Ecovillages? Intentional communities? What in the world?

[SterlingAcres]

I'm all for helping my neighbors when they need it, but that whole Dancing Rabbit video screams 'cult' to me.

So I agree with the others. I'll give you eggs or veggies if you need them, but don't expect me to join in the dancing prayer group for nutters.

 

[okiemommy]

I agree with Cetawin and Purple chicken...the only set up of this that does not creep me out is the way that the American Indians have done it. And I'm for sustainability and homesteading...to a point...I wouldn't want to have any kool-aid while there

 

[Miltonchix]

I've known a couple of people that tried the hippie commune thing in the 70's. Both from different parts of the country in different communes.
Both had the same result. Rampant V.D. and everyone ending up hating each other.
So much for "free love"!!
This country started this way. Small communities that HAD to rely on each other. In my humble personal OPINION there has to be some kind of moral foundation for this to work. I'm NOT meaning a cult or everyone HAS to belong to my church. A "do unto others....." mentality. Respect each others privacy and ALWAYS think of the community before acting. It worked 150-200 years ago and could again. Thats one of the reasons I'm trying to get back to basics. Living off the land as much as is practical/possible. One day in the near future it may not be a choice and if you don't know how then what? Crash course in self sufficiency or steal.
And I'm NOT a liberal. Just realistic.

 

[Nichole77]

http://video.aol.com/partner/hulu/30-days-off-the-grid/nFI3vlo71YYiE0MApOLyrwlNxqpFg43X

the show 30 days did a thing where they sent 2 people from New York to the Dancing Rabbits and you can watch how they live and who they are.

 

[Cetawin]

Intentional communities truly have very little to do with the hippie communing free love stuff. Example...


3 couples buy say 80 acres together... each family builds their home, there is a community garden, community food source, community eggs, etc etc. Everyone mis responsible for maintaining the "community" items and each is responsible for maintaining their own home.

the benefits: all 3 have their own land and lots of it, the skills they have are used for everyone and each reaps the rewards of the skills of the others. The land sustains all three 3 families and it is theirs.

I really love the idea and it is our goal to do that one day, now that we have both retired. I love the chickens and gardening as well as raising animals. So, I would glady provide the veggies and the meat for everyone and leave the other jobs to someone else.

As long as I have my hot tub back from the girls and can soak whenever I want, I am a happy girl.

 

[mom'sfolly]

I think a number of small seperate Christian communities would qualify, including one in my home town. People living in small communities, many sustainably, with a "moral" reason for doing so. This is a group near where I live now. They do wonderful things with traditional crafts, and sell cheese and eggs locally. When we went to the fall craft fair two teenage boys were selling chicken tractor kits for $250. They were really nice and boy did I want one, but they wouldn't fit in my mini-van. Drat!!!

http://www.homesteadcraftfair.com/

 

[ole-crone]

My step brother lives at one in Israel near the border with Lebanon. He says that even with the occasional scud rocket whizzing overhead - it's worth it.

I've heard a friend's daughter lives at one in Twisp, WA.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

This is something I would like to do at some point in my life. It is a big part of my goals/dreams as a matter of fact. So far, I plan on buying a ton of land at least a hundred acres. I plan on setting up my animals, horses, goats, sheep, cattle, poultry, etc and of course my house. I also plan to invite certain family members to come live on the property. Not right up on my house but still on the property.

LOL. My father already volunteered to be the "groundskeeper" as long as that counts as his retirement.

He also claimed he MUST have the weekends off to ride his motorcycle, which apparently I'm suppose to buy him, you know one day when I graduate Vet. school... LOL

I don't plan on selling it to the other members, but leasing or renting the other lots. That way I still have control over it.

Neighbors can make or break everday life, so I'll play it safe.

I don't plan anything crazy, but I guess it would count as an intentional community. I would have intentionally let certain people in and others not.

 

[Beekissed]

I think it would be difficult to live in this manner with total strangers, as it would run into some problems with the decision making, division of labor, division of harvest, land use, etc. The Amish are a perfect example but they are also in a pretty strict religious/lifestyle type of thing. I have discussed this with my children and my mother and we have loosely entertained the thought of living like this. I feel it will be necessary, in the near future, for families to kind of "huddle" together and share expenses in order to survive. I think, if families started out this way, it would be natural, and kind of in the order of things, for the children and grandchildren to continue it. As long as arguments are dealt with immediately and efficiently, contracts about the land drawn up and adhered to, and decisions are made by the majority with an elected leader.

 

[Timmo]

Quote:
Thanks for posting this. As much as I hate reality TV, this one was interesting. I don't think I could live there though.

The last 150 years have been amazing, compared to the times before. It blows my mind how far we've come in that short time. Look at the chicken breeds we have today, almost all of them (save the dorking) were developed during this time. Almost everything we consider 'modern' happened recently, from railroads to the internet.

My interest in the whole ecovillage thing has left me a bit unsatisfied. I've been googling the topic over the past few days and it seems that every site I go to wants to proclaim to the world that we need to go backwards in time..... I don't subscribe to this point of view.

Is anyone aware of a modern-type eco-aware experiment in which the object is to live as close to normal society as possible, and still be sustainable?