This Month’s Featured Article

Photo above: David Wallace harvests herbs in Camphill’s healing plant garden, where the garden crew tends to biodynamic flowers and herbs during growing season, and transforms them into teas and culinary herb mixes, as well as natural remedies. All photos courtesy of Camphill Village.

As the oldest and largest Camphill community in the United States, Camphill Village Copake has a rich and extensive history that spans over six decades in the region. However, long-time member of the Camphill community Richard Neal explains that as a part of the overarching Camphill Movement, the Village has roots that delve even deeper into the past – and across the ocean.

The origins of the Camphill Movement

“If you want to go back to how this community started, you have to go back to World War II,” Richard explains. “A group of refugees, who had been a study group for anthroposophy in Vienna, had to flee their country because they had Jewish heritage, and they came together in an old farmhouse in Scotland.”

Among the group was Austrian pediatrician and educator Dr. Karl König, founder of the Camphill Movement and follower of Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner’s teachings. According to the early history of the community as explained on Camphill Village’s website, Steiner’s philosophy revolved around the concept that “one learns to meet every human being as an eternal spiritual being living in a particular configuration of body and soul.”

It is crucial to note that at this time, support systems for people with disabilities were essentially nonexistent. Because of this, Richard explains, when the group settled in Aberdeen, they strived to incorporate helping others into their plan for a new life. So, in 1939, “they took in a group of severely disabled children who, in a certain sense, were also refugees, from their own society, because there was nothing for them – nowhere for them to be at home,” he says.

From here, their efforts continued to grow, as more and more parents – who were desperate for their children to have care and community – brought their children to the group in search of support. Richard notes, “Then, somebody offered them a bigger house, so they could take in their child, too. And that house was called the Camphill Estate.”

Eventually, as they developed schools and communities together, expanding their work even further and taking in even more children, the movement began in earnest. In the 1950s, as the children in the community grew up, Camphill established Botton Village in England as its first village for adults with developmental differences. “The movement just kept growing, and it was fed by the need – by society’s need,” Richard observes.

Camphill Village Copake is founded

Stretching across the world to South Africa and European countries including Scotland, Northern Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands, the Camphill movement took root in the United States, too. According to Camphill’s website, Pennsylvania was already home to two Camphill schools by the time Carlo Pietzner, König’s colleague, founded Camphill Village on Sunny Valley Farm in Copake, NY, on September 17, 1961.

As Richard explains, when the first five European volunteers crossed the Atlantic to start the Copake community, a telegram typo had misrepresented the starting capital as $50,000 instead of the actual amount, $5,000. But this would not stop the group from working with what they had – just seventy acres, three barns, an old farmhouse, and a garage – to make something incredible. “[The money] wasn’t their capital anyway. Their capital was the need,” Richard points out.

While they were working with the price of about two new cars at the time, the group had been welcomed to the region through lots of preparation by local families, friends, and authorities, which helped to form a strong foundation for the village. Families who would do anything to give their children a life of dignity were eager to help create and support this village the Camphill way.

Camphill’s website outlines immense growth in the village in the ‘60s and ‘70s, expanding from 36 people with developmental differences living in the community’s eight houses in its first five years, to 210 people total in 1973, including 97 people with developmental differences, living in 15 life-sharing houses and four smaller houses. Additionally, their Waldorf-style school program, which began in 1969, soon expanded and relocated in 1973 to become the Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School in Harlemville, NY.

Also in the ‘70s, Camphill Village coworkers (residential volunteers and students of Camphill Academy’s inclusive social development programs) began branching out to establish new Camphill communities in North America, in places near and far. More recently, Camphill-inspired initiatives have spread across the globe, in countries including India, Vietnam, Colombia, and Rwanda.

Understanding the philosophy behind the Camphill lifestyle

Richard acknowledges that great strides in social services were made in New York State throughout the ‘60s, thanks in particular to Alan Miller at the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, who was also president of Camphill’s board for many years. However, Richard notes that even today and in light of all the advancements made, especially the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, folks with developmental differences are still sometimes seen as “in need” rather than as equals in society.

Thus, in the Camphill community, the goal is not only to provide support and care to those with developmental differences, but also to create a place where everyone in the village has something to give to their society. “Our job is to create a community that offers enough chances that everyone receives what they need, and everyone has a chance to give, because only then are you a full member of society,” Richard asserts. “We’re trying to create our own little society here, where everyone has rights and has responsibilities according to their capabilities.”

Indeed, having resided at Camphill through life-sharing situations for over 50 years now, Richard feels fortunate to have lived a life of grace and open humanity, surrounded by people who care for him and for whom he has been able to care. “Society needs models to grow by, and we’re trying to be such a model,” he says.

“This is a life choice,” Richard’s wife, Elvira Neal, chimes in, emphasizing that living at Camphill means expanding your definition of family to include many others, including coworkers from around the globe. “We choose to care for each other, be interested in one another, and support each other.”

And with anywhere between 20 to 24 nationalities living at Camphill Village Copake at one time, Richard clarifies, “There is a worldwide need for community. People find us.”

Elvira adds, “There is a value to having different walks of life, different cultures and backgrounds, come together so we can overcome our one-sidedness. Where we can just see the humanity, and see and appreciate how we can complement each other.”

Being able to transcend tokenism and go beyond a view that treats folks with developmental differences as solely “clients,” “patients,” or “consumers,” is at the center of this aim. Empowering people to know that they have something to give, say, and contribute, creates a connection, sense of community, and capacity for friendship at Camphill that cannot be overlooked.

Workplaces & experiences at Camphill

Camphill Village Copake creates plenty of opportunities for folks to come together, connect, and work in meaningful and fulfilling ways. Through their plethora of workplace options, for example, people have the chance to find a passion that aligns with their unique gifts and preferences while contributing to the greater community.

For those who enjoy the outdoors, plenty of work opportunities tap into Camphill Village’s agricultural roots and appreciation of the land. These experiences are based on Rudolf Steiner’s descriptions of biodynamic agricultural approaches and adhere to Camphill’s organic and Demeter biodynamic certifications.

At the farm, which is home to twenty dairy cows and their youngstock, a small sheep flock, and a pig herd, farmers milk the cows twice daily by hand and complete all the necessary seasonal tasks.

The vegetable garden provides sustenance for the community, growing a delectable selection of greenhouse lettuce, squash, eggplant, garlic, beets, brassicas, tomatoes, and more. Gardeners provide this fresh produce weekly at the garden shed, where the entire community can access these ingredients and enjoy them in meals. They also have a cold storage building full of yielded crops. Camphill’s coffee shop and café, both of which are open to the public, use this produce in their offerings.

At the healing plant garden, gardeners raise medicinal flowers and herbs, including lavender and mallow, with an intentional approach to caring for the soil. These plants, once harvested (and dried or sifted), become a part of Camphill’s lotions, teas, and culinary mixes.

Meanwhile, the Turtle Tree Seed Biodynamic Seed Initiative works tirelessly to harvest, clean, and ensure the quality of their vegetable, fruit, herb, and flower seeds. They grow over 300 seed varieties and provide many to nonprofits, prisons, schools, and numerous other institutions. Communications and public relations manager Christine Pizzuti explains, “Their germination rates are really excellent. They stand for this kind of radical notion that seeds and the food system are for everybody.” To search their extensive list of seed offerings and buy your own, please go to turtletreeseed.org.

The estate crew is responsible for taking care of the entire village and managing Camphill’s vast acreage. Depending on the season, this group takes care of tasks on the land, from managing the forests to clearing tree limbs from roads, shoveling snow, and tapping the village’s trees to produce fresh maple syrup!

The 22 life-sharing households at Camphill are also a very crucial workplace of their own. From ensuring all the homes are clean, to doing laundry, to preparing hearty meals, folks who work in households have a range of important positions and might also spend time in craft studios or outdoors after lunchtime.

At the woodshop, woodworkers make everything from children’s toys to cutting boards, beds, and other furniture, produced with lumber sourced directly at Camphill and hardwood generously donated by a local flooring manufacturer. Folks at the bookbindery, on the other hand, focus on meticulously hand-made, hand-sewn journals, while also creating paper products including matchboxes, origami, paper-beaded jewelry, and seasonal greeting cards.

The candle shop creates all-natural, colorful beeswax candles, including hand-dipped taper candles and molded candles in a wonderful array of seasonal shapes. And at the weavery, folks are able to create their own beautiful textiles, including aprons, napkins, and placemats, in addition to tote bags used by Camphill’s bakers to deliver daily bread loaves.

The bakery, which has a holistic view of the baking process, produces all sorts of baked goods from scratch, including sourdough loaves, granola, cookies, and other breads. At the co-op, the staff can help you find all sorts of products, including olive oil, cheese, fruit, bulk grains, organic personal care items, and even hand-made peanut butter.

In the meantime, at the café, the crew prepares for twice weekly community meals – which are open to the public! – producing fresh, wholesome dishes that use ingredients from Camphill’s gardens and raised beds. The café team also makes quiches, sweets, and soups for the coffee shop.

Sharing the Village Green building with the café and the bakery, the gift shop and the coffee shop both offer a welcoming and warm community spot for members of Camphill Village and visitors alike. The space is complete with a cozy library, delicious coffee selections, yummy lunches, and plenty of unique, marvelous goods that make the perfect gifts for loved ones.

Go to camphillstore.com to find a delightful array of products from not only the gift shop, but also the bakery, estate, bookbindery, candle shop, healing plant garden, weavery, woodshop, and more!

Life(-sharing) in the village

At Camphill, life-sharing is central to daily activities and interactions. There is not only a shared sense of responsibility and appreciation for each other but also the knowledge that each individual’s contribution is important and valued. Coming from all over the world and right in Camphill’s backyard, coworkers share households with members of the community, as well as with house leaders and their families.

Explaining the culture at Camphill, Christine describes, “There’s always something to do, which we find is really important. People benefit a lot from rhythm, whether that’s daily, weekly, or monthly. We care a lot about seasonal and agricultural rhythms.”

Camphill Village holds monthly forums to ensure that it addresses and meets the concerns and needs of all neighborhoods and individuals in the community. They boast a vibrant and rich cultural life, full of celebrations of Christian feasts, musical and theatrical gatherings, seasonal festivals, and much more. Guided by Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophy, the community is also incredibly spiritual, with weekly services, Bible evenings, and a close relationship with the Christian Community Church in Hillsdale, NY.

Emily Wallach, who has been in the Camphill community for 13 years now, is on the unitary board of directors of Camphill Village Copake and Camphill Ghent, and now works full time in the vegetable garden after playing a pivotal role in the bookbindery for many years. When she’s not busy attending board meetings, planting and harvesting vegetables, or conducting interviews, Emily is a true leader in her household, constantly helping her housemates with everything from cooking to appointments and making supper on weekends. Although her home has no short-term coworkers, she explains, “We all have each other,” referring to her housemates and the family that runs her household.

Emily loves learning more about vegetable gardening through her work, as well as being a tour guide, showing people around the community. “We are multicultural. People come from all around the world, and it’s nice to learn about where they are from and what they do,” she explains. “The people here are so, so friendly. We are really happy to have people come and visit.”

David Wallace, who has lived at Camphill for a decade, works at the café in the mornings and at the healing plant garden during the afternoon. David echoes Emily’s sentiments, quoting poet William Blake. “‘To see a world in a grain of sand,’ come to Camphill,” he says. “You’re always welcome here!”

As the world transitions into a new season, David appreciates the natural beauty of the landscape: “It’s like a kaleidoscope where one looks at a different formation but then turns it to see the world from winter to spring.” He also loves learning about the past through elders in the community. “When you hear stories about Camphill from the old people, it’s like you get a window into the past.”

Although short-term coworkers come and go each year, Emily emphasizes the deep love and care fostered at Camphill, which leads to strong friendships. David points out that it can be heartbreaking to see coworkers who you’ve gotten to know well leave, but he reflects his appreciation for getting to know so many different people. “I like the life here. It’s like a rollercoaster, sometimes it has the ups, sometimes it has the downs. But it’s a good life.”

Both Emily and David participate in the bell ensemble, which includes a variety of different musical instruments. David, who learned the chrotta, an Irish string instrument, felt immediately drawn to it after trying out many different options in music therapy with teacher Monica Talaya. He explains that finding this calling felt like “opening a door to a new world.”

Investing in the Camphill way for years to come

Creating opportunities for everyone to thrive is essential at Camphill. “We feel like it’s important to find ways to set up an environment in which the diverse group of people that live in this valley receives the outer framework that gives them the certainty and security that they need in order to feel they can make a contribution,” says Elvira. “We are asked to be vigilant and notice, what are their gifts? And how can we let their light shine out?”

Additionally, Elvira emphasizes the importance of society playing an active role in inclusion. Christine adds that without this intentional desire to include, folks can feel incredibly isolated. “People don’t necessarily encounter their so-called disabilities until they enter the world, a context that has been created by people who were not considering all abilities when they were building society,” says Christine.

It is also crucial to ensure that people are able to choose what sort of lifestyle works for them and feels comfortable and safe. Elvira points out that each person with developmental differences living at Camphill opts for that choice themselves after a trial period spent living there. And in this process of sharing life, work, finances, resources, space, and more, it takes both creativity and sacrifice. “The ideal is to live with interdependence, not independence,” Elvira elaborates.

To continue to maintain and strengthen the Camphill mission – at a time when support and social services for folks with developmental differences are not as strong as one might think and are, in reality, being defunded – it is important now more than ever to take an interest in communities like Camphill and give them support.

Most of Camphill’s funding comes from private contributions – grants, donors, and sponsorships – and under half originates from the organization’s contract with New York State. “We need more space for the people who created this community, who have lived here for so long,” Christine asserts. “We are in hot pursuit of funding for our ability to grow, because it is imperative for the continued wellbeing of the residents of this community.”

Aside from donating, visiting the Camphill community and meeting the lovely people there is another important way to get involved. Elvira emphasizes, “There is something that you cannot capture with words that you will be touched by, by just walking this ring road and meeting the people on the road.”

Be on the lookout for upcoming events at Camphill this spring by regularly visiting camphillvillage.org/events-calendar, and keep in mind that the community recruits for volunteers year-round!

To support Camphill Village Copake and help them get the funding they need, please donate at camphillvillage.org/donate. To learn more about Camphill Village Copake, see how you can get involved, and check out all of their offerings, please visit camphillvillage.org and camphillstore.com.

Camphill Village Copake is located at 84 Camp Hill Road in Copake, NY. You can get in contact via email at info@camphillvillage.org or by giving them a call at (518) 329-4851.