Serene early morning landscape at Rainforest Commons with trees and mist.

Rainforest Commons

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Forming
  • Ecological
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 2011

What we do

Hello, welcome to our page!!
In 2021 a huge flood eroded the river bank that the community is on where we lost land 60 feet of land and two structures (no one was hurt). We decided that it would be dangerous to have a full time community live on the land. We however continue to visit and tend to the land throughout the year and the land is part of our strategy of resiliency in an ever changing and tumultuous world.
We prioritize sustainable living through community interdependence, and hope to provide space for everyone’s gifts to blossom. A primary focus of ours is living out a consciousness that is courageously focused on being present and attentive to the world- the ways in which it’s beautiful, and the ways in which it is scary, sad, and unjust. We see this presence as necessary to inform our vision and actions toward transformation in the world and any hope for a sustainable future. We are focused on embodying a community-oriented climate justice model both on the land and off-site involving food forestry, off grid living, and rural organizing. We are minimizing our fossil fuel use, trying to grow and forage our food, and live in hand made tiny homes on 5 acres on the Bogachiel River, in the Bogachiel rainforest.
Our community members have a range of focus and passions such as music, meditation, herbalism, permaculture, foraging, gardening, Nonviolent Communication facilitation, community organizing, gift economy, support for people who are incarcerated, decarceration, and transformative justice. We strive to honor the uniqueness of each individual, while acknowledging and responding in compassionate ways to the effects social structures have on our identities and lives. We see ourselves as a sanctuary for all, especially those who experience marginalization and oppression. When you come out here you can expect to be treated with respect and compassion. This space is cultivated for self-expression, creativity, and play! We deeply value action that comes from a place of purpose and joy, rather than obligation.
A few questions we ask people to answer to apply as a guest for this community so there might be some clarity for us about what you are fired up about in life:
-What draws you to be a part of this community space?-How do you embody your values in the world?-What is your focus in life? What do you hope to bring into your life by joining our community?-What are your plans for leaving? Where do you intend to go once your visit is complete? If you are planning to visit, please have a way to arrive and depart from Forks, WA.
These are values that we share: anti-racism, anti-fascism, anti-ableism, anti-sexism, lgbtq+ inclusive, anti-authoritarian, co-operative, sharing, conflict resolution, decolonization, anti-imperialism, trauma healing, anti-capitalism, anti-state, gift economy, and the abolition of prisons/police/colonial courts/borders/slavery/and all currencies. Based on our experience in our community, if you are not willing to work through conflict, it won’t be a good fit for you living out here. Conflict is part of life and living in community and we strive to move through conflict more skillfully each time it comes up.
An important disclosure is that, though we are in the process of building up our off-grid infrastructure, we have wood heat, water catchment, an outdoor shower, and very limited electricity. Another thing to consider is that we live 20 minutes from Forks, WA and 1.5 hours from Port Angeles. It’s a very common experience to feel lonely out here because of how far we are from other friends and family. One of the remedies for this loneliness is to be in community together: sharing stories, playing music, cooking, gardening, swimming in the river, sharing feelings, sharing dreams (the ones from sleep and the ones for the future), creating art, and sharing skills.
Other points if affinity include-
Herbalism, music making, crafting, food preservation, Nonviolent Communication, abolitionist organizing, rural organizing, the Land Back movement.
Thank you for stopping by and reading what we have to say! We look forward to meeting you!! :)

Our Mission

We are located on the West End of the Olympic Peninsula that is co-creating an egalitarian, peacemaking, and sustainable way of life. We seek to explore and practice this way of life through restorative/transformative justice, prison abolition, permaculture, trauma work, gift-economy, and the common holding of expenses, land and resources. Besides engaging in community, we want to act for global systemic change. We seek to accomplish this by stewarding a larger culture of anti- authoritarian egalitarianism around us to empower this possibility. We acknowledge we can’t be free till all beings are free.

  • Purpose
  • Ecological
  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Coliving
  • Ecovillage
  • Sustainability practices
  • Permaculture design
  • Activities
  • Farming
  • Experiences
  • Networking
  • Others

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 2011
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 2011
  • Started living together

Gallery

  • 3 Total members
  • Not open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
4

How to join

Our process is pretty informal right now. Get to know us and we’ll build community together.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Please read the bottom section of “Community Description” listed above. Send us an email and we’ll set up a phone call.

Primary decision-making authority

  • Small Leadership Group

A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.

Decision-making process

  • Full Consensus

Everyone must agree before moving forward.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Economic model

  • Partial Income-Sharing

Members contribute a percentage of income to community funds.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • Members need to pay fees, dues, or similar to live there on a per month or per year basis
  • There is a labor obligation

Additional economic information

Regular fees: Yes
Labor: Encouraged or suggested (0 hrs/week)
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
Our main economic strategy is practicing gift economy, sharing, and worker coops. We share expenses based on ability. We do not share all of our income.

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

Common House, Garden(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Waterfront access

Frequency of communal meals

  • 2-5 times per week

Significant food acquisition practices

  • Locally sourced
  • Wildcrafting / Foraging

Dietary type

  • Kosher Only

Dietary restriction

  • People can cook and eat what they want in their own residence

Community activities and engagement

  • Transition Town (post-petroleum and off-grid communities.)
  • Volunteer, Internship, or Apprenticeship, or WWOOF’ing
  • Organization, Resource, or Network
  • WWOOF'ing, Guest Farming
  • Festivals, Conferences, Events

Substance use culture

  • Substance use occurs primarily at celebrations or ceremonies
  • Religions
  • Buddhist
  • Jewish

Gender composition

  • Majority non-binary/gender diverse (over 30%)

Age demographics

  • Multi-generational (all ages well represented)

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By several individuals through an LLC or a Tenancy In Common agreement

Setting

  • Rural

Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.

Community type

  • Cohousing

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

  • Coliving

    Shared living spaces with private bedrooms/bathrooms and communal
    kitchens, dining, and social areas.

  • Ecovillage

    Integrated communities designed around ecological principles with sustainable living practices.

  • Commune

    Communal living with shared resources, property, and often income or work responsibilities

  • Intentional Neighborhoods

    Geographically close groups of independently-owned homes whose residents actively cultivate community relationships and shared values.

Sustainability approach

  • Permaculture design

Land practices in our community

  • The community practices permaculture

Self-produced energy

  • Over 66%

Energy sources used

  • Photovoltaic Solar

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%

Local, organic, or fair trade food

  • 33 - 66%

Food systems

  • Community garden
  • Food forest
  • Land area size
    5 acres

Guest Book

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

Location

  • Washington, United States

Rainforest Commons

Needs and Offers

Connecting communities through an intentional online marketplace

  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Communities with Openings
7 months ago

Worktrade Opportunities on Big Island Hawaii

We are continuing our work-trade program at Bridge Hawaii for the right people on this beautiful 86-acre land located along the Hāmākua Coast. Ideally, we want to host those individuals who can help with the garden and who can support with build projects for up to a 3 month stay. This work-trade would include lodging, food staples, community kitchen, running hot water showers, off-grid electricity, and laundry. There is access to high speed wi-fi. We often have a car that can be reserved. We also have full bar signal strength with Verizon cellphone service. We have about 2 acres of permaculture garden that needs to be cared for including; weeding, planting, picking up mulch, some tree trimming, ect. We are currently in a building stage on the land. We have a few current grant projects we are working on and some build projects that are underway. We are an intentional community with about 8 permanent residents. There are rescue dairy cows, mini cows, mini donkeys, horses, a donkey, cats, dogs, and active bee hives. We are a drug and alcohol “free” space. A glass of wine or beer with dinner is fine, but absolutely no day drinking or parties. We have a meditation temple and many waterfall pools that are wonderful for swimming. Close to some of the nicest beaches on island. We have snorkeling gear and a kayak. Since this is an animal sanctuary, we limit the consumption of meat on the land. Fish, eggs, honey, and dairy are fine. Let me know if you’re interested by sending an email or text for our application. Maomi (801) 623-0738 ma***@*****************ii.com
Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
3 weeks ago

3000sf House+Apartment, Rosewind Cohousing, Port Townsend WA

We are a retired couple who are downsizing, still living within the community. We are selling our large, flexible, comfortably rustic house, perfect for a multigenerational household, a family with kids or for 2 separate households. It’s 3000 square feet on 3 levels. The house is on a slope, with 2 main entrances. At one time it housed a large blended family. The current setup is a 2250 square foot, 2 bath main house with a 700 square foot rental apartment, also called an auxiliary dwelling unit (ADU). There is a staircase between the main and lower floor, with a lockable door. If desired, the ADU kitchen can be removed. The main floor has a very large kitchen/dining area, large living room, two small bedrooms, a bathroom with 2 sinks and a shower, a laundry room and a large mudroom. The non-bearing wall between the 2 bedrooms can be removed to turn it back to a single primary bedroom. The top floor has two bedrooms, one of which is primary with a large bright sitting area, and a large open middle area between them (game room, TV room, kids sleeping area, etc.). There is a bathroom with a claw-foot tub, no shower. The lower floor is the ADU, a finished storage area and a stand-up “crawl space“ which is used as a second pantry and storage. Attached to the house there is also a 150 sq ft wood paneled office/hobby space with its own electric and propane lines. Features: – straw bale construction, which is energy-efficient, great sound insulation, and provides a warm, soft, feeling. -very large functional kitchen with a long granite countertop. The dining area fits 10 people. -natural construction, with solid maple floors in the middle and upper level, marmoleum floor in kitchen and oak floor in the lower level. The two small bedrooms have painted wood floors. The doors are all solid wood. -large, functional, low maintenance patio area. Room for a table for eight and an additional sitting area. Propane hook ups for grills and smokers. -min

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