Families and Children

We currently have about half a dozen children, from toddlers to teenagers, living at Earthaven full time. Another dozen like-minded families live very close to Earthaven and visit often. Most of the school-age Earthaven children are homeschooling, as well as participating in the Forest Children Program, an on-site, homeschool enrichment program, while some attend public or private schools in Black Mountain.

What is it like for families and children at Earthaven?

In some ways, it's an ideal place to raise children; however, there definitely are challenges. Given that we're still in the process of developing our physical infrastructure, many families are in less comfortable living conditions than they may be accustomed to elsewhere. And there are a lot of demands on parents' time and energy at Earthaven, since they share in the work of co-creating this village.

Yet, we live in a beautiful mountain forest with a wholesome, safe environment. Our children are surrounded by streams, waterfalls, frogs, and woodland creatures; lots of friends; and dozens of adults to befriend and mentor them. Kids love it here! While most community meetings are adult-oriented, the children are an integral part of our community meals, plays and entertainments, celebrations, workdays, and other community events. For those families who are called to take up this work and share this way of life, parents and children both thrive!

If you're seeking a community with a high-spirited, environmentally and socially rich environment for children, come see what we're doing here.

Two myths about raising children in community.

Myth #1. The entire community will co-parent my children. Earthaven is an independent- income community (not income-sharing), so the work of raising children is not credited as community work, as it is in income-sharing communities. There is one exception: childcare provided during Council meetings so parents can attend counts for community labor credit. Children are their parents' responsibility and, given the costs of living at Earthaven, having financial stability already established before joining the community is definitely helpful. However, parents and children do receive various kinds of informal support here.

Myth #2. The children will be sheltered from mainstream society.Children at Earthaven do learn a way of life close to the seasons and the elements, as well as respectful and honest communication between people and concern for nature's creatures. They also, though, are exposed to the "outside world" in a variety of ways. We notice this most in that the young boys love to play "sticks and swords" and the girls love to dress up and paint fingernails.

Earthaven families come in many different forms, including:

Two-parent families, such as . . .

Holly, Shawn, Eli, and Rose:They have lived at Earthaven since 1998, and Eli was the first child born at Earthaven. Rose is fourteen and Eli is nine as of 2007.  Eli attends The Learning Community School, an alternative school for grades K-8 in Black Mountain.  Rose graduated the 8th grade from The Learning Community School and is now a freshman at Owen High in Black Mountain.  Holly is the office manager at The Learning Community School and Shawn is the Forest Manager at Warren Wilson College.  The family carpools to town using biodiesel.

Single parents, such as . . .

Ivy and Aidan: Ivy has been an Earthaven member since 1997. Her daughter Aidan, now three years old, is a very social toddler, conceived and born at Earthaven. Ivy is a busy career mom working at Red Moon Herbs and developing her own home site. Ivy enjoys watching Aiden happily frolicking in nature while being cared for by a loving extended family at Earthaven. “Raising my child in community is why I am here.”

Intergenerational families, including elder care, such as . . .

Patricia, Robin, and Gailen: The Allison family (owners of the A&A House) includes Patricia, a permaculture and consensus trainer, her son Robin, a builder, and Gailen, Robin’s nine-year-old son. When Gailen lives at Earthaven, childcare is provided by the whole family. For several years, the extended family was even larger, as Patricia’s sister, brother-in-law, and mother joined Patricia in designing and building their home. The whole clan lived in yurts for years while building the A&A House, which now houses work exchangers and other members as well as their own family.

Families neighboring Earthaven are growing in number and contributing to the greater Earthaven village culture. For example . . .

Ema, David, Noah, Nim, and Gita: Ema and David’s family is one of about a dozen like-minded families that live within a 20-minute walk from Earthaven. They have built their own cordwood home which houses their family of five. Ema and David are founding parents of the Forest Children Program, and David continues to contribute as a Parent Assistant in the classroom, with Noah (10) and Nim (6) both attending the program at Earthaven’s Council Hall three days a week. Ema, now the General WoManager of Red Moon Herbs at Earthaven, has worked there since 2003, including bringing Gita (2) to work with her for the first year after she was born.