Aptos Beloved Community is an emerging multicultural ecovillage in the early stages of formation. Our guiding mission is to co-create a flourishing world for all as a friendly living laboratory in Earth Reverence, Personal Responsibility, Cultural Healing, Creative Expression, and Revolutionary Love.

Currently there are 12 adults, two awesomely autistic young adults, three sweet dogs, and 20 laying hens enjoying 7 acres of land together. We range in age from 25-75 and bring our share of diversity: straight, queer and asexual; cis gendered, transgender, non-binary and gender fluid; European American, Mexican American, Korean and Korean American; born into families with and without money.

Among us are entrepreneurs, trauma healing counselors, immigrants, activists, students of Chinese medicine and psychology, contractors, poets, writers, avid hikers and backpackers, dance and yoga teachers, caregivers, nonprofit fundraisers, and gardening enthusiasts. We are monogamous and polyamorous, neurotypical and neurodivergent, vegan and omnivorous. We practice diverse spiritual and religious traditions.

We share the land with many wild creatures – coyote, deer, owls, hawks – and are surrounded by oaks and redwoods. We’re located just off Soquel Drive by Cabrillo College, minutes from New Brighton State Beach and the Forest of Nisene Marks in Santa Cruz County.

What We’re Building

We have an outdoor classroom for small-scale events, several permaculture-based food forest orchards and gardens, an infrared sauna, cold plunge, hot tub, and outdoor bathtub overlooking our beautiful meadow. We’re actively working on rainwater catchment systems, humanure composting, water retention landscaping, oak woodland restoration, greywater systems, and dreaming of a cob sauna.

Stewarding our ecovillage from vision to reality is a primary focus here. We’re looking for folks who are excited about this in theory AND in real-life practice. Experience and skills are wonderful, but great enthusiasm and willingness to learn matter most.

Community Life

We gather 1-2 times weekly for community meals and gatherings that rotate between business meetings, check-ins, movie or game nights, and workshops to develop skills in communication, conflict transformation, anti-oppression/cultural healing, and personal growth.

We host regular (at least monthly) community work days to steward the land together. Everyone commits to at least 6 hours/month of community service.

We also offer an optional community food plan: $200/month for vegans, $300/month for omnivores.

Available Spaces

We have two private cabins becoming available. These cozy spaces (8X15) offer solitude when you need it, with shared access to a community house kitchen, bathroom, and living space. You’ll also have access to outdoor composting toilets, outdoor shower/bathing facilities, the infrared sauna, outdoor bath, hot tub, cold plunge, community gardens and the land we share.  One of the rooms also has its own outdoor kitchen.

Cost: $1,100-$1,300/month including utilities and high-speed internet

Move-in: First and last month’s rent plus $500 deposit

Pets: Well-behaved pets considered under certain circumstances

Work Trade: We’re open to partial or full work trade for folks with experience or strong interest in supporting our permaculture gardens, orchards, and land tending projects.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking people who:

• Are genuinely excited about co-creating intentional community
• Are doing their own healing and growth work
• Can show up for both the practical work and the relational work of community
• Embrace diversity and are actively engaged in anti-oppression practices
• Want to learn about (or share skills in) permaculture, sustainable living, and land stewardship
• Can commit to our community agreements and monthly service hours
• Can reliably meet rent and/or work trade commitments

How to Apply

If this resonates with you, please email aptosbelovedcommunity@gmail.com for our community application and access to our community documents. We look forward to hearing from you!

(Descriptions of the photos above, in order)

1. A view of our walking trail around the land, 2. our large meadow and 3. one of our gardens

Inside our community house – 4. a part of the living room and 5. kitchen

6. One of our outdoor bathtubs, next to our cold plunge and infrared sauna

7. An outdoor sink

8. The outside of one room that will be available at the end of February, and 9. the inside of one available now

10. A glimpse of our outdoor classroom at night