Guide for Prospective Residents

We welcome new residents who are well-informed about Earthsong  and eager to become active participants in the community. But first, we want you to understand what cohousing is about and what life is like here so you can be sure Earthsong is a good match for you.

If you think you'd like to live here, start getting to know us now! We encourage you to develop a thorough understanding of what life would be like here before you make a decision.

Use the information below as a guide to help you explore whether you'd like to join us. Feel free to pursue the activities in whatever order works best for you. A printable version of the Guide for Prospective Residents is also available.

• Learn about how the elements of cohousing, permaculture and sustainability are applied at Earthsong. Read our website, and check out other cohousing resources, such as https://www.ic.org/ to understand the elements that are common to most cohousing communities and the benefits of this way of life.

• Read  “Cohousing for life”, Robin Allison’s story of founding Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood,  what she and other founders learnt about key issues faced by cohousing groups, from design and development to governance and leadership, and how they applied these in establishing Earthsong.  

• Take a tour of Earthsong so you can see how the community is laid out and get answers to your initial questions about what it's like to live here. Public tours are publicised on our website, and private tours can be run by arrangement with the Earthsong Education Collective. 

• Read our governing documents so you are familiar with the Membership Agreement, Body Corporate rules and the guidelines we've established for our community. All residents are bound by these, including tenants.

• Observe our meetings so you can see our system of governance and decision-making in action. We strive for consensus, listening to and discussing each other's concerns until we find creative solutions to the challenges we face.

• Attend social events such as common meals, so you can meet your potential neighbours and talk to residents about their experiences living here.

• Participate in our working bees if you can so you can see the various maintenance, cleaning, and gardening tasks we perform throughout the year and experience the satisfaction that comes from working together with friends and neighbours. 

Please contact us at info@earthsong.org.nz to request a schedule of meetings, social events, and working bees you can participate in. Be sure to reach out in advance to arrange for a host for any activity you wish to attend.

We encourage you to explore Food for Thought, a series of questions to contemplate as you consider joining our community. In addition, we suggest you read our website thoroughly, view the photo gallery we have posted, and watch videos to get a glimpse of daily life here.