What is Dancing Rabbit?
Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is a sustainable living community located in rural Missouri, United States. Founded in 1997, it has become a model for sustainable living practices and community building.
The community’s vision centers around living in harmony with nature and prioritizing social well-being.
Dancing Rabbit is an off-grid community that utilizes sustainable practices such as organic agriculture, renewable energy sources, and natural building techniques.
Members live in small homes designed to minimize environmental impact, and the community has a strong emphasis on shared resources and collective decision-making.
My visit to Dancing Rabbit
It has been several years now, but I had the privilege of visiting Dancing Rabbit for a weekend. This was pre-Covid back when they offered the Milkweed Mercantile building as a guesthouse. You could simply make a reservation and stay in one of the rooms back then.
I don’t think they offer this option anymore, but those wanting to visit can do so by signing up for a workshop, retreat or the more lengthy visitor program. I think any of these would be great and based on my experience from several years ago, it would be very memorable.
The mercantile has (had?) a small restaurant and bar on the ground floor and they served great food and a surprisingly wide array of beers. Everyone was very friendly and we chatted with a mother and daughter who from out of town visiting for the weekend along with some of the locals who came in.
Stuff we did
Although we didn’t have any specific things planned, we were quickly invited to participate in some activities there. They graciously offered a tour of the village by a resident. We walked around and he explained the various buildings, what they were made of, what worked well and what didn’t, and introduced us to anyone who we strolled by.
I learned a lot about permaculture and general gardening techniques from one of the guys we met with. He had a great garden in his backyard and he said he never had a problem with pests due, partly, to the way the soil was cultivated and by his use of other natural means to manage pests.
They invited us to a community dinner in one of the villager’s homes. I think we had chili or some other stew which was great. There were probably 20 or 30 there in and around the home and everyone helped out with a task. I washed dishes, for example. The atmosphere was relaxed and everyone we spoke with was patient with our questions.
They also invited us back to the lake later one evening which was a memorable experience.
It is very much a village atmosphere. From my perspective, it was obvious everyone knew each other and the feeling was that it was very much a community that supported each other in a very interconnected way. I imagine, like any community, they have their things to work through but I never got a feeling of animosity between anyone. I didn’t get to learn a lot about how they govern or make decisions. If I get to go back, that’s something I want to ask about.
A little more about the community
The community uses power from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, and, as mentioned above, residents grow their own food using organic and permaculture techniques.
They also prioritize alternative transportation methods such as biking and carpooling.
Dancing Rabbit is a vibrant and evolving community, with ongoing projects and initiatives focused on improving sustainability and community resilience.
If you have a chance to visit, you can learn about sustainable living practices through workshops, tours, and internships, and the community regularly welcomes new members who are committed to their values and way of life.
Despite the challenges of living sustainably in a rural community, many residents find that life at Dancing Rabbit is rewarding and fulfilling. The community provides a sense of purpose and connection that is often lacking in modern society, and allows residents to live in harmony with the natural world.
They have a pretty active blog page that’s worth checking out.
Wrap up
Even after however many years it has been, I still look back on my visit to Dancing Rabbit as a rewarding experience.
So often on vacations or travel, you wind up in a hotel which immediately cloisters you from anyone else. Sometimes that is nice but sometimes it is good to make a connection with the local community.
I think this is what stood out for me the most. I didn’t just get a place to stay. My wife and I were immediately engaged in the community and welcomed. It was comfortable. Like going back to a neighborhood you grew up in even though we had never been there before.
I usually like to tie everything together with some Catholic perspective. It’s a little tricky with this post but I can say that the sense of community reminded me of some of the monasteries I’ve visited. Everyone seems to live for the “other” on some level and was eager to help.
If you have the chance to visit Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, it’s very much worth it, from my perspective.