Thirty years ago, a group of permaculture experts purchased 329 acres of degraded land in Western North Carolina with a vision: to restore the landscape while creating a new model of communal living.
What began as an experiment in living well off the land has grown into one of the nation’s oldest cohousing communities, where residents live collaboratively and in close connection with their environment.
The community now spans 13 distinct neighborhoods with over 100 residents, each offering a different approach to shared living. Some neighborhoods function as housing co-ops (North Carolina law requires at least five members for this designation), while others feature apartments, duplexes, or single-family homes.
Earthaven’s infrastructure reflects decades of experimentation and ingenuity. From hydroelectric power generated by mountain streams to solar systems energizing both communal and private spaces, the village is a model of thoughtful design.
Residents live in hand-built homes that range from timber-framed duplexes to snug cob cottages, sharing resources like kitchens, workshops, and gardens. Guided by principles of self-governance, consensus decision-making, and cooperative ownership, Earthaven fosters deep connections—not only with the natural world but also among its members, creating a way of life rooted in resilience and shared purpose.
Recently, Earthaven suffered significant damage from Hurricane Idalia, which tore through the region, leaving many homes and shared facilities in need of repair. The community is currently rebuilding and has launched a fundraising campaign to restore its infrastructure and continue its mission of regenerative living.
—Donate to Earthaven's Hurricane Helene recovery fund: https://www.gofundme.c...
—Take a Virtual Tour: https://www.schoolofin...
—Become a Friend: https://www.schoolofin...
—Take a class with the School of Integrated Living: https://www.schoolofin...
—More videos: / @earthavenecovillage
—Earthaven on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.o...
When Tuesday McGillycuddy and her beloved dog, Baxterr, discover that Tuesday's mother ― the famous author Serendipity Smith ― has gone missing, they set out on a magical adventure. In their quest to find Serendipity, they discover the mysterious and unpredictable place that stories come from. Here, Tuesday befriends the fearless Vivienne Small, learns to sail an enchanted boat, tangles with an evil pirate, and discovers the truth about her remarkable dog. Along the way, she learns what it means to be a writer and how difficult it can sometimes be to get all the way to The End.
Windsingers by Megan Lindholm
Harpies don't give up of blood debts. Neither do the men who serve them. A life must be given in return. Devastated by the slaughter of her family and haunted by memories of her own violent revenge, Ki rejects the comfort of her husband's gypsy people and wants only to wander in solitude as an outcast. Across mountains sheathed with ice, through the treacherous shadow of the impassable Sisters, Ki finds herself running for her life, pursued by frenzied Harpies sworn to vengeance; and by one stubborn, dark-haired man who seems intent on being part of her future.
Rodzina by Karen Cushman
In 1881, 12-year-old Rodzina Clara Jadwiga Anastazya Brodski wishes she didn’t have to board the orphan train in Chicago. But she has no home, no family, and no choice. Rodzina doesn’t believe the orphans are on their way out West to be adopted by good families. She’s sure they will become slaves to strangers. Anyway, who would ever adopt a large, tough, stubborn girl of Polish origin? As the train heads west, all Rodzina has is a small suitcase and her family memories from the past. Will Rodzina ever step off the train to find the family that deep in her heart she’s searching for?
Dark Fusion by Neal Shusterman
Tara’s eyes are always hidden behind designer sunglasses, and her hair, blond with glimmering spirals, seems almost alive. Parker watches, fascinated, as one by one Tara chooses high school students to befriend; he even helps her by making the necessary introductions. Over time, her "friends" develop strange quirks, such as drinking gallons of milk, eating dirt, and becoming lethargic.
By the time Parker realizes what Tara is doing, he is too embroiled to stop her. In fact, she has endowed him with certain cravings of his own. . . .To say more would spoil the spooky fun of this wild thriller—let the twist speak for itself and leave you still as a statue.
Myth-O-Mania by Kate McMullen
Puts a modern spin on the Greek myth of how Zeus became the Ruler of the Universe, as told by Hades, Ruler of the Underworld, who insists that Zeus cheated.
Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden
Denizen Hardwick is an orphan, and his life is, well, normal. Sure, in storybooks orphans are rescued from drudgery when they discover they are a wizard or a warrior or a prophesied king. But this is real life—orphans are just kids without parents. At least that’s what Denizen thought. . . .
On a particularly dark night, the gates of Crosscaper Orphanage open to a car that almost growls with power. The car and the man in it retrieve Denizen with the promise of introducing him to a long-lost aunt. But on the ride into the city, they are attacked. Denizen soon learns that monsters can grow out of the shadows. And there is an ancient order of knights who keep them at bay. Denizen has a unique connection to these knights, but everything they tell him feels like a half-truth. If Denizen joins the order, is he fulfilling his destiny, or turning his back on everything his family did to keep him alive?
The Whitby Witches by Robin Jarvis
At first glance, the small seaside town of Whitby seems quiet and charming, but eight year-old Ben and his older sister Jennet soon learn that things are not always as they seem. Moved about from foster home to foster home, Ben and Jennet hope to make a fresh start in Whitby. But Ben sees things and people others cannot. There's something unusual about Alice Boston, their new guardian. And what is that horrible howling Jennet hears late at night? Something wicked's brewing in Whitby. Can Ben and Jennet put it to rest?
The Vengekeep Prophecies by Brian Farrey
“You can’t convict what you can’t confirm.” That’s the motto of 12-year-old Jaxter Grimjinx and his infamous family of thieves. And while Jaxter may not have his father’s burglary prowess, his mother’s forgery skills, or his little sister’s mastery of sleight-of-hand, his book-fed knowledge of non-magical solutions to magical problems makes him invaluable to the family’s heists.
But the Grimjinxes may have pulled one con too many in their hometown, Vengekeep. After swapping the prophetic tapestry used to guide Vengekeep’s actions for a fake concocted by Jaxter’s mother, the Grimjinxes are stunned when the false prophecies begin coming true, bringing destruction in their wake.
Suddenly, Vengekeep is besieged by “natural” disasters and rampaging monsters, courtesy of the secretly enchanted counterfeit tapestry. With his family forced to stay and combat the impending doom, Jaxter must leave his hometown in search of a way to keep the increasingly dangerous prophecies from wiping Vengekeep off the map.
Earthaven by Katherine Roberts
When Natalie is captured, she discovers that she has amazing powers and wonders if she can free herself and save Earthhaven, the mystical world beyond the Thrallstone Gateway, where enormous soultrees spin a web of unique magic.
Edgar and Ellen by Charles Ogden
Fire ants. Fraud. Footie pajamas.
Twins Edgar and Ellen live alone -- their parents disappeared years ago, and who can blame them? -- in the quaint, little town of Nod's Limbs, in a grim, gray house overlooking the cemetery and the junkyard. They spend their days avoiding Heimertz, the mysterious accordion-playing caretaker; pestering Pet, a hairy, one-eyed creature of indeterminate species and gender; and wreaking havoc on the hapless citizens of Nod's Limbs.
But wreaking havoc can incur expenses, so the twins come up with a unique fund-raising scheme: They'll nab the pets of Nod's Limbs and transform them into exotic animals they can sell for big bucks. Not a bad plan, if one of the purloined pets wasn't a lethargic python with a raging appetite....
Explore 5 sustainable ecovillages and communities that are built on the premise of building a brighter future. See these locales that are built with focuses on permaculture, and other design techniques that you can use to make your home more friendly to nature and the Earth.
Crystal Waters: https://crystalwaters.org.au/
• Crystal Waters Ec...
Earthaven: https://www.earthaven.org/
• Frequency555.com:...
As of posting, I can no longer find the Decolonizing Permaculture event, but they do have a tag on decolonizing permaculture:
https://www.earthaven.org/tag/decolon...
Ecovillage at Ithaca: https://ecovillageithaca.org/
So often we see visions of a grim future, Solarpunk is a movement and sci-fi genre that pictures what the world would be like with a sustainable society built upon 100% renewable energy. I'm Lindsay Jane, and the Solarpunk Scene is my exploration of the expanding positive force that is changing the world. Check out my videos and the website to see what's going on, and I hope that you can join me on this journey of trying to save the future.
Sustainable is quite the catchword these days. The gist of the term is "to be carried on indefinitely."
Most often it's used to describe and discuss issues of environmental conservation or economic development.
But the word has multiple interpretations, depending on who you're talking to and the context in which it's used, and is often misrepresented by companies who hope to appease their public image or sell a product to "green-minded" consumers. Over time, this usage has served to diminish and water down the words definition and power.
Sustainable living posits that humans can have a neutral, if not positive, impact on the Earth's natural resources through ecologically conscious life choices such as reduced consumption, a shift to renewable energy, and a move toward local economics, among other things.
Sustainable development looks at both human needs and the needs of the natural world on a large scale. The theory of the Three-Legged Stool of Sustainability takes into account the long-term well-being of the economic, social, and environmental realms.
Worldwide we are dealing with impoverished nations, damaged environments, collapsing political systems, and social disintegration.
How do we set goals about a different sort of world and how do we know when we get there?
We found this great measuring tool from oneplanetcommunities.org
o carbonMaking buildings more energy efficient and delivering all energy with renewable technologies.Zero wasteReducing waste, reusing where possible, and ultimately sending zero waste to landfill.Sustainable transportEncouraging low carbon modes of transport to reduce emissions, reducing the need to travel.Sustainable materialsUsing sustainable healthy products, with low embodied energy, sourced locally, made from renewable or waste resources.Local and sustainable foodChoosing low impact, local, seasonal and organic diets and reducing food waste.Sustainable waterUsing water more efficiently in buildings and in the products we buy; tackling local flooding and water course pollution.Land use and wildlifeProtecting and restoring biodiversity and natural habitats through appropriate land use and integration into the built environment.Culture and heritageReviving local identity and wisdom; supporting and participating in the arts.Equity and local economyCreating bioregional economies that support fair employment, inclusive communities and international fair trade.Health and happinessEncouraging active, sociable, meaningful lives to promote good health and well being.
The One Planet Communities programme uses 10 guiding principles as a framework to help our partners examine the sustainability challenges they face and develop appropriate solutions. These principles were developed as a result of lessons learned from BioRegional’s work at the pioneering BedZED eco-village in South London. By applying the princples at the design, construction and long-term management stages of a development we should be able to create places where it is easy, attractive and affordable for people to live within a fair share of our planet’s resources.
Very cool to find a tool with practical, measurable, and relevant goals. Only time will tell if they are attainable.
I had the great fortune of participating in a weekend grief ritual with Sobonfu three years ago in Santa Barbara, CA and it was one of the most powerful and transformative experiences of my life. It was so profound that I said to myself "if I were ever to move to the Asheville area, one of the first things I'd do is bring Sobonfu there so I could deepen and increase my health and unfolding potential with my new community." Well, It's been 13 months since I arrived to WNC and this beautiful opportunity is coming to fruition.
Not only am I thirsty for a deep cleansing and being in right-relationship with my grief, but desirous to be witnessed and held by others in the experience as well as witnessing and holding space for others in their experiences.
The School of Integrated Living is honored to be hosting Sobonfu Somé in Western North Carolina and invites you to partake in her offerings and gifts.
We would love for you to hear her story at the Friday evening talk (Nov 8) and share the experience of a full weekend grief ritual (Nov 9-10). Details below.
Sobonfu is a renowned teacher and one of the foremost voices of African Spirituality to come to the West. To learn more about her and her work.
Please help spread the word...
Forward this email to your community of friends...
Share the Facebook events: The Friday Evening Talk Event Page and The Weekend Grief Ritual Event Page...
Make announcements at events when appropriate...
Publicize through your organization's listservs (we'd be glad to cross pollinate your events through SOIL as well.)
Post flyers (I have printed ones I can give you) or post in places you recommend.
Weekend Details:
An Evening Talk with Sobonfu Somé
Friday, November 8th, 7-9pm
Location: Jubilee! 46 Wall St. ~ Downtown Asheville
$10-15 suggested donation (no registration required)
Weekend Grief Ritual with Sobonfu Somé (Pre-registration required)
Saturday, November 9th, 9am-5pm & Sunday, November 10th, 9am-1pm
Location: YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly, Black Mountain, NC
$210 ~ $170 If Registered by Oct 8th
