Sylvan Oasis

Hello! We are currently four people who live on a 7-acre property at the edge of the village of Trumansburg, in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. On the land there’s a large 4-bedroom farmhouse and two small cabins (one is off-grid). Currently we are looking for more people to live here and become involved in our community, with a particular focus on working with the land and developing more housing spaces (especially using natural building techniques).
The community formed in 2017 with a focus on Permaculture, gardening and farming. One of the key community members left in 2023, and the focus shifted to become more about personal growth, spirituality (we each follow different paths), and reverence for all life. That shift was necessary for long term sustainability. Our aim now is to co-create the kind of world we want to live in, starting with a foundation of joy, deep reverence and generosity of spirit. In 2026 the gardening and Permaculture are coming back to the forefront, and our large garden is taking shape!
The land itself is a lovely mix of open and wooded areas (cultivated and wild areas) nestled at the edge of a vibrant small village. We have some peach trees and other baby fruit trees (plums, apricots, Asian pears), hazelnuts, elderberries, currants and lots of wild berries for foraging. Our large garden is ripe for expansion, and we hope to have chickens again next spring. There’s a clean pond for swimming at the back of the property, and a corner of the land runs along Trumansburg Creek. Across the creek is a public natural area that’s great for exploring the woods. The property is within walking distance of the Farmers Market, Gimme Coffee, Main St. Market, and several restaurants and other fun shops.
There are four of us in the household: Eva (the landowner) is a vibrant woman in her prime and a keen meditator who loves to garden and walk in nature. Shelly is a heart-centered being who loves cooking nourishing foods. She is interested in alternative medicine, fermenting, and building community. Nina has a deep love of the arts. She writes songs, meditates, and works as a teacher. Kat is a warm, playful and creative being that is into recovery, food rescue, and connection. Three of the four of us have lived together for 2 years.
The main house is the center of our activities, with a large kitchen where we enjoy cooking and sharing healthy meals and preserving foods. There’s a cob pizza oven in the back yard, and we love to invite friends and neighbors over for pizza night. Currently there’s one vegetarian and three omnivores in the household. We have a food fund that everyone contributes to monthly for purchasing shared staple foods, like rice, beans, oils, etc. Sometimes we buy big bags of veggies to share – locally and organically grown. We have a rotating system for how we share housework. In the winter we like to gather around our wood stove, which means there’s kindling to be gathered and firewood to cut ourselves or purchase collectively. There’s also a far infrared sauna in the house!
We like to live with people who practice mindfulness, have an open mind, and are committed to living in community. We value deep listening, honest discussion, and a caring attitude. Each of us has a spiritual focus, and we strive to support each other in our practices and our well-being. The world is so intense these days and living with others who share some basic values around mindfulness, compassion, joyful living and interbeing is a very grounding experience! One of our guiding principles is something Charles Eisenstein wrote about Reverence – carrying the awareness that we are all sacred beings (https://charleseisenstein.org/essays/we-can-do-better-than-this/). It provides a good idea of what we are striving for in our little community.
We have one indoor/outdoor cat, Cleo, who is about 3 years old. She’s both cuddly and rambunctious, and has an amazing variety of vocal expressions! We are open to adding another pet to the land, as long as they are a good match.
Currently the rooms and cabins are rented out to community members by the landowner, who very much wants to figure out a way for long-term community members to gain equity in the land. We welcome conversations with other communities about ways to make that happen in this ownership-focused world.