Gentle World Community

Gentle World intentional community was started in 1970, by a group of vegans committed to working together toward the realization of their shared vision of a world that would reflect the highest ideals:

Honesty ~ Integrity ~ Non-Violence ~ Compassion ~ Justice
Ecology ~ Courage ~ Cooperation

Using the beauty of nature, sunshine, youthful energy and a powerful desire to evolve beyond who they were, they combined their resources, talents, skills, knowledge and enthusiasm toward the building of an environment in which they could be free to pursue these ideals.

In 1979, Gentle World was incorporated as a nonprofit educational organization. All members volunteer to maintain and enhance our organization and centers, as we are in agreement that embracing the vegan ideal is nothing less than humanity’s next evolutionary step and our greatest hope for real peace on earth.

In addition to vegan education, our member-volunteers offer interested individuals the unique experience of living a more sustainable, communal, self-sufficient lifestyle, in harmony with nature, other animals, and one another. Throughout the decades, we have welcomed like-minded people from all over the world who wish to work, live, learn, teach and grow with us.

Our year-round headquarters is in North Kohala on The Big Island of Hawaii; a beautiful area, with clean air and lovely surrounding countryside. We have a large vegan-organic garden where we grow much of our own food and teach others how to do the same. This is our base, where we welcome guests and volunteers, when needed. It is where we authored and published our cookbooks and provide information on all things vegan, offering free cooking classes, consultations and meals to those interested in transitioning to a healthier, more peaceful way of living.

We also own 454 acres of magnificent New Zealand countryside that we call Shangri-La; a private valley, with two pristine rivers. Here we accept volunteers each summer season (from November-May) to help lift Shangri-La up to its name, which includes the planting and maintenance of hundreds of fruit trees, lots of flower gardens and several veganic vegetable gardens.

If you are interested in visiting either of the Gentle World locations, please contact us using this form.