Welcome to 2024

There is much to share in this unfolding adventure together.

(this is the view from our cherished Bhakti mtn into the heart of Just Love)

just love has been a

courageous

journey of our hearts

After four years dedicated to creating trails, yurts, and fostering a sense of community, we are excited to extend our collective efforts in three innovative directions this year. We are thrilled to introduce a membership program that offers affordable and expanded access to the forest, unveil our long-term vision for a permanent community through the formation of a cooperative, and announce the inauguration of our community green burial cemetery, located atop the sacred Bhakti Mountain. Continue reading for more information on these heartfelt initiatives.

SCROLL BELOW TO READ MORE ABOUT EACH OF THESE NEW PROGRAMS

We’ve truly received the beauty of our shared journeys over the past four years.

We’re witnessing our community blossom into vibrant connections through accessible and heartwarming gatherings. It's with immense gratitude and excitement that we announce a pivotal evolution in our journey together. This year, we transition to a more formal community model, a step that signifies not just the growth of Just Love but a deepening of our commitment to one another and the sanctuary we cherish.

Starting this year, becoming a member of Just Love involves an online meet-up with Bala and a monthly contribution, considered at any level. It's important to emphasize that in 2024, we're focusing on the spirit of commitment rather than the amount contributed. We appreciate the support that has brought Just Love to where it is today. Ensuring no one is turned away due to the amount they can contribute, we're laying the foundation for a community where every member's support is valued.

For those who can contribute more, we kindly ask for your support to cover the real costs of running, maintaining, and building our 716-acre nature preserve. Your contributions are a vital show of priorities and support as we take this first step towards creating more access for everyone.

Our intention is to make our forest sanctuary more accessible, fostering deeper connections. We've seen the magic that regular visits and long stays can weave, and we're committed to keeping this sacred space a financially feasible option for all who find solace here.

Our evolution includes continuing to host public retreats, allowing us to share the healing power of the forest with a broad audience. Yet, as community members, you'll gain the unique opportunity to come for day visits on non-event days, stay overnight and even host and participate in intimate private retreats during the quieter weekdays.

Many of us have unique talents and abilities and have expressed a desire to host some of these smaller, more personal gatherings within our community. This aims to create opportunities for us to support and foster each other's growth in these intimate settings, nurturing the truest gifts of love and nature together.

As we embark on this new chapter toward the cooperative that you’ll read more about below, we are filled with hope and anticipation. We look forward to the deeper connections, shared experiences, and countless memories yet to be made.

Thank you for being an integral, heartfelt part of our journey so far. Here's to learning, growing, nurturing our sacred land, and continuing to share the love and magic of nature together.

2024 STEWARD Membership

There are five Core benefits for members:

  • Discover the Magic of Monthly Community Retreats (March - November)!

    Get ready for days that rejuvenate both body and soul with our community weekend retreats! From Friday to Sunday, dive into a world of relaxation and connection for only $50 per member + food contribution ( Break/Lunch/Din = $10/$15/$20) Normally this is $200+ if you do all of the community weekend gatherings.

    - Friday Overnight Meditation and Breathwork: Start your retreat with a tranquil evening, finding peace in the yurt and under the stars.

    - Saturday Stewarding & Earth-building Activities: Give back to the earth with activities like earth building, permaculture gardening, and trail maintenance, making Sundays meaningful.

    - Evening Drum Circle: Cap off your Saturday with the vibrant energy of our drum circle, a perfect way to connect and celebrate.

    - Sunday Full-Day Forest Therapy: Immerse yourself in the healing power of nature with our guided forest therapy sessions.

    Join us for weekends like no other, filled with joy, healing, and community.

  • Experience the Joy of the Forest with Friends!

    As a member, you’ll have the chance to share the beauty of nature with up to two guests, whether you're planning a refreshing day trip or an immersive overnight stay. Delight in specially accessible rates for you and your guests, plus any applicable taxes. These days are generally open on certain weekends monthly and most weeks, Mon- Thurs.

    Day Adventure: Just $25 + tax per person per day (only applies if not staying overnight)

    - Self-Guided Camping: Dive into the authentic experience for $25 + tax per person per night. This contribution includes your day adventure fee.

    - Glamping: Elevate your stay with our glamping option in our canvas bell tents with plush mattresses for $50 + tax per person per night. If you would like sheet and towel service, that is $25 extra per tent. This contribution includes your day adventure fee.

    Bring your friends and the magic of the forest together!

  • More feasible access to retreats

    As a cherished member, you're in for a treat! Enjoy an amazing $300+ tax discounted flat fee per person on up to three specialty retreats each year. Specialty retreats are all retreats listed other than the monthly community weekends (excludes Sacred Sons). This will give you single or double occupancy in our glamping tents, based on availability. We've reserved three special spots just for members like you at this discounted rate for each retreat. It's our way of saying thank you for being part of our community.

    Remember, these spots are as sought-after as a hidden forest glade and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. So, keep an eye out and snag your spot early to join in the unforgettable experiences waiting for you.

    Don't miss this chance to make memories and dive deep into relaxation and connection. We happily welcome you to more meaningful weekends this year!

  • Unlock the Magic of Hosting Your Own Gathering

    We're excited to offer our members a unique opportunity: the chance to host your very own weekday or weekend gathering in our sacred space for just $100 per person. We want to support more people in our community to hold healing, sacred and joyful space. Whether you're exploring a new passion, refining your practices, or simply wish to share a meaningful experience with a close-knit group of friends, this is your invitation to create magic in harmony with nature.

    These are private intentional gatherings are designed to deepen connections, both with each other and with the forest itself. These are not gatherings that can be advertised to the public. To ensure each gathering resonates with the spirit of our community, we'll collaborate with you to co-create an event that aligns beautifully with the forest's energy.

    Approval is given at our discretion, as we're committed to maintaining the purity and intentions of our shared space. Let's work together to create events that not only honor our individual journeys but also contribute to the collective vibrancy and sanctity of our environment.

    Embrace this chance to bring your vision to life in a setting that promises inspiration, growth, and connection. Welcome to a world where your gatherings can truly flourish!

  • Get Ready to Connect and Create Our Future Together

    We're thrilled to announce a new series of regular virtual meetups designed to bring us all closer and co-create the vibrant future of our community. These gatherings are the perfect opportunity for us to stay connected, share our dreams, and engage in meaningful conversations about the community we're passionate about building together.

    Let's dive into these discussions with enthusiasm and envision the amazing possibilities ahead. Join us in shaping a place where every voice matters and every idea can bloom. We can't wait to see where our collective imagination will take us!

How membership works

Steward memberships are available on a sliding scale to accommodate your financial situation, ensuring everyone interested can join us and feel welcomed. We strive to maintain affordability for all and kindly encourage those who are able to contribute more to please consider doing so. If you're keen to support our community but find the membership fees beyond your reach, we invite you to apply and set a call and we can chat about how we can support you in a good way to contribute through our volunteer program.

As a member, you'll enjoy access to the forest and its programs from March through November each year. The funds collected are used in part for the full-time caretaking of our space, facilitating and supporting the various activities our members wish to undertake throughout the year.

monthly membership fees + Tax

Founding Steward Membership: $25 to $50*

* must have already attended 3 events before 2024 to apply

Steward Membership: $50 to $100

Sustainer Steward Membership: $100+

Student Monthly Membership: $25+

Children Under 18: Free, when accompanied by a parent or guardian who is a member

As always, you can email me at bala@justloveforest.com with questions and thoughts.

The vision for A Permanent Residential community in nature: Just Love Co-op

For years, many of us have shared a dream, talking passionately about what could be.

Now, we're thrilled to take concrete steps toward making this dream a reality. We've spent the last few years engaging in deep conversations, evolving our idea with many lessons learned.

Launching the Just Love Co-op with a Vision for Community and Sustainability

We're beyond excited to kick off the adventure of our lifetime – the birth of our very own cooperative, all steered by our deep-seated beliefs in inclusivity and making sure everyone can join in. We're on a mission to expand our special Just Love Forest by acquiring some stunning land right next door, paving the way for something truly spectacular: a retreat center owned by all of us, the co-op members.

This isn’t just any retreat center; it’s going to be the pulsating heart of all we do. Imagine co-creating the kind of soul-nourishing retreats and events you’ve always dreamed of. Think of it as our very own playground, where every event is a step towards flourishing together, with all the proceeds flowing right back to empower our co-op. The profits from these activities will fuel our long-term goal: to develop affordable, sustainable eco-housing options for our community members in a variety of ways or as dividends distributed to all who help generate the revenue.

Expanding Our Community and Vision

The Just Love Forest Co-op is embarking on an exciting phase of growth, aiming to acquire 100 acres of land adjacent to our current location. This expansion is not just about increasing our footprint; it's about deepening our commitment to sustainability, community, and shared prosperity. Here's how we plan to bring this vision to life:

Acquisition and Development:

Our first step is the strategic acquisition of 100 acres next to Just Love Forest. This will provide us the space needed to further our mission and offer more to our members and the wider community.

Building Infrastructure:

With the newly acquired land, we plan to construct ten yurts or similar structures and a large retreat gathering space, complete with a kitchen and dining area. These yurts will serve as versatile spaces for members and guests, perfect for hosting a range of activities from workshops to wellness retreats.

Revenue-Generating Events and Retreats:

The gathering space will be a hub for co-op members to organize events and retreats open to the public. These gatherings will not only enrich our community with diverse experiences but also generate revenue. This income will be reinvested into the co-op, directly benefiting our members by funding further improvements and initiatives.

Future Opportunities for Members:

After the land is acquired and the initial infrastructure built, our voting membership will play a crucial role in deciding the co-op's future direction. Options include continuing to build affordable housing for members, enhancing our communal event facilities, or distributing dividends back to the members. This democratic approach ensures that all members have a voice in how we grow and evolve.

A Sustainable Model for Community Living:

This expansion is designed to strengthen our co-op financially and socially, creating a sustainable model for community living that prioritizes the well-being of our members and the environment. By investing in infrastructure that supports revenue-generating activities, we're creating a resilient economic surplus that will enable us to pursue our goals of affordable housing and communal prosperity.

Through this plan, the Just Love Forest Co-op is not just expanding its physical territory but also building a stronger, more vibrant community that lives by the principles of sustainability, inclusion, and mutual support.

Exciting times ahead!

We're moving forward intentionally, and we'd love for you to be a part of the next big step. We'll be organizing intimate Zoom calls for small groups soon where we'll unveil the draft vision and various phases of our plan in a cozy, interactive setting. It's a fantastic opportunity to connect, ask questions, and truly understand what we can build together in a financially accessible way.

After our chat, you'll receive a comprehensive 70-page document that outlines all our initial thoughts in detail—think of it as the draft blueprint of shared dreams, ready for you to contemplate and co-create in a variety of ways.

If you're as excited as we are and would like to be included in one of these sessions, please sign up here. We'll be in touch soon with all the details you need to join us. Your insights and enthusiasm are what make this journey so special, and we can't wait to dive deeper with you.

We are also grateful to announce

Just Love is starting a community green burial cemetery on the top of bhakti mountain

We feel that leaving one’s body is the greatest moment of transformation in a lifetime. In our culture there has been a lot of fear and misinformation about this part of our journey. We are collectively working to change that. In many cultures this experience is reverently honored with thoughtful and participatory anticipation with the community.

Many people don’t know the myriad of beautiful options for being buried the traditional way without chemicals, to literally return your body as part of the earth again. In this case, becoming part of Just Love Forest in the truest sense.

This is a community cemetery created for members of Just Love. We require work being done as part of our “Death in the Forest” program that combines nature therapy to get more deeply connected to the land you’ll become part of with conscious planning with a death midwife. You’ll be working with a a team of death midwives who’ll be with you throughout this experience to create an advance directive and other elements to ensure a peaceful and well considered transition in all respects.

We’ll be hosting a Zoom webinar soon to tell you about this thoughtful set of experiences. Please sign up to join us if you are curious for yourself, your pets or loved ones.