The kibbutz was established in 1982 by Jesaiah Ben-Aharon and other followers of Rudolf Steiner, and was named after the oleander plants growing in the area. Kibbutz members live according to the anthroposophy philosophy.[2] Harduf has several health centers: Beit Elisha, for rehabilitation of adults with special needs; the Tuvia community, for children and youth who have been removed from their homes and need a new foster family; and the Hiram, which seeks to help youths who suffer from emotional problems.[3]
In 2007, Harduf cut off its local sewage from the national system, in order to cleanse the waste matter so it can be used for watering stalks and trees. The members plan to set up an ecological park on recycled water.[3]