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A living laboratory for a sustainable human future.

Live and Work at Earthaven

Live and Work at Earthaven positions are by arrangement with various hosts—Earthaven members who are working on their site development, buildings, businesses, or gardens. Positions are arranged privately between you and the host (at this time, Earthaven does not have positions sponsored by the community). We also sometimes have rentals available that involve less work and more money. Workers and renters are part of Earthaven’s New Roots program, which includes orientations, check-ins, and other activities for support and accountability.

Earthaven members expect a lot of themselves and they expect a lot of you too. Earthaven is a working, building, living environment, and most of the work is hard, physical labor outdoors—digging, hauling, building. Learning by doing (work study), in a service role, is very different from today’s formal education. Like many hands-on experiences, you may not realize what you have learned and the value of your experience until months or years later!

A standard position at Earthaven is 24 hours a week: 20 hours a week in exchange for hosting, food, and camping, plus 4 hours a week for Earthaven. There are, however, a wide variety of arrangements, depending on what the host expects and offers. See below for positions that may be currently available. If you are interested in one of these opportunities, please contact the host directly.

Butterfly House Permaculture Work Exchange

Dates: April/May 2022

Butterfly House is a 19-year-old homestead in Earthaven’s oldest neighborhood, the Hut Hamlet. Projects will be facilitated by resident permaculture professional Zev Friedman. Projects include natural-built home tending, annual crop production, agro-forestry and biochar, water systems, integrated poultry, food preservation, natural building and light carpentry, and much more

Contact: Zev at  . 
Hours: 12 hours/week for Butterfly House plus 4 hours/week for Earthaven
Costs: Approx. $260/month food plan. Bathhouse fee: $10/month.
Earthaven fees are $30/month, plus $15/month per vehicle, plus a $25 one-time administrative fee.
You Receive: You bring tent, stay on large sheltered wooden platform. Use of phone and office.

Medicine Wheel Work Exchange

Dates: we are not taking any new applications at this time.
Medicine Wheel is particularly open to people who have an interest in joining Earthaven, and who are committed to a vision of collective, permaculture-based living. Work exchange pays for private room, shared telephone. Shared spaces include family rooms, office, kitchen, gardens, showers, and toilet facilities. $200 security deposit required.
Contact: Deborah at .
Hours: 15 hours/week for Medicine Wheel plus 4 hours/week for Earthaven.
Costs: Monthly: $50 maintenance fee, $200 food, $20 Internet.
Earthaven fees are $30/month, plus $15/month per vehicle, plus a $25 one-time administrative fee.
You Receive: Discounted Medicine Wheel food plan; private room; use of house, office, gardens, phone

Suncatcher Work Exchange

Dates: Ongoing, two-week sessions.

Suncatcher neighborhood is home to the Hobbit House, built with seven vernacular construction methods from Rod Rylander's 50 years of experience. We’ll make repairs and upgrades to the Hobbit House and plant gardens in Spring. Seeking responsible, happy, self-managed folks who love to learn and share skills, work hard, and cooperate.
Contact: Rod, Amy, and Melissa at
Hours: 20 hours/week for an initial two-week session. Opportunities to extend after two weeks are negotiable and will require 4 hours/week for Earthaven.
Costs: Shared food costs. For those extending beyond two weeks, Earthaven fees are $30/month, plus $15/month per vehicle, plus a $25 one-time administrative fee.
You Receive: Good company, a space to sleep (may be a tent, trailer, hut, or room in house), kitchen access, experience in intentional community living, and hands-on education in permaculture and vernacular building.