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.