Rocky Corner Cohousing is being built on a 33-acre former dairy farm in Bethany. The land has fields, rock outcroppings, wooded areas and wetlands.
Our property includes ample space for members to have both private and shared gardens and to raise animals.
Our buildings and roads will occupy a small portion of the land leaving most of the acreage open space for native plants, farming and orchards.
We will apply sound principles to preserve the site’s unique natural resources and protect the watershed directly to the east.
Our intention is to live sustainably, with a minimum of energy use – to consume less and share more.
All of our buildings will face south so that passive solar design and thick insulated walls will keep our homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
We fully support Connecticut’s Smart Growth plans and the Bethany Plan for Conservation and Development, both of which encourage the kind of environmentally sensitive development we plan to build.
Farming
From our vision statement: We strive to balance farming and community life with the preservation of wildlife habitats.
We are working with Ethan Roland, of Appleseed Permaculture who has helped us develop a comprehensive land-use plan for the site based on our goals and on the nature of the place.
We intend for our landscape to provide a bounty of herbs, vegetables, flowers, tree fruits, berries, and nuts. Chickens, ducks and larger animals will be integrated into our farm system to provide eggs, manure, weed control and soil working.
We will strive to produce as much of the needed compost, organic fertilizers, and soil conditioners as possible on the farm.
Cultivated and indigenous plants will provide firewood, posts, construction materials, and craft materials.
Stewardship
From our vision statement: We are devoted to preserving, protecting, nurturing and regenerating the natural environment.
Our land will include habitat for wildlife, areas for solitude and play, and nature-based recreation such as hiking and cross-country skiing.
A key consideration in the permaculture plan is water management. Appleseed Permaculture worked directly with our architect, civil engineering consultants, and landscape architects to create a plan that permanently protects the watershed and is consistent with low-impact development principles.
Sustainability
From our vision statement: We are committed to learning about and adopting practices that minimize consumption of energy, water, and other natural resources.
Minimizing use of energy, water, and other natural resources and creating a sustainable, self-sufficient community is a fundamental goal of Rocky Corner. Our land in Bethany was once a dairy farm. We are excited to bring back sustainable and organic agriculture to the site.
Some of our sustainability goals:
- Placing buildings on a small portion of the land to protect and preserve green space, views and the site’s unique natural resources.
- Consuming a minimum of energy by maximizing solar and other renewable resources.
- Preserving and creating new habitat for wildlife, and space for solitude and play.
- Using sustainable agriculture practices to provide a bounty of herbs, vegetables, flowers, tree fruits, berries, and nuts.
- Using water-management practices to permanently protect the watershed and align with low-impact development principles.