Newsletter—Meeting the Community at Nashville Earth Day
BVF members John & Rebecca at our Earth Day booth
We were excited to be part of Nashville Earth Day on April 18 at the Centennial Park Bandshell. This event brought the Nashville community together to celebrate our planet and support sustainability in Middle Tennessee, with more than 75 exhibitors including local growers, nonprofits, sustainable small businesses, and more.
It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with families and share what we're building at Burns Village and Farm. With 17 acres of protected land and sustainable farming practices at the heart of our community, BVF is more than a neighborhood. It's a commitment to living lighter on the land. We loved talking with people who care about conservation just as much as we do and showing them how a green lifestyle and genuine community connection can go hand in hand.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth. If we met you there and you'd like to learn more, we'd love to keep the conversation going! Join us for an upcoming Zoom information session or RSVP for a site tour to roam our lovely property.
Around the Table: Shared Meals in Cohousing
Many cohousing communities include shared meals as part of everyday life. Several Burns Village & Farm members have previously lived in cohousing communities, and we asked Barb and John what common meals were like where they lived.
This is Part 3 of a 3-part series exploring community meals in cohousing.
Part 3: Where the Community Happens
While shared meals make life easier, many cohousing residents say the real value is what happens around the table.
At Blueberry Hill, John remembers that every meal brought a slightly different mix of neighbors. “Every meal you’d end up sitting with a different set of neighbors, talking about world events or personal experiences,” he says. “It made for an interesting dynamic over good food.”
Over time, traditions naturally developed. Holiday meals became annual favorites—corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day, King cake for Mardi Gras, and community barbecues on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day.
Children added their own energy to the gatherings. “With little people in the community,” John recalls, “there would often be spontaneous skits or songs that would pop up amongst giggling and jostling.”
Even when people couldn’t meet in person, the sense of connection continued. During the pandemic, Barb’s community experimented with “cook-alongs.” Neighbors shared ingredients ahead of time and then logged on together to cook the same recipe in their own kitchens. The meals were wonderfully varied—one evening featured a Vietnamese dish, another included learning how to make a Korean fried egg, and another time the group baked fresh baguettes together.
For many people who have experienced cohousing, shared meals are where community truly takes shape—through conversation, laughter, traditions, and the simple act of gathering together.
At Burns Village & Farm, we look forward to creating our own traditions around the table. If you’re curious about life in a farm-centered cohousing community, we’d love to meet you at an upcoming intro session.
Find Us Saturday at Nashville Earth Day
Each year, Nashville Earth Day Festival brings together thousands to celebrate sustainability, community, and care for the planet—and Burns Village & Farm will be there again this year on Saturday, April 18.
Held in Centennial Park, the festival is a lively gathering of local organizations, growers, makers and neighbors, with opportunities to learn, connect, and be inspired. Alongside booths and speakers, you’ll also find live music and great local food, making it a fun and welcoming day for all.
We’re excited to host a table and connect with others curious about cohousing, shared living, and land stewardship. Come by, say hello, and learn more about what we’re building at Burns Village & Farm.
And if you’d like to go deeper, join us the next day for a site visit in Burns. Walking the land together offers a real sense of what’s possible!
“All flourishing is mutual.” — Robin Wall Kimmerer
With spring unfolding all around us, this truth feels especially visible. New growth doesn’t happen in isolation—it's the result of countless quiet relationships: soil and seed, rain and root, sun and leaf.
At Burns Village & Farm, this idea is more than philosophy—it’s a way of living. When we invest in one another, in the land, and in the systems that sustain us, we all grow stronger together. Flourishing isn’t individual; it’s a collective act.