Summertown Gardens - Where people work and play together.

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Forming
  • Ecological
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 2019

What we do

Summerton Gardens has suspended all activities due to an insufficient number of individuals with a common interest.
Our initial direction is still:
Affordable cohousing community based on sustainability principles;
Multi-generational. Opportunity for earned equity?
Small, but beautiful homes that are built with upcycled materials, are cost effective, energy efficient, etc.;
Common buildings and areas;
Business endeavors based on ecological change that support the community and produce outside income;
Permaculture food systems, including aquaculture;
Cooperative purchasing and shared use of tools and equipment.
Summertown is a small town in a relatively rural area, but close to cities that provide essential needs not provided by the community.
It is close to “the Farm” and several other established Intentional Communities, as well as Amish/Mennonite communities with the usual farm products, saw mills, and trades.
The area seems to be attracting more and more people interested in this life style.
See more below.

Our Mission

Summertown Gardens – Planting Seeds to Change the World.
Summertown Gardens Mission:
Summertown Gardens is committed to providing radically affordable, quality housing, while adhering to ecological and social values designed to make the world a better place.
Our goal is to grow crops using aquaponics, aquaculture permaculture practices.
Work to build our own community and then help others to do the same.
Community Values:
Respect for the needs of its people, and the people themselves, their ideas, and their differences. A community that insists upon interacting politely and with kindness, endeavoring to provide an example for our next generations. (and visitors).
Respect the land, the forest, and its life. Share and teache awareness of ecology, conservation, wholesome living, and nurture the human spirit.
A workable system for community guidance, decision making, and hearing of grievances. Part consensus, part council, part representative.
Sound social and financial practices
About Summertown Gardens:
A co-housing model of simple, affordable, well designed structures that each works with its surroundings and principles of re-use, harmony, and creative design.
A community, living cooperatively, being socially inclusive and supportive, openly sharing, creating a wholesome environment for all.
A community that values time spent together, preferring work and business created within Summertown Gardens that embraces its ideals, with infrastructure and support to encourage working from home.
To share our experiences and help others to make the world a better place.
More on how the community businesses and infrastructure will work should be here soon.

  • Purpose
  • Ecological
  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Coliving
  • Ecovillage
  • Sustainability practices
  • Waste reduction / composting
  • Permaculture design
  • Natural / low-impact building
  • Activities
  • Property management
  • Experiences
  • Services Business

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 2019
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 2024
  • Started living together
  • 1 Total member
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
1

How to join

Not yet decided as we are still in the planning stage.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

They should contact Rich Campbell at 615-337-0635
Summertown Gardens has no facilities at this time as it is still in the planning stage.

Decision-making process

  • Modified Consensus

Generally seek agreement, but have backup methods when consensus isn’t reached.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Economic model

  • Independent Finances

Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • There is a one-time fee, investment, or share purchase to join the community separate from accessing housing
  • Members need to pay fees, dues, or similar to live there on a per month or per year basis
  • There is a labor obligation
  • 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

Join fee: Yes
Regular fees: Yes
Labor: Encouraged or suggested

Community activities and engagement

  • Volunteer, Internship, or Apprenticeship, or WWOOF’ing
  • Neighborhood, Community Housing, or Homeowner's Association
  • Ethical Business, Investment Group, or Alternative Currency

Age demographics

  • Mixed adults (few or no children)

Property status

  • Privately owned

Setting

  • Rural

Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.

Community type

  • Partially built or remodeled with recycled or environmentally friendly materials, and/or using natural building methods

Sustainability approach

  • Waste reduction / composting
  • Permaculture design
  • Natural / low-impact building

Land practices in our community

  • The community practices permaculture

Community type

  • Partially built or remodeled with recycled or environmentally friendly materials, and/or using natural building methods

Some or all of the buildings are...

  • Partially built or remodeled with recycled or environmentally friendly materials, and/or using natural building methods

Food systems

  • Greenhouse / aquaponics
  • Livestock / poultry

Waste management practices

  • Recycling program

Guest Book

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

Location

  • Tennessee, United States

Summertown Gardens - Where people work and play together.

Needs and Offers

Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
2 months ago

37-Acre Sanctuary for Community, Homesteading and Off-Grid Living

Imagine waking to birdsong, mist rising over open meadows, and sunlight filtering through towering cedars. Picture a place where you can gather with community around a fire, cultivate food from rich living soil, steward a thriving ecosystem, and build a life rooted in connection, resilience, and purpose. Welcome to Heartwood Homestead — a remarkable 37-acre land project in Washington’s South Sound region that offers a rare combination of established off-grid infrastructure, development potential, ecological abundance, and accessibility. Whether you’re dreaming of creating an intentional community, regenerative farm, eco-village, healing retreat center, artist sanctuary, educational land project, family compound, or simply a private homestead with room to grow, Heartwood Homestead provides an extraordinary foundation to bring that vision to life. A Property Designed for Possibility Finding land is easy. Finding land that already has the infrastructure, water systems, power generation, multiple dwellings, community spaces, and zoning flexibility needed for a larger vision is exceptionally rare. Heartwood Homestead has spent years evolving into a functioning land project. Much of the difficult and expensive groundwork has already been completed, allowing new stewards to focus on creating rather than merely building. The property is zoned RR1/5, allowing for up to seven homes plus ADUs, creating significant potential for cooperative ownership structures, multi-family living, intentional community development, rental income, retreat accommodations, or phased expansion. For those seeking a community-oriented property, this is one of the most compelling opportunities available in the Pacific Northwest. Water Security and Off-Grid Resilience One of the greatest challenges facing many rural properties is water access. Heartwood Homestead shines in this regard. A brand-new 21 ga
Need
  • Forming Communities
6 months ago

Pacific Northwest Cohousing Village Seeking Members

FIND YOUR HOME IN COMMUNITY AT ROOTED NORTHWEST A new kind of village is forming in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Rooted Northwest is building a future cohousing neighborhood of values-aligned households living with purpose. Together, they’re connecting to the land, to each other, and to a shared mission of supporting a more resilient future. Whether you’re raising a family, working remotely, entering retirement, or dreaming of a more intentional life, Rooted Northwest offers a chance to live differently. Here, you don’t just buy a home, you become part of a village built on connection, sustainability, and stewardship. One where neighbors collaborate, kids roam free, and everyday life is shaped by shared values like mutual support, environmental care, and community-driven living. 🏠 Homeownership at Rooted Northwest includes: • Beautiful, energy-efficient, privately-owned homes nestled on shared land • A walkable village designed for connection • Shared amenities and thriving farms in your backyard • Opportunities to co-create community life 🍃 Rooted in Community. Grounded in Regeneration. Rooted Northwest isn’t just a place to live, it’s a commitment to restoring connection between people, land, and food. By living here, you directly support a growing network of regenerative farmers stewarding land for future generations. 🔑 Now Selling: Reserve Your Home Rooted Northwest is now reserving a limited number of homes, with construction beginning soon. Prices start in the high $800,000s. We welcome households ready to help form this community. 😊 Join an information session to learn how to reserve your future home. JOIN AN INFO SESSION https://rootednw.org
  • Promoted
Offer
Offer
  • Housing For Rent + Shared
12 hours ago

Turn-key commune opportunity on 30 acres in beautiful rural Minnesota (~$500-550k)

Hi everyone! Our founding group of queer women is transitioning ownership of our rural Minnesota homestead, and we’re looking for new stewards to keep it running as an intentional community! Let me give you a tiny window into what to expect: Picture yourself stepping out of the overwhelming corporate chaos of the city, into an idyllic little slice of a slower life – there’s a certain look of relief we tend to see on our visitors’ faces. When you enter, the path is surrounded by vibrant flowers in every color that come back every year. To your left is a stone path to the organic gardens, growing easily without much effort. Straight ahead are the barns and pathways to the fields – you might pass by the occasional honeybee or butterfly. To the right is a large farmhouse, behind which there is a mossy forested area where you’ll find a conversation circle fashioned out of old logs and stones, and a small sitting platform up in the trees.    The Highlights: 30 Acres: Forest, pond, creek, permaculture gardens (Hügelkultur), native plants, perennial flowers and future fruit trees, and ~1 acre dry-farmed. 9-Bedroom Farmhouse: ~4,000 sq ft across 3 levels. Solid heating, great bones, in good shape, quiet layout. Outbuildings: Garage, woodshop barn, event barn, quonset storage, a silo, plus honeybees & resident farm cat! Location: Quiet and peaceful. Remote with off-the-grid features like a well and pending solar installation, yet under 10 mins to hospital/town. Zero flood/fire risk, and a wonderfully welcoming, queer-friendly local network.   Ideal for an established group of 2+ people ready to take on a relatively large farmhouse and property. We are open to an outright purchase or a gradual transition/shared-ownership arrangements with existing members. -> Full details, photos, and contact info here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ONZk-TUYQg3Xzh5Q7yl14PPeuwl5NYXu9ZDTgFGT4sY/edit?usp=sharing   Feel free to message me or share with anyone looking for land!  

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