Well, Being
The “Loneliness Epidemic” is a byproduct of modern housing and suburban design. At Big Calm, we’ve returned to the village model. We call it “Convivial Community” – the art of living well together without sacrificing the privacy of your own nest. With only 12 sites on 37 acres, you have more “backyard” than almost any city-dweller, but you also have neighbours who know your name and share your values.
We’re striving for kithship – the intimate, reciprocal relationships built with one’s community and local environment, the people, and natural landscape surrounding you. Unlike kinship (blood relatives), kithship signifies “chosen family” and deep familiarity with one’s immediate “square mile” or home place.
Better Together
From a shared workshop filled with tools you don’t have to buy yourself to a Common House for winter game nights, Big Calm includes the social space that makes life vibrant – even for introverts!
Common House
A shared kitchen, library, and lounge for gatherings and community events.
Shared Vision
Continually maintaining and improving the property together is a feature, not a bug.
Skills Exchange
Diverse, multi-generational membership with expertise in everything from canning to hunting.
Open Space
Kilometres of on-site trails, nearby river access, and Valhalla forest to explore.
A Return to Community
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Health Insight:
Harvard studies show social connection is the #1 predictor of long-term health. -
Economic Shift:
The Sharing Economy is moving from apps into real-life land stewardship. -
Social Trend:
Co-housing and intentional communities are the fastest-growing sector of non-traditional housing.
Community Questions
How are decisions made?
We’ll use the “One Member, One Vote” model of the BC Cooperative Association Act. Each unit (pad/site) is a member; multiple residents in a unit have joint membership.
For operations, we are using consent-based decision-making and a sociocratic governance model.
Do I have to participate in everything?
No. Participation is invited, but we respect the need for solitude and private recharge time too. However, if hermitage is your goal, you’ll be happier elsewhere.
Is this a resort or retirement community?
Nope. You can be retired and enjoying life but there is an expectation that you maintain your own house and chip in on managing the commons. We hope to convene a group of people who look out for one another but if there are patio margaritas, it’s because you made them.
What size will the community be?
Whether it’s suburbs, cohousing, co-ops, or ecovillages, a good home is surrounded by good neighbours – somewhere between Dunbar’s Numbers of 15 and 35, a natural scale of sociability among humans. Even better if they’re positioned in a “pocket neighborhood” configuration that, as architect Ross Chapin observed, balances community members’ privacy and proximity. Read more about what we think is The Goldilocks Zone for Tiny House Communities.
