides an opportunity for an intimate group/sangha to focus on inner attunement to the Divine, to deepen in group authentic communication practices, to steward sacred land, and to choose love moment-by-moment. Our octagonal temple, perched above the wild and scenic South Yuba River, is devoted to the Mother of Us All. We are dedicated to life-long learning of the skills needed to communicate, heal, and live life fully together in Love, Oneness, and Presence. We support a healthy balance of personal and community care, work and play, purpose, and “right livelihood.” Our shared foundation consists of group morning silent meditation, weekly heart circles where we practice trauma informed authentic relating, tending the land, sharing two or more meals a week, and creative expression. We host events including weekly neighborhood potlucks, open monthly Kirtans, weekly A Course of Love online global meetings, weekly Qi Gong classes, sun/moon cycle ceremonies, and dance classes. Wild Grace is located on 80 acres of land adja
Need
  • Communities with Openings
7 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

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