Sandhill hosts visitors (primarily during the growing season) who are interested in a sustainable communal lifestyle. We like sharing our home with new people and hope to encourage you on your path. Following is some basic information on how we operate. We are happy to answer your questions.

Kitchen/Meals: We like eating our meals together, hold hands just before dinner (usually between 6- 7), and ring a bell ten minutes before we gather. The cook of the day puts out lunch and dinner. Folks can generally expect to drift in and out for breakfast. Most of the food provided we grow ourselves and the menus vary with the season.

As the cook is responsible for kitchen cleanup for the day, this is an area where visitors can generally plug in easily. To minimize cleanup, we ask each person to choose a personal mug and be responsible for keeping it clean and on a hook. Folks also wash their own plates, bowls, glasses and silverware as well as any breakfast pots.

Please be sensitive to the space needs and mental concentration required of the cook especially as mealtimes approach. Do help yourself to snack food and beverages that are not labeled for a specific use and advise us of your dietary preferences.

Recycling and Compost: There are separate buckets for chickens, compost, and eggshells by the kitchen stove. Chickens eat most anything excluding coffee grounds, garlic/onion skins, and citrus rinds. In this area you will also find paper recycling and a bin marked "landfill." The back porch as well as Karma kitchen have more recycling and compost buckets.

Work Scene: Most visitors are interested in working and learning with us. We do not have a work quota system, though we do expect our visitors to share in the daily work. We try to make work areas known and options available for folks to participate. There is often a "things to do" list posted on one of the bulletin boards in the common house. Please tell us what work areas interest you and ask clarifying questions. We encourage you to find the right balance of work and rest for yourself.

Computer/Power Tools: Our norm is to use computers in our office space and, for some members, in their bedrooms as well. We don't generally bring computers to other public spaces or meetings. If you would like to use our computers for email, etc, please ask for an orientation. Likewise, our flour mill, washing machine, power tools, and other equipment are also available to help get tasks done. Before using them, please ask for an orientation.

Vehicles: Sandhill operates a small fleet of vehicles for use by its members, interns and others by permission.  We strive to minimize our use of the vehicles by ride-sharing and good planning so that multiple errands are done on any given trip.  We post a vehicle signout sheet so that trips are known ahead of time. Any non-member who wishes to drive a Sandhill vehicle, will need to have a valid drivers license, will be asked about their driving record, will be oriented to the use of the vehicle signout sheet and will be notified of our accident policy. 

Pets: You will need to check with us before bringing any pets here. We require all pets to be friendly to all, traffic savy, and they will need to stay out of the chickenyard and the gardens (which are unfenced). Pets are generally not allowed inside of buildings. If you are uncomfortable with anything our dogs do, please speak with one of the members. We ask that you do not feed the cats or dogs as we monitor their diet. .

Meetings: Generally, we meet weekly and our meetings are open. The farm bell is rung 10 minutes before meetings. We often ask for "check-ins" where everyone has the voluntary opportunity to speak about how they are feeling and what is up for them, personally and/or with their work. We also conduct business agenda at meetings. We take turns facilitating to help balance member participation and inspiration in the consensus process. At your first meeting, you can expect that we will ask you what you would like from your visit with us, and anything you would like to share about yourself. Please note that, at times, an agenda item may appear confusing to a visitor who does not know the history of the subject or the emotions involved. The members of Sandhill prefer that the flow of the discussion not be interrupted to provide visitors with background information. Better to observe and ask someone clarifying questions during a break or after the meeting. We typically are willing to share the information and do appreciate constructive feedback on the issues as well as on our meeting process.

Housing: We try to match folks with the most comfortable housing we have available. Generally, we like to keep farmers' hours: getting up early and winding into quiet time around 9 or 10 p.m. Please take off muddy shoes when coming indoors and help keep firewood supply up during winter. At the end of your visit, please put your linens in the blue commie bin next to the laundry machine and sweep your room. We also ask that you do not use perfumes or use strongly scented deodorants as these odors linger in the rooms. Likewise, please do not burn incense or paraffin candles indoors.

Outhouse/Bathroom/Shower: Two composting toilets and one indoor shower are available. During the growing season, an outdoor solar shower is also typically set up. For peeing, find yourself a cozy spot off the paths. If you use disposable pads/tampons/diapers, please speak with a member about proper disposal. Since the bathroom is small, it is preferable that minimal personal items be brought in. Help yourself to a towel and dry it on the clothesline.

Recreation: Swimmers are in for a treat at our pond! Walkers please be aware that the land across the road to the south is not Sandhill property and we honor the privacy of the landowner. During the winter, we enjoy ice skating and cross country skiing. Throughout the year, we have dinner with Dancing Rabbit & Red Earth Farms on Tuesday nights. We occasionally visit our friends in La Plata (35 mi away) at Wren Song, Butterfly Hill and Singing Prairie. We also have many friends with farms and town homes in our local area.

For town trips, there are many opportunities to ride with others and an online calendar: http://travel.dancingrabbit.org/cal.php for the three communities. We try to carpool whenever possible. We also have board games, decks of cards, and enthusiasm for parlor games, evening talks, and sing alongs.

Alcohol Consumption: Some of us Sandhillers make wine and beer and enjoy drinking and sharing it with visitors. We are comfortable with responsible and friendly alcohol consumption.

Other House Norms: Smoking is not allowed in the buildings or close to entryways. If you smoke, please do not litter with your cigarette butts. We ask that telephone conversations be taken away from common gatherings and that laptop computers not be used in common spaces. Long distance phone calls should be paid for @ .10 per minute. Please take care to leave common spaces, tools, and supplies neat and clean so that others may enjoy and use them.

Thank you for your cooperation in our intention to care for, and care about, each other's well being and happiness. We appreciate the effort you have made to visit and really enjoy sharing with you. We do accept donations to help defray the costs of extending hospitality.