No two people ever follow exactly the same exploration path in finding their way to Heartwood, but yours may look something like the one shown below.  The milestones along the way will probably be somewhat similar from person to person, but will no doubt take on a different character and be reached in a different order.


The entire path is one of deepening your understanding of and relationship with Heartwood and carefully considering whether you think becoming part of our community would be good for you and good for Heartwood.  The decision is yours alone, but we’re available to help you every step of the way.


Once you become more serious in your exploration and decide to pursue moving to Heartwood, you will begin to complete the Prospective Membership Checklist.  The checklist is a tool for you to guide your exploration and a tool for us to ensure that your exploration is a rigorous one.  Any milestones shown below that are checklist requirements are indicated with a violet colored bullet (❖).

  1. ❖ Become aware of Heartwood Cohousing.

  2. ❖ Journey begins.

  1. ❖ Visit Heartwood website.  Begin to get a feel for what our community is all about.  See if any homes are available for sale or rent.

  1. ❖ Contact Heartwood Membership team.

  2. ❖ Schedule a visit based on availability of guest rooms in the common house and the schedule of community gatherings.  The Membership team will let you know who your host will be for your visit.  Feel free to contact your host or the Membership team with any questions.  Your host will help you with signing up for common meals, informing you about various community gatherings that may be happening during your visit, introducing you to other community members.

Heartwood Membership Exploration Path

  1. ❖ Subscribe to Heartwood email chat.

  2. ❖ Post a bio of your household to the Heartwood chat.

  1. ❖ Visit Heartwood community.

  2. ❖ Tour land and facilities.

  3. ❖ Attend Community Meeting, Common Meals, and other community gatherings.

  4. ❖ Visit with community members.

  1. ❖ Decide to pursue becoming a member of Heartwood Cohousing.  Inform Membership team of your decision.  They will be assign a buddy for you or you can request someone that you’ve made a connection with.  Your buddy is available to help you as you explore becoming a member, right on up through moving in.

  2. ❖ Begin completing Prospective Member Checklist.

  3. ❖ Read one or both of the required cohousing books.

  4. ❖ Read community agreements on website.

  5. ❖ Complete Membership Questionnaire.

  6. ❖ Schedule your second visit based on availability of guest rooms and the schedule of community gatherings.  Once again, the Membership team will let you know who your host will be for your visit.  Feel free to contact your buddy, your host, or the Membership team with any questions.  Your host will help you with signing up for common meals, informing you about various community gatherings that may be happening during your visit, introducing you to other community members.

  7. ❖ Schedule your Membership Questionnaire discussion.

  1. ❖ Visit Heartwood community for a second time.  Continue to deepen your relationship with our community, individual members, and the land.

  2. ❖ Look closely at what available homes may meet your needs.  Meet with the owners.

  3. ❖ Attend your Membership Questionnaire discussion.

  1. ❖ Complete Prospective Member Checklist.

  2. ❖ Become a member of the Heartwood Cohousing community.

  3. ❖ One journey ends.  Another begins.

  4. ❖ Enter a contract with homeowner to rent or buy a home.

  5. ❖ Move in.  Begin reaping the rewards of life in community.