Shift Esperanza

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Forming
  • Ecological
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 2020

What we do

Shift Esperanza is an intentional cohousing-inspired Eco-Village/ Permaculture Farm on 100 acres, including private homes, shared common amenities, and a dedicated farm for growing food year-round. Our land is in the dry jungle of Nosara, Costa Rica, about 10 minutes to the town and beach. We envision a world in harmony with nature, where people support and care for each other in the spirit of community, and grow together through interpersonal connections and shared experience. Our Eco-Village is based on six core values: Interconnection, Environmental Stewardship, Self-Inquiry, Accountability, Generosity, and Play. The permaculture farm is in its third year of actively growing food, the infrastructure have been approved by the local municipal authorities, and architectural designs for the homes and common areas are nearing completion. Interested community members are encouraged to attend La Siembra, a week-long introduction to Shift from February 10-17, 2024. Contact Ze*@**********ss.com for more info or +1 720-232-3826.

Our Mission

Shift Esperanza is based on six core values: Interconnection, Environmental Stewardship, Self-Inquiry, Accountability, Generosity, and Play.

  • Purpose
  • Ecological
  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Ecovillage
  • Sustainability practices
  • Permaculture design

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 2020
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 2024
  • Started living together
  • 43 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
43

How to join

First visit the community website at https://shiftesperanza and click on the “Get inTouch” button at the top of the page. Then complete the short form to help us know of your interest and you can also select the “Schedule a Call” button and one of our membership team members will get back to you. If you continue to be interested we wll schedule a Zoom call with our Community Committee to help determine if we are a good fit for one another. If so then you will be provided with our short participation agreement to review and sign before placing any money towards the purchase of a lot or down payment on a home.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

As we are located in Nosara, Costa Rica if you are planning to come from outside the country, please reach out to our contact person to make flight and ground transportation arrangements. If you are already visiting or living in Costa Rica please contact Zev Paiss at +1-720-232-3826 to make arrangements for a land tour.

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).

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: $15000
Regular fees: Yes
Labor: Encouraged or suggested
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed

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

Common House, Garden(s)

Gender composition

  • Roughly balanced (no group over 60%)

Age demographics

  • Mixed adults (few or no children)

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.

  • Ecovillage

    Integrated communities designed around ecological principles with sustainable living practices.

Sustainability approach

  • Permaculture design

Land practices in our community

  • The community practices permaculture

Self-produced energy

  • Up to 33%

Energy sources used

  • Wind
  • Photovoltaic Solar
  • Hydro

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%

Local, organic, or fair trade food

  • Up to 33%

Food systems

  • Community garden
  • Land area size
    100 acres

Guest Book

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

Location

  • Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Shift Esperanza

Needs and Offers

Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace

  • Promoted
Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
1 month 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.
Offer
  • Promoted
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Communities with Openings
8 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
  • Promoted
Offer

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