What is the Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage?
Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is an intentional community and demonstration project on a beautiful prairie in Northeast Missouri. For over 20 years, the project has been experimenting its way toward a vision of ecologically sustainable living through the support of one another and a celebration of the everyday joys of rural life. This living laboratory blends organic permaculture gardens, natural building techniques, alternative energy, inner sustainability, and self-governance, all in an environment that invites curiosity and engagement… It isn’t just a place; it’s a lifestyle that inspires contagious hope, encouraging visitors and residents alike to live lightly and purposefully.
Main Benefits and Key Figures
The project offers a wealth of experiences and practical knowledge for those interested in sustainability. Key highlights include:
- More than 20 years as a thriving sustainability demonstration project.
- An expansive 280 acres of native prairie that serves as a dynamic living laboratory.
- An array of programs covering organic permaculture garden design, natural buildings, alternative energy practices, and self-governance.
- A visitor program that spans two weeks, allowing for immersive, hands-on learning.
- One of the largest collections of natural buildings in the Midwest showcased during open house tours.
Sustainable Living Visitor Experience
The Sustainable Living Visitor Program at Dancing Rabbit has been inviting people to explore the art of ecological living for decades. The program is immersive, offering a chance to see sustainable practices in action—from organic permaculture gardens that grow food naturally, to the beautiful, handcrafted natural buildings. Participants gain firsthand insights into alternative energy solutions and inner sustainability practices, while experiencing community-based self-governance. The visitor program is a blend of learning and leisure, where each moment feels like a private conversation with nature… and every detail embodies the spirit of sustainable living.
Building and Learning Workshops
Beyond the visitor program, Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage provides specialized workshops that delve deeper into sustainable building and design. The Natural Building & Cob Oven Workshops are perfect for those who have ever dreamed of building their own oven using natural materials. These workshops offer experiential learning in a friendly, hands-on environment, ensuring that participants leave with new skills and the confidence to get cooking in their own backyards. Additionally, the Permaculture Design Course uses the twenty-year-old ecovillage as a living laboratory, combining the wisdom of the permaculture movement with experiential learning from this intentional community. An Intro to Permaculture Course is also available for those wanting to dip their toes into a sustainable lifestyle, illustrating how interconnected nature and design approaches can be.
Adventure and Retreat Opportunities
The range of opportunities at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is as diverse as it is inviting. The Ecovillage Adventure Weekend provides an exciting peek into what it might feel like to live in an intentional community. Set on 280 acres of native prairie featuring a swimming pond and endless, amazing sky, this event transforms imagination into reality. There is also a Work Exchange program that lets visitors engage in meaningful projects relevant to their skills and interests, offering an authentic taste of community life. Moreover, a four-day Women’s Retreat fosters self-love, growth, and transformation through creative activities and reflective practices. And for those who believe in the power of community spirit, the Singing Rabbit sessions, led by renowned song leaders, create fun, powerful, and transformational musical experiences that celebrate togetherness.
Exploring Hands-On Sustainable Practices
Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is not merely an abstract concept; it is a practical example of how sustainable living can be interwoven with everyday life. During the annual open house, tours are offered every half hour from 10 am to 3 pm, allowing guests to peer inside one of the largest collections of natural buildings in the Midwest. This open house provides an inside look at sustainability practices that have evolved over decades, combining tradition with innovation. Whether it is through hands-on workshops, visitor programs, or community events like Singing Rabbit, each aspect of the ecovillage invites people to rediscover what it means to live responsibly and joyfully in tune with nature.
Project Impact on Global Sustainability Goals
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – Showcasing alternative energy practices.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Demonstrating innovative self-governance and community building.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Promoting organic permaculture gardens and natural building methods.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – Engaging in practices that reduce environmental impact and advocate for ecological sustainability.
- SDG 15: Life on Land – Working with native prairies and sustainable land management practices.
A Lifestyle of Hope and Change
Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage stands out because it is more than an experimental project; it is a way of living that offers contagious hope amid today’s fast-paced, often overwhelming world. It invites those curious about sustainability to explore alternative ways of being on this planet, to consider how lifestyles can shift toward more ecologically attuned practices without sacrificing the joys of community life. Through a mix of dynamic workshops, engaging visitor programs, and communal events, the ecovillage illustrates that sustainable living can be practical, accessible, and deeply fulfilling. It’s a place where each program—from practical permaculture design courses to the joyous Singing Rabbit—contributes to making life on this prairie a rich tapestry of learning, living, and transformation… Dancing Rabbit truly isn’t just a location; it encapsulates a mindset geared toward celebrating nature, supporting one another, and fostering resilient communities that spread hope far beyond the borders of the Midwest.
