WELCOME TO THE CLAN Fourteen members of the Cedar Moon commune (and one winged friend) relax on the T-Whale, a covered gazebo that serves as the social hub of their home on the edge of Tryon Creek State Park.

FULL BOUNTY In preparation for the evening’s group dinner, Bonsai Matt and fellow Cedar Moon resident 3-year-old Myrtle pick an armful of giant, leafy kale form their seven-acre farm.

MOTOR MOUTH One of Cedar Moon’s three Nubian goats does its part to help cut back blackberry brambles and other invasive weeds while satisfying its insatiable appetite.

RULE NO. 2 Everything at Cedar Moon is recycled, even human waste, which is collected in this composting toilet for later use as fertilizer in the garden.

RUSTIC COOKING Cedar Moon’s outdoor stoves and oven are made of a combination of mud and straw called cob. The kitchen’s recently finished roof protects the natural appliances from the rain.

FIRE IN THE HOLE This dragon-shaped, cob-built "rocket stove" not only cooks food, but when properly stoked, it also warms the entire length of the adjacent bench, which is used for outdoor dining.

NO-CAR GARAGE A rustic tepee makes a perfect environmentally friendly abode for Cedar Moon resident Bernhard Bach.

SPA FRODO It might look like something from Middle Earth, but this cob building is actually a sauna, one of the more popular social venues on the property.

HOT ROCKS Inside the earthen structure, a wood-burning stove heats bricks; mud-and-straw walls keep the temperature at a steady, sweat-inducing level.