Canticle Farm

Oakland, California, United States

  • Updated on: Mar 15, 2024 (about 1 year ago)
  • Created on: Jul 10, 2019 (over 5 years ago)
Canticle Farm

Mission Statement

We act as a platform for The Great Turning – the planetary shift from an industrial-growth society to a life-sustaining society – which is served by Canticle Farm through our local work and support of national and international movements for social and environmental justice.

Community Description

Canticle Farm is an urban garden, educational center and community of intention, experimenting at the intersections of faith-based, social-justice-based, and Earth-based nonviolent activism.

We live in ten houses around a large garden in the Fruitvale District of Oakland, California. We are working to heal and transform historical and present-day trauma across difference, especially that of race, gender, class, religion and age.

About

  • Type(s):
    • Ecovillage (organized around ecology and sustainability)
    • Cohousing (individual homes within group property)
    • Shared Housing, Cohouseholding, or Coliving (multiple individuals sharing a dwelling)
    • Spiritual or Religious
    • Transition Town or Eco-Neighborhood (focused on energy/resource resiliency)
  • Programs & Activities:
    • School, Educational Institute or Experience
    • Volunteer, Internship, or Apprenticeship, or WWOOF’ing
    • Organization, Resource, or Network
  • Location: Urban

Housing

  • Status: We have land we have developed on
  • Area: 2 acres
  • Current Residence Types:
    • Single-family homes
    • Multi-family homes
    • Room(s) in a house or building
    • Tiny house
    • Yurt, tee-pee, dome, treehouse, or tent
  • Current Number of Residences: 11
  • Housing Provided: Included in Membership
  • Land Owned By: Three different non-profits owns a majority of the land/houses, some private ownership

Membership

  • Adult Members: 35
  • Child Members: 7
  • Non-Member Residents: 0
  • Percent Women: 31-40%
  • Percent Men: 31-40%
  • Percent Transgender: 0%
  • Percent Non-Binary: 11-20%
  • Visitors Accepted: Yes, rarely
  • Visitor Process: We welcome people to visit and serve on the land, either in the garden, with programs or on construction. We also welcome visitors who just wish to learn about our community, and inspire us with your own stories or gifts. Please email us at canticlefarmers@gmail.com, sharing when and why you would like to visit, as well as how you heard about us. We have limited capacity to host guests, but if it is a great mutual fit, we will work to make it happen.
  • Open to New Members: No

Government

  • Decision Making: We use a collaborative decision making model based in nonviolent communication
  • Identified Leader: Yes, multiple identified leaders
  • Leadership Core Group: Yes
  • Additional Comments: Our decision making happens in all-community weekly meetings, and on teams, e.g. garden team, food distribution team, residents team.

Economics

  • Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: No
  • Shared Income: None

Sustainability Practices

  • Energy Infrastructure: We are connected to the grid.
  • Current Renewable Energy Generation: Up to 25%
  • Energy Sources:
    • Solar
    • Clean Energy from the Grid
  • Planned Renewable Energy Generation: 50-75%
  • Current Food Produced: Up to 25%
  • Planned Food Produced: Up to 25%
  • Food Produced Locally: Up to 25%

Lifestyle

  • Common Facilities:
    • Common House
    • Garden(s)
    • Greenhouse(s)
    • Workshop
    • Outbuilding(s)
    • Large Scale Kitchen
    • Fire pit
    • Swingsets & play areas
    • Internet
  • Internet Available: Yes, community provides it
  • Internet Fast?: Yes, it's fine.
  • Cellphone Service: Good for most people.
  • Shared Meals: About once a week
  • Dietary Practices:
    • Omnivorous (plants and animals)
    • Paleo (no grains, dairy, processed foods, or legumes)
    • Local
    • Organic (no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers)
    • GMO Free (only non-genetically modified organisms)
    • Mostly Vegetarian
    • Mostly Vegan
    • Opportunivore (dumpster diving, nature harvesting, etc.)
    • Raw or Mostly Raw
    • Kosher
    • Halal
    • Dairy-Free
    • Gluten-Free
  • Dietary Choice or Restrictions: No - people may eat however they wish.
  • Special Diets OK: Yes
  • Alcohol Use: Yes, used seldomly, or ceremoniously.
  • Tobacco Use: Yes, used seldomly, or ceremoniously.
  • Common Spiritual Practice(s):
    • Ecumenical (accepts all religions or spiritual practices)
    • Eclectic (integrates multiple religious or spiritual beliefs)
    • Christian
    • Buddhist
    • Jewish
    • Muslim
    • Protestant
    • Catholic
    • Native American
    • Paganism or Earth Religions
    • Agnostic
  • Spiritual Practice Expected?: No
  • Education Style(s): Up to each family or individual
  • Healthcare Options: Up to each family, household, or individual

Cohousing

  • Has a Shared Common Building: Yes

Photo Gallery

Community Network or Organization Affiliations

The Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC), Catholic Worker

Fair Housing Laws

This community acknowledges that their listing does not include any potential violations of the Fair Housing Law, or that they do not provide housing. For any questions about this topic please see our Content Policies and contact FIC with any questions or concerns: directory@ic.org.

Keywords

social justice, urban farm, activism, nonviolence, restorative justice, multiracial, interfaith