What Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage does

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is a nonprofit intentional community founded in 1997 in Rutledge, Missouri, operating across 280 acres of native prairie with approximately 50 residents and a built environment of 40+ natural structures utilizing straw bale, cob, timber framing, earthen plaster, light clay straw, earth bag, and rammed earth construction. Governance is consensus-based, with land held by the Dancing Rabbit Land Trust and operations managed by The Center for Sustainable and Cooperative Culture, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The portfolio of offerings is structured around educational programming rather than software technology. Core products include the Sustainable Living Visitor Program (1-2 week immersion), the 72-hour Permaculture Design Certification Course (delivered with Midwest Permaculture), Natural Building Workshops (including cob oven workshops), Women's Retreats (in-person and online), Ecovillage Adventure Weekends, Work Exchange (with a Queer Collective track), Singing Rabbit, Founder's Retreat, an eco-B&B (Milkweed Mercantile), and a recorded Webinar Series. Pricing is sliding-scale or fixed per program, with partial scholarships offered across most offerings.

Revenue is diversified across six streams: educational programs and workshops, visitor program fees, women's retreat fees, webinar series sales, Milkweed Mercantile B&B income, and donations/grants (notably through Give STL). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: organic referrals, content marketing via The March Hare newsletter and social channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram), PBS documentary earned media, and Patreon. Primary customer segments include prospective community members, permaculture students, natural building enthusiasts, women's retreat seekers, and budget-conscious travelers. The organization has no software products, no API, no app, and no AI/ML components.

Name

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage

Legal name

The Center for Sustainable and Cooperative Culture

Website

https://dancingrabbit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is a nonprofit intentional community in Northeast Missouri operating since 1997, offering immersive educational programs in sustainable living, permaculture design, and natural building to roughly 100+ annual visitors through sliding-scale fees, workshops, B&B stays, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ecovillage & Sustainability Education

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Eco-Lodges (Sustainable/Nature-Based) (THAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor, Adventure & Recreational Wellness Education (Hiking, Breathwork in Nature) (EDAAAHAO), Eco-Resorts (Full-Service Sustainable Resorts in Natural Settings) (THAAAHAB), Eco-Lodges (Low-Impact, Nature-Integrated Lodging) (THAAAHAA)

Keywords

• Ecovillage living
• Permaculture education
• Natural building workshops
• Sustainable community programs
• Intentional community residencies

Headquarters

HQ city

Rutledge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational Programs and Workshops: Revenue from permaculture design courses, natural building workshops, cob oven workshops, and other educational programming. Programs range from intensive multi-day courses to weekend workshops.
2. Visitor Program Fees: Sliding-scale fees for 1-2 week sustainable living immersion programs. Revenue is intentionally structured to be accessible with supported pricing for those with financial constraints.
3. Women's Retreat Revenue: Fee-based transformational retreat programming for women seeking personal development and community connection.
4. Webinar Series Sales: Online educational content sold as a series of recorded webinars covering sustainability topics including climate action, carbon-efficient living, and cooperative culture.
5. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations through Give STL and other campaigns support scholarship and sliding scale funds, enabling financial accessibility to programs.
6. Milkweed Mercantile B&B: Eco-friendly bed and breakfast providing accommodations and meals for visitors, with indoor accommodation options available at additional cost during programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage operates an intentional community and sustainability demonstration project on 280 acres in Northeast Missouri, offering immersive educational programs including a 1-2 week Sustainable Living Visitor Program, Permaculture Design Courses, Natural Building Workshops, retreats, and work exchange opportunities. The community serves as a living laboratory for sustainable living practices, with 40+ natural buildings demonstrating ecological design, cooperative governance, and regenerative practices.

Product overview

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is an intentional community and sustainability demonstration project founded in 1997, operated by The Center for Sustainable and Cooperative Culture, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The organization offers a portfolio of educational programs and experiences centered on sustainable living: the core offering is the Sustainable Living Visitor Program, a 1-2 week immersive experience complemented by specialized workshops (Natural Building Workshop, Permaculture Design Course), short programs (Ecovillage Adventure Weekend, Singing Rabbit), and retreat programs (Women's Retreat, Online Women's Retreat, Founder's Retreat). Supporting infrastructure includes the Milkweed Mercantile eco-B&B for accommodations and a Webinar Series for remote education. The Work Exchange Program enables extended stays through labor exchange. These programs collectively serve as a living laboratory demonstrating ecological sustainability, intentional community governance, natural building, permaculture, and cooperative culture to visitors from around the world.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Milkweed Mercantile: Eco-friendly bed and breakfast (B&B) operated by Dancing Rabbit, providing accommodations for visitors and serving meals for programs.
• Dancing Rabbit Land Trust
• The Center for Sustainable and Cooperative Culture

Products and services

• Sustainable Living Visitor Program A 1-2 week immersive experience allowing visitors to learn about sustainable living, community governance, permaculture, natural building, and ecological practices through hands-on workshops and participation in daily village life.
• Natural Building Workshop Hands-on workshops teaching natural building techniques including cob oven construction, straw bale building, earthen plaster, and other natural material building methods using clay, sand, straw, and stone.
• Permaculture Design Course (PDC) An internationally recognized 72-hour permaculture design certification course taught by Bill Wilson of Midwest Permaculture, held annually at the ecovillage using it as a living laboratory for sustainable design principles.
• Ecovillage Adventure Weekend A 3-4 day introduction to ecovillage and intentional community living, offering conversations about sustainability, nature connection, and exploring what it means to reorganize life around personal sustainability principles.
• Work Exchange Program A program allowing participants to exchange work on various projects (natural building, gardening, dairy, cooking) for accommodations and meals, providing immersive experience in ecovillage life.
• Women's Retreat A 4-day in-person retreat focused on women's empowerment, self-love, transformation, and personal growth held at the ecovillage.
• Online Women's Retreat A 3-day virtual retreat focused on women's personal growth, transformation, and reconnecting with passion and creativity.
• Singing Rabbit A community singing event featuring songleaders from around the country, combining transformational songs with skill-share sessions on sustainable community living.
• Milkweed Mercantile An eco-certified bed and breakfast providing accommodations and meals for visitors, course participants, and retreat attendees at the ecovillage.
• Webinar Series A series of recorded webinars covering topics such as climate action, carbon-efficient living, co-operative culture, and building skills for community living.
• Founder's Retreat A specialized retreat program focused on learning from and connecting with founders of the ecovillage.
• Intro to Permaculture Course An introductory course teaching ecological design principles and permaculture concepts, using the ecovillage as a living laboratory.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.7/5 average rating from past program participants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Midwest Permaculture (Bill Wilson)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2025Bill Wilson of Midwest Permaculture serves as lead instructor for Dancing Rabbit's Permaculture Design Course. Wilson has hosted or taught over 100 PDC Courses in nearly 20 years. He co-teaches with Erik Peterson and Sharon Bagatell, bringing graduate students from every state and over 20 countries. This partnership provides internationally recognized 72-hour PDC certification.
• NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRCS supported the Silvopasture Field Day event at Dancing Rabbit, providing technical assistance and resources for multi-species pasturing and agroforestry design education. Event included pasture tour, demonstrations, and access to exclusive funding microgrants.
• Give STLcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual fundraising campaign platform that enables 100% of donations to go directly to scholarship and sliding scale funds. First $2,000 in donations are matched through community donors Ed Pultz and Wendy Soderland.
• PBS (My World Too)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDancing Rabbit was featured on PBS's 'My World Too' documentary series, providing national television visibility and third-party credibility for the ecovillage's sustainability mission.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Damanhur: A large intentional community in Italy with educational programs, eco-architecture, and visitor tours. Comparable in scale and mission, but operating in Europe rather than competing in the U.S. Midwest.

Direct peers

• Koinonia Farm: A long-running intentional community in Americus, Georgia focused on cooperative living, sustainable agriculture, and hospitality. Comparable as a values-driven residential community with visitors, retreats, and educational programming.
• Twin Oaks Community: One of the longest-running intentional communities in the U.S. (founded 1967), operating shared labor, income pooling, and eco-living practices. Highly comparable as a residential intentional community with visitor programs and a cooperative economy.
• Earthaven Ecovillage: An intentional community in Black Mountain, North Carolina focused on permaculture, natural building, and sustainability education. Directly comparable in offering workshops, tours, and residential sustainability demonstration.
• Ithaca Ecovillage: An intentional community in Ithaca, New York with cohousing neighborhoods and educational programming around sustainability. Comparable in combining residential ecovillage living with visitor education and tours.
• Midwest Permaculture: Permaculture education provider led by Bill Wilson, Dancing Rabbit's PDC partner. Comparable as a competitor/partner offering the same internationally recognized 72-hour Permaculture Design Certification curriculum.
• Findhorn Foundation: One of the world's most recognized ecovillages, located in Scotland, offering residential programs, workshops, and sustainability education. Closely comparable as a flagship ecovillage with international reputation and educational offerings.

Emerging players

• Aprovecho Research Center: A nonprofit sustainability research and education center in Oregon offering permaculture, natural building, and appropriate-technology workshops. Comparable as a small-scale, education-driven sustainable-living organization with residential learning programs.
• Occupy Madison: A small intentional community in Madison, Wisconsin focused on cooperative living, sustainability, and mutual aid. Comparable as a newer-generation Midwestern intentional community with cooperative governance and a sustainability orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Alternative Technology: A long-established sustainability education center in Wales with visitor programs, courses, and a demonstration site. Comparable as a larger, more institutionalized version of Dancing Rabbit's sustainability education mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/drecovillage
• Facebookfacebook.com/DancingRabbitEcovillage
• Instagraminstagram.com/dancing.rabbit.ecovillage
• Xx.com/DancingRabbit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dancing-rabbit-ecovillage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage