A core group of people first gathered on October 30, 1987 and met regularly thereafter every Friday night for seven years to exchange personal stories and dreams. They had all read Scott Peck’s book, “A Different Drum,” which suggests that the way to world peace is through individuals coming together to share their lives, to work out their differences, and to find resolution to life’s problems through community building. The group grew, attracted interest, and soon many were meeting each Friday night to identify how they might build a meaningful, enduring community.
Two years of meetings focused specifically on issues of a Vision Statement reflecting community values and on creating a form of governance by consensus. In 1992, some member of the group decided to take a bold next step: to buy land, to build homes, to learn how to take care of the land in a sustainable, environmentally sensitive way.
After searching for many months, we found a 64-acre farm seven miles northwest of Pittsboro, North Carolina (about 30 miles west of Raleigh and 12 miles south of Chapel Hill). The land had a history; it had been owned and farmed by the Lutterloh family for many years. Later, it was sold to the Cooke family of Graham who built the two ponds and operated a horse and hay farm. Today, there are two ponds, a spring, five fields, Dry Creek forming our southeastern border, about 40 acres of hardwood and pine forest, and a marked hiking trail. The dream of Blue Heron Farm has become a reality.
The pioneer residents purchased houses that could be recycled. Some were in the path of new highway construction and needed to be moved or they would be demolished. Others were in need of major restoration, although they were of sound structure. Five of the existing 9 homes were moved onto the land and restored to be more environmentally sound with passive solar retrofit, on-demand hot water heaters, etc.
With community consensus, one courageous member undertook renovation of the abandoned 1860’s farmhouse, and eventually, along with the work of other members, turned it into the warm and wonderful home it is today.
The members continued to meet regularly to develop by-laws and form the corporation to which all members equally belong, to make consensus-based agreements to plan roads and install electric lines, dig wells, construct septic fields, establish sites for 15 households, and develop the infrastructure of a small village. They put in thousands of hours of volunteer physical labor, as well, on these projects during Community Workdays.
Two years of meetings focused specifically on issues of a Vision Statement reflecting community values and on creating a form of governance by consensus. In 1992, some member of the group decided to take a bold next step: to buy land, to build homes, to learn how to take care of the land in a sustainable, environmentally sensitive way.
After searching for many months, we found a 64-acre farm seven miles northwest of Pittsboro, North Carolina (about 30 miles west of Raleigh and 12 miles south of Chapel Hill). The land had a history; it had been owned and farmed by the Lutterloh family for many years. Later, it was sold to the Cooke family of Graham who built the two ponds and operated a horse and hay farm. Today, there are two ponds, a spring, five fields, Dry Creek forming our southeastern border, about 40 acres of hardwood and pine forest, and a marked hiking trail. The dream of Blue Heron Farm has become a reality.
The pioneer residents purchased houses that could be recycled. Some were in the path of new highway construction and needed to be moved or they would be demolished. Others were in need of major restoration, although they were of sound structure. Five of the existing 9 homes were moved onto the land and restored to be more environmentally sound with passive solar retrofit, on-demand hot water heaters, etc.
With community consensus, one courageous member undertook renovation of the abandoned 1860’s farmhouse, and eventually, along with the work of other members, turned it into the warm and wonderful home it is today.
The members continued to meet regularly to develop by-laws and form the corporation to which all members equally belong, to make consensus-based agreements to plan roads and install electric lines, dig wells, construct septic fields, establish sites for 15 households, and develop the infrastructure of a small village. They put in thousands of hours of volunteer physical labor, as well, on these projects during Community Workdays.