Woodburn Hill Farm ( http://directory.ic.org/1304/Woodburn_Hill_Farm ) immediately evokes a feeling of “Home”. The new buildings there easily shed-off the sometimes glaring-shine-of-youthfulness with many touches of comfort and older familiar furniture or a beautiful woven bedspread. The older buildings tell many stories that invite you to them. The farmhouse hosts their library and meeting space in addition to the large kitchen; it also possesses many features particular to Amish construction that makes it feel unique and thoughtfully positioned. This, blended with the 33 years of use with the Woodburn Hill community, gives off a big “Welcome!” as one can tell that after a likely many incarnations, the layout of the one you are seeing is well-earned and the most comfortable.
The barn is a huge structure, the outside painted red and the inside consisting of a few sections, a central “dance floor”, all separated by large sawn oak (!) timbers (4x6s and 6x8s primarily; the understories show more 8x10s!).
Currently there are about 9 adult residents living at Woodburn Hill Farm. Two couples, and several single folk. I believe the average age to be likely 50ish; they are actively seeking new young members! (rents start at about $250/mo!) Some occupations of the folks include PhD student in ethnomusicology, acupuncture, nurse, city govt, massage, teacher, and technical aid to guitar luthier among others!
Finally: the site feels well laid-out with its various houses and gardens. This community (along with Short Mountain Sanctuary and the Lama Foundation) also operates by Consensus decision-making and also considers it essential to their longevity and the health of their community!
Now I am touring Virginia, looking forward to checking out Charlottesville and Floyd (who has a well reputed music and counterculture scene). Virginia and Southern Maryland have a surprisingly nice mix of oak and different pines; the fortunately the foothills of Appalachia reach further east than I expected! I drove pleasantly through the counties Louisa and Jefferson where the large ecovillages Acorn and Twin Oaks have been for many many years (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_Community http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Oaks_Community ) . I was unable to coordinate my schedule to fit their visitor's schedule, and am now especially bummed to find out that Twin Oaks even has a Klezmer band ! Ah! Their wikipedia pages are very interesting reads!
Now I will leave this coffee shop, head to Charlottesville and then to camp in the Forest! Yeah!
Who are you, when were you here, and did i meet you?
ReplyDelete:)
i feel like i'm part of an old Gilda Radner/Emily Litella bit on SNL, but because of a little more reading of your blog "never mind" my questions. Perhaps i'll meet you next time you drop by.
ReplyDelete---linda :)
ps... Intersting to catch your view of the Farm.
I met frank at the Lama foundation in NM last summer :-)
ReplyDeleteSince i know you've visited several communities in your travels, i thought you might like to check out this blog.
ReplyDeletehttp://maryandkeith.blogspot.com/
Mary and Keith used to live here, at Woodburn Hill Farm -butmany years ago- and visited in the fall.
They have also visited several other IC's -this past year- in their travels west, so might be able to *see* a community you visited through someone else's eyes.
---linda :)