Welcome to Our New Community!
Let me tell you a bit more about our shared platform, Saffron Communities. It has been a vision of mine for over two years, during which I was prompted by my inner voice to build a barn on my beautiful property in Sonoma County. Many ideas came from the circumstances of the pandemic — I was hanging with a small pod of friends and spending more time in one place than ever before, constantly examining and redefining what was most important to me. It has evolved from the desire to develop modern communal living to including programming for shared experiences and immersive retreats that promote continuous learning from and connection with each other. We invite you to become a part of our evolving community, too.
The name “Saffron” originally came to me in a dream, evoking both the revered spice of the Crocus sativus flower and the brilliant, sunny color. In many places I have visited throughout the world, this color is associated with new beginnings and enlightenment. When I would float the name to friends, I knew by their reactions that it resonated with them in the same way.
My inspiration for Saffron Communities – well, that came from people I love and admire. My father Ted was an amazing educator who helped to instill a passion for continuous learning. My late husband Stanley loved to host monthly family dinners, inviting interesting and eclectic groups of friends together to create lively conversation. Those Sunday dinners were the inspiration for our “Family Dinner in the Barn” series. Friends love doing things together – telling stories, cooking, eating, and learning from one another, so we dedicated our “Experiences” to exactly that. Saffron’s key partners have stepped forth to create fun and interesting ways to spend time together. I’m most excited to see the “small group travel” for cultural workshops and retreats, which will start in the coming years. We all need to step away at times and refresh ourselves, and in ‘retreating’ we hope to offer you ways to relax, indulge a bit, and recharge.
So, we hope you will join us to help make Saffron Communities thrive. You are a key ingredient and your unique gifts will make us all the better for knowing you.
Elaine Tajima, Visionary