For many people another way of living starts with this book...
So you’re fed up with living in a little box. Maybe just by yourself. Maybe with your family. Just being a docile consumer alongside the billions of other docile consumers. And the combined outcome of it all is a wrecked planet.
Isn’t there something more to life than this? Couldn’t we have access to many of the best things in life without doing such harm if we were prepared to share more with our neighbours? Perhaps in an intentional community – that’s a community that has come together by intention rather than by chance.
Believe it or not, many people have been living in intentional communities like this for decades. And it’s not all hippy crash pads where nobody does the washing up! This website will open your eyes to the multifarious ways in which communal living happens in the 21st century.
It’s your way into the future!
Here are a few sample pages…
Diggers & Dreamers first appeared in printed form in 1989 and – in its various incarnations – has now been an invaluable resource over many decades.
The name came from the recognition that there are two classic types of people living in intentional communities. The Dreamers: who spend a lot of time imagining different ways of doing things; and the Diggers: who do the day-to-day work of making it actually happen. A successful community blends both of those ways of being together.
In 2019/20 the Foundation for Intentional Communities generously awarded us their Geoph Kozeny Communitarian Award!
Taking its inspiration from the famous Summerhill School, Lifespan Community was founded in 1974. Its nineteen terraced houses are situated high up in a remote part of the Yorkshire Moors. Freer Spreckley describes the many phases, changes, triumphs and tribulations that Lifespan has gone through since that time. But it’s still going strong!
Take a look inside at these sample pages >>
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Laurieston Hall was set up as a commune 50 years ago and is still thriving today. Anatomy of a Commune tells the story of those who have lived there in their own words. Some are poetic, or show a wry sense of humour, or paint a revealing picture of daily life. Others seek a more objective evaluation of their successes and failures. They had a lot of fun, and created a place that gave pleasure, and sometimes a life-changing experience, to a great many people.
<< Take a look inside at these sample pages
Join the D&D editors and some members of Lifespan, Laurieston Hall, Old Hall and Bamford Quaker Community for a panel discussion on what lessons we can learn from the experience of earlier intentional Communities. What relevance they might have for the challenges faced today by people trying to set up similar groups and even what they may have to say about major political questions we face as a society today.
One thing that we really want you to know:
There are many different ways to live communally
Cohousing Community
Living fairly separately but with the possibility of sharing a lot of facilities. The best of both worlds perhaps!
Big House Commune
This is the classic idea of the commune in a big mansion in the country. Here are some places that fit that mould.
Quaker Community
We are a community of 5 to 10 Quakers with a focus on leading a spirit-led life in an ecologically…
Urban Communal
These housing co-ops and big shared houses in built up areas show that not every commune has to be rural!
Lunesdale Community
The Lunesdale Community is a new ecumenical Christian community, currently welcoming new members. We intend to be a diverse, international…
Spiritual Community
Having a focus often helps. These places all have some spiritual or religious belief that underlies their existence.
Lee Abbey Knowle Small Missional Community
At the invitation of Knowle West Churches Together, the Lee Abbey community has been present on this South Bristol housing…
Read more about Lee Abbey Knowle Small Missional Community »
Low Impact Community
Many aspire to low impact living but these places go all the way with off-grid, low consumption lifestyles.
Want more Detail?
The D&D Reviews are more specialised books about particular types of community
So where
are all these
communities?
Explore our online Directory
Currently seeking... communards
Check out these noticeboards for communities that like to host volunteers as well as those that are currently looking for people to join.
Volunteering and WWOOFing are amongst the best ways to to try communal living out for yourself. Once you’ve decided that you really want to go for it then Places needing Members is the next stop.
Places needing Volunteers
Old Hall Community
Stop Press: Nov 2020: We have cancelled all wwoofing until further notice. We host volunteers for two week periods from April through to October each year when we close down for the winter. We have set aside spaces for up to a maximum of four volunteers at any one time during this period. We set aside spaces for a maximum of two families during the volunteer season. Please visit our website and email: volunteers@oldhall.org.uk telling us a bit about yourself and your reasons for wanting to visit our community. We will send you further information. Have fun planning your year. Do not leave it to the last minute – we get booked up. Thank you.
Places needing Members
Share Instead
Looking for something different? Co-operate in style! There are 2 vacancies in our 5-member housing co-op in Sheffield, Share Instead.We support one another in our paths of activism and self-development and collectively look after our lovely 5 bedroom home in leafy S7. We aim to make our co-op accessible and affordable, without paid work needing to dominate our lives. We share cooking and costs of vegetarian food. We are part of Radical Routes co-op network.Rent £269, Food £137 and Bills £50 per month. Please email shareinstead@gmail.com if you might be interested.Jan 2021
So you want to start or join a forming community?
Don't underestimate the scale of the task! Maybe follow up some of these links...
Developing Groups
Brighton Cohousing
Brighton Cohousing is interested in setting up a project somewhere near Brighton.
This noticeboard is for Developing Groups that are fairly well established – they may even have a building or a site lined up.
People Forming a Group
Small Inclusive Community in Cornwall
UPDATE Jan 2021: we are still looking for suitable land. We have had quite a few responses off this post,…
People Forming a Group is our noticeboard for those at the very early stages whereas Developing Groups are usually quite a bit further down the road.
Properties might suit communities
Spain: Andalucia – a simple house with forest garden
A simple off-grid house in Andalucia with a forest garden in a vast natural landscape. 75,000 euros for quick sale.…
Properties might suit Communities is where people who are trying to sell or make people aware of a particular vacant property can place a message.
And don't forget our other Noticeboards...
People needing Communal Places
Two people in search of a place to grow
Hello all, We are two people looking for a place to settle and share our skills and gifts, hands and…
General Noticeboard
Are you inspired by the outdoors? Holiday leadership with Journeying
The Journeying team comprise men and women from all denominations and walks of life. We are always pleased to hear…
Ghosts of Communes Past
What was that about people that don't learn from history being doomed to repeat it?
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