Cows grazing in a lush green field at Camphill Village Minnesota.

Camphill Village Minnesota

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Ecological
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 1980

What we do

Camphill is located on a 525-acre biodynamic farm ten miles north of Sauk Centre in Central Minnesota. People live together family-style homes and everyone shares in the responsibilities of life in the community.
We create and sustain a community where people with and without disabilities live, work and care for each other to foster social, spiritual, cultural and agricultural renewal.
Our community is deeply rooted in the belief that every individual, regardless of limitations, is an independent, spiritual being. Each person is part of the fabric of Community experience and is worthy of recognition, respect and honor.
The community has a strong agricultural component made up of organic farming and gardening. Craftwork includes weaving, woodworking, ceramics, and card-making, as well as a bakery that provides for the needs of the village and sells in the surrounding area.
Life in the Village revolves around the rhythms of nature, with festivals marking the changing seasons. Plays, concerts, lectures and continuing education add depth and color to the fabric of the community.
Camphill Village Minnesota is part of a worldwide movement that was begun in Scotland by Dr. Karl König just before World War II. The work of Camphill is based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, the Austrian scientist, philosopher and educator who also inspired Waldorf education.
Community members join us from all over the world every year. We welcome individuals, couples and families in whatever form they may come. Some stay for a year or two for a unique experience and some make CVM their permanent home.

Our Mission

The mission of Camphill Village Minnesota is to create and sustain a community where people with and without disabilities live, work and care for each other to foster social, spiritual, cultural and agricultural renewal.

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

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 1980
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 1980
  • Started living together
  • 40 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
44

How to join

Once an applicant has applied, we will have a virtual interview with the applicant. After that, the applicant will have a follow up virtual interview with 1 or 2 community members. Once this process is complete, the applicant and the community members will determine if it is a good fit. If so, a move in day will be scheduled. When it is possible, the applicant will be invited to come for an onsite visit.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Contact Annie Recke at ou******@********mn.org

Primary decision-making authority

  • Small Leadership Group

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

Decision-making process

  • Leadership Decides

A single person, couple, or small group makes most major decisions.

Governance structure

  • Founder/Leader-led

Primary authority rests with the community’s founder(s) or designated leader(s).

Conflict resolution approach

Community members can join the decision-making process if they have been in the community for at least one year and do not have a leaving date. This is to ensure that the decisions made for the community are made by those who will be affected by it.

Economic model

  • Partial Income-Sharing

Members contribute a percentage of income to community funds.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • There is a labor obligation

Additional economic information

Labor: Yes
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
Camphill Village Minnesota offers a unique opportunity for community members to live a rich life without having to work for wages outisde of the community. A few forms of compensation are available to all community members:
Housing: Provided by the community. Daily farm fresh meals also provided.
Spending money: Base – $200 / month stipend
Student debt payments
Benefits: Health insurance, room and board, vehicle access (gas and insurance included), and three weeks paid vacation per year
There is a needs-based fiscal conversation upon acceptance to make sure financial dependencies are being met.

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

Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Large Scale Kitchen, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Stage or Auditorium, Fire pit, Gym or sports area, Internet

Frequency of communal meals

  • 2-5 times per week

Significant food acquisition practices

  • Locally sourced

Community activities and engagement

  • Volunteer, Internship, or Apprenticeship, or WWOOF’ing
  • Organization, Resource, or Network
  • Festivals, Conferences, Events

Substance use culture

  • Substance use appears in public spaces but no pressure
  • Substance use occurs primarily at celebrations or ceremonies

Age demographics

  • Multi-generational (all ages well represented)

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a Land Trust, Home Owners Association, or corporation

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

  • Spiritual Retreat Centers

    Residential communities focused on providing space for meditation, spiritual practice, and personal growth retreats.

Sustainability approach

  • Permaculture design

Land practices in our community

  • The community practices permaculture

Energy sources used

  • Photovoltaic Solar

Self-produced food

  • 33 - 66%

Food systems

  • Community garden
  • Greenhouse / aquaponics
  • Land area size
    525 acres

Guest Book

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Location

  • Minnesota, United States

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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