Living at the Homestead:
Community • The Contract • Chores • Meetings • Meals • Outreach Activities

Living at the Homestead: Community

The Contract

Every Homesteader is required to sign the Homestead Contract each semester of residency.

I understand that being chosen to live at the Homestead is an honor and a privilege. This agreement outlines the expectations of the Homestead Advisory Board and my fellow Homesteaders. I understand that if I fail to meet these expectations, I may be asked to leave the Program.

As a Homestead Resident, I will:

Work to fulfill the Homestead mission.

Respect the property, intellect, opinions, emotions, needs, and desires of all members of the Homestead Community.

Conduct myself in a manner which reflects positively on the Homestead Program.

Comply with Denison University rules and regulations.

Positively contribute to the community by:

Attending dinner whenever possible

Cooking dinner at least once a week

Attending Homestead meetings

Participating in and initiating work parties

Helping to maintain the Homestead

Engage in the Homestead's educational mission by:

Taking the Homestead Seminar at least one semester per year

Participating in outreach opportunities

Working on building and gardening projects

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Chores

Everyone contributing to the daily life of the Homestead is part of what makes the Homestead a close-knit community. Each semester, Homesteaders make a list of the daily chores that need to be done and each Homesteader assumes responsibility for one or more tasks.

Here are some of the chores we share:

Chopping wood
Feeding & looking after animals
Cooking meals (Homesteaders pair up & each pair takes a night)
Grocery shopping
Tending the orchard & gardens
Trash & recycling
Composting
Electric & battery maintenance
Attending Homestead Advisory Board meetings

When larger tasks need to get done or projects need to get started, Homesteaders usually organize a Work Party on a Saturday morning. Anyone who wants to come help out is warmly welcomed. For more on Work Parties, and to see some Work Party projects, CLICK HERE.

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Meetings

Homesteaders hold a weekly meeting--usually on a weeknight after dinner. Living at the Homestead means being responsible for ourselves and our home, so we meet in order to discuss and decide on the day-to-day parts of living at the Homie. We might discuss what to do at work party, how to organize cooking times, how to deal with animals, joining organizations or participating in campus activities (such as our Ballzagna dodgeball team). In short, we work together to plan and get things done by voicing our opinions and respecting the contributions of each member of the community.

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Meals

Mealtimes are some of the most important community-building times at the Homestead. Homesteaders traditionally pair up on assigned weeknights to prepare dinner for the community and guests. Every meal is prepared vegan (no meat, dairy, or eggs), although vegetarian sides and ingredients are often on hand.

The cooks ring a cowbell to signal when the meal is ready. Before food is served, everyone who has come to dinner circles-up, holding hands. This time gives us the chance to reflect on the meal, the people who prepared it, and the people who have come to enjoy it!

To learn more about how we shop for, purchase, and prepare our meals, click here.

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Outreach Activities

Although the Homestead is its own community, it is also part of many other communities: the Denison community, the Granville community, and the world beyond. Here are some of the ways we connect with these communities:

Open Houses:
Twice a year, the Homestead invites the entire campus to visit, share a meal, and take a tour.

Workshops:
People from the local community who are interested in alternative building techniques have been invited to come spend a day or so helping the Homesteaders build new structures and learn about these building systems.

Web Site:
We hope that the Homestead Web site will become a useful tool for people researching ecologically-friendly lifestyles.

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