This is a 2025 update to the chapter Janet wrote for the 50th Birthday Book in 2012.

Woodhead is a small, intentional community located in farmlands just outside Kinloss, just two miles from the Ecovillage of Findhorn. It has been going for more than 30 years.

A rich and full time for all who have lived there. It has been filled with raising our children and following our individual passions, while at the same time putting Life back into the land and buildings we have been care-taking. When we arrived here it was a windswept property. The main farm house and adjoining farm worker’s cottage had had some basic renovation, but were in sore need of improvements and further extensions. One of the previous owners’s idea of gardening was to spray the land with glyphosphate once a year!

It was hard work, but to witness and be part of making steady changes to both the land and buildings we cared for has been such a joy and privilege. The two acres of land we manage between us is now bountiful and beautiful, providing most of the fruit and vegetables we need. Initially we had to import manures, but now the land itself provides more than enough of the nutrients it needs to continue growing. Many of the trees we initially planted for shelter are now being cut down to provide firewood. It feels like, and is, a miracle.

Currently there are eight adults and one child calling Woodhead home. In the early days we had up to nine adults and four children living here. In addition we usually have a Wwoofer, (a gardening volunteer), come to join us. Now the four founding members no longer have the strength and stamina we had when we started, and so in order for our community to continue into the future we need some new “young blood”.

So early next year we will be opening up to new members. Ideally it would be a couple with (or without) children, at least one of whom would have the time, energy and desire to continue to develop and caretake this place. There will be a unit with three or four bedrooms/ work rooms and a large kitchen sitting room becoming available in March 2026. This will initially be a rental option, but we would very much welcome a couple who would wish to buy into the community. Leave us a Comment on this post if you want to get more information about joining us.