Commune living?

MMMIX · #1 11/26/12, 10:27 AM

Hello, I'm new here so please forgive me if I posted in the wrong section.
I was wondering if anyone else has thought or participated in a sustainable community...

We have 83 acres and we wanted to do something useful. I was thinking that we could put it to great use by renting to families who want to be apart of a homestead, in exchange for labor instead of money.

The way the economy is, we understand that not everyone is going to have money to put up for a patch of land all their own.

How would one select people for a commune? How would we even get the word out that we are looking for people? We want to be cautious about this.

I'd like to have more information about this subject.

chickenista · #2 11/26/12, 10:35 AM

If you google North Carolina Intentional Communities you will find tons of great info.
We seem to have an extra amount of folks that have chosen to live that way.
Earth Haven is a very long lasting community and there are many others.
I have a friend/fellow farmer type that lives in such a community and he does quite well.
And there are discussion boards, groups etc.. that can give you tons of info.

haypoint · #3 11/26/12, 10:39 AM

This has been tried over and over and most fail.
Back in the 1970s there was a great interest in Comns. "The Farm" was a well known one.
Prooblems develope when money is needed to buy needed supplies. That requires people to work off the farm and share their incomes, while others are doing "cool" stuff, like gardening, building, etc. Then others are left with the crappy jobs no one wanted to do, ie dishes. Those that have an interest in self-suficiency, chafe at paying rent and not getting to own the land they toil endlessly on.
Alliances form and some members get to be "odd man out". That creates drama like we see on the TV show "Survivors".
Sorting out the wrong people is tough. You want to be able to "weed out" those that you feel aren't working hard enough, don't fit in yor idea of a Commune or lack the skills you need. But if someone were to move to your property, knowing that they are there at the whim of the owners, they won't be expected tto put in the level of effort needed to insure success of the group.

libby · #4 11/26/12, 10:56 AM

I think that's a fantastic idea! My husband and I spent some time in an informal intentional community last year, and we really loved it! What made it work in this case is just what you are talking about: one couple owned the land and was the "leader" of the rest. They were so welcoming and hospitable, but they also had the final say on things. Every family had their own home and garden, but all shared the milk and eggs (and the chores involved). Children played together all around the farm, but respected each others' homes as private. Labor was shared as each family needed. Every week there was one communal meal (Potluck style), usually accompanied by storytelling and song singing until the little ones started to drop.
I think a lot of "communes" don't make it because there's no one leader, and people change over time. Eventually people grow apart or have differing needs. Having one person or couple be permanently "in charge" provides long-term stability and direction.
Be prepared for struggles and trials, but I think the rewards would outweigh them in the long run!

frogmammy · #5 11/26/12, 12:06 PM

LOTS of them in Missouri!
Intentional Communities in Missouri

I think that generally, Dancing Rabbt is considered the most successful.

Mon

rambler · #6 11/26/12, 01:14 PM

This topic comes up every 6 months or so here.

You can do a search on the topic to find older threads.

In general most folks here like to own their own stuff, and keep neighbors at arm's length - very independent folk.

So most are pretty negative on the whole concept.

Good people seem to work out a way to own their own stuff, control their own things.

When you find people willing to uproot themselves, move onto a property they have no say or control if, and willing to work for free, with no health care, no personal gains, you kinda have to wonder what quality of people you will really attract? Will that type have any skills or ambition to contribute to the community?

In general, a large city of millions, or a small town of 100's, or a gated community, or a Homeowners Assoc, or a neghborhood, or a commune all are the same thing - a group of folk looking to help each other a bit, and stay out of each other's way a bit.

Myself, I'd work on the neighbors and local community and not mess with trying to set up a commune.

It becomes so difficult for the owner of the commune not to turn into a dictator, and it is so diffiuclt for the free-spirited volineers on the commune not to turn into listless squatters.

If you go forward with it, come up with a very clear vision of what each side gets out of the deal. Spend more time figuring out what the people moving in get out of the deal. They need more than just a roof; meals, clothes, income, retirement plannng, medical plan, and so forth, or they won't be good people you want to have around.....

--->Paul

countryfied2011 · #7 11/26/12, 01:58 PM

Quote:

"The Farm" was a well known one

The Farm is still on-going ...DD best friend's husband came from The Farm and he still goes there several times a month. They supposedly have one of the best mid-wife workshops/schools in the country so I have been told.

The Farm

simplegirl · #8 11/26/12, 02:08 PM

I have visited Dancing Rabbit and it seems to be very successful. Since you are in Missouri, I suggest a visit there. They do tours I think monthly. Very interesting place. Here is their website. http://www.dancingrabbit.org/

Dusky Beauty · #9 11/26/12, 02:31 PM

I, like probably many others am a capitalist, and something of a private person. I want to own what I build free and clear, and not have to answer to anyone else on my timetable. We all know that even the best laid and made plans don't always work out like we want to. Crops fails, animals get sick and sometimes die... etc.

We live 3 doors down from my mom and stepdad though, and we have all discussed as a family the idea of buying huds and repos; putting in raised bed boxes, chicken coops and runs and pens for a goat/cow/horse and then renting or land contracting the property to get like minded neighbors into the neighborhood.

Basically, I like the amish idea of a community-- buy land near like minded people and build a fellowship of people with similar goals and ideas and network together... not so keen on a "commune" directed by a board or individuals. Neither do I like the idea of an HOA type group dictating a bunch of carefully planned mini farms.

Catalpa · #10 11/26/12, 05:56 PM

I personally think that communism is a young person's idea; embraced by those who don't have a clear set of boundaries yet, or the experience and knowledge to know what it costs in effort, money, thought, and commitment to build and maintain anything. It crumbles over time as individuals learn and grow, develop personal boundaries, and experience the difference in levels of effort, dedication, ability, and risk/reward.

The better idea is an extended family, and/or good neighbors. Work for what's your own, and help each other out when needed.

treasureacres · #11 11/26/12, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusky Beauty

Basically, I like the amish idea of a community-- buy land near like minded people and build a fellowship of people with similar goals and ideas and network together... not so keen on a "commune" directed by a board or individuals. Neither do I like the idea of an HOA type group dictating a bunch of carefully planned mini farms.

This is the way I like it. Unintentionally we have kind of developed something like this over the years. I have two brothers, my wifes brother, my inlaws, and an aunt on my wifes side, all live within a mile and a half of our farm. My oldest brother is a great mechanic with own shop, towing, welding. Younger brother licensed electrician and very good at plumbing. All three of us have a lot of construction experience. I provide a lot of equipment such as skid loaders, back hoe, mowers, tillers and stuff. In laws provide large equipment for farming and we share crop some of our land now and we help with other things on their land. Very seldom is cash ever exchanged for anything, we just all help each other out. All of the families get along well, cousins and nephews and nieces from both sides of our family are friends. I think it works because everyone does own their own stuff and it all kind of evens out in the end. It is rare that anyone drops in on the others unexpectedly, we all appreciate and respect privacy. I host fall pumpkin patch party for everyone. Bonfire, kids pick pumpkins, cookout. Brother put on fourth of july fireworks and cookout. We rent community center gym for large christmas party. I also do the easter egg hunt. Anyway, we do have big social events and pot luck dinners together. Works for us.

haypoint · #12 11/26/12, 06:38 PM

Amish have a sort of communal living style. But, they have their own places. They are tied to their neighbors because they need the help and cooperation of everyone in the neighborhood to survive. Yet they can operate their own place as well or as poorly as they choose.
40 years ago, I had an offer to join a commune in MO. My family would have our own piece of land and own in common a large area, with 4 other families. But the other families were related to eachother. We would have been “odd man out” on every decision.
Later, I was a part of a Survivalist Group. Planning for the day that there woulbe some sort of disaster. We soon realized that no one can protect their property 24/7 and there is strength in numbers. Each member had reasons why we should store all our SHTF equipment at their farm. No one wanted to leave their stuff at the farm of another’s, nor was any one willing to fight to protect the home and property of another’s. Just human nature. We’ll work from dawn to dark on our own place, even after we see that we aren’t making much headway, rather than live and work on the land of another

TnAndy · #13 11/26/12, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catalpa

I personally think that communism is a young person's idea; embraced by those who don't have a clear set of boundaries yet, or the experience and knowledge to know what it costs in effort, money, thought, and commitment to build and maintain anything. It crumbles over time as individuals learn and grow, develop personal boundaries, and experience the difference in levels of effort, dedication, ability, and risk/reward.

Yep. Communism attempts to end run human nature, in that I won't work near as hard for you and yours as I will for me and mine.

Communes sound good on paper, but rarely ever work out. Even the Shakers didn't make it over the long haul.

Yvonne's hubby · #14 11/26/12, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countryfied2011

The Farm is still on-going ...DD best friend's husband came from The Farm and he still goes there several times a month. They supposedly have one of the best mid-wife workshops/schools in the country so I have been told.

The Farm

They did a fine job delivering my first granddaughter 30 something years ago.

hotzcatz · #15 11/29/12, 03:24 AM

There are a lot of WWOOFers around here. It's supposed to be "Willing Workers On Organic Farms" but half the time it's just kids camping and doing a chore or two for the camp space. Some are actual valid farm experiences, others are labor in exchange for crash space. You can probably make your farm anything you want it to be. Figure out what you want and then find one person or a couple to test it out on before introducing families to the scheme. At least, that's what I'd do, what you do is up to you.

lexa · #16 11/30/12, 11:31 AM

I have been to two places in UK. We spend a week with a family running a cob building workshop in Lammas ecovillage and went for a short visit Brithdir mawr community. Both of them in Wales. I really liked the set up in Lammas. It is a village that was planed and is managed according to permaculture principles. Each person has a 5-7acre plot and several acres of community land and a large hub building. They get the benefits of living in the intentional community where all neighbors agree to the basic set of rules. However it is not idyllic. They have their own issue and people who slack off even on their own plots and by that causing trouble to whole community.
I would personally be interested living in a place like that, but I would never rent land from someone else.

**highlands** · #17 11/30/12, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMMIX

I was wondering if anyone else has thought or participated in a sustainable community...

I have. I researched intentional communities, communes, for years and have lived in several such situation. I found them severely disappointing. The ideals are great but the reality is 80% of the people were lazy and did not pull their weight leaving the work to the 20% of us who make things happen. After a decade of exploring them I concluded that communes are great in theory and work well in tight knit pack groups such as families but are not good in broader, larger groups. If you study the history of intentional communities you'll see that pattern.

My brother has started two intentional communities with his wife. Both also failed. More data.

Riverdale · #18 12/01/12, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highlands

I found them severely disappointing. The ideals are great but the reality is 80% of the people were lazy and did not pull their weight leaving the work to the 20% of us who make things happen.

I am surprised it was 20%

The only commune type situation I would enter into would be family.

I have skills that none of my family has

bak2tn · #19 12/01/12, 10:19 AM

I was on "The Farm" for almost 10 years. Loved it. It worked as good as it did because people had similar values and goals for the most part. Wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Only left because of a family situation where I was needed elsewhere. Still have many good friends there 30 years after leaving. It can work but it's certainly not for everybody.

duckidaho · #20 12/02/12, 12:10 PM

Contrary to what several people have mentioned, many communes and cooperative housing organizations are highly successful. I don't know where they are getting their numbers that "most" fail. Much like marriages, some cooperatives succeed and some fail.

I lived in Madison Community Cooperatives in the 1980's. They are still going and have been going since the early 1970's. I lived in a coop house with 38 people of all ages and walks of life. It was one of the most important times in my life. I would recommend it to anyone. I learned many of my homesteading skills there. As well as most of my communication skills.

I'm sure Madison Community Coop has a website to search for.

I live on an isolated farm with my wife and children now, but we reach out for community by being engaged in our local food cooperative. We both shop their and sell our dairy products there. We are also connected to local small farmers in our area.

Good luck, it sounds like you might have a great idea. Blessings