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.
Woodhead Community
After over 20 successful years as a small family and land-based community, we officially dismantled some of our communal activities…
Urban Communal
These housing co-ops and big shared houses in built up areas show that not every commune has to be rural!
The Nevill Community
The Nevill is a large converted pub, hosting a small community of various ages and from various places. We currently…
Spiritual Community
Having a focus often helps. These places all have some spiritual or religious belief that underlies their existence.
Beech Grove Community
Beech Grove is part of the Bruderhof, an international communal movement of families and single men and women who seek…
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
Canon Frome Court
We’re always seeking to encourage interested people in coming and finding out about us. We hold regular Open Weekends in spring and autumn. Please contact us for the dates of the next open weekend: membership@canonfromecourt.org.uk Due to COVID19, our open days are currently virtual.
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
Clachan Cohousing
We are developing a cohousing project, with a view to using land at Maryhill in Glasgow. http://clachancohousing.co.uk/ Cohousing is a…
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
Yorkshire (West/North) – Sustainable Smallholding & Rewilding Community
Yorkshire – Sustainable Smallholding & Rewilding Community We are looking to live more rurally, sustainably and simply in harmony with…
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
Riverside house with large gardens on Scottish Borders
Riverside house Scottish borders. Easy access M74, M6. Railway station. Grade C listed. Coachhouse for conversion. Parking area for 8…
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 Free Spirits
I'm a 33 year old single mother living with my 7 year old son looking for a less conventional way…
General Noticeboard
Forming A Sanctuary in Burgundy countryside, very rural France, near a nice river and forests
Hi there, I am living in a French Country Cottage with an attached Barn, there is a lot of opportunity…
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?
