Wind Spirit Community

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Wind Spirit Community

located in Winkelman, Arizona, United States

Overview

Wind Spirit is a Ecovillage located in a narrow valley surrounded by mountain ranges, The closest town Globe is 20 miles away. We continue to nurture the community land, an AZ non-profit corporation, and update our bylaws and vision as we experience and grow. We are committed to 100% organic methods of food production along with continually working to bring our 16 acres more in line with permaculture practices. A canopy of thousands of mature fruit, nut and native trees feed and shelter us, several gardens provide us with more food.. All this bio-mass also creates a sanctuary for a large bird population as well as for many other animals.

We aspire to live in harmony which is not always easy, be good stewards of the land and be as sustainable as possible, while also being realistic about what we can afford to do with the resources we have. Community is really all about our relationships with each other everything else is secondary. Along with this we are committed to keeping WSC affordable through simple living without the poverty mentality that can often accompany low cost living. We are not a cult in any way, we have no leaders but feel it is wise to except wisdom found through experience. We honor diversity of thought and spiritual practices.

We do encourage people to eat a healthy diet of whole fresh foods as opposed to a denatured food diet. We have an outdoor gas barbecue for cooking meat/fish/fowl but occasionally someone will use the community indoor stove to cook certain dishes. We are not dogmatic about eating, there are people here who like to eat meat/fish/foul. If you are very strict about what you eat you will need to find the space within to allow others their choice as well.

The Co-Creators Agreements are a great way to bring about transformation in a society where most of these agreements or values are not incorporated or discussed. We value them as a foundational body of work that will help foster better communication and hence a better place to live.

HISTORY
Wind Spirit is a 20+ year old community, located on the same land as the old Christmas Star Community (1979-1993) started by John Cohen family and friends. Christmas Star community planted this beautiful land with an incredible variety of trees and we have continually added to the bio-mass along with resculpting the land as a permaculture work in progress.  Our community has been experiencing many changes. We have lost two core members, dear friends, Richie and Patricia who have passed on. Other core members have left to seek other experiences.

There is now only one co-founding member living on the land working with new members, long and short term visitors to move the community ahead. Don, the remaining member is trying to heal from chronic Lyme (tick) disease he contracted back east so at times it is a difficult journey. There are 10 of us right now (July 2016) and that number changes seasonally, some have lived here for months to 6 years.

MEETINGS


We use a consensus minus one voting system in making major decisions during meetings. Our meetings are generally run by a facilitator to keep people on track and make sure everyone gets a chance to express their views. Members and visitors are asked to attend weekly meetings where announcements for the week are made and it is also a good opportunity for visitors and guests to introduce themselves. We also allow anyone living here to call a meeting to discuss whatever topic they would like to explore, emotions and spiritual topics are the most common. These meetings are usually a rewarding experience for everyone but are usually not mandatory to attend. It is our goal to be as authentic as we can with each other and support each other's life path to higher consciousness.

WORK
We strive to attain balance in the areas of work and free time yet accomplish what needs to be done. Our work here includes, gardening, wood working, all aspects of building, irrigation systems, music, solar and more. We use solar ovens, solar water distillers, solar food dehydrators, some solar electric and solar water heating along with conventional methods. We welcome innovation and sharing with the many visitor who travel here locally and from around the world.

Hosting retreats and workshops has shown not only to bring in some needed funds but introducing the community and ourselves to many new friends and connections. In the last couple of years our improvements include a gift shop, underground sauna, garden shed and continual work to our extensive irrigation systems. There are also continuing upgrades to existing plumbing, electrical systems and buildings. These are aside from all the little improvement and ongoing maintenance projects that happen here every month. We desire to present an eclectic showcase of green building techniques that harmonize with the desert environment. We have the ground work to develop a small cottage industries but with the lack of long term commitments along with Don’s health issues these are slow to develop.

FUN
We like to have community gatherings to celebrate solstices, equinoxes and holidays along with the enjoyable group experiences while hosting retreats We usually have at least two community meal weekly but spontaneous community meals happen more often. In the cooler months our sauna is a bi-weekly event and can vary from music to meditation to facilitator led sweats or just sitting quiet or good conversation. At our large fire pit next to the sauna we have occasional fire circles with music, discussion or just a fun get together. There is also a small hot tub in one of the gardens. We have an above ground pool that is a refreshing break in the heat of summer. Both sauna, hot tub and pool are clothing optional.

We have many interesting visitors come here throughout the year who share music, stories, knowledge, wisdom and more with us. We encourage people who feel drawn to Wind Spirit or just to the southwest to come visit with us and experience our community. Please thoroughly read the visitors section which will give you most of the information you will need about coming for a visit. A sharing mutually beneficial experience is had by those who come here. Most say it is a very peaceful, healing place and many experience a transformational time while living here.

Housing
Status: We have land we have developed on
Area: 16 acres
Current Residence Types: Tiny house, Yurt, tee-pee, dome, treehouse, or tent, Mobile homes, RV’s, converted buses, Natural built structues, Lots to build on
Current Number of Residences: 9
Planned number of residences: 7
Planned Residence Types: Tiny house, Natural built structues
Housing Provided: Purchase, Rental
Land owned by: The entire community membership
Additional Comments:
We are continually adding infrastructure.

Membership
Adult Members: 7
Non-member Residents: 6
Percent Women: 50%
Percent Men: 50%
Percent Transgender: 0%
Visitors accepted: Yes
Visitor Process:
Look over our website to see if you are compatible with our vision. Contact one of the members listed on the site vie email or letter and then call for a brief interview.
Open to new Members: Yes
Membership Process:
To become a full member one must live here for 1 year and be approved by the core group which is made up of full time members.
Additional Comments:
Part of our mission is to encourage awareness/spiritual development.

Economics
Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: Yes
Shared Income: None
Required Labor Contribution per Week: 10
Open to members with existing debt: Yes
Additional Comments:
7 to 30 hours a week work contributions on the land, depending on time of year and resident grouping (e.g., wwoofer, permanent resident, seasonal visitor, short-term visitor)
Members lease a share of the communal property.
$150. per month toward utilities, food, maintenance. Extra $50 for indoor lodging.

Sustainability Practices
Energy Infrastructure: We use both systems.
Current renewable energy generation: Up to 25%
Energy sources: Solar
Planned renewable energy generation: Almost All, around 90%
Current food produced: Up to 25%
Planned food produced: From 50-75%
Food produced locally: Up to 25%

Lifestyle
Common Facilities: Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Library, Workshop, Swimming pond or pool, Hot tub or hot springs, Large Scale Kitchen, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Stage or Auditorium, Fire pit, Recreational vehicles, Internet
Internet Available: Yes, community provides it
Internet Fast?: Yes, it’s fine.
Cell Phone Service: Good for some people.
Shared meals: 2-5 times per week
Dietary Practice: Omnivorous (plants and animals), Local (food sourced within 150 miles), Organic (no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers), GMO Free (only non-genetically modified organisms), Mostly Vegetarian
Dietary Choice or Restrictions: No – people may eat however they wish.
Special Diets OK: Sometimes
Alcohol Use: Yes, used occasionally.
Tobacco Use: Yes, used occasionally.
Additional Diet Comments:
This can vary from week to week.
Hundreds of organic fruit trees and multiple vegetable gardens.
We discourage the consumption of denatured food, we are primarily vegetarian but not exclusively.
We are not fundamentalists about food consumed, we do encourage healthy eating and lifestyle.
No smoking in any community structures at meetings or while walking around community.
Common Spiritual Practice(s): Eclectic (integrates multiple religious or spiritual beliefs)
Spiritual Practice Expected?: No
Education Style(s): Home Schooling, Public Schooling
Healthcare Options: Up to each family or individual

Source: https://www.ic.org/directory/windspirit-community/
             http://www.windspiritcommunity.org/ws_overview.htm