Earthaven Ecovillage

Key facts

• Country: USA
• Region: North Carolina
• Founded: 1994
• Members: 100
• Land size: 329 acres
• Governance model: Council-based consensus with neighborhood autonomy
• Economy model: Membership shares with mixed income sources
• Ownership model: Cooperative land trust with leaseholds
• Status: active
• Website: https://www.earthaven.org

About

Mountain forest ecovillage practicing permaculture, natural building, and ecological stewardship

Full description

Earthaven Ecovillage, founded in 1994, is a mountain forest community in western North Carolina dedicated to creating a sustainable human habitat through permaculture design, natural building, and ecological stewardship. Spread across 329 acres of diverse forest ecosystems, the community includes residential neighborhoods, organic gardens, forest management areas, and shared facilities. Earthaven serves as a living laboratory for appropriate technology, renewable energy systems, and regenerative land use. The community operates the Earthaven Institute for Permaculture Studies, offering educational programs and hosting visitors from around the world who come to learn about ecovillage living, natural building techniques, and permaculture practices.

Research insights (2)

• Earthaven Ecovillage hosts a Community Grief Ritual practice through the School of Integrated Living, incorporated into a four-day Re-membering Retreat each autumn. Facilitators NikiAnne Feinberg, Mirna McWilliams, and Chloe Lieberman cite the Sobonfu Some lineage. [belonging]
• Diana Leafe Christian, author of Creating a Life Together and one of the most-cited diagnoses of why intentional communities fail, teaches Community Organization and Governance 101 at Earthaven's Ecovillage Experience Weekend, June 4 to 7, 2026, alongside Carmen Lescher. [governance]