The Goodenough Community is a 50 year old, decentralized community of practice in the Seattle region, focused on personal and relational development. It includes a land-based intentional community and event space, the Sahale Learning Center, on the Kitsap Peninsula, which the community has operated for almost 25 years, and which is the community’s primary vehicle for fulfilling its mission.
We have been in a major transition phase for several years. This has included deep healing from trauma experienced under the now-deceased founders, moving from central leadership to cooperative governance, inviting new people to engage more deeply in leadership, and redeveloping key community systems. It has involved a deep inquiry into the essence of what this community is about, and what needs to be cleared to allow for new growth.
The 16 current members of the Goodenough Community (4 of whom live at Sahale) are seeking new members, as part of the extended community and/or as residents of Sahale.
What we’re about:
The essence of this community can be summed up in this inquiry: What does it mean to be relational? We seek to understand ourselves and grow through our relationships.This work has fostered relationships of deep care, and a culture practiced in showing up for each other and staying constant through conflict. Our stewardship of Sahale has been a powerful vehicle for that work, and has expanded our understanding of what it means to be relational to include the natural world. And as the world around us changes, our exploration of relationship is expanding to include our relationship to other communities, movements, and larger society.
What we do
Our mission is expressed through a handful of online and on-land programs, support groups, and events that fulfill this mission, and through events by other groups hosted at Sahale. Sahale supports our mission by being a space to host, a place to practice relationship with the land, and through the residential community that is a transformative learning experience in itself. Similarly, the operations and administration of our community governance system supports the activities that fulfill our mission, and is a way to practice our values.
All of these have been more robust in the past, and are currently more minimal. We are seeking new energy to expand our activities and practices.
There are a lot of systems in place that new people will need to get familiar with. There is also a lot of room for things to change and expand, and for new people to bring in their interests and gifts.
The community operates a 501c3 nonprofit, which holds title to the land, and utilizes a sociocracy-inspired governance system.
We serve individuals and communities by creating opportunities for lifelong, experiential learning that cultivates personal transformation, deep relationship, and regenerative community.
A new person starts off as a Friend member, which simply involves attending a Community Orientation and participating in some kind of activity or event. From there, they can become an Ally member after an interview and some kind of involvement in the programs and operations of the community. Ally members can become Steward members as they demonstrate a commitment to holding collective responsibility for the wellbeing of the community and the fulfilling of its mission.
We want to take the time needed to build our relationships with each other, including the relationships between new people exploring this community. This will be an evolving process.
Please see the Join Us page on our website. People interested in our community should attend an online Community Orientation, as well as a Sahale Care Weekend. See our Events page for opportunities. From there, people should find ways to get involved in the programs and/or operations of the community. For those interested in residency, it can lead to short stays, which can lead to longer stays.
For those interested in residency, one thing to be clear about is that Sahale is part of the Goodenough Community. Being a resident at Sahale also means being a member of the community. As the residential community at Sahale grows, we will continue to clarify the relationship between the residential and extended communities, particularly regarding the balance of accountability and autonomy, and new people will be part of figuring that out.
A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.
Decisions proceed unless someone has a reasoned objection.
Organized in circles or domains with distributed authority.
Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.
Regular fees: Yes
Labor: Encouraged or suggested
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
The community is supported by donations and member dues, as well as income from programs, as well as a mix of volunteer and paid labor from members. Contributions vary, depending on ability, level of responsibility, as well as whether member lives at Sahale or not.
Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Library, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Hot tub or hot springs, Large Scale Kitchen, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Stage or Auditorium, Fire pit, Waterfront access, Internet
Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.
Shared living spaces with private bedrooms/bathrooms and communal
kitchens, dining, and social areas.
Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace
A residential project: people live here as their primary home.
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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