It usually begins with a longing for a closer connection with your neighbors. Or perhaps you've had a dream to buy a piece of land with some good friends and to live in closer relationship with each other and Nature – maybe grow more of your own food. Or it could be that you once lived in close connection with others in a cooperative house, as a camp counselor, or while living overseas and you want to experience that kind of community again.
Whatever the reason, all of us are drawn to community at some level. We yearn for a sense of belonging that comes with knowing and trusting the people we share our lives with. We sense that there’s something lacking in the often fragmented existence that is life in America today.
If you share that longing, we invite you to get involved with Heartwood Cohousing by exploring what our community is all about and considering for yourself whether it might be a good fit for you.
Whatever the reason, all of us are drawn to community at some level. We yearn for a sense of belonging that comes with knowing and trusting the people we share our lives with. We sense that there’s something lacking in the often fragmented existence that is life in America today.
If you share that longing, we invite you to get involved with Heartwood Cohousing by exploring what our community is all about and considering for yourself whether it might be a good fit for you.
You’re in the right place to begin your exploration. Our website is full of information about our community and is directed primarily at people like yourself who are considering possibly living here. This whole section on Getting Involved is specifically designed to help you begin to discover if Heartwood might be right for you. If what you find here on our website feels good to you, the next step would be to click on the GET IN TOUCH button (at the bottom of each webpage) to receive more information about Heartwood. That will also provide you with phone and email contact information. Your next step is to plan a visit. Visiting the community is essential to you deciding whether we're a good fit. Just let us know that you want to visit and we'll help you with the arrangements (signing up for common meals, reserving a guest room, etc.). We’re more than happy to help you on your journey. We’ve all been down the same path ourselves.
|
A fundamental characteristic of Heartwood is that we are a self-selecting community, which is to say that it is completely your decision whether you choose to live here. Although, as a community we recognize that you are in the best position to make that decision, we will do our best to ensure that you have become thoroughly familiar with the Heartwood community and carefully considered living here. For that reason we require that all new members complete the Prospective Member Checklist. The checklist leads you through what we consider the minimum amount of exploration necessary to make a wise decision about joining our community. It includes such requirements as visiting the community, participating in community activities, meeting community members, reading about cohousing in general and Heartwood in specific, completing a questionnaire intended to spur reflection and contemplation, and a meeting with the Membership team to discuss that questionnaire.
|
Let's Dance!
Put away the tables and chairs. Crank up the sound and light systems. Viola – a quiet common meal morphs into a raucous dance party.
|
Click on these links for online versions of the Prospective Member Checklist and Membership Questionnaire.
Mimi helping Joe learn to ride a bike. Trusted and loving neighbors makes Heartwood a very safe place for kids.
|
Another fundamental characteristic of Heartwood is that we have all made a mutual pledge to support each other, to work things out when we do have conflict, and to work for the advancement of our community. For that reason, we require that pretty much everyone who lives here becomes a member of the community and shares in that commitment to sustain and build our community together. See our Membership Agreement for more information. |
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 red colored bullet (❖).
Heartwood Membership Exploration Path
❖ Explore the Heartwood website. Begin to get a feel for what our community is all about. See if any homes are available for sale or rent.
❖ Click on the GET IN TOUCH button (at the bottom of each webpage) to receive more information about Heartwood. That will also provide you with Heartwood phone and email contact information.
❖ Schedule a visit based on availability of guest rooms in the Common House and the schedule of community gatherings. The Membership Team will assign you a host 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, and introducing you to other community members.
❖ Send a bio of your household to your host or contact on the Membership Team.
❖ Visit Heartwood Cohousing to find out firsthand what life here is like.
❖ Decide to pursue becoming a member of Heartwood Cohousing. Inform the Membership Team of your decision. They will be match you up with a buddy. Your buddy is available to help you as you explore becoming a member right on up through moving in and getting settled into the neighborhood.
❖ Begin completing the Prospective Member Checklist.
❖ Read one or both of the required cohousing books – learn what the cohousing experience is all about.
❖ Read community agreements on our website.
❖ Complete the Membership Questionnaire.
❖ 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, and introducing you to other community members.
❖ Schedule your Membership Questionnaire discussion.
❖ Visit Heartwood for a second time. Continue to deepen your relationship with our community, individual members, and the land.
❖ Look closely at what available homes may meet your needs. Meet with the owners.
❖ Meet with community members to discuss membership and the Membership Questionnaire.
❖ Complete the Prospective Member Checklist.
❖ Become a member of the Heartwood Cohousing community.
❖ Enter a contract with a homeowner to rent or buy a home.
❖ Move in. Get settled in, get immersed in Heartwood, and begin reaping the rewards of life in community.
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 red colored bullet (❖).
Heartwood Membership Exploration Path
❖ Explore the Heartwood website. Begin to get a feel for what our community is all about. See if any homes are available for sale or rent.
❖ Click on the GET IN TOUCH button (at the bottom of each webpage) to receive more information about Heartwood. That will also provide you with Heartwood phone and email contact information.
❖ Schedule a visit based on availability of guest rooms in the Common House and the schedule of community gatherings. The Membership Team will assign you a host 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, and introducing you to other community members.
❖ Send a bio of your household to your host or contact on the Membership Team.
❖ Visit Heartwood Cohousing to find out firsthand what life here is like.
- Tour the land and facilities.
- Attend a Community Meeting, Common Meal, and/or other community gatherings.
- Visit with community members to find out firsthand what life here is like.
❖ Decide to pursue becoming a member of Heartwood Cohousing. Inform the Membership Team of your decision. They will be match you up with a buddy. Your buddy is available to help you as you explore becoming a member right on up through moving in and getting settled into the neighborhood.
❖ Begin completing the Prospective Member Checklist.
❖ Read one or both of the required cohousing books – learn what the cohousing experience is all about.
❖ Read community agreements on our website.
❖ Complete the Membership Questionnaire.
❖ 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, and introducing you to other community members.
❖ Schedule your Membership Questionnaire discussion.
❖ Visit Heartwood for a second time. Continue to deepen your relationship with our community, individual members, and the land.
❖ Look closely at what available homes may meet your needs. Meet with the owners.
❖ Meet with community members to discuss membership and the Membership Questionnaire.
❖ Complete the Prospective Member Checklist.
❖ Become a member of the Heartwood Cohousing community.
❖ Enter a contract with a homeowner to rent or buy a home.
❖ Move in. Get settled in, get immersed in Heartwood, and begin reaping the rewards of life in community.