Sirius was founded in 1978 by former members of the Findhorn Foundation who were inspired to create a similar community in the U.S.
After a long search, they settled on 90 acres of land in western Massachusetts, which was once sacred grounds for local Native American
tribes. The community was named after the brightest star in the sky and holds the vision of continually evolving as a spiritual community,
a non-profit educational center, and an Ecovillage. Today, there are approximately 30 members at Sirius with many ex-members and
supportive neighbors nearby.
Sirius has a commitment to living in harmony with the Earth. Examples of this lifestyle include using renewable energy sources (e.g., wind
power and photovoltaics), organic gardening (e.g., integrated pest management, conscious attunement to plant energies, and permaculture
techniques), green building (e.g., local, non-toxic materials, passive-solar design, super-insulation); recycling (e.g., free clothing store, re-using
building materials, composting toilets). It also means striving towards simplicity, integrity, and non-violence in our relationships to each other,
our environment, and even ourselves.
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Gap Mountain Permaculture - An ideal place to study permaculture, where the edible landscape is integrated with human habitat in an efficient system.
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Most students choose to camp during the summer program and there are many beautiful spots set off trails in the woods, but also quite close to the
Community Center where students go for showers and meals. There are also indoor spaces available at an extra cost.
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The gardens at Sirius are both beautiful and productive. A vegetable and herb greenhouse is integrated into the Community Center, which contains the kitchen
and dining room.
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Students share meals with residents in the Community Center. While Sirius does not restrict members' dietary choices, it does maintain a vegetarian
kitchen, so all communal meals are vegetarian, as organic as possible, and always with a vegan option. Approximately 30% of the food is grown on
site and much is preserved in root cellars over the winter months.
Summer in western Massachusetts is quite pleasant with temperatures ranging from 60-81ºF with some days above 90ºF. Sirius in on a forested hilltop
so temperatures are typically 3-5ºF cooler than in the valley.
There are no particular health concerns other than occasional mosquitoes and other flying bugs.
Sirius Community - http://www.siriuscommunity.org
Nuestras Raíces - http://www.nuestras-raices.org
Tripple Brook Farm - http://www.tripplebrookfarm.com
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