the Goodenough
Community

In 1981, the Goodenough Community was incorporated and centered itself in the Mt. Baker neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. In 2011, Goodenough acquired Sahale, which has now become our residential center and campground, and is the center of our community. We are located in Western Washington, on Hood Canal, near the tiny hamlet of Tahuya.

 

Just 20 minutes from Belfair, Washington, Sahale is an easy drive from Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, and the Olympic Peninsula. Sahale’s acres hold many gifts: a large and quiet forest, an old orchard of many fruit varieties, and the most magical - a sacred grove of ancient cedars. The cathedral-like stillness within this ring of cedars harmonizes with the rush of the river just yards away. The ever-changing river refreshes us, a bubbling spring quenches our thirst, and a quiet pond stills us. Held close by hills and forest on one side, we enjoy the long, open vista over our valley toward the forested hills beyond the river. We feel so lucky to have found our souls' home, and we love to share it with others.

 

Sahale is the site of our growing residential community, as well as a campground for retreats both personal and community-wide. We allow like-minded groups to use Sahale for their own work in personal and relational development, and we also offer individuals the opportunity to have their own personal retreats that we hope will enlighten and refresh them.

 

We open Sahale several times a year for volunteer Nature Systems weekends, where community members and friends come together to maintain the grounds and infrastructure, while practicing the practical skills of friendmaking, deep listening, and working together in service to our common goal of keeping Sahale strong. The opportunity to work as a community is hard to find in today's individualistic world, and an aspect of our mission is to offer the deeply satisfying experience of being a community of people who choose to learn to work together - joyfully!

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Sahale is also the site of our annual community

Summer Gathering, (formerly known as the Human Relations Lab), held each summer consecutively since 1971. This event is a multi-day, immersive learning opportunity that is open to all. These gatherings are designed to nourish, entertain, challenge, and inspire every person who attends. At this event we have the opportunity to deepen self-awareness, dive into the week's theme, and refine our relational abilities with supportive friends. The community partners with professional experts to provide both daily large group plenary sessions to deepen our understanding of our theme, and opportunities for personal application and intimate sharing in small groups.  It’s a way to learn using the practical wisdom of generations of communitarians. 

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