Our Members

Joel B.

I’m a self-employed (but retired) Architect, with a type A personality, workaholic, productive. I live with Margo, my wife, as well as a housemate.

Back in 1999, Margo and I were invited to participate in an elder initiative using Cohousing as a model. After a soul-searching retreat with Margo, we decided to dive in. The national Cohousing Conference was in Amherst, home of my alma mater - I was hooked, and stayed for the professional day following the inspirational communities conference.

I’ve been involved with this community since its inception in 1999. After all these years of work, I hope to build before I'm too old to enjoy it!

My hobbies include playing oboe, spiritual scientific research, scrabble, tennis, and hiking, along with contracting.

Steve W.

I found out about cohousing and ecovillages when visiting the EcoVillage at Ithaca in 1996. I’ve been involved with this community for six years (actively since 2016).

My current occupation is editor of Green Horizon Magazine, and I’m an investor in Altair EcoVillage. I hope the Altair community will foster social change toward green communitarian living.

I live with my wife: Laura, daughter: Nicole, grandchildren: Sarina, Little Laura, and Davey. My hobbies include writing, yoga, biking, listening to nature.

Fern W.

The main thread throughout my life has been whole foods. Growing up in rural South Central PA, my siblings and I ate what the locals farmers brought us. Along with raising my son, food continued to be the focal point of my life for many years when I operated my restaurant and catering business. And even for the past couple of decades, my focus has been and still is on whole foods and their health benefits. Last year, my original trip to Kimberton was to check out the Whole Foods store. While pursuing another interest of mine, that of cohousing, I had read about Altair EcoVillage for years in the intentional community directory. I returned for a site tour, and the rest, as they say, is history.

I have been plugged into the Altair community ever since and am looking forward to fulfilling another dream – that of living lighter on the Earth in an environmentally friendly, interdependent neighborhood. In this community, I hope to continue to pursue my other interests like hiking, pottery, bicycling, cooking, reading, hanging out, and being in collaboration with others.

Margo K.

My husband Joel Bartlett and I live in Kimberton, at the gateway to the Altair site. I’ve worked in Waldorf administration and have served several non-profits. I'm an amateur musician and lover of crafts.

I've lived in intentional communities on and off in my life, and heard about cohousing 35 years ago in New Hampshire. I’ve been involved with this community since 1999. I hope we can build an ecovillage that will be a model for the region, to help turn the tide of over-consumption and reduce the potential effects of peak oil, climate destruction, and economic instability.

My hobbies include knitting and playing lyre, piano, and oboe.

Sue W.

I’m retired from a career in software development. At present I live in Kimberton with four housemates. I enjoy bicycling, gardening, internet games, puzzles and crafts.

I visited Findhorn in 2003 and then found Altair on cohousing.org in 2006. My hope is to get the project built, and then being able to hang out with friends and not have to drive everywhere.

John and Nancy P.

We have been married for 44 years. We learned about Cohousing through Joel and Margo “way back when” and have been involved in the initiative almost 20 years! Our hope for Altair is to develop a sustainable community!

Nancy: “I worked as a 2nd Grade schoolteacher in Phoenixville for 32 years. I enjoy reading, singing in the Church choir, and going Sunday school.”

John: “I taught science at University of Kentucky, then worked at Fox Chase Cancer Research for 25 years. I enjoy community gardening, reading science fiction and technical stuff, antique business.”

We’re both involved in the Charlestown and Phoenixville Historical Societies. We are dedicated to community and enjoy being with people.

Helen A.

My occupation has been in property management. I read about cohousing it in a magazine in 2014 and have been interested in ecovillages since then. I joined Altair in 2016.

My hope for Altair is to be a non-toxic community where people with sensitivities can live among others in a community that is environmentally clean and sustainable. As a chemically sensitive person, I can vouch for the health benefits for all people living in a clean environment.

My interests are in the climate and environment, political interests, science and the arts.

Dave B.

I live in rural Montgomery County, in a one-room schoolhouse on a stream. I’m retired, with a math and physics background from nearby Albright College. I do repair work on household items for individuals, neighbors, and friends.

I have a long-time interest in communal living, mixed with opening and operating small coops – always in cooperation rather than competition. I first heard of Ithaca Ecovillage, and then joined Altair around 7 years ago.

I enjoy spending as much time outdoors as possible, camping, canoeing, biking, gardening, home making, and traveling, gardening, landscaping, tool making and repair.

I look forward to meeting those who will be attending Altair discussions and joining the project in the future.

Tammi S

My background is in Cognitive Psychology but I currently work in the Admissions office at my children's school. I live with my 18-year-old son who will not be living with me much longer, and my 13-year-old daughter. We have two indoor cats. I have known about Altair for many years, and I have been involved for about a year and a half. I hope that it will be a strong interconnected community that supports healthy and sustainable lifestyles for a diverse membership.

I enjoy time with family and friends, reading, meditation, walking, learning, spirituality, and health-related topics. I moved around a lot as a child and really value being able to stay in one place and be part of a community.

Anne G

As a retired French and Spanish teacher from Downingtown East High School, my interests have naturally centered around cultural diversity via language and customs. Since retirement, I have been able to pursue various interests: art and visiting museums, exercising, gardening (especially herbs), cooking (vegetarian and pescatarian specialties), reading, walking with Sabine (our dog), and rendez-vous with friends.

I have had the opportunity to travel to various destinations in Europe with my cousin and a travel group from Doylestown, PA. Jonathan and I have visited quite a few of the National Parks – East and West. We have also visited several co-housing communities and found them interesting and different in their approaches, which suggests that there are obviously various ways to establish the community with regards to geographic location, expectations of the inhabitants, and respect to all.

Rodney P.

I’m a cofounder of the local Transition Town movement in PVL. I am a tile setter by trade. I live with my dog Tux.

I heard about Altair when I joined the local board of Phoenixville Area Time Bank and have been peripherally involved for about 8 years.

My hope for Altair is that it will offer a reliable group of buddies and an “inner” community circle at home. I welcome people's differences. A healthy community should have many voices.

I’m interested in being a FUNN GUY (and fungi too)! I love to kayak, sled, watch films, and create forums at the Colonial Theatre. I love to cook (I’m professionally trained) – a kitchen enthusiast.

Who We Are