Are you feeling the call to move to land and live in community?

• To live as a village and cultivate a way of being in good relations with ourselves, each other, and nature?
• To live an alternative lifestyle that strives to be earth-honoring and sustainable, where relational care is valued, and where we dedicate energy to strengthening our resilience as individuals and as a group?

The Sacred Groves community is looking for cultural creatives and hands-on doers who are ready to answer that call.

This land, a ten-acre forest sanctuary and small intentional community on Bainbridge Island (only a half-hour ferry ride from downtown Seattle), has been a gathering space over the past 20 years for countless rituals, nature-based ceremonies, healing work and retreats that have supported deep reconnection with our bodies, ancestors, with a sense of community, and with the natural world all around us.

This is a space where creative expression is encouraged, a sense of belonging is fostered, and where justice and equity are valued. A land where a ‘voluntary simplicity’ lifestyle is encouraged, living in connection with others but also with some privacy, in a rural setting where there are gardens and forests to explore, honor, and care for.

There are currently six of us living on the land, ranging in age from our 30’s to 70’s–a beautiful blend of elder guidance and younger energy. The land has clusters of small structures around a beautiful common house with gardens, forest, a meadow, trails. Because of our values for a low impact life-style, we live “small is beautiful” in private bedroom units, structures, and yurts, sharing bathrooms, kitchen and living room, within our communal gathering space–the roundhouse “Great  Room”.

As of April 2024, we have two units available –for a single person and/or a couple.  We are especially interested in folx who are ready to settle in for awhile, put down roots, and invest time and energy in building relationships with the land and the community here.  We are looking for people with the following skill-sets and/or passions:

• Hands-on fix-it skills in carpentry, plumbing and/or electrical, working with and under the mentorship of our resident handyperson/builder, Tere.  (Rent deferred for those with skills who can significantly contribute to maintenance of structures.)
• Tending gardens & grounds, growing and processing food and herbs
• Interest in participating in circles/rituals already happening at Sacred Groves
• Teaching/facilitating workshops/rituals/healing work at Sacred Groves

The founding elders of Sacred Groves, Thérèse and Tere, are looking to gradually pass along this legacy to younger folks who want to dig in and consider carrying this work forward.  

If you believe that the earth is sacred and that music, dance, prayer, ceremony, food, gardens, and time in the natural world are essential for personal and community health–please come talk to us!

Note: Sorry to say, we are not open to dogs and cannot accommodate children at this time.

If you are interested in exploring residency at Sacred Groves further, please email Jordan at jordan.s.lyon@gmail.com and request our application questions.  The steps in our application process are as follows: 1) Once we receive and have time to discuss your responses to our application questions, we will let you know if you seem to be a good fit or not. 2) If yes, we will arrange for a zoom meeting where you can meet with us, ask us questions; we’ll ask you more questions as well. 3) If we still feel like a good fit, we will invite you to join us for dinner, tour of the land and more discussion. 4) If everyone feels in consensus that you are a good fit, we will move ahead with having you sign a rental agreement and make plans for your move to Sacred Groves.

LIVING SIMPLY

“To be satisfied with a little is the greatest wisdom; and he that increaseth his riches, increaseth his cares. But a contented mind is a hidden treasure, and trouble findeth it not.” Akhenaton

Living at Sacred Groves requires a commitment to downsizing and sharing. There are many good reasons to live more simply, occupy less space, have fewer material possessions. Many people have come to realize that money, big houses, and lots of stuff do not bring bring us fulfillment and meaning. Connection in community and to the natural world do. Here are some links to check out if you are interested in learning more about the many good reasons for living small and simply:

“Tumbleweed Houses” –examples of tiny charming houses, most of which are smaller than our cabins here at the Groves.
Little House on a Small Planet

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, handicap, familial status, or national origin.