“Wherein lies the goodness?”

Aldo Leopold

The Lodestar Gardens Learning Center is comprised of aspiring and practicing artists and farmers who seek a balanced, fulfilled life through (1) art and creative self-expression and (2) by cultivating a responsible relationship with nature and Her capacity to feed us.

We believe:

• In the creative power of community, collective wisdom, and collaboration
• That the arts are an essential component in order to experience a full, meaningful life
• Nature is one of our greatest teachers if we are afforded the time necessary to establish a relationship
• In student-centered, project-based learning

Our experience networking and building community for the past twenty years has taught us three things about groups:

1. A community evolves, each community is and should be unique, no best practices apply to all groups. 
2. Members of a community will learn, change, influence each other, and stay connected for different lengths of time. Healthy groups are dynamic.
3. Ownership, independence, and privacy are essential components which drive commitment and creativity.

Regarding group structure, we have also learned:

• An intention is a concept; an intentional community is an ongoing collective experiment in manifesting that concept. 
• Agreements are stronger than contracts and should be revisited regularly.
• We trust honesty over regulation.
• Life is simple.
• Self is limitless.

We agree that our individual contributions to society are enhanced through the experience of collaboration in hands-on, student-centered, project-based learning. Together we explore high-desert agricultural practices, application of permaculture principles, alternative energy production, and the inspirational power of this place in the White Mountains region of the Southwest. Individually, we regularly practice our arts in time devoted to reflection, studio work, and research in our project area.

We invite you to join us in this world-shaping endeavor.