Scenic aerial view of lush green landscape near a large lake.

Marenal

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Home-sharing
  • Town/Small City

Founding year

  • 2022

What we do

We are a sustainable, intentional, gated agricultural community based on libertarian, voluntaryist principles. The number of our members/partners is limited. Each partner owns a registered lot of at least 5,000 sqm and a proportionate share of our community and commercial properties. Our governance form is Sociocratic. We are self-managed by our Marenal Partner Association and its General Council. The concept of our community was created by Franz Xaver Meier, our founder. His background is detailed in the introduction of our website, marenal.com
Our mission is to advance our principles by setting a positive example for future generations and by preserving and promoting our ecological and intellectual assets. We are guided by our respect for the native ecosystem and its rich biodiversity, and we strive to….
move towards self-sufficiency by growing our own food, supplying the community with chemical-free water from our own well, using renewable energy, and other ecologically sound resources, whenever possible.
protect and restore our environment by minimizing our footprint, and by promptly remedying any unavoidable impact.
provide educational opportunities for our residents and the broader community.
inspire mentorship and collaboration with the local community by sharing the knowledge, experience, and talents of our partners.
promote our intellectual and physical well-being through literature, education, history, science, the arts, a healthy lifestyle, and spirituality.
become a well-functioning Sociocratic Community.

Our Mission

“Peace, Freedom, and Pura Vida” expresses our belief in self-ownership, personal responsibility, property rights, the non-aggression principle, the right of self-defense, peaceful dispute resolution, freedom of association, the advocacy of the principles of Voluntaryism, the importance of education, and the right to a happy life.

  • Purpose
  • Home-sharing
  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Sustainability practices
  • Renewable energy systems
  • Activities
  • Property management
  • Experiences

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 2022
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 2025
  • Started living together
  • 66 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
116

How to join

After submitting the Compatibility Assessment and receiving Community approval, the potential member/partner will be invited to visit and select a property. If he decides to purchase, he must accept our guidelines, rules, and regulations, and agree to repurchase rights before we proceed to the contract and to closing.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Fill out our Compatibility Assessment and make a reservation.

Primary decision-making authority

  • Single Leader or Founding Couple

One person or partnership has ultimate authority.

Decision-making process

  • Consent-Based (Sociocracy)

Decisions proceed unless someone has a reasoned objection.

Governance structure

  • Sociocratic/Circle-Based

Organized in circles or domains with distributed authority.

Conflict resolution approach

Until the Marenal Partner Association is formed, the Founder and Developer is enforcing the guidelines.

Economic model

  • Independent Finances

Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • Members need to pay fees, dues, or similar to live there on a per month or per year basis
  • Members typically need to have their own job or other personal source of income to cover their expenses while living in the community?

Additional economic information

Regular fees: $100
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed

Shared resources and amenities that are accessible to everyone in the community

Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Library, Swimming pond or pool, Outdoor Kitchen, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Swingsets & play areas, Gym or sports area, Internet

Frequency of communal meals

  • Rarely

Significant food acquisition practices

  • Growing our own
  • Locally sourced

Community activities and engagement

  • Volunteer, Internship, or Apprenticeship, or WWOOF’ing
  • Neighborhood, Community Housing, or Homeowner's Association

Substance use culture

  • Substance use appears in public spaces but no pressure

Gender composition

  • Roughly balanced (no group over 60%)

Age demographics

  • Family-focused (many children and parents)

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a single individual, couple, or Family Trust

Setting

  • Town/Small City

Smaller municipalities with local services but rural character.

Community type

  • Cohousing

    Private homes with shared common facilities, designed for neighborly
    interaction while maintaining independence.

Sustainability approach

  • Renewable energy systems

Self-produced energy

  • Up to 33%

Energy sources used

  • Wind
  • Photovoltaic Solar
  • Biomass (from wood or other organic materials)

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%

Local, organic, or fair trade food

  • Over 66%

Food systems

  • Community garden
  • Greenhouse / aquaponics
  • Land area size
    22.4 hectares

Guest Book

Written reviews are available for plus members. Click here to upgrade.

Location

  • Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Marenal

Needs and Offers

Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace

  • Promoted
Need
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
  • Events
1 week ago

Healing Love Healing Money: Trust As The Foundation For A New Culture

Money, love and power are among the hardest things any community works with, and many of us carry the same fears into both: not having enough, losing what we have, and the sense that if someone else gets money or love, we won’t. Healing Love, Healing Money: Trust as the Foundation for a New Culture is taught by two intentional communities. Karen McAllister and Duncan Cryle are from Clear Sky Meditation and Retreat Center, a Buddhist-lineage community in the BC Rockies. Monika Alleweldt and Benjamin von Mendelssohn from Tamera Healing Biotope, a community of about 160 people in southern Portugal that has spent decades studying love, trust and relationship. Clear Sky has spent years working on its relationship with money, and our two communities found surprising parallels in the fears beneath both. Over four sessions we explore the roots of fear around money and belonging, love, possession and power, trust as infrastructure (community as a container for healing), and ethical livelihood. We use short meditations, body-based practices, reflection and small-group conversation. You do not need to be in a romantic relationship or live in community. When: October 27, Nov 3, 10, 17. All four sessions: 12–2pm Vancouver, 1–3pm Alberta, 7–9pm UK and Portugal, 8–10pm Central Europe. Note: US and some Canadian provinces change clocks on November 1, so the US west coast is 12–2pm on October 27, then 11am–1pm for the remaining sessions, and Eastern is 3–5pm on October 27, then 2–4pm for the rest. Cost: sliding scale Details and registration: https://www.clearskycenter.org/event/healing-love-healing-money-online/  
October 27, 2026 13:00 – November 17, 2026 15:00
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Communities with Openings
4 months ago

Do you feel called to help co-create a small, newly forming eco-spiritual community?

Old structures are crumbling. New ways of living are calling. We are answering that call. Wild Grace is an eco-spiritual community located in the Sierra foothills 30 minutes from Grass Valley, California. We recently completed new homes for those who feel called to our vision. Currently there are four of us living on this sacred 80 acres of land although we are a hub for an expanded neighborhood community. Many join us weekly for potlucks, expressive dance, Qi Gong, monthly musical gatherings, and seasonal celebrations in our temple, as well as tending to our orchard. We are excited to welcome others to join us on the land who are dedicating their lives to spiritual growth and ready to live in a more focused and intimate heart-centered lifestyle. Might that be you or someone you know? The fundamentals are simple. Spirit. We listen personally and collectively together most mornings, usually starting with a musical offering, a prayer, or a short reading, followed by about 40 minutes of what we call “sacred silence.” Heart Circles. About once a week we gather to share and listen. We are informed by authentic and compassionate communication practices. Nature. The land itself—an 80-acre oasis of field and forest perched above the wild and scenic South Yuba River—calls for our stewardship in the gardens, orchard, greenhouses, and general care. In turn, nature feeds us abundantly, both literally and spiritually. Interbeing. We join with others to share inspiration and connection as we host monthly gatherings of song, story and prayer that draws from the larger community in addition to other events we share with our closer neighbors. As we attend to these fundamentals, Grace flows to and through us—often in “Wild” or unexpected ways. Grace catalyzes through us, but is not something we possess. Because we all are connected, we feel that Grace actively transforms n
Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
3 days ago

Lot of Goodness

Are you seeking to live in a sustainable, wellness-oriented community that prioritizes nature and environmental conservation? Lot 6 in the Living Well Ecovillage offers the perfect opportunity to be part of a vibrant, self-sufficient community committed to holistic health and ecological harmony. This lot, approximately 1/3 acre in size, is equipped with city utilities and fiber internet access. It is located in a unique mixed-use community with a variety of land uses planned for the future, including small business/commercial spaces, tiny houses, cluster housing, and a 10-acre farm. Your home could face the street or look North to the Living Well Park &  Pavilion where we enjoy many activities together as a Community.  Lot 6 would be ideal for someone who wanted to be close to the action.  Maybe you’d like a large, shared home. Or a business location. The Ecovillage is home to a diverse range of homes, such as timber frame, Deltec, hempcrete, and Net-Zero energy designs—all built with green building principles in mind. This community prioritizes sustainability and wellness in every aspect of life. About the Living Well EcovillageSpanning 126 acres, the Living Well Ecovillage is bordered by the Deep River and Sandy Creek, offering stunning natural beauty and a tranquil environment. The Ecovillage includes shared spaces like a community garden, a Greenway/Rail Trail, and a neighborhood park. Over 53 acres of natural land buffer the river and creek, preserving the area’s pristine beauty and offering residents a true connection to nature. Your Dream Home AwaitsLot 6 is the ideal spot to build your sustainable home, surrounded by trees, rock outcroppings, and abundant wild edible plants. Experience breathtaking views and a peaceful setting, perfect for those seeking a slower, more connected way of life. A Community That Supports WellnessThe Living Well Ecovillage is not just about space—it’s about community. With access to the Folk School, residents engage in hands-on learning, sustainable practices, and personal growth, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. Perfectly LocatedJust two miles from Highway 64 in Franklinville, North Carolina, the Ecovillage is easily accessible to Greensboro, Asheboro, and Siler City, and a short drive from Raleigh, Durham, and Charlotte. It’s centrally located between the mountains and the ocean, with easy access to cultural and recreational amenities. Join Us in Building a Better FutureLot 6 offers more than just land—it’s an opportunity to be part of a community with a shared vision for a sustainable, resilient future. Ready to start the next chapter of your life in the Living Well Ecovillage? Visit Living Well Ecovillage for more information and to explore your future home. For an aerial and street level view, visit Google Maps.
Offer

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