New EcoVillage in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia

A new intentional community focused on bringing together people who want to live and work in an environment that encourages sustainability, personal growth and lifelong learning is coming to the New River Valley.  The Floyd EcoVillage is currently under development and scheduled to open in phases over the coming months.

Funded by private investment, the 75 acre property features designated spaces for residential living units, some of which are planned as duplexes, some single family homes.

Every building will be built to a high energy conservation standard using as many locally harvested building materials as possible and with a net-zero energy use plan. Some will be built by the homeowner, others by the community to be offered as rental or leased housing.

Construction is currently in the final stages on the Community Center, which will be both a central gathering space for the community and a means of generating income for interested residents. The Community Center will include a large Celebration Hall suited for events ranging from theater, dance, and musical performances, to workshops, conferences and weddings. 

A commercially certified kitchen, fully equipped for the use of caterers, small value-added food production and, eventually, a small restaurant and a dining room, the Conversation Cafe, will serve as another meeting space, break room and general dining area.  Nestled beneath the Community Center are two overnight and long-term rental accommodations available to event facilitators and patrons in waiting.

Already in place and expected to be available for rent within weeks is the small group-oriented campground which hosts 10 tent pads circling a shared fire pit, picnic area and a bathhouse with restrooms, showers, a  dish sink and potable water.

In the works is a Bermed Lodge for overnight to long-term rentals. The lodge will include a 2-bedroom apartment and 7 one-room apartment units with a central kitchenette, laundry and community gathering space. Primarily built to house on-site staff and individuals waiting for their permanent residence to be built, the lodge will also host friends of the EcoVillage and will be completed in early 2013.

Also scheduled to be in operation by early 2013 will be an alternative high school, Buffalo Academy, hosted at the Community Center.  Here students’ mental, physical and emotional development will be supported and encouraged through traditional academic studies as well as non-traditional mindfulness education.  

The school will utilize the Community Center, organic gardens and other resources at the Floyd EcoVillage to facilitate project-oriented applied learning.

FloydEcoVillage.com

Contact Information

Amy Avery

Outreach

Floyd EcoVillage

(1) (540) 745-4434

FloydEcoVillage@gmail.com