You might have noticed that we haven’t been posting blog posts lately.
It’s not that East Wind is no longer here, we very much are. We are very blessed, especially in the time of Covid, and have been mostly unaffected by the pandemic thus far. We discontinued our visitor periods for a few months, but then started them back up again in July.
The lack of blog posts is due to Sumner, their author, taking a leave of absence and no other East Winder feeling called to write them.
While I, too, do not feel the call of blog post writing, I have been running social media accounts for East Wind. If you’re interested in what’s been going on in our community, you’ll find frequent updates there. We have both Instagram and Facebook accounts, both @eastwindcommunity.
I’m very interested in learning more about your way of life. I think it’s beautiful and a great idea.
Wonderful! There’s a lot of information here on our website. You can also check out our YouTube channel and Instagram page:)
Way to shift the blame, Boone! <3
Yes, don't forget the East Wind Community YouTube channel.
Says the quitter
so thrilled to see you all doing well. i am happy you are not affected by covid. are phone calls to EW main office to ask questions ok? or do you prefer virtual inquiries? im in an environment where internet access is not frequent- baltimore md. thank you
Sure, call or email, either way
I was really saddened when I saw that the blog posts had stopped. It compounded my stress and anxiety around COVID. Reading this blog has been fuel for my day dreams since high school. I am glad that all is well. Thank you for sharing the social media accounts. I had planned to visit this last winter but I felt called to run for public office to stop a multi billion dollar company from quarrying in my hometown. I was elected this year at the age of 22. I hope to visit East Wind in the summer of 2022. Thank you Summer for working on this blog. It helped me.
Hey Jesse,
Thanks for reaching out. Really means a lot! Congratulations on the new position. Good luck in the battle against greed. Maybe we will meet at EW someday.
I missed the AMA for Boone Wheeler, a member of East Wind. But I have so many questions!! Please help (anyone).
Chiefly I have 2 questions:
I have done some research on East Wind, and it seems that acts of labor such as teaching a fellow community member to dance or cooking a meal are given the same “weight” as taming the overgrown garden in the greenhouse or fencing/difficult ranching work. In recent videos, the garden in the greenhouse is very much overgrown (one entrance is completely impassible), and Ishmael also stated that there aren’t enough members willing to do difficult fencing work or other ranch upkeep.
My question is: would you ever reconsider the “weight” of tasks so that more undesirable tasks receive credit for, let’s say, 2 times the amount of credit received for milking a cow or making a meal? I personally have done fencing work (when I was a 17 y/o 99 lb. girl) and it is intense- the heavy wire gave me a back injury and the actual metal post-driver that needs to be slammed on top of the posts to drive them into the ground is pretty tough. I am not insulting people who make meals or milk cows: I personally love those tasks and find them very healing! I just wonder if it would help your community to incentivize more difficult tasks to assign.
2. I have noticed that the managers in your nut butter “factory” (I think too highly of your operation to use the term factory), the managers in your dairy, and your General Manager over East Wind are typically male gendered. I also noticed in some videos with men and women that mostly the men spoke and the women sat and nodded, occasionally adding phrases like “yes, that’s true.”
I understand that these positions are elected by egalitarian members, but are there ways that you try to nominate women to positions of respect/ responsibility in your community?
I can predict your response: “Well, women don’t typically step forward in elections for positions of authority such as management roles due to pre-existing stigmas we are working to dismantle.” or “Well, we are an egalitarian community and therefore all members are worthy of respect- being a manager should not equate to respect here or anywhere else.” ALL WORTHY POINTS. My main question is: do you find it problematic that men are in management positions mostly and I don’t see women speaking out?
The first thing to understand is that no one person can speak for community. So I will only be answering your questions as an individual.
1) I think it used to be that way. It could be again if someone brought it to meeting and a vote.
2) There are lots of women managers at East Wind. Arguably the most powerful managership, Finance Manager, has been a woman for the last decade. One of the largest budgets, Kitchen, is a woman manager. Our Building Maintenance manager is a woman. I don’t have access to the manager list right now, but I’d guess it’s roughly 50/50, despite the gender ratio being around 65/35 men to women right now.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions! It’s good to know that there are some women managers- I love to hear that!
Also, I have been considering purchasing one of those pre-fab cabin kits- I am wondering if your community has had success with those and if you have any tips for me. Thanks again!
Do you still take new members?
Yep:)
I would really like to visit you guys I have been researching communities alot recently
I have been doing much reasearch on this community, and post-covid I would love to join and become a part of this wonderful community. I was wondering howeer about relationships, if that was also a part of the community, if relationships, male on male, female on female, relationships were allowed. Thank you!
Community as such is not involved with personal relationships as long as they are consensual and non-violent. Homosexuality is welcomed at East Wind.
Hello! I just wanted to say that I admire your community and what you have and are striving for. I just purchased some Utopian sandals and received them today. Fantastic! Please pass along my thanks to the folks that create these.
Hi there, my family is considering a move from the pnw to the so mo area and we are wondering about the naturopathic , bodywork, homeopathic, or functional medicine options around you guys? We’re basically woodsy musical hippie creative people — a lot like y’all from what I can tell, although far less food secure at the moment, haha. curious also if there a lot of natural Livin homesteady type families in the area Aside from East wind specific? Or is you guys scene the only island of progressive eco type back-to-the-landers in a big sea of Bible Belt type families? We’re not afraid of a blend, just curious where the earth people are 🙂 we have 5 homeschool teenagers so we’re kinda snooping around for other Like minded families before we settle on an area to buy land. you guys have an impressive and inspiring scene there btw! Sending love:)
Thanks for any thoughts!
Hey there!
I’m not too familiar with the full scope of naturalistic medicine in our area, but there are chiropractors and midwives nearby.
The Ozarks were home to the Back to the Land movement back in the seventies and there are a good amount of homesteaders and other landbase minded folk in the area.
Hope this helps!
Hi! I am a freshman in college and love your community. After college I am looking to join an intentional community, but am worried about how I would deal with my student loans. Is there a student loan/debt pay off system in place at East Wind?
No, there is not debt relief program. You can take loans from the community, but they get paid back overtime.
You can take the tactic of stopping payments. This has been done by at least a couple people. It does destroy your personal credit, of course… so you have to have a very long term community plan! =) If you find you like East Wind or Twin Oaks or Acorn enough, it could be the right choice for you! 😉 Not advisable, of course.
Hi. I’m really interested in visiting your community some day. But I’m British. Is that a problem – do you ever get foreign visitors, or even foreigners who eventually come to live with you? I’m guessing not for the latter, since getting the right to live in America is pretty tough and I’m guessing you aren’t able to sponsor visas or whatever.
Yes, foreigners are free to visit as well as live (depending). I’m not sure about the visa requirements. There are some people from France here currently (as members). Best to ask Membership via email. -Sumner
I would love to learn more about your place I live in Utah now I have a sister and family in St Louis area I was a police officer for 19 years in a magic show for 12 years before that I have a steady income I’m 61 but don’t seem like it single my wife passed away 3 years ago and I think what you’re doing looks really awesome and successful I would be happy to send more information about myself
Do I just show up?? Im moving to Springfield soon and would like to check out east wind.
Nope, drop ins are not allowed. Instructions are on the visitor tab.