Autumn Sun

Mission: Above all, Autumn Sun seeks to “Build Trust with Each Other.” Our goal and vision is to become an intentional, extended family, that is able to care for each other in perpetuity. Among others, we plan to develop and implement social and legal structures for continuing care of our land, facilities and community members for 100+ years. Further, we seek to develop a model that enables us to counsel others who have land to share on the successful concepts, methods, and tools we find most helpful in our ongoing efforts to provide sustainable solutions for affordable living.

From www.ic.org/directory/autumn-sun/:

Based on a 6-acre rural property outside the historic town of Ashland Virginia, the Autumn Sun Community is developing a master plan for an intentional inter-generational community, based around permaculture principles, community gardening, and practical green-building practices for constructing small, sustainable homes.

The community property includes a single-family home, a large shared house, a log cabin studio, small business office, and 6,000-foot warehouse, all run on 90% renewable energy. Our master plan for the property includes the development of a 5,000-square-foot home for co-housing and shared caregiving, as well as a large greenhouse. We are tiny house friendly, and welcome occasional campers.

We are an open and accepting community of individuals who enjoy art, music, exercise, and outdoor living. The community kitchen, garden, workshop, and outdoor fire ring are frequent gathering places that are open to all, and enjoyably used for fun and free-flowing conversation. Community members show respect for each other’s privacy, and spaces abound for quiet contemplation and personal reflection.

Ours is a new community with a varied mix of employment. Individual and household income is managed by each family, with revenue-sharing potential for community projects. Community decision-making is made through processes best described as Sociocratic and Modified Consensus. Currently, “work trade” is an option in exchange for all or a portion of community members’ contribution for their portion of the shared living space.

The Autumn Sun Community is filled with entrepreneurial-minded members. We encourage knowledge-sharing and group instruction. Community member revenue may be made through participation in collaborative workshops and shared community projects, as well as the individual use of the large workshop with shared workspace and tools. The same will hold for shared use of the large greenhouse once construction is complete.

If you would like to visit Autumn Sun, please contact the original property owner, Ken Schaal, at 804-798-5371, or send an email to CWSolar1@Gmail.com or visit us at: AutumnSunLane.com.

A service of the Data Commons Co-op. The project has been supported by Equal Exchange, the Cooperative Charitable Trust, the USDA, and many others - thank you! Tech volunteers over the years include: Benjamin Bradley with support from GAIA Host. Ben Mauer with support from Quilted. Paul Fitzpatrick. Ronin Tech Collective, Brattleboro Tech Collective, Sligo Computer Services. Jason Lemieux. Default map tiles courtesy of MapQuest. Default map data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA.