Working Lands, Human Homes

The Center for Rural Livelihoods (originally Aprovecho) has regenerated our 40-acre forested campus by living in it, stewarding it, and making best use of its materials for almost half a century. We engage in selective tree thinning to adapt to climate change and manage the forest towards old growth characteristics. CRL’s campus provides lumber for housing and firewood for heat and cooking, along with medicines, biodiversity, and forage. 

Living in rural residential clusters with ecological sensibilities on community-owned property models a way for millions of acres of forestland in the West to be stewarded, helping mitigate catastrophic wildfires while providing housing and livelihoods. In short – human homes on working lands. With housing pressures already very high and Lane County’s population forecasted to grow by 25% over the next two generations, ecologically-based woodland habitation may provide a solution – but one that will require land reform, a massive redistribution of resources, and the de-commodification of housing and nature. CRL’s campus offers the beginnings of such a model; we support efforts by SquareOne Villages and others working to build a vision of ecological living, housing for all, and community land ownership.