The Power of Intentional Communities

Beautiful rainbow on the land over the Temple of Trees
In today’s world, many people are searching for connection amidst an increasingly isolated society. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, 1 in 8 people feel lonely “always” or “usually,” and nearly a quarter of younger people (ages 18 to 29) report feeling lonely regularly. This rise in loneliness, which the U.S. Surgeon General has labeled an epidemic, has driven people to seek out community in new ways—from running clubs to knitting groups.
At Polestar Village, we believe that living in an intentional community offers a meaningful response to this growing sense of isolation. By fostering deep relationships and shared purpose, Polestar not only helps people share resources but also creates opportunities for true connection and personal growth.

Ann Gornick, Polestar Village co-founder and Polestar garden manager extraordinaire!
Intentional communities have existed throughout history, often centered around shared spiritual, environmental, or social values. This approach is reflected in contemporary movements like New Urbanism and cohousing.
The great yogi and visionary Paramhansa Yogananda passionately advocated for intentional communities, predicting that the idea would “spread like wildfire.” Polestar Village is part of this growing movement, reimagining how we live by embracing community, simplicity, and a higher sense of purpose.
Polestar Village: An Intentional, Walkable Neighborhood

Our Polestar experiential Summer kids camp participants run by Susan Cohn, an experienced Montessori teacher- trainer
At Polestar Village, we have coined the term “intentional walkable neighborhood” to describe our community’s fluid structure, allowing for a wide range of shared values and approaches. We embrace purposeful living, focusing on sustainable practices and fostering mental, physical, and spiritual growth. Polestar emphasizes lifelong learning and development, both individually and collectively, fostering connections through shared values and intentional practices.

Play is one of the Polestar pillars
As Polestar cofounder Michael Gornik explains, “The challenges of our times—environmental, social, and spiritual—call us to recreate the way in which we live. Honoring our differences and embracing our interdependence with each other, the planet we live on, and the Spirit that moves through us, Polestar Village offers both a return to simplicity and a remembrance of our higher purpose.”
Polestar Gardens, Inc. is an educational non-profit inviting those who share our values of “Spirit, Community, and Lifelong Learning” to co-create an intentional neighborhood in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado. Construction on Polestar Village—a 20-acre, semi-urban, mixed-use development—is set to begin in early 2025. The Village will feature a walkable Village Center, sacred spaces for yoga and meditation, a large community garden, a community center with a dining hall and classrooms, and sustainably built housing, including townhomes, condos, and single-family dwellings. The development will also include elder living, play areas, trails, and much more.

Spontaneous campfire and sing along on the land
Sustainability and Inclusivity at Polestar
Polestar Village is designed to embody sustainability, with a focus on net-zero energy, reducing dependence on automobiles through walkable design, and including age-in-place features in many of our units. An educational non-profit will manage the common spaces and amenities.
We are a spiritual community inclusive of diverse spiritual traditions—or no tradition at all—and we are committed to welcoming people of all identities, including LGBTQ, neurodivergent individuals, and those from all walks of life. We value meditation, yoga, sacred music, community service, introspection, and any practices that promote the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of our members.
A Future of Growth and Connection

Patrick Padden, Owner, Padden Permaculture, led an energizing activity using juggling to help participants tap into their neural pathways, reminding everyone that regeneration begins with how we think. “It’s about connection,” he said, “and finding new ways to juggle our thoughts so we can make a greater impact.”
In a world where balancing individual fulfillment with communal living is increasingly complex, Polestar Village offers a model that blends the best of both worlds. We aim to create a vibrant, supportive environment that sustains its residents physically, while nurturing them emotionally and spiritually. We invite you to learn more and explore our vision by joining a monthly virtual tour or visiting us in person.
For more details, sign up for our monthly newsletter, explore our events calendar https://www.polestarvillage.com/, or email info@polestargardens.org to schedule an in-person visit.
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