The communal living project at Vicky’s Keys, inspired by the collective farming and homesteading model, aims to create a sustainable, inclusive, and thriving community in Sint Maarten. By promoting shared responsibility, environmental stewardship, and social engagement, we offer a unique and enriching living experience for individuals and couples seeking a meaningful way of life.
Our mission in Sint Maarten is to create a vibrant, eco-friendly community where residents and visitors can live, work, and thrive together, embracing sustainable practices and collective well-being. As an eco-focused volunteer center in Sint Maarten, Vicky’s Keys offers unique agri-tourism and voluntarism experiences. During your stay, you’ll engage directly in sustainable farming and community initiatives, enhancing environmental awareness and forging deeper connections to the island. Vicky’s Keys rooms and dorms have been renovated and are equipped with basic necessities, ensuring our communal living members and volunteering guests have a comfortable stay. Join the communal activities, and on your free days, enjoy your time as you wish. Our spaces embrace the charm of the Caribbean with their unique, slightly imperfect character, offering a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
The concept
From 2013 until 2023, Vicky’s Keys operated as an eco-focused hostel. We have since transitioned into a community dedicated to collective farming, homesteading, and serving as a volunteer center for agriculture. At Vicky’s Keys, we grow our own vegetables, herbs, bush teas, and fruits, and we also cultivate freshwater fish for consumption or sale within our neighborhood.
Our communal living pilot is set for a ten-year span (2025 – 2035). During this period, we aim to make Vicky’s Keys a self-sufficient concept by incorporating renewable energy sources and water recycling methods. Future residents at Vicky’s Keys will embrace a lifestyle that includes using solar power, recycling water for garden irrigation, creating biogas for cooking, and growing their own food on-site. This is all part of our commitment to self-sufficient living.
Our mission is to establish a self-sustaining community that prioritizes environmental stewardship, social engagement, and cultural exchange. By adopting the principles of collective farming and homesteading, we aim to create a harmonious living environment that nurtures personal growth, community development, and sustainable living practices.
The membership process for joining our community at Vicky’s Keys is simple and straightforward:
Explore & Understand Our Vision: Visit our website to familiarize yourself with our communal living concept, sustainable development goals (SDGs), and ongoing projects. See https://www.vickyskeys.com/
Submit an Application: If our community resonates with you, fill out the application form on our website, detailing your background, interests, and how you can contribute to our initiatives. See link: https://www.vickyskeys.com/communal-living/
Interview & Evaluation: Once we receive your application, we’ll conduct an interview to better understand your goals and alignment with our community values. We’ll evaluate how your skills and experience can benefit our projects.
Trial Stay: If selected, you’ll be invited for a trial stay, where you can immerse yourself in communal living, participate in projects, and experience daily life at Vicky’s Keys.
Final Decision: After the trial stay, both you and the community will evaluate the experience to determine if it’s a good fit for long-term membership
If accepted, you’ll officially join our community, contributing to shared responsibilities and helping further our mission!
If you’d like to visit our community at Vicky’s Keys, here’s what you need to do:
Explore Our Website: Visit our website at Vicky’s Keys – https://www.vickyskeys.com – to learn more about our communal living initiative, SDG projects, and volunteer opportunities.
Contact Us: Reach out through the contact form on our website or email us directly to express your interest in visiting. Share your background, the reason for your visit, and any specific projects or aspects of the community you are particularly interested in.
Book a Stay: If you’d like to experience communal living, you can book one of our available apartments for a stay. Be sure to mention if you’re interested in participating in any ongoing projects or workshops during your visit.
Prepare for a Hands-On Experience: Our community is focused on sustainability and self-sufficiency, so be prepared to engage in activities like food cultivation, eco-housing development, or sustainable living workshops.
Contribute to Our Mission: As a visitor, you’ll be encouraged to participate in communal responsibilities, from contributing to shared resources to engaging with the community’s goals in sustainability.
Once your stay is confirmed, we’ll send you additional details to help prepare for your visit. We look forward to welcoming you to Vicky’s Keys!
One person or partnership has ultimate authority.
Generally seek agreement, but have backup methods when consensus isn’t reached.
Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.
We apply a Rotating Leadership Roles system where members take turns in key decision-making roles, ensuring that everyone has a voice and opportunity to guide the community.
Members contribute a percentage of income to community funds.
Regular fees: $480
Labor: Encouraged or suggested (20 hrs/week)
Members of Vicky’s Keys contribute financially, but not in the form of traditional rent. Instead, they pay a share of communal expenses, such as utilities, maintenance, and food costs. This model fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the community’s well-being and sustainability.
Living expenses in Sint Maarten are generally high, with individuals typically paying around US$1300 per month for rent, utilities, maintenance and transportation. However, at Vicky’s Keys, these costs are shared, resulting in a much lower monthly cost of living at approximately US$480 per person (indexed as of July 1, 2024). This collective approach makes sustainable living more accessible and affordable for everyone involved.
Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Vehicle Share, Workshop, Outdoor Kitchen, Fire pit
Smaller municipalities with local services but rural character.
Shared living spaces with private bedrooms/bathrooms and communal
kitchens, dining, and social areas.
Communal living with shared resources, property, and often income or work responsibilities
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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