Fruit Haven Ecovillage has often been presented as a unified project, but in reality, it is a collection of individually owned properties marketed under a shared vision. Each lot has different ownership structures and administration, with no single governing entity overseeing the community.
No Centralized Legal Structure
While the initial concept aimed to maintain a like-minded community through an approval process for new buyers and visitors, the legal framework for enforcing this was never solidified. The proposed bylaws and contracts were never notarized, rendering them legally invalid. Additionally, no homeowners’ association or LLC was ever officially formed to manage collective decisions.
Challenges of Decision-Making
Originally, the community attempted to follow a consensus-minus-one decision-making model, inspired by sociocracy. However, as the number of owners grew beyond 20, this system became ineffective. Some members disengaged entirely, ignoring discussions but later complaining about decisions. Others consistently rejected all proposals, blocking any meaningful progress. This experience has shown that sociocracy may not be practical for larger groups, and anything beyond 10 people can lead to gridlock rather than effective governance.
Marketing Efforts on Hold
The community’s shared social media and website were instrumental in promoting the vision of Fruit Haven, but due to budget constraints, content updates and administration have been paused. Until a new strategy is determined, there will be no further official online promotion.
Selling Individual Lots
Owners who wish to sell their lots are encouraged to create their own websites or social media pages. These can then be linked from the existing Fruit Haven platforms to facilitate visibility.
Private Titles in Progress
Some owners are currently working on legally separating their lots into private titles. This process can take time, depending on legal and bureaucratic factors. Buyers should be aware that titling status may vary between properties.
Moving Forward
As the community evolves, decisions about future marketing, governance, and online presence will need to be made collectively or on an individual basis. Those interested in purchasing property should communicate directly with owners to understand the specific conditions of each lot.
For now, Fruit Haven remains an idea rather than a formal entity—an experiment in decentralized land ownership with a shared vision but independent administration.
– Fruit Haven Admins