Children playing and swimming in a natural outdoor pond surrounded by trees.

Chambalabamba

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Ecological
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 2011

What we do

Welcome to Ecoaldea Chambalabamba, evolving community. You can spend time participating in the volunteer program that includes organic garden management-permaculture, agroforestry implementation, bioconstruction of natural buildings, art workshops, making crafts, creative projects, alternative schooling, carpentry, vegetarian cuisine, etc. You can also experience the dynamic organization of the living cell, in which we are creating a caring and sustainable culture. Living near each other, cooperate and share resources so that we can live more lightly and joyfully on earth.
We are always under construction and development of homes, gardens, artistic, and educational projects, which daily physical effort is conducted and intellectual and spiritual work, where you’ll find a balance for a fuller life.
We will wait for you!!!
Bienvenido a Ecoaldea Chambalabamba, comunidad en evolución. Puedes pasar tiempo participando en el programa de voluntariado que incluye manejo de huertos orgánicos-permacultura, implementación de agroforestería, bioconstrucción de edificios naturales, talleres de arte, elaboración de artesanías, proyectos creativos, escolaridad alternativa, carpintería, cocina vegetariana, etc. También puedes experimentar la organización dinámica de la célula viva, en la que estamos creando una cultura solidaria y sostenible. Vivir cerca unos de otros, cooperar y compartir recursos para que podamos vivir más ligeros y alegres en la tierra.
Actualmente estamos en construcción y desarrollo de viviendas, jardines y proyectos educativos, en los que diariamente se realiza un esfuerzo físico y un trabajo intelectual y espiritual, donde encontrarás un equilibrio para una vida más plena.
¡¡¡Te esperamos!!!

Our Mission

Our focus is to create an environment where human beings can THRIVE. Food forests, arts & entertainment, happiness and rainbows. we are exploring, living in freedom and love.
Nuestro objetivo es crear un ambiente en donde los seres humanos puedan prosperar. Bosques de alimentos, artes y entretenimiento, la felicidad y el arco iris. exploramos viviendo en libertad y amor.

  • Purpose
  • Ecological
  • Community type
  • Ecovillage
  • Sustainability practices
  • Permaculture design
  • Natural / low-impact building
  • Activities
  • Farming
  • Education
  • Experiences

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 2011
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 2012
  • Started living together

Video

  • 7 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
18

How to join

volunteer initially for one month or more, then after more months, if it feels right on both sides, one can become a member. we are mostly a latino community of artists, so its good to speak spanish and have artistic or other kinds of skills. it takes some months as a volunteer until its a big yes from all the community and a big yes from the new residents. one needs to write to us through chambalabamba.org under volunteers.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Please email for a visit through our website: chambalabamba.org under volunteers.! For better integration and learning, we suggest a stay with us for a period of one month as long as there is harmony between the two sides. After a month of volunteering, if you intend to remain, a meeting will decide on the matter to be, We are also open to the possibility of new residents — families with children, couples and singles. And we have 4 beautiful rental houses and 3 rooms in the treehouse.

Primary decision-making authority

  • All Community Members Together

The whole membership decides collectively.

Decision-making process

  • Full Consensus

Everyone must agree before moving forward.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Conflict resolution approach

we are a living example of anarchism. that is, consensus decision making process, all are equal, no rules, only agreements, self organizing.

Economic model

  • Partial Income-Sharing

Members contribute a percentage of income to community funds.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • Members need to pay fees, dues, or similar to live there on a per month or per year basis
  • There is a labor obligation

Additional economic information

Regular fees: $20
Labor: Yes (20 hrs/week)
we are looking for ways for the community to make money, like retreats, workshops, festivals, concerts, making things in our wood and metal shop, products from our gardens. if anyone reading this can help bring people here for a 10 day retreat, please contact us. and also, people currently must spend about $20 per week for us to buy food at the market.

Shared resources and amenities that are accessible to everyone in the community

Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Large Scale Kitchen, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Stage or Auditorium, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Waterfront access, Internet

Frequency of communal meals

  • 2-5 times per week

Dietary restriction

  • People can cook and eat what they want in their own residence

Community activities and engagement

  • School, Educational Institute or Experience
  • Volunteer, Internship, or Apprenticeship, or WWOOF’ing
  • WWOOF'ing, Guest Farming
  • Festivals, Conferences, Events

Substance use culture

  • Substance use occurs primarily at celebrations or ceremonies
  • Substance use is prohibited in the community

Gender composition

  • Roughly balanced (no group over 60%)

Age demographics

  • Multi-generational (all ages well represented)

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a Community Land Trust or some other kind of nonprofit

Setting

  • Rural

Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.

Community type

  • Ecovillage

    Integrated communities designed around ecological principles with sustainable living practices.

Community type

  • Partially built or remodeled with recycled or environmentally friendly materials, and/or using natural building methods

Sustainability approach

  • Permaculture design
  • Natural / low-impact building

Land practices in our community

  • The community practices permaculture

Community type

  • Partially built or remodeled with recycled or environmentally friendly materials, and/or using natural building methods

Some or all of the buildings are...

  • Partially built or remodeled with recycled or environmentally friendly materials, and/or using natural building methods

Self-produced energy

  • Up to 33%

Self-produced food

  • 33 - 66%

Local, organic, or fair trade food

  • Up to 33%

Food systems

  • Community garden
  • Food forest
  • Greenhouse / aquaponics
  • Land area size
    15 acres

Guest Book

Written reviews are available for plus members. Click here to upgrade.

Location

  • Loja, Ecuador

Promoted Needs and Offers

Need
  • Forming Communities
6 months ago

True North CoHousing Community Seeking Founders

True North is a small, women-centered intentional community where self-directed, purposeful women share space, resources, and genuine commitment to each other’s wellbeing. We are building something that is greater than the sum of its parts — a life that is richer, more secure, and more meaningful because we are living it together. Our Vision A community where no one falls through the cracks. Where aging is something we navigate together rather than alone. Where the people around you notice when you’re struggling, celebrate when you’re thriving, and show up — not because they have to, but because that’s simply who we are to each other. We are building this as a tiny house village — a model we chose deliberately. Many intentional communities require crazy buy-in sums, putting them out of reach for most women navigating life on a single income. We believe that financial accessibility isn’t a compromise — it’s a value. Your home will be yours: as simple or as appointed as fits your life and circumstances, sized right for the life you are living now and the one you are building toward. We live lightly on the land and invest heavily in the relationships that make life worth living. We’re currently forming our founding group — the women who will help shape what this community becomes, where it lands, and how it lives. Not ready to be a founder but feel this in your gut? We want to hear from you too. There’s a place for you here at whatever stage feels right. https://www.truenorthcommunity.info/ jhock2016@proton.me
Offer
  • Marketplace
6 years ago

Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves Books for Sale

Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves, Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant introduce Cohousing with stories and pictures of both Danish and American communities. Beautiful photographs and line drawings illustrate the warmly written account of how these communities came to be. Specific information on legal and financial aspects of working with developers, group process, and design issues make this book informative as well as inspiring. This is the book which brought Cohousing to North America. This book is the much prized second edition which has become a rarer and somewhat of a collectors item. Its community case studies were not included in the more recent publication. It preceded Creating Cohousing which is widely available. I acquired 25 cases from a local distributor who closed down. If you would like three or more copies for yourself, to share with your friends or to market your group, please let me know. I would love for them to be made useful and find great homes. Books are paperback (hard copy was not an option at the time from the publisher) all brand new, in Oakland (CA) so could be picked in Oakland or mailed to you. I would very much like to recuperate what I paid which is $10 per book. So, If you would like three or more shipped, I will add the postage, packing and handling fees. I have sold several cases (18 books per case) for $150 per case ($8 per book). I have a little wiggle room on the pricing. Please let me know if you are interested. Use the Send Message button on this page.
Offer
  • Communities with Openings
2 weeks ago

Still Point House Manager

Still Point House Manager (Northampton) Windhorse Integrative Mental Health, Inc Are you interested in working where you live? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? Do you have experience with running a household, and do you appreciate community-based environments? Windhorse is seeking a manager of a hosted home environment for individuals working with extreme mind states who are arriving to our step-down program. When a Windhorse client first arrives, they are received at our Still Point house, an established home environment where they can land, orient, and meet their clinical team. Each client remains at our Still Point house for two to twelve weeks, at which point they then move to an apartment, which they share with a housemate. Windhorse is seeking a Still Point Manager who will live ongoingly in a house in Northampton and help with these transitions as well as other uses for the house. This individual should be skilled at running an uplifted home (including typical home cleaning and maintenance), cooking, and shopping for the home. They also need to be emotionally regulated, welcoming, compassionate, organized, and patient. While the Still Point Manager has extensive clinical support, the job itself is not clinical. In addition, the Still Point Manager is anticipated to hold outside employment and may do so for up to 20 hours per week. During periods of vacancy when there is no client in residence, the Still Point Manager may also be asked to host guests in the home, either other housemates when they are on respite from their households, or friends and family members from the Windhorse community. In addition, during vacancy periods the Still Point Manager is responsible for providing short periods of respite coverage during housemate time off. This may involve staying with the client in their apartment while the housemate is away (typically for 3 nights) or hosting the client at the Still Point ho
Offer
  • Forming Communities
1 month ago

Join us in Our Adventure of Co-Creating a Life of Peace, Love, and Abundance Together!

LOOKING FOR OUR NEW FAMILY OF CO CREATORS TO JOIN OUR ADVENTURE! Message us to schedule a visit! More about us and our vision below! Read on and we look forward to hearing from you soon if you feel in alignment with our vision! A forming and co-created spiritually-oriented intentional community and homestead nestled in the beautiful woods of Northern Michigan. We are focused on self-awareness, free and open spiritual/consciousness development, sustainable living, self sufficiency, growing organic food, building small energy efficient homes/dwellings, peace, and freedom in all things. We are looking to build a community of like minded souls that share in our vision of creating a harmonious and sustainable way of life that is close to nature and focused on living from the heart/soul. Seeking kind, compassionate, caring, and emotionally mature souls who are good at non violent communication, resolving conflict peacefully, and working together. The community property is well on its way to sustainability already with a fruit orchard with over 18 apple trees and a variety of plum and pear trees. The property also has 2 very large organic gardens covering around 3 acres in total combined size filled with organic healthy vegetables for community self sufficiency, farm market selling, and food preserving (canning). We have plans to build a couple energy efficient green houses in the near future! We are also getting 30-40 chickens for egg production within the next month. Also considering a couple cows or goats for milk. We currently have 3 houses on the homestead property that are available to new community members for rent or work trade or a combination of both! The main community house has potentially 6 bedrooms available as well. We have plans to build multiple small/tiny homes and cabins in the beautiful woods here for members that are energy efficient and off grid with renewable clean energy/electricity and rainwater harvesting. We are working on a community in

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