Village Economy
Earthaven is an independent-income community, which means each community member is responsible for earning their own living. Below are some of our businesses and other ways some of our members earn a living.
We are in the process of developing our own village-scale economy, and so encourage Earthaven members to make a living here in the village, by operating their own small-scale ecologically sound businesses, by hiring each other whenever possible, or by telecommuting to outside jobs. We also encourage members, when possible, to invest in other members’ homesite development projects and businesses. We would someday like to establish our own small credit union, through which we could deposit funds and make loans to our members for homesites, home construction, on-site business development, and so on.
Meanwhile, many of our members do earn a living here at Earthaven, often with various part-time incomes.
Culture’s Edge, Earthaven’s 501(c)3 educational nonprofit organization, operates the School of Integrated Living (SOIL). SOIL offers in-person and online programs from Earthaven’s living laboratory for a sustainable future, teaching whole-life skills aimed at cultivating self-reliant, interdependent, and nature-connected people who are deeply engaged in their local and global communities.
Elements Naturopathic Medicine. Dr. Monique Mazza is a natural health expert with a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. She embodies her teachings while striving to live a sustainable, off-grid lifestyle at Earthaven Ecovillage. Her clinic offers in-depth, personalized care. It is adjacent to a 5,000 square foot community organic garden where Dr. Mazza also hosts group healing retreats.
Sunworks Electric specializes in off-grid and grid-tied with battery back-up power systems, as well as conventional electrical services. Sunworks is owned and operated by Chris Farmer, an Earthaven Member, who has lived off-grid for over 20 years, and on sunny days can run his welder and plasma cutter on his off-grid solar system. Learn more about their work and team on their website. Available for start to finish services as well as professional consultations.
Useful Plants Nursery. Lyndon Felps. Hardy perennial trees, shrubs, vines, and herbaceous perennials for food, medicine, and other uses, specifically adapted for soil and climatic conditions of the Katuah Bioregion and surrounding regions. www.usefulplants.org; 828-669-6517.
Village Arts Co-op and Furniture Magician. Master woodworker Paul Caron has decades of experience building custom furniture, restoring and refurbishing antiques, and repairing damaged furniture. During the 1990s, Paul helped design and build many of the buildings at Earthaven. Construction of the Village Arts Building began in the early 2000s. Current renovations will culminate in the creation of the Village Arts Co-op, including ceramics, woodworking and other artisanal trades. An apprenticeship program is available. (828) 669-4625. furnituremagician.com.
Teachers and Consultants
A number of Earthaven members make their living by teaching classes on various aspects of natural and community living, and by offering consulting services. The skills these experienced and visionary teachers brought to Earthaven are part of what makes Earthaven the success it is today. Nationally recognized, most of these teachers offer their services both at Earthaven and at other locations.
Diana Leafe Christian
Diana Leafe Christian. Sociocracy Training, “N St. Consensus” Training, Community Consulting. Author, Creating a Life Together and Finding Community. Consulting and workshops: (1) Creating successful new ecovillages and other kinds of intentional communities. (2) Effective self-governance methods (Sociocracy, N St. Consensus Method). (3) Ecovillage projects worldwide. www.DianaLeafeChristian.org; 828-669-9702; .
Mollie Curry
Natural Building. Mollie has been teaching natural building since 1998, including cob, strawbale, straw-clay, wattle and daub, and earth- and lime-based plasters and paints. Consults and contracts home-building projects, with a special focus on natural paints and plasters. Teaches natural building at Earthaven and regionally, with MudStrawLove. 828-775-4823.
Delphi Dofflemyer
Holistic Therapies for Women. Delphi is the creatress of Rosehips & Ritual, a women-centered resource that weaves ritual and ceremony into womb healing, transformation, education, and empowerment. As a Fertility Awareness Educator and LMBT trained in breast massage and abdominal therapies, she shares practices, tools, and medicines to support women in all phases of their womb healing journey.
Bruce Johnston
Energy Healing/Spiritual Guidance. Bruce has lived at Earthaven since 2007 and practiced energy healing and spiritual transformation since 2011. He is a graduate of the Circle of The Heart School of Wholeness in Asheville. His practice, Journey Into Wholeness, helps people put their spiritual houses back in order, tending as they do to disorder without maintenance. 828-669-1325.
Steve Torma
Compassionate Communication and Body-centered Psychotherapy Training and Counseling. Twenty-five years’ experience leading personal growth workshops, integrating ideas and practices from sources including Body Electric School, The Body Sacred, Radical Honesty, and Nonviolent Communication. Certified Cuddle Party facilitator. Training and counseling for individuals, couples, and groups. 828‑664‑0628. ; theREALcenter.org.
Lee Warren
Conscious Relating with Self, Land, and Others. Education offerings through SOIL and FIC (ic.org), include Thriving in Community; Three-Legged Stool of Sustainability; End of Life Planning; Relational Leadership. Consulting and coaching on all of the above plus holistic goal setting for moving to community. Reclaimingwisdom.com; .
828-772-5846.
Kaitlin Ilya Wolf
Ritual, Rites of Passage, Women’s Circles. Kaitlin Ilya Wolf is a Priestess and teacher. She facilitates ritual and teaches earth spirituality, ritual, and women’s tradition. Ceremonies for life transitions, personal rituals, Red Tent Circles, spiritual counselings, coaching, home blessings. . www.priestessofcycles.com.
Other Goods and Services at Earthaven
Alternative Electric and Water Systems. Darren Geffert, kudzubasket~at~aol.com.
Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities (New Society Publishers, 2003). Diana Leafe Christian. Available from intentional communities store.
Finding Community: How to Join an Ecovillage or Intentional Community (New Society Publishers, 2007). Diana Leafe Christian. Available from intentional communities store.
Holistic Therapies for Women. Rosehips & Ritual