I got this idea from the politics Tribe (no, really)
Apparently the fuel crisis is causing tiny towns to fold as people move closer to cities to save the cost of fuel.
So couldn't these small towns be used for intentional communities? It would be easier to retrofit a town than to build new -- smaller carbon footprint as well.
Comments?
Anyone know of a place like that?
Apparently the fuel crisis is causing tiny towns to fold as people move closer to cities to save the cost of fuel.
So couldn't these small towns be used for intentional communities? It would be easier to retrofit a town than to build new -- smaller carbon footprint as well.
Comments?
Anyone know of a place like that?
posted by:
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Fresno
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Fri, April 18, 2008 - 11:57 AMthat's actually a really good idea
I have no idea where would be good but wow, yeah. it would have to be very substainable though -
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Fri, April 18, 2008 - 12:50 PMfresh thinking... in fact it could be your very own small sustainable community town, with a town name and everything, town meetings, town gardens everywhere, hobbit holes here and there...
keep goin with that idea....
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Tue, April 22, 2008 - 3:17 PMCool idea. I did hear of someone buying a small nearly-abandoned town in northern California many years ago, and they had planned some creative projects. It seems that the price was more than a million, perhaps two or three, yet they received ownership of many buildings, streets, city services, etc..
Very interesting concept, as you would need to still deal with County and State laws, although you would have a lot of freedom to re-write local zoning ordinances and laws that could allow more community creativity than is usually allowed elsewhere.
Duane Light
SuccessAtTheSpeedOfLight.net
Business, Nonprofit & Community Consulting
541-292-0100
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Tue, April 22, 2008 - 4:25 PMOne of the main issues is how people make a living far removed from cities and large towns. This is major consideration for people looking to live in intentional communities. Many people want to live in the country and choose instead to live close to where they can make money.
But, it's a great idea and with the right people it could work. Maybe we could pool our resources and buy a small town, create a shared renewable energy grid, communal garden, school, bed and breakfast, etc. -
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Wed, April 23, 2008 - 12:10 PMThat certainly is a big issue. We are currently forming an IC in northern California, and we haven't quite bought a whole town, but we've bought land in a "town" that has been in decline for some time and the locals have been fairly open and welcoming. We are praying for more Family to come and buy up some of the other parcels in town, a couple in particular that are incredible old farms. We're basically taking over this little town with hot springs and less than 200 people and building our community there.
The issue of making money is a big one. In fact, I'm personally commuting an hour and a half each way every weekday to the nearest major city to work a full-time job to bring income to the land. I see this as temporary until we can establish localized community businesses to build an economy from the ground up locally. For example there is ONLY ONE STORE in the town, and it is a "general" store. No restaurants, cafe's, pubs, nowhere to go hang out and have a scene. I believe that through building cottage industries and local scenes we can develop a completely localized economy enough to sustain us.
However, all this requires work and people to show up. We are a community that has grown out of a Rainbow Family tribe and is very open and welcoming. We are the seed, and I pray for good Family to show up and plug in! If anyone's looking for Intentional Community in their lives and has energy of one kind or another to put towards building sustainability, we are in a place with incredible potential and are already digging in!
Welcome Home!
Joshua -
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Sun, June 8, 2008 - 3:42 PMHey there!
I just wanted to say, in response to the money-making question:
1. If we're off grid, own our land, and meet our food needs through farming, we have much less need for money.
2. But, in the meanwhile, I've heard jobs where you can tele-commute are good options. I don't know what those would be, but it's an idea!
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Wed, April 23, 2008 - 2:45 PMI stayed in an Italian village outside of Florence... This guy was rich back in the 70's when Italy was going through a real crunch, all the villages were losing residents, and big cities drawing them in... So, those with money could scoop up some phat properties....
This guy bough a village.... A whole freaking Tuscan village! (he moved into the best house, and left the village center nearly empty, growing weed in the houses.... shhhhh.... I don't know if he still does that, but we had a great time staying there. -
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Thu, April 24, 2008 - 7:37 AMoooo sounds like the perfect IC.
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Sun, April 27, 2008 - 10:46 AMI joined this tribe because I am seriously looking to
join a community, or help build one.
Your idea was excellent. But a full town may
be too expensive. But I did find this:
www.ghosttowns.com/
Check out Logan County in Colorado. There is
a town called Willard that still has some buildings
left.
Some of these ghost towns still have a few old
residents.
I am going to try to find out more about how to
contact the towns and possibly purchase something
cheap. -
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Mon, May 12, 2008 - 7:47 PMIs there water in Willard? It looks pretty cool.
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Sun, May 18, 2008 - 2:10 PMI live in one of these ghost towns you speak of, just bought an off grid place and am trying to do the homesteading thing with a bit of luck and pluck. very new to this and just wanted to say hi to someone who has similar aspirations. (your post struck me as exactly what I was seeking and what led me to pick up and start over to build my dreams).
If you are seriously interested in helping to build a community in a "ghost town" and have an open mind about location you should stay in touch.
you never know...but homes are cheap and it's an incredibly beautiful place that could use an influx of forward thinking folks that are ready to be the change they wish to see.
cheers!
Stacy -
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Mon, May 19, 2008 - 12:02 PMI'll definitely stay in touch.
When you have time can you share more about how your community is taking shape and some of the practices you intend to incorporate? -
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Fri, May 23, 2008 - 2:20 PMhey there!
Well so far it's just a dream, I have a homestead and we're off grid, but so far just me and the little boy in the photo are out there gardening, organically, of course, and trying to get a few other buildings set up so we have more to offer folks looking to come together. I envision a retreat where people come to get away from it all, to have a guilt free escape from the excesses of modern living and consider their own impact on the planet. As an artist I'd like to attract other artists and folks who are looking to live in a peaceful, respectful and conscious way but I don't know as far as what that will look like. I am open to all types of folks, as long as they like to work hard and they are safe, friendly and are looking to continually improve. I hope to do some coppice (sustainable tree harvest) and to do the whole permaculture thing, to build some earthen and cob and cordwood type cabins, homes, and outbuildings. It's a lot of different things right now and could use some extra energy getting it off the ground. I know there have to be folks who would just love to live int he woods and help build sustainable dwellings for themselves or to be used by others---I just have to connect with the right folks and get it started. I am not looking for a huge community on my land as it's only 6 acres, but the area I live in is inexpensive enough that I think I could convince others to live nearby if they have vision and want to spread out a bit more. I would love to have friends and family all around me, and am open to folks who can build their own dwellings on my land, or nearby, and coming together as an intentional community dedicated to peace and to the earth. Farming, alternative education for the kiddos, and artist space are primarily the goals for the community. I hope to attract some other families that might want to join us, as we would love to have more kids around to play with!
probably more than you were looking for, blue!
cheers!!!
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Mon, May 19, 2008 - 10:27 PMAfter partying with a real peace-loving forward-thinking group of people this weekend, I have also been fantasizing about forming an intentional community. I think it is a real possibility, and am all jazzed up to find out more. It's a matter of finding a good place where farming is possible, and getting the right people together.
I'm ready... I just wish someone would tell me what to do next! -
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Sat, June 14, 2008 - 7:42 AMI'd suggest you read. Read the stuff written about the "Farm" in Summertown. Read "Twin Oaks" by BF Skinner. Read historical accounts of intentional communities in the US. There have been some very successful ones that lasted for a long time. Read Communities magazine. Find back issues. Start studying the ic.org web site and find communities near you that accept visitors.
Start looking for a place. My biggest advice is to create an ownership model that makes it easy for people to come and go. Some people will find that living in community doesn't work for them, or that the particular community isn't right for them. Issues around people leaving community can be huge; especially when there are shared assets.
Building community is hard work but for me, it's the only way to live.
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Mon, June 16, 2008 - 11:29 AMThere are a lot of intentional communities in the process of forming, many people sharing this and variant visions, so if you're motivated to live in community and don't have resources or a group to start one, try to find one that suits you and plug in! Our community needs motivated Family. :)
Love and Light,
Joshua
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Mon, May 12, 2008 - 10:14 AMThere is this a little cobblestone village in southern central Oklahoma (I know, I know!) that is darling! It truly looks like a little hobbit village and has a water mill and everything. I don't care much for OK, but it's practically abandoned and is worth a look for anyone who doesn't care that it's in Oklahoma. I think it's called medicine village or something like that.
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Fri, June 6, 2008 - 5:40 PMBrilliant idea.
If you take AMTRAK from the East across the USA to the West Coast, you'll likely see a ghost town or two. And abandoned houses, all alone in the middle of nowhere. Those old homes could work, too. -
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Tue, June 10, 2008 - 12:45 PMRight after the Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1968 (yes, I'm an old guy, get over it), there was a "strategy restructuring conference" in Madison Wisconsin. It was sort of a "whew, what do we do next" sort of meeting of anti-war activists. One of the projects discussed was the "Wyoming Project". Someone had figured out that Wyoming had the lowest number of registered voters per square inch of any of the US states. The idea was that if a whole bunch of activists moved there and became registered voters, we could take over the state and have one more progressive state. -
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Tue, June 10, 2008 - 6:42 PMAnd instead they allowed it to spawn Dick Cheney. -
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Thu, June 12, 2008 - 3:47 PMIdaho may not be better and may be worse. It's home to lotsa Right Wing-Nuts.
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Re: Intentional community formation in the US
Tue, June 10, 2008 - 7:41 PMHoly crap, you're an old guy Davie! ;)
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