These Three Things Changed Our Community

Published: Tue, 11/19/24

Updated: Tue, 11/19/24

These Three Things Changed Our Community

2024 was a big year for Dancing Rabbit; the most abundant garden year in recent memory, 250 high-potential chestnut trees in the ground, 17 new residents and children, the formation of a homeschool co-op, and impressive progress on various construction projects. While there were many factors at play, there are three things which I believe had an outsized impact:

The Bloom and Build Brigade: an expansion of our work exchange program which hosted up to eight volunteers at a time from April-October. A completely free program for folks to experience radically sustainable community living. This year, we hosted more than 25 volunteers for one month or more.
A new community garden: headed by our wonderful volunteer garden manager (thanks apple!), the garden allowed volunteers to engage in meaningful work, learn valuable skills, and feed our community with nourishing seasonal produce.
A new kitchen co-op, Belly World: this co-op served volunteers, short term guests, and long time members, primarily with food from our gardens and pastures. It was the hub of a diverse and vibrant scene, as well as a crucial landing pad for folks moving to DR.

These three things were the foundation which made so much possible, helping Dancing Rabbit to grow and thrive at a time when establishing viable alternatives to the destructive and isolating tendencies of the wider culture feels increasingly pressing.

In order to run these programs next year, we need funding. Which is why 100% of this year's Giving Tuesday proceeds will go directly to our work exchange and community garden programs!

Donate Now

To support an accessible path to regenerative living and community-scale, sustainable agriculture!

Our goal is to raise $8,000 by Giving Tuesday, December 3. This would be enough for us to hire and train a community garden manager, and cover the cost of running our work exchange program in 2025. In future years, we expect the sale of produce from the garden to offset these costs, but we’re not there yet!

Also, If you’re interested in being a work exchanger (a.k.a. wexer) or our garden manger next year, you can apply through our website.

In community,

Eric Mease

Villager // Land Steward // Development Lead

Center for Sustainable and Cooperative Culture at

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, 1 Dancing Rabbit Lane, Rutledge, MO 63563, USA

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