Community Hub
At the heart of this new eco-village is the caretaker’s residence, that will grow to become the community hub. It will include:
- a workshop, where cabins and accessory buildings will be constructed
- common areas for events and social gatherings
- showers, laundry, potable well water
- a commercial grade kitchen, dining area/lounge/meeting room
Membership
As a member of this farming cooperative, each membership will include the following items to begin:
- about one acre of land per site
- on-site parking spot
- four-season cabin with a deck
- high-efficiency composting toilet
- rooftop solar system to power the cabin
(future small modular home illustration)
Farming
Introducing a hydroponic farm to the area will have several benefits. These will include:
- Providing some local food security
- Fresh produce
- Year-round availability
- Pesticide and herbicide free
- Picked at the peak of freshness
- Literally farm to table goodness
We are reviewing Growcer, NuLeaf and Just Vertical farms as our hydroponic provider.
Cooperative Farming
Our Vision for Vertical Farming
We’re deeply excited about the potential of vertical farming. Indoor hydroponic systems can produce up to 10 times more food than conventional farms, while delivering consistent, high-quality, locally grown products year-round. These systems use significantly less water, avoid harmful pesticides and herbicides, and create a stable, controlled growing environment.
To begin, we plan to grow lettuces and herbs, expanding into additional crops as our expertise and capacity increase. Our produce will be sold to stores, restaurants, schools, and directly to the public, ensuring a strong, year-round customer base.
Supporting Affordable Living Through Farm Revenue
Revenue from the farming operations will help reduce the overall cost of living in the community. This financial support will allow us to keep monthly living costs extremely low—our projections estimate approximately $500 per month, including utilities.
Beyond covering basic expenses, farm proceeds will also help fund community improvements, guided by the priorities identified by cooperative members.
Community Participation and Volunteer Structure
Each member of the community will be asked to contribute one hour per day (7 hours per week) toward farm or community operations. Volunteer tasks may include:
- Planting seeds and harvesting crops
- Delivering orders or helping customers in the store
- Administrative support or council participation
- Snow removal for seniors
- Lawn maintenance and small repairs
- Supporting larger community projects
We recognize that not all residents will be able to volunteer. In these cases, members can pay another community member to complete their hours. Members may also bank hours by contributing more time in advance to support future needs. Flexibility is central to our approach, ensuring that participation remains accessible to everyone.
Food Security and Shared Harvest Benefits
A portion of each harvest will be reserved for the community, included as part of each member’s cooperative fee. As operations grow, we plan to introduce additional crops and products based on the interests and skills of our residents. Potential future items include:
- Root vegetables, small fruits, and berries
- Honey and preserves
- Flowers
- Apples and other orchard products
- Eggs and small-scale animal products
Members with interest and capability may even create additional personal income by contributing to farm operations, reducing or eliminating the need for outside employment.
Expert Partnerships and Farm Setup
While we bring foundational knowledge in various forms of farming, we plan to partner with industry experts to ensure our systems are efficient and successful. We are currently in negotiations with three Canadian hydroponic farming companies to supply and help set up our systems.
These partnerships will allow us to be fully operational within six weeks of receiving our equipment, with ongoing access to training and technical support as we expand our farming capacity.
Site Development Plan
The 27-member community includes one site per member and the caretaker residence/hub- all connected by private roads.
Two 1-acre ponds connected by a stream are planned to be integrated into the landscape for environmental balance, aesthetics, and water management.
The entire property will be gated, fenced and monitored, with the caretaker overseeing on-site security.
Caretaker Residence/Hub
During the build and demonstration phase, the caretaker will reside on the second floor of the primary residence, and the main floor will be share community space.
The shop will be used to construct the village cabins and the small modular homes as approvals are received. As a final phase of the village development, a separate small modular home will be built for the caretaker on the hub site, and the complete building will be converted to the community hub.
Community Use and Access
During the demonstration phase, members will only be able to visit the community for a maximum of 14 consecutive days, followed by a minimum 7-day absence.
This ensures the community is not perceived as an unapproved housing development.
Rezoning will take time, but once acquired, year-round living will be permitted for all members.
Member Site Cabin
Each member site will begin with a cabin. This 10′ x 16′ – 160 sq ft cabin, with additional covered porch and deck will be available in 2-models, as a shed roof or traditional gable roof.
We have had the plans designed to meet the Ontario Building Code (OBC) and will include an interior divider wall as shown, with the composting toilet installed. The floorplan shows how the interior could be arranged.
Solar power from the rooftop panels will provide power to the cabin.
Note:Â See the OBC Plan for updated unit details.
Member Site Gardens
As part of our sustainable community plans, we want to help member’s develop gardens, and potentially a green house on their site where they can grow their own produce, and fruits.Â
What a member produces on their site remains theirs, and they can consume it, store it, or sell it as they choose.
Gable Vision II
Cabin Floorplan
Note
- The areas in blue show how furniture and cabinets could be arranged within the cabin. As the main living space is 1-large room and the washroom will only contain the composting toilet, the layout and furniture options are up to the member.Â
- Because the cabin can only be stayed in for short periods (2-weeks at a time) plumbing, heating, and electrical are not built into in the cabin.
- Solar panels will be install on the roof to provide power for the cabin.
Member Site Gardens
We want to help members’ develop their own gardens on their sites to provide fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as an opportunity to learn to can and preserve for their year-round enjoyment. Member’s may choose to sell their own produce through the cooperative or on their own.Â
Small Modular Home (SMH)
Logan Model 36.3a
Logan Model 36.3
Logan Model 36.2a
Logan Model 36.2
Logan Model 36.4a
Logan Model 36.4
Floorplan View 1
Floorplan View 2
Floorplan View 3
Floorplan Cross Section
Future Development Plan
While the site cabins are being constructed, we will apply for a bylaw zoning amendment, which will allow us to add initially 2-small modular homes to 2-member sites. These homes will provide year-round living for the members.Â
The homes will be constructed in the shop, and relocated to the sites when complete (the same process as the cabins). These homes will exceed the OBC requirements for permanent residents, and will be inspected during the building phase, meeting all building code requirements.
Modular Home Design Notes
We are still in the process of selecting models that will be available to members, as all units must be constructed, and inspected onsite, or provided by our approved partner (Grand River Modular).
These are designs that we have reviewed and added to the portfolio.
Eco-Village Q & A
When an someone submits an application, the first site available from their 3-choices is changed to a yellow background indicating their interest.
New applicants can still choose the site as one of their 3 options and should the site become available, it would be offered to them.
Requested squares are only marked yellow for 2-weeks, so if the application process and deposit is not received in this timeframe, the site reverts back to green and available.
When an applicant’s application completes successfully, and they pay their site deposit, their site number is removed from the map as it is no longer available to reserve. Their site is also removed from the application form’s 3-options.
Not at this time. While we will work to have the village rezoned to allow year-round living for all members. In the spring of 2026 we will begin the caretaker cottage/hub, then apply for a rezoning amendment to add 2-ADU small modular homes (currently allowed).
Initially we will apply for a bylaw amendment to allow 2-secondary dwellings on the property site #3 & #9 (currently permitted in Ontario). This will allow us to construct 2 year-round small modular homes for 2-members on their sites. We will continue to follow the process to allow all members to live year-round but expect this could take 2 years or more.
As farming operations grow, we will be able to demonstrate to the government our need for additional coop housing.Â
We are projecting an additional cost of $200,000 per home unit, however this is a conservative budget and our goal is to provide quality, small modular housing at the lowest cost possible.
Our new community model is based on worker-farm housing, to support the community’s vertical farms, thereby eliminating this cost for members. Now your coop membership will include a year-round home, in exchange for a few community volunteer hours in the farm. We will add homes as we get approvals. Community volunteer hours are estimated at 7 hours per week.
- With a minimum 10% deposit.
- Once road construction is scheduled, a 25% payment is required (stage 1).
- Once hub construction is scheduled, a 20% payment is required (stage 2).
- Once a member’s cabin is scheduled for construction, a 40% payment is required (stage 3).
- Once a member’s cabin is completed, the final 5% payment is required.
As the first 2-small modular home’s well and septic will be connected to the hub site, sites #3 & #9 will become the the first 2-permannet co-op member residences. This plan shows the anticipated development phases.
All funds received will be returned to them without penalty or interest. Where a member has been a permanent villager for more than a year, the annual inflation rate (as published by the Government of Canada) will be added for each full year of residency beginning their 2nd year.Â
This Tiny Town Association eco-village will become part of the national housing cooperative. The cooperative will own and manage all the buildings in the cooperative, including member cabins, the tiny modular homes, the caretaker’s residence which will become the community clubhouse, along with all future buildings in the village. Each member will own a share in the community. They may live on the site they have selected, if they continue to pay their community fees and maintain their site. A member’s share may only be sold back to the community, where it will be made available to a new member. Each member may only own 1-share in the community and must occupy their unit. When a member leaves the community, they will be paid their initial membership fee, plus the annual inflation rate on the total (as published by the Government of Canada) for each full year of residency, beginning their 2nd year.
The initial application form includes some pre-vetting questions. Both a criminal and financial background check will be preformed as each prospect advances through the stages of membership.
The first 7-members that complete all stages, will form the membership committee that will complete the vetting process, as well as a final interview with all prospective members.
No, the property is owned, so the development will begin with the first member deposit. The existing abandoned home will be demolished, and the new road will be started. Each new member application will allow us to proceed further.Â
We are expecting that we will begin the spring 2026 and proceed based on membership deposits. We have received hundreds of requests for a community, so we do not expect that sites will be available for long once word has spread.
Here is a projected timeline:
- demolish abandoned residence – spring 2026
- install new fence/gate at municipal road – spring 2026
- build road, initial infrastructure – spring 2026
- build caretaker residence/hub – summer 2026 (permit/membership/weather dependent)
- begin cabin construction – summer/fall 2026
- complete cabin installation – spring 2027
- apply for zoning bylaw amendment for 2-ADUs – summer 2027
- begin ADU construction – fall 2027
Cabins are designed as one main living area, plus a washroom space. All household members that compete the vetting process and are invited into the community may stay in their cabin, following the demonstration period rules.
No additional buildings, permanent or temporary may be erected in the community or on a member site during the demonstration phase. Once the site has received approval for all members to reside full-time, additional building requests may be made to the operations committee for consideration.
Some pets are allowed, and must be identified in the initial application form.
- All pets must be contained within the member’s site,
- a stoop and scope rule is in effect for both cats and dogs,
- all pets must be leashed when off the member’s site,
- barking dogs and howling cats can affect other members’ enjoyment of their sites, so cannot be accommodated. It is up to the prospective member to know the nature of their pet in advance of applying.Â
The roads into and throughout the community will be maintained and cleared during the winter. The driveway into each site will be plowed, but where a member wishes to visit their cabin in the winter, they can expect to have to clear their steps and deck upon arrival.
Each member will receive instructions on preparing their composting toilet for the winter, and are expected to perform the required steps or make arrangements for the steps to be completed for them.
Personal belongs may remain in a member’s cabin in their absence. Each cabin has a keyed lock on the front door, securing its contents.
Further safeguards include:
- the community will be completely fenced,
- occasional rounds by the caretaker to identify any signs of attempts to access the community or cabins,
- regular drone surveillance by the caretaker.
What happens in the community, will be determined by committees. Members may sit on multiple committees, and they will initially be made up of volunteers. Once membership is complete, committee members but will chosen as part of an annual election process.
Community events will be the responsibility of the events committee. These may be planned and managed by the committee once formed. The events committee will be the third committee formed.
Committees:
- Membership committee – 7 members
- Operations committee – 5 members
- Events committee – 5 members
- Site gardens committee – 5 members
- Future developments committee – 5 members
These committees will be reviewed and adjusted when the cooperative is formed.