Values The values that hold us together can be summed up in the word respect ---respect for the land, for each other, for ourselves.  We try to live lightly on the land, caring for it consciously, though there  are different interpretations among us as to what this means in specific instances. 80 acres or more of Zephyr's land is farmed. This allows our children to see where food comes from. The  wetlands, woods and goat prairies let them grow up with an intimate knowledge of the natural world--where the biggest tadpoles are in the creek, what ice is best for skating, which bluff has the coolest sand  outcroppings. Zephyr has no spiritual or political affiliation. While many of us share similar views about the world we live in and most of us are individually active in various religious, social and  political groups, the Zephyr Coop as a whole is not active in such groups. Adopting a particular affiliation might lead to a greater sense of community identity, but it would tend to exclude people who are not so  committed to one particular path. We all believe in community — in the idea that we can achieve much more collectively than separately. However, we are also individuals, leading separate lives. We have more  of a sense of community than a sub-division, but less than a tightly-integrated commune.  We do not share incomes. It is difficult for a small rural community such as ours to achieve much diversity,  but farming brings us Hispanic workers who live here seasonally. Cohousing is a matter of degree. Urban communities in compact buildings can share many facilities and live very close together. For a rural  community limited by the topography of our valley, it is more difficult. We do not want urban densities, but we do cluster homes to promote social interaction to the extent possible, avoiding the visual dominance of  ridge-top dwellings and the isolation of secluded areas. Our community house has a kitchen and laundry facility, but most of us have these in our own houses.    [ZVCC] [Members ] [Values] [Governance ] [Ownership] [ Financial ] [The Land] [ Things to do]  [Earn a living ] [Visiting Z] [Joining ] [Photo 1] [Photo 2 ]