Scenic view of a white house with a porch in a lush green landscape.

Heirloom East Bay

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Spiritual
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 2012

What we do

Heirloom East Bay is a collection of humans from many backgrounds and of all ages committed to creating a safe space for people to connect with God, others, themselves, and creation through Hospitality, Sustainability, and Creativity. We exist as a residential community and a small church meeting on our 95 acre property in the East Bay of San Francisco.
The farm has chickens, goats, sheep and a llama, collectively cared for by residents and volunteers. Residents have their own lives/jobs/schedules, but contribute to the farm via their room rent and 4 hours of volunteer time each week.

Our Mission

Heirloom is a Jesus-following community committed to Hospitality, Sustainability, and Creativity. We aim to nurture a space where people can connect with God, themselves, others, and creation.

  • Purpose
  • Spiritual
  • Community type
  • Coliving
  • Spiritual Retreat Centers
  • Sustainability practices
  • Ecosystem restoration
  • Renewable energy systems
  • Sustainability education and community engagement
  • Waste reduction / composting
  • Activities
  • Networking

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 2012
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 2019
  • Started living together

Gallery

  • 6 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
13

How to join

Members fill out an interest form, then meet with a staff member for a preliminary interview. Applicants are encouraged to attend events or visit the farm during the process to get a feel of community life for themselves. Discernment is 3-4 weeks.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Every Second Sunday, Heirloom hosts a free Tour & Workday that’s open to the public. The tour is 2-3pm, and volunteering time is from 3-5pm. Guests are also welcome to join for Supper Church at 5:30pm, no need to bring anything,.

Primary decision-making authority

  • Elected Representatives

A board, council, or committee chosen by members makes decisions on behalf of the community.

Decision-making process

  • Modified Consensus

Generally seek agreement, but have backup methods when consensus isn’t reached.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Economic model

  • Independent Finances

Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • 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

Regular fees: $30
Labor: Yes (4 hrs/week)
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed

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

Common House, Garden(s), Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Stage or Auditorium, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Internet

Frequency of communal meals

  • About once a week

Significant food acquisition practices

  • Locally sourced

Nature of social activity

  • The community is pretty quiet

Community activities and engagement

  • Organization, Resource, or Network

Local connectedness

  • We try to engage with our local community

Friendliness of people and local government

  • It’s a mix

Pet policy

  • No pets are allowed, except in special cases

Substance use culture

  • Substance use appears in public spaces but no pressure
  • Substance use is prohibited in the community
  • Religions
  • Christian

Gender composition

  • Majority cis (over 60%)

Age demographics

  • Multi-generational (all ages well represented)

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a Community Land Trust or some other kind of nonprofit

Setting

  • Rural

Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.

Sustainability approach

  • Ecosystem restoration
  • Renewable energy systems
  • Sustainability education and community engagement
  • Waste reduction / composting

Land practices in our community

  • The community is working to remove invasive plants and grow only indigenous plants
  • The community is working to build soil using only natural methods
  • The community is working to restore natural habitat

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
  • Livestock / poultry

Source of water

  • Well water

Wastewater management

  • Septic system

Waste management practices

  • Composting
  • Recycling program
  • Land area size
    95 acres
  • Land allocated for food production
    5 acres
  • Land used for biodiversity enhancement
    1-2 acres

Guest Book

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Location

  • California, United States

Heirloom East Bay

Needs and Offers

Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace

  • Promoted
Need
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
  • Events
3 weeks ago

Healing Love Healing Money: Trust As The Foundation For A New Culture

Money, love and power are among the hardest things any community works with, and many of us carry the same fears into both: not having enough, losing what we have, and the sense that if someone else gets money or love, we won’t. Healing Love, Healing Money: Trust as the Foundation for a New Culture is taught by two intentional communities. Karen McAllister and Duncan Cryle are from Clear Sky Meditation and Retreat Center, a Buddhist-lineage community in the BC Rockies. Monika Alleweldt and Benjamin von Mendelssohn from Tamera Healing Biotope, a community of about 160 people in southern Portugal that has spent decades studying love, trust and relationship. Clear Sky has spent years working on its relationship with money, and our two communities found surprising parallels in the fears beneath both. Over four sessions we explore the roots of fear around money and belonging, love, possession and power, trust as infrastructure (community as a container for healing), and ethical livelihood. We use short meditations, body-based practices, reflection and small-group conversation. You do not need to be in a romantic relationship or live in community. When: October 27, Nov 3, 10, 17. All four sessions: 12–2pm Vancouver, 1–3pm Alberta, 7–9pm UK and Portugal, 8–10pm Central Europe. Note: US and some Canadian provinces change clocks on November 1, so the US west coast is 12–2pm on October 27, then 11am–1pm for the remaining sessions, and Eastern is 3–5pm on October 27, then 2–4pm for the rest. Cost: sliding scale Details and registration: https://www.clearskycenter.org/event/healing-love-healing-money-online/  
October 27, 2026 13:00 – November 17, 2026 15:00
Need
  • Communities with Openings
1 week ago

Needs: Quiet nature focused community with work exchange

About Me Hello, I’m Nanu. I’m 46 years old in need of a peaceful, nature-centered community where I can contribute, maintain my independence, and potentially establish a long-term home. I’m autistic and sometimes experience periods when I’m nonverbal. I appreciate direct communication, clear expectations, and people who respect different communication styles without making assumptions. I’m independent, value personal boundaries, and do best in environments where people can coexist comfortably without constant social interaction. The Environment I’m Seeking I’m looking for a wooded, green setting with mature trees, grass, and access to nature. Forests, trails, gardens, and peaceful outdoor spaces are important to me. I’d prefer a region with relatively mild winters, avoiding both desert landscapes and areas with harsh, snowy winters. Privacy is essential. I’m interested in a residential community where people respect one another’s space and participation in social activities is optional. I’m not looking for a retreat center, event venue, or community that regularly hosts outside groups, workshops, classes, or large gatherings on the residential property. Occasional visitors are understandable, but I prefer a quiet environment where residents can enjoy their homes without a constant flow of people coming and going. Work Exchange and Housing I’m interested in exchanging practical work for housing. Possible contributions include community gardening, planting, watering, harvesting, kitchen assistance, meal preparation, property upkeep, and other mutually agreed-upon tasks. I’d like the responsibilities, schedule, and expectations clearly established in advance. A trial stay or introductory period would be ideal so both sides can determine whether the arrangement is a good fit. Potential for Long-Term Ownership My longer-term goal is to explore purchasing a small home, a defined parcel of land, or a legally documented ownership interest in an established cooperative community. I have limited savings available for a potential investment and want to use those funds carefully toward lasting housing stability. I’m not interested in vague promises of future ownership or arrangements that depend entirely on one person’s continued involvement. I’d want clear documentation of ownership rights, decision-making, ongoing expenses, and what happens if a resident leaves or the community dissolves. I’m also not interested in traditional HOA-style arrangements or unpredictable fees. Reasonable, transparent shared expenses are open for discussion. Community Culture I’m looking for people who value mutual respect, personal autonomy, honest communication, and practical cooperation. I appreciate companionship but also need quiet and solitude. I don’t expect everyone to share my interests, only to respect one another’s boundaries. What I’d Like to Know If your community offers work exchange, a private and peaceful living environment, wooded surroundings, and a realistic possibility of long-term housing or ownership, I’d love to hear from you. Please share information about your location, climate, current residents, available housing, work-exchange expectations, visitor policies, ongoing costs, and potential ownership arrangements. I’d like to visit and get acquainted before making any commitments. My goal is to find a genuine mutual fit. Thank you for reading!

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

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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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