Ecovillage at SEED Community Members' Organization, near Cahuita National Park

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Ecological
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 2009

What we do

Founded in 2015, the Ecovillage at SEED Community Members’ Organization promotes the ecovillage and sustainable ways of living in Costa Rica. “A seed is a unit of consciousness that has body, charge and intelligence and tends to develop from potential into the actual under proper conditions. Seeds are created, transmitted and earthed in order to achieve change –change in one’s world, life or identity”. Jan Fries
Our ecovillage is comprised of members who own ½ hectare (~1.25 acre) private lots within the 150-hectare (~370 acre) sustainability focused SEED Corporation property. SEED is an acronym for Society for Ecological Education and Development. The five SEED Corporation partners all have ecological education and development backgrounds, and each owns or co-owns a residential property in the ecovillage.
The Ecovillage at SEED, founded in 2010, is one of the corporation’s primary projects. Another is the ongoing operation of the self-sustaining SEED integrated farm, which is adjacent to the ecovillage. These two projects together effectively create an agricommunity. The growing ecovillage community is independent from the corporation.
Individuals, couples and families that are interested in living a potentially carbon-neutral, sustainable lifestyle are eligible for membership in the community. Ecovillage at SEED community members have the opportunity of benefitting from the experience and knowledge of fellow ecovillage members. All SEED ecovillage residential property owners are invited to join the community as fellow members and share their skills with the group.
The Ecovillage at SEED is located in the foothills of the Talamanca Mountain Range, in Cahuita District, Talamanca Canton, Limón Province, Costa Rica. The topography of SEED is a mix of valleys, hills and rivers, at 70 to 120 meters above sea level. The Carbon II River, Cañajira River, Hone Creek and Cane Creek form the boarders of the SEED Corporation property. It’s a bit remote, but being removed from the tourist oriented beach area was one of the founding SEED partners’ objectives.
Currently the seventeen families that own or co-own lots make up the Ecovillage at SEED community membership. Most members are from North American, with the majority of those being Canadian. There are also members who are citizens of Columbia, Costa Rica and Germany.
Bamboo homes have been constructed on three private lots, with one of them being used as an educational center, and the fourth and fifth private residences are underway, using timber frame construction. Additionally, a number of community members have building plans in various stages of development, with some ready to break ground. There are also about a dozen SEED Corporation farm buildings, with most made from bamboo.
At this time Ecovillage at SEED residents are mostly weekend and seasonal. One SEED Corporation partner and his wife live year-round in their large bamboo ecovillage home. In addition, usually farm employees, sometimes with families, are also living on the farm in SEED Corporation buildings. The other SEED Corporations partners live between one and three hours away.
As of this date, four of the 20 lots plotted and offered by the SEED Corporation are still available. Several of the first lots purchased are available for resale. The original purchase of these first lots sold provided the corporation with then much needed cash for development start-up. See the below community listings for details about property available for resale.
Puerto Viejo is the largest village in the canton. The website https://www.puertoviejosatellite.com/index.php has a lot of general information about the region, ranging from how best to get there to what schools are in the area. Please contact SE************@***il.com with any questions, and I or another community member will respond.
Tom Macaulay, for Ecovillage at SEED Community Members’ Organization
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Here are some southern Costa Rica Caribbean coastal area links that may be of interest.
https://www.facebook.com/costaricaguides/videos/10155312459139223/UzpfSTE1Nzk1MzY4MjI6MTAyMTQ4MTA0OTIwMDc0MjE/
https://www.facebook.com/JaguarRescueCenter/videos/1895489470482242/UzpfSTE1Nzk1MzY4MjI6MTAyMTQ2MjU5NDM5MTM4MzQ/
https://www.facebook.com/PuertoViejo/photos/a.10152308047594979.1073741827.6270369978/10152828673329979/?type=3&theater
https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/producing-biodiversity-on-costa-rican-banana-farm
http://costa-rica-guide.com/nature/national-parks/cahuita/
https://geckotrail.com/travelguide/puerto-viejo-southern-caribbean/
http://thecostaricanes.com/9-animals-might-see-cahuita-national-park/
http://www.ticotimes.net/travel/2016/11/photos-limon/
http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/11/02/fall-migration-at-kekoldi-costa-ricas-million-raptor-watch-site
http://www.ticotimes.net/2016/10/31/puerto-viejo-chocolate-festival
https://munchies.vice.com/en_us/article/jp3bj3/meet-the-couple-growing-tropical-supergreens-in-the-costa-rican-jungle
http://www.ticotimes.net/travel/2016/10/gandoca-manzanillo/
https://www.facebook.com/puertoviejoopenpro/videos/1864303960295720/UzpfSTE1Nzk1MzY4MjI6MTAyMTQ5OTI4MzU1MjU4OTU/
https://ticotimes.net/2018/08/10/in-search-of-sustainability-in-limon
http://travelconsciously.com/indigenous-tourism-costa-rica-bribri-yorkin/
https://ticotimes.net/2019/01/17/puerto-viejo-deep-dive-cancun-crossroads-preserving-culture-forged-byhardshipfbclid=IwAR0XmUbLZJ_z2e1evIb5xtpjJGEi9H9fKW-ir3ixJ15IWMWjcuNwAnKsSd
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/27/heres-where-you-can-retire-abroad-with-a-low-cost-of-living.htmlfbclid=IwAR2iissRH2Z9PqfFW2v2BiagPuaFqStahJRuIwOnSuMyeqX4YHN1KTvEIbw
https://educateinspirechange.org/nature/costa-rica-plans-to-be-the-first-plastic-free-and-carbon-free-country-in-the-world-by-2021/
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Property currently available for resale.
Lot 2 Description: .5+ wooded hectare (~1.25 acres), located on a bluff high above one of the rivers that boarder SEED, with two primary building sites. 
Price: US$45,000 
Contact: Dennis Gaumond – dg***@****en.net
Lot 17 with residence Description: Casita Costa Rica is a beautifully handcrafted custom jungle home. This partially equipped home is completely off-the-grid. With 5391 square meters it has enough land to be fully sustainable. It comes with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, and has with an outdoor shower as well as a bodega for your tools and garden equipment. 
Price: US$114,900 with all papers in hand. Contact: WhatsApp: 503-889-6604 or 506-8866-6078; Text: 503-889-6604; Email: ho***********@***oo.com ; Website: https://m.facebook.com/SouthernCaribbeanHome

Our Mission

We’re an ecovillage within an international partnership that’s developing sustainability prototypes in ecological education and development.

  • Purpose
  • Ecological
  • Community type
  • Ecovillage
  • Activities
  • Property management
  • Networking
  • Others

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 2009
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 2016
  • Started living together
  • 23 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
37

How to join

Membership comes with the completion of the purchase of a lot.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Make contact to schedule a tour.

Primary decision-making authority

  • Small Leadership Group

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

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: $0
Regular fees: $0
Labor: Encouraged or suggested
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
Lots currently are priced at 30K, 40k and 50K.
There’s an annual community fee, primarily used for access road repair, which can vary yearly.

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

Garden(s), Swimming pond or pool, Stage or Auditorium, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Waterfront access, Gym or sports area

Frequency of communal meals

  • 1-3 times per month

Significant food acquisition practices

  • Locally sourced

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.)
  • Neighborhood, Community Housing, or Homeowner's Association
  • Organization, Resource, or Network

Substance use culture

  • Substance use occurs primarily at celebrations or ceremonies
  • Religions
  • Baha'i Faith
  • Christian
  • Buddhist
  • Jewish
  • Muslim
  • Hindu
  • Quaker
  • Sufi
  • Hare Krishna
  • Native
  • Wiccan, Paganism, or Earth Religions
  • Unitarian Universalist

Gender composition

  • Roughly balanced (no group over 60%)

Age demographics

  • Family-focused (many children and parents)

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a single individual, couple, or Family Trust

Setting

  • Rural

Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.

Community type

  • Ecovillage

    Integrated communities designed around ecological principles with sustainable living practices.

Self-produced energy

  • Over 66%

Energy sources used

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

Self-produced food

  • 33 - 66%

Local, organic, or fair trade food

  • Over 66%

Food systems

  • Community garden
  • Land area size
    134 hectares

Guest Book

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Location

  • Limón Province, Costa Rica

Ecovillage at SEED Community Members' Organization, near Cahuita National Park

Needs and Offers

Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
3 weeks ago

2 Units Available in Forest Grove, OR - Where Town Meets Country!

Two Homes Available at Green Grove Cohousing – Forest Grove, OR Discover Green Grove Cohousing, a fun-loving, vibrant, family-friendly community that embraces environmental sustainability, social justice, community service, and the arts in the heart of Forest Grove, home to historic Pacific University. Enjoy the perfect balance of country living just minutes from town. With just nine privately owned homes on five natural acres, Green Grove offers a rare opportunity to live independently while enjoying an intentional, connected community. Shared amenities include a spacious common house with guest accommodations, gathering and entertaining space, play and art areas, a large woodworking shop, ample storage, organic vegetable and flower gardens, fruit trees, a chicken coop, a 30,000-gallon rainwater catchment system for irrigation, 14.7 kW of solar power supporting the common infrastructure, carports with living roofs and EV charging capability, and beautifully maintained grounds with buried utilities and walking paths. Homes are thoughtfully arranged around a shared village green, creating opportunities to connect with neighbors while preserving the privacy of your own home. 3926 Coho Cir | $595,000 3 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,475 SF A bright, detached two-story home featuring a main-level bedroom and full bath, bamboo floors, quartz countertops, high ceilings, abundant natural light, and beautiful Mt. Hood views. Thoughtfully designed for flexible living with modern finishes and energy-efficient comfort. MLS#: 704265931 3934 Coho Cir | $615,000 2 Bed | 1 Bath | 1,400 SF A beautifully designed single-level detached home with vaulted ceilings, stunning Mt. Hood views, radiant heated
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
Offer
  • Forming Communities
1 month ago

Join us in Our Adventure of Co-Creating a Life of Peace, Love, and Abundance Together!

LOOKING FOR OUR NEW FAMILY OF CO CREATORS TO JOIN OUR ADVENTURE! Message us to schedule a visit! More about us and our vision below! Read on and we look forward to hearing from you soon if you feel in alignment with our vision! A forming and co-created spiritually-oriented intentional community and homestead nestled in the beautiful woods of Northern Michigan. We are focused on self-awareness, free and open spiritual/consciousness development, sustainable living, self sufficiency, growing organic food, building small energy efficient homes/dwellings, peace, and freedom in all things. We are looking to build a community of like minded souls that share in our vision of creating a harmonious and sustainable way of life that is close to nature and focused on living from the heart/soul. Seeking kind, compassionate, caring, and emotionally mature souls who are good at non violent communication, resolving conflict peacefully, and working together. The community property is well on its way to sustainability already with a fruit orchard with over 18 apple trees and a variety of plum and pear trees. The property also has 2 very large organic gardens covering around 3 acres in total combined size filled with organic healthy vegetables for community self sufficiency, farm market selling, and food preserving (canning). We have plans to build a couple energy efficient green houses in the near future! We are also getting 30-40 chickens for egg production within the next month. Also considering a couple cows or goats for milk. We currently have 3 houses on the homestead property that are available to new community members for rent or work trade or a combination of both! The main community house has potentially 6 bedrooms available as well. We have plans to build multiple small/tiny homes and cabins in the beautiful woods here for members that are energy efficient and off grid with renewable clean energy/electricity and rainwater harvesting. We are working on a community in

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

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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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