Community gathering outdoors at Wiscoy Valley Community Land Cooperative.

Wiscoy Valley Community Land Cooperative

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Home-sharing
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 1975

What we do

We are a land cooperative of around 21 adults and 1 pre-teen living on 358 acres in southeast Minnesota. We share the land in common, but housing, incomes, diet, schooling, etc., are each individual’s choice. 85 ac of land is planted to native prairie, 5 ac in certified organic perennial fruits, with the remainder in woodland and wild areas. Land is managed organically. Homes use grid and solar energy. We have very little turnover at our land co-op and find replacements by word of mouth.

Our Mission

We value good communication, the consensus process, creativity, organic land management, renewable energy, and fun.

  • Purpose
  • Home-sharing
  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Sustainability practices
  • Renewable energy systems

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 1975
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 1975
  • Started living together
  • 18 Total members
  • Not open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
29

How to join

A person expresses interest in becoming trial member and talks to all members. If consensus is reached at a meeting, then that person becomes a trial member. When the person wants to become a member, the same process is used. It is the responsibility of the person and each member to get to know each other. With 21 people, the process may take several years.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Contact Bill Carter (bi**@*********on.com, Tony Brown (507-452-4990) or Cherie Hales (ch*********@***il.com) with your request and dates of visit. At a Sunday meeting, the request will be discussed and approved, etc. Extended visitors need a sponsor and may pay a fee of $55/mo.

Primary decision-making authority

  • All Community Members Together

The whole membership decides collectively.

Decision-making process

  • Full Consensus

Everyone must agree before moving forward.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Conflict resolution approach

People take individual leadership on issues and projects important to them.

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
  • 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: $3005.00
Regular fees: $36
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
Cleaning schedules for community building is 4/year and work days for special projects. Some work is paid, such as bookkeeping, mowing, or maintenance. People volunteer for committees and special projects such as cemetery, party preparation, etc.

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

Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Stage or Auditorium, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Gym or sports area

Frequency of communal meals

  • 1-3 times per month

Significant food acquisition practices

  • Locally sourced

Dietary restriction

  • People can cook and eat what they want in their own residence

Substance use culture

  • Substance use appears in public spaces but no pressure
  • Religions
  • Sufi

Gender composition

  • Roughly balanced (no group over 60%)

Age demographics

  • Multi-generational (all ages well represented)

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a Land Trust, Home Owners Association, or corporation

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.

Sustainability approach

  • Renewable energy systems

Self-produced energy

  • 33 - 66%

Energy sources used

  • Photovoltaic Solar

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%

Local, organic, or fair trade food

  • 33 - 66%
  • Land area size
    358 acres

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Location

  • Minnesota, United States

Wiscoy Valley Community Land Cooperative

Needs and Offers

Connecting communities through an intentional online marketplace

  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Communities with Openings
7 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

Information

Communities

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

Organizations

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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