Our Members

Joel B.

I’m a self-employed (but retired) Architect, with a type A personality, workaholic, productive. I live with Margo, my wife, as well as a housemate.

Back in 1999, Margo and I were invited to participate in an elder initiative using Cohousing as a model. After a soul-searching retreat with Margo, we decided to dive in. The national Cohousing Conference was in Amherst, home of my alma mater - I was hooked, and stayed for the professional day following the inspirational communities conference.

I’ve been involved with this community since its inception in 1999. After all these years of work, I hope to build before I'm too old to enjoy it!

My hobbies include playing oboe, spiritual scientific research, scrabble, tennis, and hiking, along with contracting.

Steve W.

I found out about cohousing and ecovillages when visiting the EcoVillage at Ithaca in 1996. I’ve been involved with this community for six years (actively since 2016).

My current occupation is editor of Green Horizon Magazine, and I’m an investor in Altair EcoVillage. I hope the Altair community will foster social change toward green communitarian living.

I live with my wife: Laura, daughter: Nicole, grandchildren: Sarina, Little Laura, and Davey. My hobbies include writing, yoga, biking, listening to nature.

Fern W.

The main thread throughout my life has been whole foods. Growing up in rural South Central PA, my siblings and I ate what the locals farmers brought us. Along with raising my son, food continued to be the focal point of my life for many years when I operated my restaurant and catering business. And even for the past couple of decades, my focus has been and still is on whole foods and their health benefits. Last year, my original trip to Kimberton was to check out the Whole Foods store. While pursuing another interest of mine, that of cohousing, I had read about Altair EcoVillage for years in the intentional community directory. I returned for a site tour, and the rest, as they say, is history.

I have been plugged into the Altair community ever since and am looking forward to fulfilling another dream – that of living lighter on the Earth in an environmentally friendly, interdependent neighborhood. In this community, I hope to continue to pursue my other interests like hiking, pottery, bicycling, cooking, reading, hanging out, and being in collaboration with others.

Margo K.

My husband Joel Bartlett and I live in Kimberton, at the gateway to the Altair site. I’ve worked in Waldorf administration and have served several non-profits. I'm an amateur musician and lover of crafts.

I've lived in intentional communities on and off in my life, and heard about cohousing 35 years ago in New Hampshire. I’ve been involved with this community since 1999. I hope we can build an ecovillage that will be a model for the region, to help turn the tide of over-consumption and reduce the potential effects of peak oil, climate destruction, and economic instability.

My hobbies include knitting and playing lyre, piano, and oboe.