On March first of 2022, the quietness of the predawn hours was interrupted by the sound of a tiny bleat. A wooly brown dairy sheep named Siren had given birth to an adorable ram lamb. The precious baby was black with a white head and white socks, pink nose, and floppy black ears. He was also the first of nine lambs to be born at Floyd EcoVillage.

Large fields, bright skies, and friendly visitors are but a few of the experiences these tiny floofs can look forward to during their time on the seventy-five-acre property of the EcoVillage. There, they will be in the company of sixteen other sheep, two rams and fourteen ewes, as well as two nervous but attractive cows. This happy collection will be kept and cared for in the paddock located between the earth-bermed lodge and the pond, overlooked by the Event Center. Guests are encouraged to visit the animals while walking the trails but are not allowed to enter the pens without a staff member.

The lambs, however, are only the first of many new things happening this year. The changes to the EcoVillage Farm come along with new farmers, Christine Mann and Corey Hamza. Christine and Corey lived and worked in California as ecologists for many years before becoming farmers. They were farming in Oregon when life, luck, and a little bit of magic connected them with a family in Franklin County. In spring of 2020, they started Rivenwood Gardens and began farming on that family’s farm. (above: Christine Mann and Corey Hamza).

Although they enjoyed their time on the family farm, they continued to long for a community. For the two of them, community included an organic farm where the farmers coexisted with nature and had the ability to regenerate the land. The Floyd EcoVillage turned out to be the community they had so long been looking for.

For anyone who has not yet visited the Floyd EcoVillage, it is located at 188 Eco Village Trail, just two miles east from the center of Floyd. The property is nestled back from the road and is a hidden gem that includes several energy efficient occupied homes, a working market garden, and fenced areas with sheep, chickens, and pigs. There is also a short hiking path with a “LOVE” sign for pictures.

Additionally, the EcoVillage is home to the Floyd Event Center. This beautiful timber-framed Community Center includes a commercial kitchen, state-of-the-art sound system, and a baby grand piano. It is available for rent to groups wishing to facilitate weddings, retreats, concerts, meetings, and family reunions. Maggie Hessinger is the onsite Event Coordinator, available to assist with planning and day-of coordination. There is a large patio and a gazebo over the pond for ceremonies, or just for feeding the fish! There are also lodging facilities on site, including a seven-unit earth-bermed lodge, wilderness cabins, and a small campground with a bathhouse.

Over the course of the last five years, the Farm Store has become a central part of the EcoVillage. This year, the store is being expanded, and is now open 7:00am to 7:00pm, seven days per week! Visitors have long enjoyed the local bounty the EcoVillage Farm has provided, and they may continue enjoying even more of the organic and certified naturally grown items at the store! In addition to all the great items inside, there is also a medicinal herb garden next to the Farm Store which is open for visitors. It’s a great place to picnic for lunch, or just to sit and enjoy the pollinators.

Christine and Corey hope to expand the gardens with perennials, more culinary and medicinal herbs, and trees to help the honeybees on site. They also hope to expand the orchard. Guests may find extended flower gardens around the property, as well as wandering sheep that are rotated to help cultivate the land.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their cameras, as there will be plenty of new photo opportunities to augment the beautiful scenery that already exist along the trails and throughout the property.

New for the summer of 2022 will be “Sunday on the Farm”. Two Sundays per month, farmers and friends will offer and lead activities for visitors. Experiences can range from salsa and herbal tea mix making, to feeding animals and building fairy houses in the woods. Plans are also in the works to install a windmill and an electric car charging station this fall.

Many more changes coming to the Floyd EcoVillage will be revealed in the months to come. To stay informed and to stay abreast of community engagement activities, follow on Facebook at facebook.com/floydecovillagefarm or facebook.com/floydeventcenter. Folks can also visit online at VisitFloyd.com for activities, dates, and times.

For more information about the property, setting up tours, planning events or to book a night onsite, contact floydeventcenter@gmail.com or call 540-745-4434.

Floyd Event Center • www. facebook.com/floydeventcenter
FloydEventCenter@gmail.com • 540-745-4434