HISTORY
We began as a community of 3 families, sharing 8 acres of land outside of Richmond, Kentucky. Our life together has evolved over the years as we figure out the best way to implement the guidelines in our covenant. When we were all living on the land, we met twice daily, 8 am and 7 pm, for 15 minutes of silent meditation, prayer, singing, or other spiritual practice. We held weekly business meetings and tried to get together once a week for fun and games. We shared the work of caring for the land and common buildings. Now things have changed: Andy and Thyne Rutrough have moved out of the area, and their house is being rented by a new family. Mary Ann Ghosal is making a transition to live near family in Missouri. As new members join the community, we will work together to find expressions of spirituality that are comfortable for all. We have found our daily meetings to be key to keeping our community together and running smoothly, and each of the adult community members commits to being there as often as possible. |
COVENANT
Living together in community can be hard, and there are few models for how to do this in our society. These are the guidelines we have adopted in order to make community life possible, fulfilling and enjoyable. We agree to: * Root our lives in shared daily spiritual practice * Model decency, care, charity and faithfulness * Live environmentally sustainably * Embrace nonviolence * Work for peace, social and economic justice * Offer hospitality * Make decisions by consensus * Honor individual sacredness, support committed couples, and nurture family relationships * Balance our communal and private lives * Share faithful stewardship of commonly owned resources |
OUR FAMILIES
Margie Stelzer and Rob Weise have a college aged son, Spencer and a teen-age daughter, Mary Rose. Rob teaches American History at Eastern Kentucky University and Margie home schools, homesteads and manages the Berea Farmers Market.
As the oldest adult in the community, Mary Ann Ghosal lives the life of an active retiree. She works on a variety of peace and justice issues with Central Kentucky groups, in her local church, our intentional community and the Ghosal-Stelzer-Weise household. She has an adult daughter, Josie, who lives in Saudi Arabia with her husband, Wes, and the two youngest of her five grandchildren, Jackson and Gavin. Her older grandchildren (Jordan, Brandon, and Connor) live in Texas.
Thyne and Andy Rutrough have moved to the Louisville area, and their former home is currently being rented to a family of 7. Andy is pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Louisville and Thyne works as a home caregiver.
Margie Stelzer and Rob Weise have a college aged son, Spencer and a teen-age daughter, Mary Rose. Rob teaches American History at Eastern Kentucky University and Margie home schools, homesteads and manages the Berea Farmers Market.
As the oldest adult in the community, Mary Ann Ghosal lives the life of an active retiree. She works on a variety of peace and justice issues with Central Kentucky groups, in her local church, our intentional community and the Ghosal-Stelzer-Weise household. She has an adult daughter, Josie, who lives in Saudi Arabia with her husband, Wes, and the two youngest of her five grandchildren, Jackson and Gavin. Her older grandchildren (Jordan, Brandon, and Connor) live in Texas.
Thyne and Andy Rutrough have moved to the Louisville area, and their former home is currently being rented to a family of 7. Andy is pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Louisville and Thyne works as a home caregiver.