People participating in permaculture and homesteading activities at Wheaton Labs.

Wheaton Labs

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Ecological
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 2013

What we do

Wheaton Labs is owned by Paul Wheaton and is over 220 acres near Missoula, Montana. It is actually TWO pieces of property, base camp and the lab. Base camp is on-grid, ROCKY, has wifi, and is where Paul lives in the “Fisher Price House.” The lab is down a paved, then gravel, then dirt (some times mud adventure!) road, is off-grid (with our solar trailers), no wifi / spotty cell reception, and is where ant village is located.
The main goal of Wheaton Labs is permaculture innovation and to build a better world in our backyard.
There are a few ways to join us at Wheaton Labs. You can join us a boot at the permaculture bootcamp, as someone who is Seriously Excited about Permaculture, or join our deep roots lifetime rent program.
The Permaculture Boot Camp is an experiential learning environment in which you develop permaculture skills through a little hard work. You’ll grow gardens and food forests to feed yourself and fellow Boots; you’ll learn natural building skills that will house your bootcamp community for years to come. Come try it out with no long-term commitment! Earn tickets to our pdc, ptj, and skip events! if you love it, stay for a while and earn lifetime rent for an acre of your own!
This link will have more info! https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp/
As a SEPPer (Seriously Excited about Permaculture) you are not required to do 40+ hours of project work but will need to pay rent and provide your own food. This is a great way to test the waters before committing to working the bootcamp or purchasing lifetime rent of land in our deep roots program. You can join as a SEPPer an day that works for you, rather than waiting for the boot arrival date. There is no waitlist and your accommodations do not depend on the comings and goings of other boots.
Follow this link for more info: https://permies.com/wiki/sepper
Our deep roots program is for those who are already familiar with Paul Wheaton and how we do things at Wheaton Labs. You can buy lifetime rent on an acre or 3. You cannot put your first post in the ground without meeting certain requirements. The important thing is that we only want deep roots people that are a good fit for our community and appreciate our values.
Learn more here: https://permies.com/t/168047

Our Mission

Permaculture Innovation
Develop permaculture and homesteading skills through a little hard work.
Make the world better instead of being angry at bad guys.
World Domination through Permaculture!

  • Purpose
  • Ecological
  • Community type
  • Coliving
  • Ecovillage
  • Sustainability practices
  • Renewable energy systems
  • Permaculture design
  • Natural / low-impact building
  • Activities
  • Property management
  • Education
  • Experiences
  • Networking
  • Services Business

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 2013
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 2013
  • Started living together
  • 8 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
8

How to join

(Recommended) To join wheaton labs as a SEPPer without the work requirement of bootcamp, follow this link here: https://permies.com/wiki/sepper
(For those who don’t mind hardwork and want the hands on experience) To join wheaton labs permaculture bootcamp, you pay the $100 sign up fee, fill out a questionnaire, and pick your arrival date! It is that easy! Sign up here: https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp/
We prefer you stay at least 1 week.
But if you decide to stay awhile…
+eight weeks in the bootcamp to get a ticket to our Permaculture Design Course or some of our other events.
+four months in the bootcamp to get more than a year of rent in Ant Village
+two years in the bootcamp to get “deep roots” – a lifetime of rent on an acre.
For those who are already familiar with Paul Wheaton and Wheaton Labs, we also have 1-3 acre plots that you can shell out cash for. These are lifetime rentals. Learn more here: https://permies.com/t/168047/permaculture-projects/Deep-roots-wheaton-labs-rent

Basic expectations or agreements for members

If you would like to visit Wheaton Labs as a casual, permaculture enthusiast, but not have to meet the work requirements, go to this link here: https://permies.com/wiki/rentals
If you would like to visit Wheaton Labs as a boot (the permaculture bootcamp) go to this link here: https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp/

Primary decision-making authority

  • Single Leader or Founding Couple

One person or partnership has ultimate authority.

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).

Conflict resolution approach

https://wheaton-labs.com/#Frequently%20Asked%20Questions

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
  • 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: $100
Labor: Encouraged or suggested (40 hrs/week)
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
As a boot in our permaculture bootcamp, you earn your room and board by working 40 hours a week. The 40 hours per week is called “project labor.” All boots are expected to chip in to do the cooking for one another and cleaning up after one another. Plus four to eight hours per week of “nest labor,” that would include shoveling snow, deep cleaning, maintenance, garden harvesting – things of short term benefit to the boots community. (Planting a garden to feed people months into the future falls into “project labor.” Harvesting from a garden to feed yourself and other boots in the next few days falls into “nest labor.”)
There are individuals who have earned their spot at ant village or are deep roots members that are not required to put in the 40 hours of labor. Learn more here: https://permies.com/wiki/bootcamp

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

Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Outdoor Kitchen, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Fire pit, Internet

Frequency of communal meals

  • Approximately 1 meal per day

Significant food acquisition practices

  • Locally sourced

Community activities and engagement

  • School, Educational Institute or Experience
  • Volunteer, Internship, or Apprenticeship, or WWOOF’ing
  • Neighborhood, Community Housing, or Homeowner's Association
  • Ethical Business, Investment Group, or Alternative Currency
  • Organization, Resource, or Network
  • Festivals, Conferences, Events

Substance use culture

  • Substance use occurs primarily at celebrations or ceremonies
  • Substance use is prohibited in the community

Age demographics

  • Mixed adults (few or no children)

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

  • Coliving

    Shared living spaces with private bedrooms/bathrooms and communal
    kitchens, dining, and social areas.

  • 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

  • Renewable energy systems
  • 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

  • Photovoltaic Solar

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%

Local, organic, or fair trade food

  • 33 - 66%

Food systems

  • Community garden
  • Food forest
  • Greenhouse / aquaponics
  • Land area size
    220 acres

Guest Book

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

Location

  • Montana, United States

Needs and Offers

Offer
Need
  • Forming Communities
6 months ago

Pacific Northwest Cohousing Village Seeking Members

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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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