Organization & Structure

Structure

Naturheim is shaped through collective action. We are not a top-down project - we are a living community that organizes itself through circles of trust, skill, and purpose.

Our work is carried out through two legal entities:

Naturheim Ekonomisk Förening (Cooperative) - for operations, housing, land stewardship, and long-term development
Ideell Förening (Non-Profit) - for public benefit, education, events, and community support

Together, these form the foundation for a new kind of village life - one where people and projects can thrive in integrity with nature and one another.

Working Groups

Whether you’re a builder, a gardener, an educator or a dreamer - there’s a place for you here.
You engage where you feel most alive. Each group is self-led, empowered, and trusted to make decisions within their area.

Operations Group - Vision, funding, finances, strategy, external communication, long-term direction.

Building Group - Sustainable construction, materials, architecture, tiny houses, circular systems.

Nature Group - Growing, preserving, gardens, animals, and the ecological village store.

School & Learning Group - Educational environments, pedagogy, children's projects, forest school concepts.

Cutlure & Design Group - Design, art, flowers, light, spatial harmony and the soul of the village.

Tech & Innovation Group - AI, regenerative tech, digital infrastructure, tools that support new ways of living.

Children & Youth Group - Events, activities, festivals, learning through play and experience.

How decisions are made

We believe in trust over control, and in the power of distributed leadership.

Each working group is free to make decisions within its own scope, as long as it aligns with the village's shared values and direction.
The Operations Group and Board hold the broader vision, financial stewardship, and cross-group coordination, if necessary the board decide the final decision based on the statutes or the members of the village can put their vote to affect the decision.
Collaboration happens in Village Gatherings, where each group sends representatives to share updates, insights, and requests.
All voices are welcome, and all decisions are grounded in service to our three pillars: children, nature, and the future.

We don’t strive for perfection - we strive for alignment, authenticity, and a shared sense of purpose.
We honor our differences. That’s where our true strength lives.

How our Economy Works

Naturheim’s economy is built on a foundation of shared responsibility, creative entrepreneurship, and long-term sustainability.

Our economic pillars:

Collective Enterprises
We aim to run core village initiatives together - like the farm shop, glamping, farm café, and community events. Profits go directly to support the village's upkeep, growth, and shared resources.

Grants & Project Funding
Many of our larger developments will be made possible through public and private grants. These projects may also cover salaries and infrastructure.

Donations & Sponsorships
We are deeply grateful for donations - whether financial, material or practical. They allow us to build more than we could alone, and keep our space accessible to all.

Individual Initiatives
Members are welcome to start their own businesses or initiatives within the village, as long as they align with our core values and complement - rather than compete with - the village's shared enterprises.

Our economy is not just numbers. It’s a flow - guided by heart, structure, and meaningful impact.

Conflict Resolution & Relationship Care

Our purpose is to cultivate a living culture where conflicts are seen as natural, and met with curiosity, openness, and responsibility.

We don’t believe peace is the absence of conflict but rather the ability to move through conflict with integrity and deep listening.

Core Principles

The vision is our compass. All decisions and conflict resolution are guided by the village’s purpose: to live in harmony with nature, with the best interests of the children at the center. Relationships are a priority. We are here to build a life together. We take responsibility for our relationships even when it’s hard.

We believe in process, not perfection. We will make mistakes. What matters is how we choose to meet them. Every voice matters. Everyone has the right to be heard.

The Conflict Process - 5 Steps

1. Self-responsibility & Reflection
Before raising a conflict - pause.
What is your experience? What are you longing for? How have you contributed to the situation?

Reflective questions:

What need is behind my frustration?
Have I truly listened, or only reacted?
What do I wish the other person would understand?

2. Direct Communication (if possible)
We encourage brave conversations.
If you feel safe - speak directly to the person involved. Approach them with respect, not accusation.

Try the NVC model:
"When I see/hear… I feel… because I need… would you be willing to…?"

3. Circle Dialogue
If a direct talk isn’t enough or feels difficult, you can call for a circle dialogue. At least one member from our "Relations Board" will facilitate the space.

Format:

Check-in - How are we feeling right now?
Uninterrupted sharing - both speak without interruption
Reflection - each reflects back what they heard
Shared exploration - what needs to shift?
Any agreements moving forward

4. Board Review (for complex or ongoing issues)
If the conflict affects the broader group, safety in the village, or involves systemic tension, it’s brought to the Relations Board.

They will:

Investigate (by speaking with those involved)
Assess the situation through the lens of the vision and statutes
Suggest steps or solutions - which may include mediation, a time-out, reassignment, or pause in participation

The Relations Board should include 3 members, trained in listening, neutrality, and communication. They must not be emotionally involved in the conflict. If they are, a temporary replacement is appointed.

5. Follow-Up
Everything in Naturheim is organic - we follow up on each conflict resolution.

What happened? What did we learn?
Conflicts are places for growth – we document them as lessons, not failures.

Helpful Phrases We Encourage:

“I want to understand you better.”
“I notice we want the same thing, but express it differently.”
“This is hard for me to talk about, but I want to try.”
“Can we take a pause and return with open hearts?”

In Conflicts Involving Children or Nature

If a conflict relates to decisions impacting children or ecological balance, the vision takes highest priority. In these cases, the Operations Group and/or School Group are always consulted to ensure children’s needs and the ecosystem’s integrity are upheld.

We don’t believe in perfect people - we believe in living systems. We need one another, and we are different. And it’s precisely those differences that make Naturheim more than just a place - it makes it a shared journey.

Intentional Presence with Children

In a living village, children are not a side-note. They are the pulse, the center, and the future.

At Naturheim, we believe children thrive when they receive focused, loving attention from adults every day.

We don’t want the children’s group to become “just something that happens on the side.” Instead, we create space and presence - so their learning, relationships, and wellbeing are seen, guided, and celebrated.

Each adult who takes part in the children’s care commits to being responsible one day per week, preparing a thoughtful, screen-free activity rooted in play, curiosity and learning. The activity should include:

Conscious language and role modeling
Joyful connection with nature
No competition, pressure, or comparison
A focus on self-worth, collaboration and inner development

Example activities might include:
– An English-only play session to explore language in motion
– Building a forest obstacle course
– Rehearsing a mini theatre play

This rhythm not only benefits the children - it supports the parents too.
By sharing responsibility, we relieve the pressure on overstretched caregivers. No one has to “do it all” alone. The village becomes a net of support – where help with the children is natural, healthy, and rooted in trust.

Because when children are met with presence, the whole community flourishes. And when parents are met with support, they can breathe, rest, and return with more joy.

Shared Meals - Nourishment Through Community

In Naturheim, food is more than sustenance - it’s nourishment, health and a way of caring for one another.

To simplify life and deepen our sense of togetherness, we are experimenting with a structure for shared lunches or dinners.

Depending on how many residents are present in the village, we divide the responsibility for cooking among us - so that everyone receives a few nourishing meals per week, without the daily stress.

These meals are free for those actively engaged in building the village and are funded by the cooperative and supported by our own gardens and bulk food purchases.

All meals follow our shared food principles:

Organic/demeter or pesticide-free ingredients
Primarily self-grown or sourced from trusted farms or wild harvests
Free from gluten, refined oils (e.g. rapeseed), and added sugar
Plant-based as main course, if animal products (meat, eggs, dairy) are served they should be separated from the main course and sourced from our own farm or nearby organic/pesticide-free farms we partner with or support or from wild catch.

Everyone should be able to eat. We honor those who choose a vegan lifestyle and want our shared meals to reflect respect for the Earth, animals, and one another. We believe in food that brings people together, heals the body, and strengthens community.

Village Meeting Structure

For coordination, transparency, and shared direction

The Village Council Meeting is our central hub. It’s where we gather to share, listen, align, and make wise decisions for the village’s development. Held once a week, the meeting is open to all engaged members, with at least one representative from each working group present.

Purpose

Create transparency between groups
Address needs, challenges, and progress
Share responsibilities and clarify next steps
Ensure all efforts align with the vision, bylaws, and the village’s overall direction
Strengthen a sense of trust and togetherness

Meeting Format

1. Check-in
Everyone briefly shares how they’re doing, a feeling, or intention for the meeting.
Purpose: presence, connection, humanity.

2. Group Updates
Each working group (construction, operations, nature, school, wellbeing, tech, beauty, etc.) gets 2–4 minutes to share:

What has happened since the last meeting
What is needed moving forward
Any stuck points or requests for support/collaboration

3. Cross-functional Needs / Collaboration
Are there inter-group needs for collaboration?
E.g., the building group needs input from the nature group, or the school group needs help from the operations team with a grant application.

4. Task Delegation

What needs to be done in the upcoming week?
Who is responsible for what?
How will it be followed up?

5. Vision & Direction
Brief alignment check: Are we moving in line with Naturheim’s long-term purpose?
Space to raise bigger reflections on:

Balance between expansion and rest
Economy, integrity, holistic perspective
The needs of nature and children

6. Other & Announcements
Practical notes, reminders, events, deadlines

For Structure & Efficiency

The meeting is facilitated - preferably by someone from the operations group
Clear timekeeping - respect everyone’s time
A note-taker writes a short protocol (bullet points are enough)
Meeting notes are shared with all afterward (via Slack, email, Telegram, or any shared platform)

Principles We Hold

We listen to understand, not to reply
We respect diverse perspectives
We act from the village’s highest good - not personal agenda