Heartland is a land cooperative of 10 leaseholds on 800 acres in northern California. We have been here for over 40 years. Our purpose is to create and maintain a place for us to live in harmony with each other and the land, most of which is to be left wild.
We are located in Mendocino County, CA, three miles west of Hwy 101, two hours north of San Francisco, and about 25 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. Our elevation ranges mostly between 1000 to 1700 feet and we are in zone 8B – 9B. There are panoramic views of the Ukiah Valley to the east, and more hills to the west. The vegetation includes native and introduced grasses, oak and madrone trees, and some patches of fir forest and chaparral. Many animal species share this land. There are a number of seasonal creeks and we have developed several ponds and perennial springs.
We are off-grid and committed to minimizing our fossil fuel consumption, using renewable energy – mostly sun, but also wind and micro-hydro. Some of us are engaged in permaculture design.
Legally, we are Heartland, Inc., a California S-corporation with ten shares- one share per leasehold. Each of the ten shares/leaseholds is represented on the Board of Directors (BOD), which meets at least twice per year. Other community meetings and activities occur more frequently. Most of the work necessary to develop and maintain both the land and the corporation is done by us. We have paid off the land in full, developed the roads, water systems, and built the homes on the land. We prefer to make decisions by consensus, resorting to democratic voting when the former is unachievable.
Each leasehold is comprised of 10 acres for development by the shareholder/lessee and their household within the guidelines we have collectively established. Some of us have lived here for over 30 years and some do not yet live on the land. These leaseholds are scattered across the 800 acres, leaving 700 acres of land which is to be left wild, though used for hiking and horseback riding.
We currently have no shares/leaseholds for sale. Sorry, but we have no work-trade or overnight accommodations.
We are a homestead wildlands preserve.
Prospective shareholders must meet the community, participate in work parties and meetings, have a financial review, submit a lease plan, and be approved by the community, after at least three meetings. This process typically takes at least nine months. Financing is negotiated with the seller.
Please contact Rain Tenaqiya through email to fill out a questionnaire and arrange a visit: ra**********@***oo.com.
A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.
More than 50% agreement needed.
Members elect leaders who make decisions within defined roles.
Heartland has community meetings and committees to discuss and organize collective work projects. Decisions are made by a board of directors comprised of a representative from each leasehold elected annually who in turn elect officers and committee chairs who organize and carry out the business of the corporation and extended community. When consensus is too difficult, we vote, requiring a supermajority for certain issues.
Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.
Join fee: Yes
Regular fees: $120
Labor: Yes
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
Labor consists of road work, fire protection, and other agreed upon projects. Work is shared among leaseholds and we are flexible at finding ways for all to participate. Shareholders must purchase a share. Often a selling member will carry the loan. Quarterly assessments pay for taxes, road work, insurance, legal fees, etc. There is also a yearly road maintenance assessment based on use of the road based on $140/yr for one trip a day.
Swimming pond or pool, Tractor & Farm Equipment
Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.
Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace
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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