1. How do I sign up for an in-person Tour or Virtual Tea Party?
First, read over the "Knowing More About Our Vision"; "Knowing More About Membership";
"Knowing More About Decision Making"; and this FAQ page.
Then, head on over to our "Self-Guided Tour" page
and download, fill out, and send in the Preliminary Application.
2. Do I need to be an artist to live at Ingenium?
No. As Ingenium is growing and evolving, we're recognizing that
having a strong sense of awareness about ones self and how we affect one another
day to day is of primary importance.
We have found that being dedicated to personal and relational growth is naturally conducive to this,
while having an affinity for any type of creative expression does tend to enhance this ability.
3. Where is the property located?
We are 2 miles from downtown Nevada City, California and about four miles from Grass Valley;
65 miles/1 hour fifteen minutes north of Sacramento;
70 miles/1 1/2 hours west of Lake Tahoe;
87 miles / 1 hour and 40 minutes south west of Reno, Nevada;
150 miles/3 hours east of San Francisco;
10,865 miles/several days south east or west of Antananarivo, Madagascar,
which is almost exactly on the opposite side of the planet.
4. How many people live there?
As of autumn 2022, we have four full-time adults,
one part-time college-age student, one middle-schooler, two young kidletts
and several interspecies residents.
We also have the capacity to build a few more structures on a third lot as our numbers grow.
5. What is involved in the "Careteker's Work Trade"?
>> The Caretaker's Position Has Been Filled <<
We have a special cabin that is set aside explicitly for a "Caretaker".
The Caretaker participates in the activities at Ingenium
(i.e. attending Cooperative Processing trainings, shared meals, gatherings etc.) and who feels an affinity with our common values (>> Read through the "Knowing More About Our Vision" page <<).
This role can either be filled by a skilled person who would exchange 12.5 hours of work per week to stay in the Caretaker's Cabin; or by a Caretaker with professional skill and seasoned experience at carpentry/plumbing/electrical (handyman) work for 8 hours work per week w/4.5 hours "Banked" by Ingenium (please inquire for details).
The Caretaker contributes $200 per month into the Community Fund,
plus their share of both common and personal utilities.
Skilled Caretaker's tasks include trail work, landscaping, weed-eating and house cleaning.
Other duties may include pond work, and security.
Professionally skilled Caretaker's tasks would include all of the above and/or general maintenance on all dwellings and structures (light construction/carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting/staining) as needed.
6. Pets?
We allow no more than two pets per household,
not including livestock.
If you have a dog, it needs to be compatible with the current residents,
both human and of the furrier persuasion.
7. I love to travel! Can I come to the weekly meetings via Zoom?
Unfortunately, through past experience we've found that when members attend our regular meetings via video call, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. The distance inherent in using this technology often lends itself to unclear communications and misunderstandings, and it significantly detracts from the energy and connection experienced by meeting in person.
A further note on travel, here at Ingenium all members participate in logistical operations, from things like daily care of the garden and livestock, weekly spa testing and maintenance, and other routine responsibilities. For this reason, it's important that all residents take extra consideration while making travel plans. We've found that residents taking short trips, for example, no more than once each season, tends to work the best for everyone.
8. How much does it cost to live there?
Prices average about $1,500 per month + utilities
for your own private, fully equipped cabin plus 5000+ square feet of shared living space
including the Art Barn, Common House, Spa, Massage Room,
and use of the trails, pond and organic garden space.
Ingenium is not partnered with any supplemental housing program.
Along with monthly costs, each resident contributes 10 hours of volunteer service per month.
Permanently "buying in" as Land Partner might also be an option for seasoned members
who are highly compatible.
9. What are the everyday expectations and activities at Ingenium?
First, there are three main things to keep in mind in general about Ingenium
that residents align their priorities to:
1 - We have a traditional Landowner/Tenant housing structure.
2 - There are cooperative-living responsibilities and a community culture that is
affected by each resident, so ongoing participation is important.
3 - Residents' private endeavors are encouraged in conjunction with
these first two constructs being satisfied.
Along with the above, residents join in several things on an ongoing basis such as:
- Volunteer Service. Each resident contributes at least 10 + hours of service per month.
- A weekly Resident's Meeting where we go over logistics and any special issues,
currently on Wednesday evenings from 6 - 9pm.
- Rotating meeting roles such as facilitator, note taker, time keeper, etc.
- A monthly "Cooperative Processing" meeting where we practice NVC/Compassionate Communication training. Currently these meetings are on Zoom.
- A monthly "Utilities" Meeting. Each household is responsible for one utility account, and
at this meeting we swap checks to pay them.
- A monthly one-on-one meeting with the founder to see how your stay is going,
ask any questions, express concerns, show support, share inspirations etc.
- Monthly Garden Days, where we all help in the garden together.
- Weekly Harvest Day. Each residence gets their own day to harvest for the week.
- Occasional "Land Clearing", "Pond Cleaning" or other "Work Party" days,
usually once or twice a season, and often ending with pizza or take-out.
- Annual Special Event: Each person organizes an interactive special gathering
at least once per year, showcasing their special creative passion(s)
or personal/relational growth project. Even kids are encouraged to participate!
- Spontaneous cookouts, movie or game nights, pond-play days, camp-outs,
brunches, dinners, holiday and birthday celebrations, and off-site excursions.
These are occasional and folks come at their leisure.
10. Can I park my trailer/RV/bus/van and stay on your land?
Unfortunately, trailers or dwellings of this type
are not practical at Ingenium both for aesthetic reasons and
because the county has specific regulations
regarding how many residences are permitted on the property.
Also, there is a comprehensive integration process for joining Ingenium.
See #17 below.
11. Do you have any short-term rentals?
A main purpose for the Ingenium project is to develop long-term connections and to establish an environment conducive to deep, meaningful personal growth. For these reasons most of our cabins are only available for long-term rentals and eventually land-partnership buy-ins.
12. I don't have the funds to pay full rent/membership fee.
Can I do more work-exchange beyond the 10 hours per month instead?
The rent/membership fee covers homeowner's insurance and taxes only.
No maintenance and no profit.
Thus, the ten service hours per month helps us to take care of our maintenance needs,
but the rent is non-negotiable.
Ingenium is not partnered with any supplemental housing program.
13.I'm interested in Ingenium but don't have plans to move just yet.
What should I do?
We strongly encourage anyone who resonates with Ingenium's vision and goals
to go ahead and read through the virtual "Self-Guided Tour" and fill out and send in
a Preliminary Application no matter when your ideal move-in date might be.
That way you'll be high on the list for when a cabin opens up in the future.
Even if a cabin is open now, our priority is to join with folks who would be the most compatible,
more so than keeping to a strict time frame.
14. Can I rent your space to hold my wedding, public workshop or retreat there?
Again, because we at Ingenium aspire to focus on our own creative endeavors
and long-term interpersonal connections,
we typically don't rent our spaces out for public events.
15. Can I grow pot on your land?
Nope. Cannabis growth is not permitted either on the land, inside dwellings or inside any structure.
More detailed info can be found on the "More About Our Vision" page.
16. I'm coming to town soon. Can someone show me around the property?
At this point we are not offering private tours.
However, both in-person group Tours and "Virtual Tea Parties" do take place intermittently.
Private site visits and personal time on the property are welcome after completing one of these.
See our virtual "Self-Guided Tour" page for upcoming "Tea Party" and Tour dates and details.
17. How can I become a resident?
January 2023 Update: We have two cabins currently available!
Keep reading for more info.
Frequently Asked Questions
* * * * * * * * *
To be considered as a prospective member, follow all of the steps outlined here:
1 - Self-Selection: Thoroughly looking over the web site will give you a pretty good idea
of whether this is a good project for you to join.
Specifically, it's important to carefully read through this page,
and the "Knowing More About Our Vision" page
which describes the most significant values that we expect participants to share.
Also, read through the "Knowing More About Decision Making" and "Knowing More About Membership" pages in order to be fully informed of our processes.
2 - .Involvement: Folks who participate regularly and offer their time, energy and positive contributions will be considered for residency and will be able to take part
in certain decision making.
The formal steps to integrate into Ingenium are:
- Join our MeetUp group and/or our FaceBook Group.
- Complete the "Virtual Self-Guided Tour".
- Fill out a Preliminary Application
and join a virtual "Tea Party" and/or attend one of our in-person group Tours.
- Complete the NVC introductory video series.
- Come for a site visit, spend time on the land, and begin service hours.
- Complete the "Living NVC" or the "Get Started with NVC" course
or another significant NVC training modality.
- Attend at least 2-4 of our group "Cooperative Processing" sessions
and 2 private sessions with just residents before moving in,
and then ongoing group sessions thereafter.
- Attend at least two resident's meetings before your immersion week, and more regularly
the more you integrate. Attend at least one Utilities meeting before moving in.
- Join the social gatherings that are of interest to you, listed on MeetUp or on our
FaceBook group. Extra points for initiating your own!
- Spend an introductory weekend at Ingenium
- Volunteer at least ten hours of service
- Organize a special event or project that showcases
your creative or personal/relational growth passion.
- Spend an immersion week at Ingenium.
- Optional: Read the "Creating A Life Together" book (Required to become a Land Partner).
3 - Compatibility: By attending our ongoing Cooperative Processing trainings we begin forming a "common language" to present ideas together and pro-actively develop ways of working through any issues that may arise in the future.
Also, by attending resident's meetings, initiating and/or helping to complete projects, and volunteering your time and energy in both productive and social settings here at Ingenium, we create ways to assess how well we communicate, work, and play together, and begin growing a deeply conscious, healthy and joyful culture together.
4 - Apply: After accomplishing each of the steps above, prospective residents can ask to fill out a formal application (it's more comprehensive than the preliminary application). Once that application is approved, residency would take place in successive stages to give each party a chance to more thoroughly assess compatibility with the goal of permanent residency options such as long-term tenancy or becoming Land Partners.
18. Can I choose a certain cabin if I'm accepted as a resident?
If there is more than one cabin open once your application is accepted,
prospective members are welcome to indicate their preference,
but the final decision will be made by the current residents.
19. I'm still not clear on this "Cooperative Processing" that you speak of.
Tell me more.
Find out all about it by clicking this link: "How to Join Cooperative Processing".
20. I'm the main one interested in pursuing residency at Ingenium. Does my significant other need to come to the meetings and do the 10 hours of Service? How about my kids?
We consider everyone living here at Ingenium a valuable member, and each person's level of participation significantly effects the flavor of the whole group. We all enjoy spending time together, making decisions together, inspiring and supporting each other and more.
Because of that, it's critical for everyone to be involved in at least the basic facets of the project:
> We do expect committed partners to fully participate.
> Anyone over the age of 18, including children on prolonged breaks from college etc., are expected to come to our weekly Resident's Meetings and monthly Cooperative Processing sessions when staying at Ingenium, as well as completing service hours.
All members are encouraged to initiate and join in social gatherings.
> Residents who are 13 and up attend our weekly Resident's Meetings.
We believe that it's important for them to feel that they are an integral part of the Ingenium culture.
Teens also complete service hours proportionate to the time they will be staying on the land,
and are encouraged to join in group events.
> The Cooperative Processing meetings are required for adults over 18,
and optional but strongly encouraged for those 13 and older.
> Children under 13 would also be expected to contribute to volunteer service,
but to a somewhat lesser degree.
> Please arrange your own childcare for anyone under the age of 13.
21. I'm unable to/don't want to/can't becuase the dog ate my homework - get on to the MeetUp site or the FaceBook group to sign up for things. Can you please send me information via private message, email or phone call?
We get many requests, very frequently for details & directions to tours, meetings & activities to be sent to individuals privately. Accommodating so many requests would take much time, and we'd be repeating information over and again. Also, the RSVP logs enable us to be organized around who is coming, and gives us a way to let everyone know when there are changes in dates, times, and locations. It is for these reasons that we created the MeetUp site and the FaceBook group and they are our main venue for communication of this kind. We greatly appreciate the extra effort that you make in signing on to these sites and RSVP'ing to specific activities there.
If you do have trouble signing on to our MeetUp site, try 1) either using a desktop or laptop computer and not a phone; 2) use a different browser. If you still have trouble after that, please click the following link and scroll down to the bottom of the page and click "Submit A Request": http://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002877171-Signing-up-and-Logging-in
Our FaceBook Group is generally pretty easy to access.
Thanks so much, now go pet Fido.
22. How can I contact You?
You can send email to: inspire@expressiveartsvillage.com
We've been having some difficulty with our email lately.
If you don't hear back from us soon, please try us via "Messenger" through our FaceBook group,
or through MeetUp.
