Communities Directory: Earthworm Housing Co-op

Formed: 1989 Established: 1989

Earthworm Housing Co-op

Shropshire SH7 0LH, England,

United Kingdom

An experienced housing co-op, we live and work communally at Wheatstone, where there are a large old house, outbuildings, and seven acres of land on the Welsh borders. We make decisions through regular meetings and on a day-to-day basis almost always by consensus. The group's membership and direction have undergone several changes since we arrived in 1989, but the same original principles and ideals remain, including an ecological focus, trying to be more kind to the Earth, limiting use of products that poison and pollute, and trying to be more ethical consumers.

We farm our land by vegan-organic methods, using permaculture and forest-garden techniques. We use composting toilets and have recently built a wetland reed-bed system to process wastewater from the house. We grow seasonal vegetables, herbs, and fruit in the gardens and two polytunnels. We don't keep food animals. All communal areas and meals are vegan, but you do not have to be vegan or vegetarian to live here.

We host gatherings, courses, and camps. We are currently winning the battle to renovate our house, which was badly vandalized and neglected before we arrived. We supplement our income by selling garden produce and willow coppiced from our wetland system.

Contact:

Dark Lane
Leintwardine
Shropshire SH7 0LH, England SH70LH United Kingdom
Phone: +44-(0)1547-540461

International Telephone Info

Former/Other Names: Wheatstone

This data is based on the FIC's Communities Directory 2000 edition, www.ic.org, and/or cohousing.org.

Visitors Accepted

Population Adult Members: 7 Child Members: 3 Open to new adults: Yes Open to new children: Yes Gender Balance: 57% M 43% F	Government Decision Making: By consensus Identified Leader: No Leadership Core Group: No	Labor and Money Financial Style: Other Labor Contribution: Expected Join Fee: No Regular Fees: Yes
Land and Buildings Rural Area: 7 acres (2.8 hectares) Land Owned By: The community Number of Residences: 3	Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: 6-20% Share Community Meals: Nearly all dinners	Social Factors Educational Style(s): Home schooling :: Public schooled

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