Article 95: Ecovillages and Intentional Communities: Living Together Intentionally
Opening: Community Is a Choice
Most people live near strangers. They know neighbors by sight, not by name. They borrow nothing. They share nothing. They decide nothing together. When crisis comes, they are alone.
This is not natural. It is a choice. We can choose to live differently. We can choose community. We can choose to live with people we know, trust, and share with. We can choose intentional community.
Ecovillages and intentional communities do exactly this. People live together by choice. They share resources. They make decisions together. They build culture intentionally. They reduce ecological footprint. They prove that community living works.
This is not utopian. Over 10,000 intentional communities exist worldwide. Some are rural. Some are urban. Some are large. Some are small. All demonstrate that intentional community is viable.
This article explores ecovillages and intentional communities in depth. You will learn what they are, how they work, how to join or start one, and real examples. By the end, you will understand that community is a choice you can make.
What Are Ecovillages and Intentional Communities
Intentional communities are groups of people living together by choice. They share some aspect of life. They make decisions together. They have shared values or purpose.
Ecovillages are intentional communities focused on ecological sustainability. They minimize environmental impact. They regenerate land. They model sustainable living.
Types of Intentional Communities
Ecovillages:
Focus on ecological sustainability. Permaculture. Renewable energy. Natural building. Local food. Examples: Dancing Rabbit, Earthaven, Findhorn.
Cohousing:
Private homes with shared common house and facilities. Decisions made collectively. Meals shared optionally. More private than communes. Examples: dozens of cohousing communities in North America.
Communes:
High level of sharing. Income may be shared. Meals shared. Decisions collective. More integrated than cohousing. Examples: Twin Oaks, East Wind, Sandhill Farm.
Cooperatives:
Housing cooperatives where residents own shares. Democratic governance. May have shared meals and activities. Examples: student co-ops, family co-ops.
Monastic communities:
Religious intentional communities. Shared spiritual practice. Simple living. Examples: Benedictine monasteries, Buddhist communities.
Land trusts:
Land held collectively. Homes may be individual or shared. Stewardship focus. Examples: community land trusts with residential components.
Urban communities:
Intentional communities in urban settings. House shares with intention. Urban ecovillages. Examples: Los Angeles Ecovillage, various urban cohousing.
Common Characteristics
Intentionality:
Community is chosen, not accidental. Members choose to live together. They commit to shared values.
Shared values:
Communities have shared purpose or values. Sustainability. Cooperation. Spirituality. Social justice. These guide decisions.
Common property:
Some property is shared. Land. Buildings. Tools. Vehicles. Sometimes income. Degree of sharing varies.
Participatory governance:
Decisions made collectively. Consensus. Consent. Voting. Members have voice in community direction.
Shared facilities:
Common house. Shared meals. Shared laundry. Shared workshops. Reduces costs and environmental impact.
Social cohesion:
Regular gatherings. Shared meals. Celebrations. Conflict resolution. Community is maintained intentionally.
Why Intentional Community Matters
Intentional communities address fundamental problems of modern life.
Reducing Ecological Footprint
Intentional communities have dramatically lower ecological footprints than conventional living.
How:
- Shared resources (one lawn mower for 20 households)
- Shared meals (bulk cooking is more efficient)
- Shared transportation (car sharing reduces cars needed)
- Dense housing (less land per person)
- Local food production (reduced transport)
- Renewable energy (community-scale is more efficient)
Impact:
Studies show ecovillage residents have footprints 50-75 percent lower than average Americans. This is achievable sustainability.
Example: Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage measures member ecological footprints. Average is less than 10 percent of typical American. Proof that low-impact living is viable.
Building Social Resilience
Modern life isolates people. Loneliness is epidemic. Mental health suffers. When crisis comes, people are alone.
Intentional communities build social resilience:
- People know each other deeply
- Mutual support is built in
- Skills are diverse and shared
- Decision-making is collective
- Conflict is addressed, not avoided
Example: During COVID, intentional communities could isolate as a group while maintaining social connection. They organized mutual aid internally. They were more resilient than isolated households.
Economic Benefits
Intentional communities reduce costs through sharing.
Shared resources:
- Tools (one set for many households)
- Vehicles (car sharing)
- Laundry facilities
- Workshops
- Entertainment (community events vs. individual purchases)
Shared labor:
- Childcare (rotating care reduces individual burden)
- Cooking (bulk cooking is efficient)
- Maintenance (shared skills)
- Landscaping (shared work)
Economic security:
- Lower cost of living
- Mutual support during hardship
- Shared risk
- Local economy
Example: Cohousing residents often have 30-50 percent lower housing costs than comparable conventional housing. This is economic resilience.
Democratic Practice
Intentional communities are schools of democracy. Members make decisions together. They learn facilitation. They learn conflict resolution. They practice self-governance.
This skill transfers to other areas of life. Community members become more engaged citizens. They carry democratic habits into other contexts.
Example: People who live in consensus-based communities often become skilled facilitators. They bring these skills to their workplaces and civic organizations.
Personal Growth
Living in community challenges people. You cannot hide. Your patterns are visible. You must communicate. You must compromise. You must grow.
This is difficult and rewarding. People develop skills they would not develop in isolation. They become more capable humans.
Example: Long-term community members often report significant personal growth. They learned to communicate. They learned to trust. They learned to be accountable.
Real Examples: Intentional Communities Worldwide
Thousands of intentional communities exist. Here are representative examples.
Ecovillages
Dancing Rabbit (Missouri, US):
Founded 1997. 60+ residents. 280 acres.
- Ecological footprint less than 10 percent of average American
- No fossil fuels for heating or cooling
- Local food production
- Consensus governance
- Income sharing optional
Demonstrates low-impact living is viable in rural America.
Earthaven (North Carolina, US):
Founded 1995. 60+ residents. 329 acres.
- Permaculture focus
- Natural building
- Local governance (neighborhoods)
- Educational programs
- Demonstrates subtropical permaculture
Findhorn (Scotland):
Founded 1962. 400+ residents.
- Spiritual foundation
- Ecological building (famous for using recycled materials)
- Educational programs
- Long-term viability (60+ years)
- Demonstrates spiritual-ecological integration
Crystal Waters (Australia):
Founded 1987. 200+ residents. 83 hectares.
- Permaculture design
- Private homes with shared land
- Enterprise opportunities
- Demonstrates ecovillage in warm climate
Cohousing
N Street Cohousing (California, US):
Founded 1985. 40+ households. Urban cohousing.
- Converted existing houses
- Shared courtyard
- Common meals
- Demonstrates urban cohousing without new construction
Takoma Village (Washington DC, US):
Founded 2017. 38 households. Urban.
- New construction
- Common house
- Green roof
- Demonstrates modern urban cohousing
Many others:
Over 150 cohousing communities in North America. Hundreds worldwide. Growing model.
Communes
Twin Oaks (Virginia, US):
Founded 1967. 100+ members.
- Income sharing
- Labor credit system (42 hours/week)
- Consensus governance
- Multiple businesses (hammocks, tofu, indexing)
- 50+ years of viability
- Demonstrates long-term commune viability
East Wind (Missouri, US):
Sister community to Twin Oaks. Similar model.
Sandhill Farm (Missouri, US):
Small farm commune. Sister to Twin Oaks.
Kibbutzim (Israel):
Over 250 kibbutzim. Historical intentional communities. Many have evolved but demonstrate long-term viability.
Urban Communities
Los Angeles Ecovillage (California, US):
Urban ecovillage. Apartment building. Shared meals. Sustainability focus. Demonstrates urban ecovillage.
Various house collectives:
University towns often have house collectives. Cooperative living. Shared values. Lower costs.
Senior Communities
ElderSpirit (Virginia, US):
Senior cohousing. Aging in community. Mutual support. Demonstrates senior intentional community.
Many others:
Senior intentional communities are growing as baby boomers age.
Joining an Intentional Community
If you want to join an intentional community, approach it thoughtfully.
Assess Your Readiness
Community living is not for everyone. Ask yourself:
- Can I communicate directly?
- Can I handle conflict?
- Can I share decision-making?
- Can I live near others?
- What are my non-negotiables?
- What am I willing to share?
Be honest. Community requires work. It is rewarding but demanding.
Research Communities
Find communities:
- Fellowship for Intentional Community: ic.org (directory of communities)
- Global Ecovillage Network: gen.ecovillage.org
- Regional networks
Research:
- Websites
- Visit if possible
- Talk to members
- Understand governance
- Understand finances
- Understand culture
Visit Before Committing
Most communities offer visits. Take advantage.
Visit types:
- Open houses
- Weekend visits
- Extended stays (a week or more)
- Work exchanges
What to observe:
- How are decisions made?
- How is conflict handled?
- Do people seem happy?
- Is the culture a fit?
- Can you see yourself there long-term?
Application Process
Communities have application processes. These vary.
Typical process:
- Initial inquiry
- Visit
- Application
- Interviews
- Trial period (months to a year)
- Full membership decision
Trial periods are important:
Both you and the community assess fit. Do not skip this.
Financial Commitment
Communities have financial requirements.
Buy-in:
Many communities require buy-in. This can be $10,000 to $200,000+ depending on the community and housing type.
Monthly fees:
Ongoing fees for shared expenses.
Income sharing:
Some communities share income. This is a major commitment.
Understand fully:
Before committing, understand all financial obligations. Get it in writing.
Starting an Intentional Community
If you want to start an intentional community, approach it strategically.
Form a Core Group
Community cannot be started alone. Find others who share your vision.
How many:
5-10 committed people is a good start. Too few and the project is fragile. Too many and decision-making is difficult initially.
Commitment:
Look for people who can commit time and resources. Starting a community takes years.
Skills:
Diverse skills help. Legal. Financial. Construction. Facilitation. Farming. All are valuable.
Develop Shared Vision
What kind of community do you want?
Questions:
- Rural or urban?
- How much sharing?
- What governance?
- What values?
- How many people?
- What timeline?
Document:
Create a vision document. This guides decisions. It attracts like-minded people.
Legal Structure
Choose appropriate legal structure.
Options:
- LLC
- Cooperative
- Nonprofit
- Trust
Consult:
Work with a lawyer experienced in intentional community. This is complex.
Financing
Communities need capital.
Sources:
- Member buy-ins
- Loans
- Grants (for ecovillages, affordable housing)
- Seller financing
Plan:
Create realistic financial projections. Include contingency.
Land
Find appropriate land.
Considerations:
- Zoning (some areas restrict multiple dwellings)
- Water
- Sewer or septic
- Access
- Soil quality (for farming)
- Cost
Patience:
Finding the right land takes time. Do not rush.
Governance
Establish governance from the start.
Decisions:
- Consensus or voting?
- What decisions require full group input?
- What can be delegated?
- How are conflicts resolved?
Document:
Create bylaws or operating agreement. This prevents future conflict.
Challenges of Intentional Community
Intentional communities face real challenges. Understanding them prepares you.
Conflict
People disagree. Conflict is inevitable. Unresolved conflict destroys communities.
Responses:
- Establish conflict resolution processes early
- Train in nonviolent communication
- Address conflict early, not when it festers
- Use external mediators when needed
- Accept that some conflict is healthy
Burnout
Community work is demanding. Members burn out.
Responses:
- Rotate responsibilities
- Set realistic expectations
- Celebrate wins
- Allow people to rest
- Pay for some work if possible (landscaping, etc.)
Financial Viability
Communities need sustainable economics.
Responses:
- Diversify income
- Build reserves
- Be realistic about costs
- Generate income from community assets (rentals, businesses, etc.)
Recruitment
Communities need new members to replace those who leave.
Responses:
- Maintain visibility (website, events)
- Offer visits
- Be clear about what you offer
- Build relationships with broader community
Governance Fatigue
Meetings can be endless. Members tire of governance.
Responses:
- Efficient meetings (good facilitation, clear agendas)
- Delegate appropriately
- Use consent for routine decisions
- Reserve consensus for major decisions
- Celebrate good decisions
Getting Started: Explore Community
If you want to explore intentional community, begin with these steps:
1. Research
Visit ic.org. Browse communities. Read about different models. Understand what exists.
2. Visit
Visit communities. Even if you are not ready to join. Learn what works. Learn what does not.
3. Assess
What do you want? Rural or urban? How much sharing? What governance? What can you afford?
4. Connect
Join forums. Attend gatherings. Meet people in the movement. You are not alone.
5. Start small
If starting a community, start with a core group. Do not buy land immediately. Build relationships first.
6. Be patient
Finding or starting a community takes time. Years, not months. This is okay. The right fit is worth waiting for.
Resources
Organizations:
- Fellowship for Intentional Community: ic.org
- Global Ecovillage Network: gen.ecovillage.org
- Cohousing Association: cohousing.org
Directories:
- ic.org community directory
- gen.ecovillage.org ecovillage directory
Education:
- "Creating a Life Together" by Diana Leafe Christian
- "Finding Community" by Diana Leafe Christian
- "The Community Scale Permaculture Farm" by Davenhill
Events:
- Community convergence events
- Regional gatherings
- Online forums and webinars
Closing: Choose Community
You do not need to live alone. You do not need to live near strangers. You do not need to face life in isolation.
You can choose community. You can live with people you know and trust. You can share resources. You can decide together. You can build culture intentionally.
This is not easy. It is demanding. It requires communication. It requires compromise. It requires growth.
But it is worth it. Community is human. Community is resilient. Community is joyful.
Look at how you live. Could it be more communal? Could you join a community? Could you start one?
Choose community.
The next article covers urban homesteading. We will explore how to produce food and build resilience in urban settings, how to transform yards into productive landscapes, and how to build urban self-reliance.
For now, look at how you live. Are you isolated? Are you connected? Could you choose community?
Choose intentionally.