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!
New 12th Edition COMING SOON
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! 
Meet Chris Coates author of A Life in Common the Story of the 20 years he spent living at People in Common a small alternative living/working Co-operative in East Lancs
“ People in Common grew out of the counterculture of the 1970’s. We didn’t call ourselves a commune because of all the assumptions that are made about the hippy lifestyle and Burnley isn’t the obvious place that you’d think of for an experiment in communal living.”
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.
Crabapple Community
Crabapple was founded in 1975 and moved here to Berrington Hall (a rambling, slightly eccentric, Georgian rectory) two years later.…
Urban Communal
These housing co-ops and big shared houses in built up areas show that not every commune has to be rural!
Sanford Housing Co-operative
We have beautiful ponds, gardens and a friendly atmosphere, a tropical communal oasis in London with a famous colourful peace…
Spiritual Community
Having a focus often helps. These places all have some spiritual or religious belief that underlies their existence.
Botton Village
Botton Village, an intentional community within the worldwide Camphill Movement, is home to 330 people, about 140 of whom are…
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
Canon Frome Court
We take volunteers via Helpx and Wwoof from spring to autumn. Please contact our volunteer coordinator for further information: wwoof@canonfromecourt.org.uk
Places needing Members
Wild Peak Housing Co-op
Wild Peak is looking for members! We have six spaces opening up at our housing and land coop in Derbyshire.
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
ClanAlba Housing Co-op
ClanAlba Housing Co-op are looking for gainfully employed/unemployed members...more info soon
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
Earthrise community - for unschooling families
We’re currently 3 families, forming a semi-rural intentional community (Earthrise) for unschooling families in Devon. We are passionate about creating…
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
Property available 16 acres, stable, annexe, nr Exeter
6 bedroom house with 1 bed self-contained annexe, with 15 acres including orchard, garden, paddock, woodland and 9 acre field,…
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
Go Wild in the Country - "We are all prisoners of our own making" - Learn How To Set Yourself Free
"We are all prisoners of our own making" - learn how to set yourself free. Most of our daily routines…
General Noticeboard
Long Term Help Offered.
Hi.I have experience of working on an organic gardens and Glamping site .Willing to work a full day. 5 days…
Ghosts of Communes Past
What was that about people that don't learn from history being doomed to repeat it?
And finally... are you up-to-date with Chris's Blog?
