A Withness Project

Vine & Garden

An intentional living community rooted in connection, shared life, and everyday support.

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The Heart

Why this exists

So many of us are raising families, building lives, and carrying
responsibilities in isolation — even while surrounded by people.
Vine & Garden is a response to that.
A way of living that brings people back into meaningful, daily
connection.

The Vision

A different way of living is possible.

A different way of living is possible.
Vine & Garden is a small, intentional community of households living on shared land with private homes, shared spaces, and rhythms of everyday life together.Shared meals a few nights a week
Built-in support for daily life
Real relationshipsThis isn’t about sharing everything, it’s about restoring access
to everyday community.

Pilot

A Living Research Pilot on Community & Wellbeing

Vine & Garden is being developed as a small-scale, real-world pilot to better understand how intentional proximity impacts loneliness, parental stress, and overall wellbeing.
We are partnering with a research-informed framework to explore:

The goal is not just to build one community — but to create a replicable model cities and developers can learn from.

Clarity

What It Actually Looks Like

12 private homes
Shared land + green space
Common house (kitchen, play, gathering)
Shared rhythms + agreement
Space for both independence and community

Invitation

Who This Is For

This is for people actively seeking a different way of living:You’re craving deeper community in your daily life
You want more support in how you live or care for others
You value intentional living over convenience
You’re open to shared rhythms and mutual careWhile the first community will likely center households in early
family life, the long-term vision is intergenerational, people in
different stages of life choosing to live in closer, more supportive
community.

STATUS

Where we are now

Vine & Garden is currently in its design and research phase — developing the framework, studying existing cohousing models, and shaping a pilot community that can also serve as a long-term research foundation.
Vine & Garden is currently rooted in Georgia, while drawing inspiration from cohousing and intentional communities around the world.We are actively exploring:
Land opportunities
Research partnerships
Early founding families
Funding pathways for pilot implementation

Beyond

Why this matters beyond one community

Loneliness, parental stress, and housing challenges are not
separate problems — they are shaped by how our environments
are designed.
Vine & Garden is a small-scale attempt to explore a larger question: What happens when we design neighborhoods around human connection instead of isolation?If successful, this model could inform:Urban planning approaches
Family housing policy
Community development
Future neighborhood design

Origin

A note from me

This idea didn’t come from a grand plan—it came from noticing, over time, how isolating everyday life can feel, even when you’re surrounded by people.
In different seasons of life, I kept returning to the same feeling: that we’re not meant to do all of this alone.
Vine & Garden is my way of exploring what becomes possible when we choose to live closer to one another—with more support, more shared rhythm, and more real connection in everyday life.— Raquel

Call to Action

If this resonates, we’d love to connect.

Join as an early participant in the pilot
Contribute to research conversations
Connect as a partner or collaborator

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