Our community is forming on the former Suomi Opisto (Finnish College) campus in Hancock, Michigan located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The 2 acre property currently has two main buildings: Old Main, a sandstone building which served as the entire college; 22 dorm rooms, chapel, offices, classrooms and dining room; and the Opisto Theatre, formerly the Chapel of St. Matthew which comfortably seats 50 guests. The property is on a south facing slope with plenty of ground for regenerative farming and raised beds.
This is a urban setting, located across the street from a new co-op food market and within walking distance of many businesses and eating establishments.
Our vision is to create a resilient community sharing the importance of regenerative agriculture, sustainable living (low impact) while bringing art and cultural events to the community. We are looking for 4 to 5 people who believe in this mission and would be willing to form an intentional community based on these principles. This property is currently owned by an LLC to provide stability until the time it can be passed on to an environmental nonprofit which will maintain the property into perpetuity.
Residents (multi-age) of the community share responsibilities of the maintenance of the property and pay for their own lodging. We are looking for people who are passionate about protecting the land, restoring native habitats and sharing this model with residents in Hancock/Houghton and visitors.
The community will assist with income generating activities including running the Art gallery, hosting community teas, giving tours (Old Main is on the National Register of Historic Places.) and hosting our holiday winter market. Old Main is 8,800 square feet and the Chapel 5,000 square feet. The property is zoned 6 story commercial and building an additional outbuilding for a woodshop/gardens is possible. There is a shell of an old building which we hope to use as a green house.
We also believe a resilient communities nurture the mind, body and soul. Our mission is to bring these core beliefs to each other and to the community. Suomi Opisto will be a center for art, music, spiritual and cultural retreats.
Our mission is to preserve a culturally and architecturally important venue in our community and to educate and inspire others to live a more holistic life through sustainable food production and community living with supports individual needs. We are operating with the same mission as SeedKeepers, a 501c3 nonprofit organization which formed in 2023 with the mission: To promote environmental conservation, outdoor recreation and historical and cultural preservation. Their purpose, which is ours, is to acquire and preserve cultural, historical, and environmental resources for posterity. And to educate and inspire people to appreciate our agricultural and natural history, natural environment and wildlife. It is our intent, to have SeedKeepers take over this property at a time when it can do so.
Hancock and the Keweenaw Peninsula is a summer, fall and winter destination for tourists, seasonal residents and college students (Michigan Tech University is 5 miles away). There is much potential in this community.
We are looking for 3-4 core members of the community who are financially stable (no debts), eager to meet people and talk about our vision (and native plants) and skills to share i.e. woodworking/carpentry, sewing, painting, cooking, music.
Interested parties will be asked to fill out a membership application followed by an online interview with the founding members.
People should contact us via email if they’re interested in visiting.
One person or partnership has ultimate authority.
More than 50% agreement needed.
Members elect leaders who make decisions within defined roles.
Members contribute a percentage of income to community funds.
Regular fees: $700
Labor: Yes (12 hrs/week)
‘shared income’ comes from programs that the community puts on together. I.e. holiday home tour, concert at which all members participate in organization, halloween party, etc. Some of these events would strictly be fundraisers for maintenance of the buildings, snow removal etc. The community will be involved in budgeting our expenses.
Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Library, Workshop, Large Scale Kitchen, Stage or Auditorium, Internet
Smaller municipalities with local services but rural character.
Shared living spaces with private bedrooms/bathrooms and communal
kitchens, dining, and social areas.
Cooperative housing primarily for students, often with shared chores,
meals, and democratic decision-making.
Integrated communities designed around ecological principles with sustainable living practices.
Geographically close groups of independently-owned homes whose residents actively cultivate community relationships and shared values.
A residential project: people live here as their primary home.
An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).
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