IMAGINE, IF YOU WILL, A LARGE, BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado... perhaps 50-75 acres... maybe more!

Just off the entrance road, children scamper around, playing tag or collecting leaves for a project. They have no fear of strangers, waving at you then returning to their business as you slowly maneuver to the off-road parking lot. The geodesic-dome Learning Center lies just beyond that first hill, only a short hike away. You arrive there and the door stands open. A young child greets you warmly as he continues on his way to meet a tutor for algebra. Some children sit at the computer terminals researching a project. Others browse the extensive library, or are lounging on couches or on pillow on the floor ... talking quietly or reading. And still others are playing in the Pretend area. Music wafts from the rehearsal hall, where a few kids are preparing a production they've written and are producing.

You step outdoors, and smell the strong air of Mother Nature. There is a section of forest that stretches beyond our property. An orchard we've planted produces beautiful apples, cherries, pears, almonds... and more! Honey-bees buzz on by, intent on their mission to create a loving elixir of nutrition and sweetness. Greenhouses dot the landscape, producing organic and fresh produce, even in the blustery winter. The sound of goats, cows and chickens permeate the sounds of children's laughter. Barely visible are a couple of earth-bermed homes. Just beyond that is an adobe-colored dome, with another white dome beside it.

And in the midst of these beautiful "green" homes is the common building made from straw-bale, so very energy efficient and fire-retardant, where the community residents gather for fellowship, huge meals, dances, and where our youngest children are lovingly tended. This is also where the children who are boarding here in order to attend the school live, work and play. And here, in the common building, is where the harvest of fruits and vegetables is carefully transformed into healthy meals for the winter months, and where the cow's cream becomes butter and ice cream (definitely a summer favorite). The huge living room serves as a dining room for common meals; then, chairs are pushed aside for impromptu dances and family games.

In the center and off to the side is a playground and outdoors gathering place. The slides and jungle gym have been carefully crafted from wood, sanded to a beautiful sheen. Hammocks in between sturdy trees swing gently in the cool mountain breeze. Fathers gather at the picnic tables to watch their children play with abandon.

It's obvious this Community loves and cares for its children, believing strongly in guiding them to live the core values of honesty, awareness and responsibility. We also encourage them to BE themselves, and to explore their gifts and interests. THIS Is what you want for your family. You want to live among other like-minded families, raising your children together, knowing Spirit and Love exist.

This community exists not only for ourselves and our families, but also to support the Learning Centers. The community members may teach a class, help cook the meals, tutor a child, or whatever needs doing. Every community member who contributes time and effort to the Learning Center and its children, and to the land, community, and animals, will receive a salary and benefits from the non-profit organization.

Help create this community. Donate, or become a member. We need people with all kinds of gifts: weaving, farming, animal husbandry, maintenance, child care, etc.

We will also be helping to create other schools around the world, which may also decide to include intentional communities. For this first one we will soon be looking for property in the northwest area of Denver. We need community members to help guide the children through the school day, but also take care of the property, animals, plants, and, of course, the students. Salaries and benefits will be provided in exchange.

Photograph: "Toddling Tots Tiptoe Through the Tulips" by Juliane Kristine Rea. To view more of Juliane's beautiful photography, visit http://groups.msn.com/JulianeReasPhotographyPortfolio/shoebox.msnw

© 2003 Vikki Lawrence

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Victoria (Vikki) Lawrence is a 40-year-old single mom of an incredible 6-year-old kid. She knew about him months before his conception, and since then, he's been a constant teacher and guide. She supports this little family not only by working a full-time job, but also self-publishing self-help and educational books and reports, giving weekend workshops for kids, writing and publishing newsletters about parenting, angels and diet, working to start an intentional community, and helping people set up alternatives schools. Because of the quality of the public educational system, she home-schools her son, while hoping to soon open an alternative school in NorthWest Denver.

Vikki's goal is to help people better guide these wonderful and unusual kids of today so that we can create a better tomorrow. She started up the non-profit organization "Mountain Gardens Community and Learning Center". Through this organization and its workshops, Vikki can help others guide their children along the same path of values, love, peace, respect and education. Mountain Gardens Community and Learning Centers is a non-profit project under the National Heritage Foundation www.nhf.org.

Please feel free to contact Vikki if you have any questions. Vikki Lawrence, Mountain Gardens Community and Learning Center, P.O. Box 1283, Wheat Ridge, CO 80034-1283. www.earth2spirit.org/mountaingardens. Email: vikkibooks@yahoo.com