Greenbriar

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Ecological
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 1968

What we do

The school was a part of the free school movement begun in the sixties. Fueled in part by the belief that we are all life long learners, we learn best in a safe, supportive atmosphere, and that learning takes place everywhere not just in a classroom. We have developed a dynamic, flexible, student-centered curriculum and facility that is constantly changing to meet the needs of our students based on their current interests. Participation in community life is an integral part of the learning process. We also host a variety of workshops and educational programs while promoting and collaborating with other educators. Current weekly programs offered is our Game of Village Program, Homeschool Enrichment Program and Project Wonderland Program which is are all combinations of academic and experiential education. We have a facility and a regularly scheduled programs currently held Monday through Thursdays. If you would like to participate or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us. Our other educational workshops include but are not limited to topics such as: communal living, wild edible plants, organic gardening, permaculture, natural building, land management, native and invasive species of Bastrop, and livestock management and processing.
In many ways, life at Greenbriar is about simplicity and with the awareness that every action of ours today will influence the next generations. To that end, we strive to live more consciously, in our interactions with one another and with the world/environment around us.
Greenbriar School does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.

Our Mission

Greenbriar is a 501(c)(3) educational facility supported in part by a surrounding intentional community on 170 wooded acres near Austin, Texas. Our focus is our educational institution for students ages five years or older focusing on sustainability, eco-wellness, cooperative education and alternative learning.

  • Purpose
  • Ecological
  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Ecovillage
  • Sustainability practices
  • Permaculture design
  • Natural / low-impact building
  • Activities
  • Education
  • Experiences

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 1968
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 1969
  • Started living together
  • 22 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
33

Basic expectations or agreements for members

    1. Please contact us by phone or email.

Primary decision-making authority

  • All Community Members Together

The whole membership decides collectively.

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

  • 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

Regular fees: Yes
Labor: Yes
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed

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

Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Library, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Stage or Auditorium, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas

Frequency of communal meals

  • About once a week

Significant food acquisition practices

  • Livestock / Animal Husbandry

Community activities and engagement

  • School, Educational Institute or Experience
  • Volunteer, Internship, or Apprenticeship, or WWOOF’ing

Substance use culture

  • Substance use appears in public spaces but no pressure

Gender composition

  • Roughly balanced (no group over 60%)

Age demographics

  • Family-focused (many children and parents)

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a Community Land Trust or some other kind of nonprofit

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.

  • Ecovillage

    Integrated communities designed around ecological principles with sustainable living practices.

Community type

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

Sustainability approach

  • 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

Self-produced energy

  • 33 - 66%

Energy sources used

  • Wind
  • Photovoltaic Solar
  • Biomass (from wood or other organic materials)

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%

Food systems

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

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Location

  • Texas, United States

Needs and Offers

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

Information

Communities

A residential project: people live here as their primary home.

Organizations

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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