Earthaven Ecovillage Tours

Most Saturdays
    10:00 am – 12:30 pm (arrive at 9:45)
Customized Tours available

Near Asheville, NC 

Want to get a feel for an ecovillage? 

Only have a few hours for a visit? 

Join one of our tours! Tours are a great entry point into learning the history, purpose, and development of Earthaven Ecovillage. These tours are designed to provide learners with a deeper understanding about living in community as well as the strategies and solutions possible for doing things another way.

In just a couple of hours, you’ll get a very informative introduction to this 29+ year experimental journey of social, environmental and economic sustainability. You’ll not only learn of things you might want to do, but also what you might NOT want to do.

Would you like a tour but can’t make it to Earthaven? Check out our virtual tours. There’s even a recorded tour you can enjoy right now!

Would you like to stay overnight? The Earthaven campground is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights for people taking tours. For more information about camping and to register for a tour with camping, see the Earthaven Campground page.

Want to extend your visit a little longer? Check out these programs that start after a Saturday tour. Bring your lunch and make it a day. Some include an optional Sunday morning work party.

Tour group in front of Earthaven Ecovillage Council Hall

After spending many years accumulating knowledge on sustainable, conscious living, it was a true treat to get to see the practices put in place in person. Our guide was insightful, engaging, and welcoming.

Emi

Experience the magic of Ecovillage living in the Blue Ridge

Earthaven Ecovillage tour near free store

In-Person Tours

Nothing beats being able to actually walk the land, see the Council hall, tour some dwellings, and enjoy interacting with the residents and teachers at Earthaven.

After registering, you’ll be enrolled for a tour and directed to a page with additional information.

Touring with Young Children

While children are a welcome and enriching part of life at Earthaven, our tours are designed for adults. Between the nature of the content and our movement in the village, we’ve found that tours can be quite challenging not only for the families with young children, but also other tour participants. Please consider making arrangements for your young child(ren) while you take a tour, such as arranging child care before coming or designating an adult whose priority is to be with and support the children.

Refund and Cancellation Policies

For Customized Tours:

If SOIL cannot schedule a customized tour that meets your requests:

  • If the registration was made at least 14 days before the requested tour date, you will receive a 100% refund.
  • If the registration was made fewer than 14 days before the requested tour date, there will be a $25 service fee and receive a refund for the balance.

If you need to cancel:

  • 90% refund for cancellations prior to 30 days before the tour.
  • 50% refund for cancellations prior to 10 days before the tour.

If SOIL cancels the tour, you will have the option to reschedule your tour, change to a virtual tour, or receive a 100% refund. If SOIL denies your registration for any other reason, you will receive a 100% refund.

Beyond these provisions, SOIL has a No Refund Policy on all of our registrations. If you cannot attend the tour, your registration fee can be considered a donation to our nonprofit to support our continued work. Please contact us if you would like a receipt for this donation.

For Regular Saturday Tours:

  • 90% refund for cancellations prior to 30 days before the tour.
  • 50% refund for cancellations prior to 10 days before the tour.
  • You may transfer your registration to another person or convert your registration to a virtual tour prior to 3 days before the start of the tour.

If SOIL cancels the tour, you will have the option to reschedule your tour, change to a virtual tour, or receive a 100% refund. If SOIL denies your registration, you will receive a 100% refund.

Beyond these provisions, SOIL has a No Refund Policy on all of our registrations. If you cannot attend the tour, your registration fee can be considered a donation to our nonprofit to support our continued work. Please contact us if you would like a receipt for this donation.

Walking tour of Earthaven Ecovillage

Scheduled Saturday Tours

Saturday Tour Cost

$25-35 sliding scale per adult. Kids are free.

Upcoming Saturday Tour Schedule

April 13 & 20
-> April 13, 1-4: Developing Off-Grid Infrastructure Saturday Session

May 11 & 25
-> May 11, 1-4: Bioregional Herbalism Saturday Session

June 8, 15 & 22
-> June 8, 1-4: Gardening in Harmony with Nature Saturday Session

July 6, 13 & 20
-> July 13, 1-4: Soil Health, Human Health Saturday Session

August 3, 10 & 24
-> August 10, 10-4: Natural Building Tour Saturday Session

September 7, 14 & 21
-> September 7, 1-4: Vegetable Fermentation Saturday Session

October 5, 12 & 26
-> October 26, 1-4: Home Funerals, Home Burials Saturday Session

November 9 & 23
-> November 9, 1-5: Biochar, Milpa Farming & Ecstatic Tortilla Grilling Saturday Session

December 7 & 14

The tour starts at 10 am and lasts 2-2.5 hours.

Customized Tours

Schedule a tour on your schedule, tailored to your interests. You can register for a customized tour with this registration form. At least 2 weeks advance notice is recommended. We might not be able to find a tour guide without advance notice. To ensure that we can accommodate your schedule and any special needs, feel free to contact us before registering.

Customized Tour Cost

$120 for 1-2 adults. $25 for each additional adult. Kids are free.

Camping

The Earthaven campground is generally open April through October. To register and for offsite camping options, see the Earthaven Campground page.

NO Dogs or Other Pets

You will be excused from the land if you bring a pet with you.

We allow service dogs on a case by case basis. Please contact us directly for more details.

This tour was a wonderful experience. I’m at the beginning of my research into Intentional Communities and Earthaven was a great introduction. Our tour guide gave a comprehensive tour in the two hours we had. Starting out with a peaceful time in the Bamboo Grove, tapping into all our senses and being present — it set a wonderful tone for the rest of the tour.

We learned of the history of Earthaven, the founding members and their intentions, and how it’s evolved. I was very impressed with the depth of thought that has gone into this community from the very beginning and this linking with the heart of the community, the mission and goals for the health of all and our earth. It was also a delight to meet the other tour participants and hear where they are on their journey of researching intentional communities in general and Earthaven in particular.

I truly appreciate you offering these tours — it’s a true service for all of humanity.

Cathy

Registration for Saturday and Customized Tours

Complete the registration form once for your party of up to six adults with the same schedule. It takes less than 5 minutes, and you will complete your enrollment with a credit card authorization.

After your enrollment is processed in our office, you will receive several email messages…

  1. An automatic confirmation of receiving your registration form
  2. A payment confirmation from our card processor
  3. Additional information from our registrar as the time approaches

Note: To register for a tour with camping, see the Earthaven Campground page.

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