Some History

The four founders of Terra Nova--Claire, Evan, Howard, and Hoyt--all had previous experience living in other intentional communities. We became friends while living at East Wind Community in the Missouri Ozarks. Beginning in the summer of 1995, we held meetings at East Wind to explore the possibility of forming a new community. These meetings were an extended visioning process. We defined important principles and wrote papers describing the new community.

In December of 1995, the group moved to Columbia. One of East Wind's major businesses is the manufacture of hand-woven hammocks. Fortunately, the demand for such hammocks is so great that the Terra Novans were able to make hammocks for East Wind. This arrangement really eased money pressures. Eventually, the Terra Novans entered Columbia's job market, finding positions in physical therapy, teaching and library work. Within six months, we purchased two houses, planted a garden, and formed new friendships.

Over the next few years, we converted a garage into an extra bedroom, greatly expanded the garden in both area and variety of crops, planted orchard trees, a forest of oak saplings, and a number of perennials. Several people have come and gone. Howard has achieved a graduate degree in Information Science and Learning Technology (what used to be called library science). Claire has retired from her salaried position and become a freelance writer. While the group remains small, Terra Nova is firmly rooted and open to careful growth.