About Terra Futura · West Asheville
A place to put down roots, together
“We built the community that we wanted to live in, that we wanted to raise our kids in.”
Jack and Kelsey are both founders and residents of Terra Futura. By living here with their own family, they’ve ensured that every decision made about this neighborhood is one they have to live with every day. They’ve already welcomed several households into the community, and together they’re proving that a different way of living together is possible right here in West Asheville.
Where it began
A shared love of land and community
Jack and Kelsey met at the West Asheville Farmers Market, drawn together by a shared love for the land and a vision of what community could actually be. Their partnership grew into a marriage and eventually into Terra Futura, where they now raise their family.
They wanted to build something that truly honored the character of Southern Appalachia, so they let the natural contours of the hills, the mature trees, and the existing farmhouse and barn guide their design. Kelsey drew on her background in architecture and sustainability to ensure the homes fit into the landscape and respected the water moving across the property. Jack combined his expertise in rural development and community building with training in organizational development to create a framework for how neighbors could live together and govern themselves.
Terra Futura wasn’t built on assumptions. For four years, Jack and Kelsey immersed themselves in the study of intentional communities in Asheville and beyond. They sought out groups that had been running for over a decade to ask the hard question: if you could do it all over again, what would you do differently? They even talked with people living near those communities to learn how an intentional community can be a good neighbor itself. That research became the foundation for Terra Futura, shaping everything from the physical layout to the social agreements that keep the community healthy.
Living in the place they are building
Residents as well as developers
Terra Futura is home for Jack and Kelsey, too. They’ve chosen to build this community while living within it, sharing the same daily experiences as their neighbors. This keeps them grounded and accountable to the people who live here.
The neighborhood began as an intentionally designed project, but it isn’t meant to stay developer-led. Once four Firefly Bluff units are occupied, Jack and Kelsey will begin handing governance over to the residents through sociocracy and resident-led circles. This transition allows the people who live here to take full ownership of their community and shape its future together.
Moving day at Terra Futura
What sustains us
Care for the land and for one another
The gardens at Terra Futura are designed for more than just beauty. They are part of a permaculture system meant to be educational, giving residents a chance to get to know the growing seasons and the real work that goes into producing food.
Because we are on three acres within the city, our gardens are about inspiration and learning rather than full production. We believe this kind of connection changes how you move through the world. It can change the questions you ask at a farmers market and the value you place on local farmers. For us, caring for the land and caring for our neighbors come from the same place: a commitment to understanding and respecting what sustains us.
Residents help shape the community
Learning to make decisions together
The research Jack and Kelsey did before building Terra Futura showed them that self-governance is critical to the longevity of an intentional community. They wanted to ensure that once residents invested in their homes, they also had a real say in how the neighborhood evolved.
That’s why we use sociocracy. Through a system of circles, each responsible for different aspects of community life, neighbors can manage their own affairs without needing a top-down hierarchy. Decisions are made by consent based on whether a proposal is safe enough to try. This means we can move forward without waiting for perfect agreement, provided that the proposal won’t harm the community or its purpose. The circles are currently taking shape as residents learn the process together.
Read how resident governance worksWhat this place can teach us
One neighborhood, with more to learn
At its heart, Terra Futura is about discovering what happens when people choose to live with intention. By sharing spaces, making decisions together, and respecting the land, we’re learning how to rebuild the kind of support systems that make a neighborhood feel like home.
Our goal is to prove that you can have privacy without living in isolation. As the community grows and we move toward full resident governance, we hope the lessons we learn here can serve as a guide for others who want to build something similar. Our next chapter begins with Maple Crescent in 2027.
Come get to know the place