Wits End Co-op

We are currently a group of five-two couples and one single person-looking for one to four more people to join our community in the Ortiz Mountains just outside Cerrillos, NM (about 25 mi. south of Santa Fe off Highway 14, the "Turquoise Trail"). We have just over 40 acres of land, with spectacular views, restorative quiet, and excellent air and wa... ter. Our four buildings consist of a cozy straw-bale casita and three private cottages. The casita features a comfortable sitting room with wood stove, a newly remodeled kitchen, communal dining area, full bath with washer/dryer, twin-bed guest room, and a loft with a queen futon. You can see photos of all of this in our photo gallery. We are in our 50s and 60s, three professional musicians, a Unitarian-Universalist minister, and a retired computer engineer. We have a common passion for living ecologically and sustainably in this fragile and magical environment, and share a love for music, books, and gardening. We are organized as a New Mexico cooperative corporation (see official documents here). Cooperatives give each member a single vote irrespective of the number of shares he or she owns. The coop owns the land and everything on it. We all purchase shares to become members and to make capital improvements (i.e., build), and that includes both common and personal spaces. We aim for equality in number of shares purchased for common improvements, so a new member will buy in for approximately the amount each of us has spent to date on the land, casita, and infrastructure. As of Summer 2015 this is about $20,000 per person. It's possible at present to build a cottage for about $100,000, so that will give you an idea of your initial investment. Regular expenses beyond that are modest to start with, and low per person when shared by us all; as with any cooperative building, there are periodic additional expenses for expansion and upkeep. Well, that's it in a nutshell! If you'd like more information or to speak with any of us about Wits End or come and visit, please ...Read More