Balsam Moon Preserve (BMP) is a non-profit organization offering educational programs and community gatherings based on all aspects of sustainability. The unique aspect here is sharing the abundance, bringing people together in community and sharing new ways of being together. BMP’s primary need in terms of residents is limited to persons who can co-lead/direct the organization. Two persons now serve in that capacity and we’d welcome a few more that the main residence could accommodate. It could be likened to a “job” in exchange for housing. BMP is not set up for larger intentional community at this time.
BMP is situated on 20 acres in the beautiful lake country of north central Minnesota. For many centuries, the land was walked upon by the Dakota and Anishinabe peoples and was eventually obtained in 1976 by one of BMP’s founders. Over time an energy-efficient house, woodworking shop and garage were constructed from wood and stone harvested from the property. BMP was formed in 2019 and was established as a 501c3 nonprofit organization in 2021 for educational and sustainable agricultural purposes. The residents reside in service to BMP, fulfilling the vision and mission through coordinating and implementing classes/programs, caretaking the buildings and grounds, hosting visitors, growing food and flowers, regenerating soil & habitats. We live simply, implementing traditional crafts and technologies and integrating them with more recent understandings of ecological stewardship, solar technologies and alternative building techniques.
BMP consists of a creek, freshwater pond, meadow & mixed fruit orchard, 6-acre field, pine plantation and old growth forest. Wildlife abounds on the land. Buildings consist of an energy-efficient residence with solar and wood furnaces and a composting toilet, a deep winter greenhouse, a 6.6kw solar array, earthship root cellar, garage, woodworking shop, guest cabins – cordwood style w/ composting toilet, sauna/shower-cordwood style, a wood-fired barrel oven and a timber frame pavilion (There will soon be an earthship-style chicken coop). There are trails throughout the 20 acres, a labyrinth in the woods, and numerous flower/vegetable and native plant gardens. The focus of BMP activities includes: organic gardening, raising vegetables in a deep winter greenhouse, food preservation, regenerating soil, developing bird and animal habitat, alternative building techniques, sustainable living tours, hosting retreats, workshops and seminars (e.g., foraging, earthship construction, gardening, seed saving, nature listening walks, bread baking, herbal medicinals, pizza nights & more).
Residents at BMP live and work together in a single residence. Bedroom locations permit privacy. Residents strive to build community, and plan and implement BMP’s vision and mission collaboratively, through creativity and consensus.
Our mission is to share an alternative, sustainable, spiritual place of peace, recognizing the sacredness of the land and all beings through classes and activities offered on site. Part of that process exhibits building a personal relationship with the land, simplifying living style, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, fostering personal spiritual understanding, learning basic living skills and through sharing/teaching some of what we have learned through programs, workshops and immersion experiences.
Residents at Balsam Moon Preserve (BMP) live and work closely together on a daily basis, therefore our goal is to identify a few new residents that embrace the basic mission and vision of BMP, can function well in community and provide skills needed to advance and grow BMP. We here at BMP desire to interact from a place of mutual respect and maturity in making decisions related to residency. It is a mutual process of discernment recognizing spirit in the midst of that process in arriving at a course of action that is in the best interests and highest good of all involved. Tuning within and listening to our inner voice is a practice that we embrace in decision-making both individually and in community throughout the process.
TYPES OF RESIDENCY
1. INTERNSHIP: One year residency with defined program of study
2. SHORT TERM RESIDENCY: Up to one year stay
3. LONG-TERM RESIDENCY: Indefinite stay
RESIDENCY PROCESS
1. Initial Visit and short term stay (2 weeks to 1 month)
2. Face to Face or Zoom “visit” for initial mutual discernment to apply
3. Given mutual decision to proceed, complete application for residency
4. Interview with mutual discernment
5. Consensus decision by residents
6. Complete Resident Agreement in consultation with other residents.
7. Orientation to Resident Life
8. Probationary period up to a year for long-term residents with monthly check-points based on evaluation criteria
RESIDENT EVALUATION / CRITERIA
Evaluation process includes self-evaluation and evaluation by other residents.
1. Degree to which you align with, understand and embrace the Vision and Mission of BMP
2. Attendance and active participation at Weekly Resident Meetings
3. Perform duties agreed to in Resident’s Agreement in a timely and consistent manner
4. Work into the flow of daily Resident Life and work at BMP
– Identify things that need to be done and do them
– Take initiative and responsibility for the efficient functioning of daily life
5. Provide skills and vision essential to the long-term viability of BMP
6. Degree of cooperative / team work engagement with residents & volunteers
7. Degree of leadership with BMP programs & activities
(1-4 apply to short-term residents; 1-7 apply to long term residents)
Call or email us for more info and working out details before visiting.
A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.
Generally seek agreement, but have backup methods when consensus isn’t reached.
Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.
At present, the founders act as the leadership group with decision-making and duties centered around a weekly resident meeting and regular informal consultation. New residents will be persons who share leadership/administrative/caretaking responsibility for the mission and programming of BMP.
Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.
Labor: Yes (25 hrs/week)
BMP is supported by a substantial endowment, donations from benefactors, grants, and reciprocity from classes, workshops, tours, facilities use, retreat cabin usage. At this early point in BMPs existence, these activities have yet to provide income for residents. In the future, we hope residents will be able to receive compensation beyond housing for their work related to programs and workshops (At present only instructors receive a stipend).
Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Library, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Outdoor Kitchen, Large Scale Kitchen, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Fire pit, Waterfront access, Internet
Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.
Shared living spaces with private bedrooms/bathrooms and communal
kitchens, dining, and social areas.
Integrated communities designed around ecological principles with sustainable living practices.
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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