Tours and Camping

Tours

Earthaven’s School of Integrated Living (SOIL) offers in-person and virtual tours of Earthaven. Book a tour today!

Tours are a great entry point into learning the history, purpose, and development of Earthaven Ecovillage. These tours are designed to provide learners with a deeper understanding about living in community as well as the strategies and solutions possible for doing things another way.

In just a couple of hours, you’ll get a very informative introduction to this 26+ year experimental journey of social, environmental and economic sustainability. You’ll not only learn of things you might want to do, but also what you might NOT want to do.

Visiting with children? Read This.

Saturday In-Person Tours

Saturday tours are scheduled May – October: all Saturdays, except May 28; November 5, 12, 26; December 10. 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Arrive at 9:45). $25 per adult (kids free).

More information and registration:

Tour only
Tour with camping (the campground is generally open April through October)

This is an outdoor walking tour, so be sure to dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Please bring your own food if you think you’ll get hungry. Our rule about pets (no matter how lovable they may be) is never bring them. More information.

Virtual Tours

If you can’t visit in person, experience Earthaven through a live, online, two-hour presentation followed by Q&A. The tour examines the concept of sustainability at Earthaven through social, ecological, and economic lenses. More information and registration.

Customized Tours

Our School of Integrated Living (SOIL) also offers customized in-person and virtual tours. With a customized tour, you can schedule a tour on your schedule, tailored to your interests. More information and registration for customized in-person tours.

Also, check our calendar for classes, events, and other tours.

Visiting in Person

Please do not arrive at Earthaven without having made confirmed arrangements in advance. To foster safety for all, Earthaven requests the following of in-person visitors:

If you are sick, stay home.
If you might have been exposed to COVID-19 or traveled from a high-risk area, plan your visit and tour for a later date.
Avoid close contact (6 feet) with anyone outside your household.
Bring the following:
- A pen to sign the liability waiver
- A water bottle
- A face covering, in case you enter a building
- Hand sanitizer, if you have a preferred type

See How to Get Here, Maps of Earthaven, and Earthaven Weather. We are located in two counties, Buncombe and Rutherford. COVID-19 updates for every county are on the state dashboard.

Camping

The Earthaven campground serves participants in organized in-person programs, including Earthaven Ecovillage tours. The campground is generally open April through October.

The campground is in a forested area near the village center. The campground has drinking water, a compost toilet, solar shower, and a tarped camp kitchen. The campground does not have electricity. Please bring your own food. Earthaven does not have facilities to serve food to the public. The campground is near the Council Hall for emergency phone calls.

Most camping is in tent sites, with cars parked in a nearby parking lot. Two sites are available for vans, small RVs (30 ft maximum), and car camping. There are no water or electric hookups at these sites.

Options for camping at Earthaven

Earthaven SOIL in-person programs
In-person Earthaven Ecovillage tours
Customized onsite education programs
Other programs at Earthaven that include camping – for more information see our calendar.

You must have an in-person tour of Earthaven in 2021 or 2022 to be eligible to camp. The campground is open to the public by reservation only. More information and camping registration.

Lodging

For lodging near Earthaven, consider:

The lodge at the Light Center (for rooms with kitchenettes).
Sky Island Campground at 88 Flatlander Drive, Old Fort.
An Airbnb apartment called Arya Tara.
An Airbnb 3-Bedroom Cottage in Old Fort.
Nancy Rose, 828-559-5271, offers an apartment at Solairus Community.

Get an inside look at THREE Earthaven Ecovillage homes.

Upcoming Events

Virtual Earthaven Tour

Sunday, October 16 @ 2 – 4 pm ET

There’s nothing like experiencing ecovillage life first hand, but taking a virtual tour of Earthaven is a close second!

The tour highlights ways in which Earthaven is striving to be a holistic, sustainable culture. The introductory overview tour examines the concept of sustainability at Earthaven through social, ecological, and economic lenses. Not only will you get a glimpse of what has worked through time, but also hear about what has been challenging. And you will have a chance to ask questions!

Plastering a wall in a natural built house

Introduction to Natural Building

Thursdays, Oct 6 - Nov 3 @ 7 - 9 pm Eastern Time

Explore natural building methods and materials in a live online workshop.

Gain an appreciation and understanding of what is possible with natural and sustainable materials. No “cookie cutters” designs here — learn how to balance our desires with realities.

Earthaven Ecovillage Experience Weekend

October 7-10, 2022

Do you want to learn skills, gain insights and get to know the Earthaven community? Get an inside look at the radical social and ecological experimentation that has taken place in this land-based community for over 27 years.

Ecovillage Action Week

October 10-14, 2022

Be an active participant in the everyday rhythm of life and work at Earthaven Ecovillage. In this hands-on, service-based program, you’ll work side-by-side with residents, making meaningful contributions while exploring Earthaven’s neighborhoods, and expanding your ideas of alternative living.