In 1997, on their return from seven months in China, Brook and Rose Le Van, affected by their travels and the subsequent culture shock upon their return to the US, initiated an experiment to create a setting in which people could live and learn to create a more sustainable future. The Le Van’s initially founded Sustainable Settings under the nonprofit umbrella of COMPASS, a sponsoring organization devoted to lifelong learning, social justice, responsibility and community.In 2001, Sustainable Settings established itself as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and began a nation-wide search for a permanent home and headquarters for the organizations future research, demonstration and education activities. This search culminated with the identification of the Thompson Creek Ranch along the Crystal River in Pitkin County, Colorado. After a successful first phase of the “Our Sustainable Future” Land Campaign, the ranch was purchased in the Spring of 2003 with the generous support of Adam Lewis, Peter B. Lewis, and our board of directors.
