100 acres hosted by Eden K.
Emerald Earth is a rural intentional community in Mendocino County. We believe it is our responsibility as human beings to rediscover ways of interacting with the land in ways that enhance its ecological health, and we choose a lifestyle based as much as possible on biological power rather than chemical, more on social solutions than mechanical ones.
The community was founded in 1989, when a group of friends from Berkeley found and purchased the land near Boonville in the Anderson Valley, about three hours drive north of San Francisco. They spent a couple of years cleaning up the site and fixing the buildings. During this time, the non-profit corporation Emerald Earth Sanctuary was formed and the land was deeded to it.
Starting in 1999, a new group moved onto the land. With their experience in sustainable agriculture and natural building, they began building cabins, planting trees, growing food, expanding infrastructure, and organizing work parties. We are dedicated to sharing knowledge, and each year Emerald Earth hosts hands-on workshops in natural building, permaculture, and medicinal herbs.
Life at Emerald Earth requires a large amount of physical work including building, gardening, maintenance, chopping firewood, preparing food, caring for livestock, cleaning, and so on. Recently we have been leaders in Fire Safety, organizing our roadshed group and preparing for fire. We have also focused on Forest Restoration, with a recent restorative timber harvest, utilization of livestock and controlled burns for forest health and safety, and work parties in preparation of a larger control burn when weather permits.
The work is a labor of love here at EE. We see ourselves as caretakers. Our intention is to share this little corner offer mama earth with others. We acknowledge that this land is the traditional lands of the Tabuteh Pomo People. It is with humility that we reside on this land and aim to keep it healthy and vibrant for future generations of humans and non human inhabitants.