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Across the Fence:  Intentional Communities  |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 02 2005 : 08:45:46 AM
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I thought I'd start this topic as a place to post resources about different eco-living options that are out there. Kim and I have both expressed interest in this topic previously, and as times rapidly change, it becomes more important to add this to your consideration list for yourself or others who might be interested.
Here's one article that I recently came across:
http://www.newfarm.org/books/reviews/2005/sept05/eco.shtml
Here's a link to a website that lists existing communities:
http://www.ic.org/
If you find more info, please post it here! 
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2005 : 11:57:01 AM
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Clare, Thanks for posting those links. The Social Worker in me is in high gear right now watching the SOCIAL disaster that this hurricane has wrought on NO and the South East coast. Thousands of the poor, elderly are displaced and have no homes. This would be a prime opportunity for the Feds to implement new living modules and communities to place these people after the dust settles! Instead of rebuilding more Projects and substandard housing...how I wish new communities would spring up that would provide descent housing, educational opportunites, work opportunites, daycare, ect. to serve the needs of this population for a richer more productive life.
Being is what it is. Jean Paul Sartre |
Edited by - MeadowLark on Sep 02 2005 11:57:48 AM |
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Mari-dahlia
True Blue Farmgirl
269 Posts
Marianne
Hoosick Falls
New York
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2005 : 1:47:37 PM
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Clare,
I have been getting a magazine called " Back Home" it is a magazine dedicated to sustainable living. Issues focus on hugely vast eco topics like: how to build your own water cistern system for catching rain water. How to build your own irrigation systems. How to live off grid. How to raise various animals etc... They have a test housing facility in North Carolina and their information is tested and reliable. It is a hard magazine to find so I subscribe. Their website is www.BackHomeMagazine.com
Marianne |
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owwlady
True Blue Farmgirl
899 Posts
Jan
Tomahawk
WI
USA
899 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2005 : 2:01:04 PM
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| Does anyone out there have any experience living in one of these communities? I would love to hear some first-hand experiences. As a single woman, this could be something to consider. |
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lamamama
True Blue Farmgirl
255 Posts
Melanie
CA
USA
255 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2005 : 01:43:11 AM
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I'm so very glad to see this topic started!! It is perfect for our virtual front porch.......
I've been looking into intentional communities for almost 2 years now. At first I thought I had found the answer to my prayers, but soon discovered -as with most endeavors - that the journey would not be as easy as hoped. I think the most surprising aspect was the expense. Perhaps it was by accident, but the places I researched &/or talked with were not on a working-class, single Mom's budget. The other issue for me was the just about universal situation of the housing layout - incredibly close together. Having brought up those 2 things, I am still intensely interested in the idea of a group of like-minded (farm girl type!) people getting together on a large piece of land, & living there in an ecologically sound & sustainable way. There are just so many wonderful possibilities! I would also love to hear of anyone's experience living in such a community, or if any farmgirls would be interested in starting such a community. Or maybe we could just all get up & move to a particular town! At least the housing would already be there....... ;)
Melanie |
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quiltedess
True Blue Farmgirl
296 Posts
Nancy
Priest River
ID
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2005 : 08:48:12 AM
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I think this is a good idea. On a very small scale this has been done in our area. The main idea is to cluster the homes into a tiny community and then leave the land in it's natural state around it for minimal impact on sensitive property. There are a couple of these communities in Kirkland, WA. However, they are EXPENSIVE. See www.cottagecompany.com for an idea of how they look. The houses are tiny, very nicely built and geared more towards retired couples or families of two or three members. There is a community building that is available to all homeowners to have bigger gatherings or to do projects that require more space than they have in their homes. The homes all face a commons that is nicely landscaped, no street in front, the cars are parked in separate garages in the area surrouding the homes.
I can see this idea done on a larger scale and be more affordable (Kirkland happens to be a very expensive place to live no matter what) with land that can be farmed or gardened. A couple of big advantages to it are that the community aspect of it offers more security while having a lot less impact on the land. The difficulties are that the houses are quite close together and the community has to have some agreements, which is always a little more difficult.
Nancy |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2005 : 12:52:56 PM
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The website Clare listed has a lot of information in it and there is also a publication geared towards people living this way.
http://www.ic.org/
I have read article in various publications where it was affordable for a single parent. It just takes a lot of research to find the one that is the fit for you.
As a single woman with no kids, I am interested in this type of living when/if Norm is no longer around. Should he go before me.
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
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Across the Fence: Intentional Communities |
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Intentional Communities
