The Wild Cooperative is a fairly new education and demonstration site and an intentional regenerative community in Western Colorado. In the spirit of biocentrism and collaboration, this site is offering creative space for workshops, activism, and community-building. Our vision is to be surrounded by energy efficient homes, perennial food forest gardens, healthy soils, clean reliable water and healthy air. Just as we design this resilient system on the ground we nurture similarly supportive social, economic, cultural, and educational guilds.
To learn more about us please go to
https://wildcooperative.wordpress.com/about-us-2/
We offer three main ways to become a part of our community:
As a Member
Our new community member will resonate with our mission and vision statements. Ideally, for our forming community, they will be skilled natural builders with a wide range of maintenance and repair skills and be experienced in off grid living as well as a good communicator. That being said, a variety of skills and knowledge may be an asset to our community – we strive for diversity on many levels. When the whole community accepts the prospective member, they will agree to act in accordance to the covenants and the operating agreement by signing both documents. We have one homesite available for a $100,000 membership fee (plus any improvements that were made specifically to the site by the community, for example a septic system). The site offers many possibilities and the community is open to financing.
For more info please go to:
https://wildcooperative.wordpress.com/becoming-a-member/
As a Caretaker/Homesteader
We are looking for a person, a couple, or a family to live year-round on-site to maintain many aspects of a community-owned off-grid homestead and education center; preferably, someone who resonates with our mission and vision statements and is interested in joining the community but is unable to meet the financial obligations. We want to set up a long term relationship and we foresee this ideal caretaker to receive reciprocal care from our community and be possibly offered a membership in the future.
Regular work hours are approximately 10 hours per week per adult caretaker in exchange for land to live on.
Sought out traits of an ideal caretaker:
- Reliable, Skilled, Passionate, and Flexible
- Willing and able to complete many tasks and work with little direct supervision
- Good communication and leadership skills
- Physically able to work outdoors in all types of weather
The responsibilities will include natural building, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, basic manual labor, etc. Caretakers must be able to safely operate a farm truck and other equipment including power and hand tools. This role will be most suited for an experienced off-gridder.
Depending on your skills and knowledge there are possibilities to teach workshops and lead interns in projects.
As an Intern
Internships at the Wild Cooperative are a great way to experience and learn how to increase your handprint and reduce your footprint on the Earth. Participants will learn off-grid rural life skills, enjoy a pace of life that is in tune with the natural rhythms of the seasons, engage in group planning and enrich self-directing practices.
Our internship season runs from May through October. We request a minimum of a 6 week commitment. Wholesome meals are shared by the community at least once a day. Tent camping accommodations are offered. The average week will include about 4 days of hands-on activities. Hours will fluctuate from week to week, averaging at 35.
Sought out traits of an ideal intern:
- Physically able bodied and Emotionally sound
- Self motivated, Interested in learning and leadership
- Good communication skills and Flexible
- Financially stable and Good references
We ask that people coming as interns pay $300 for the first month to cover their food and other costs (total $500 for 6 weeks). After the 6 weeks, with a mutual evaluation of your stay here, there is a possibility to remain longer and the Wild Cooperative would cover your costs for the remainder of your stay.
We are open to offering to cover food costs or possibly offer a small stipend to an experienced alternative energy/natural building specialist.
For more information about the Internship program at the Wild Cooperative please go to:
https://wildcooperative.wordpress.com/as-an-intern/
To apply for caretaker/homesteader or internship positions, please email us and request an application form at:
wildcooperative@hotmail.com
