Living in Community
Many of you Dear Friends ask me about living in community. Maybe you’d like to find a way to live in community, rather than alone. Maybe you’d like to live in a tiny home, connected to Earth, without needing to purchase land. Maybe you are struggling financially in this individualistic society and want to come together with others.
I believe that communal living is one of the true solutions to our global human challenges. Living in community is at the center of living more sustainably, in harmony with Earth. It can allow us to structure our societies in a more equitable and just manner. It can be a path to living with more happiness, health, autonomy, freedom and connection. There is so much more that I could say about living in community, but rather than continue, I have shared my top resources to guide you down the path of living in community or simply exploring the option.
Below I share Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC), The Cohousing Association of the United States (CohoUS), World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), Mouvement Colibris and you can see my writings and videos on living in community here.
As for seeking land, a web search of “how to find land for a tiny house” is a place that you can start. There are many enthusiasts and advocates for living simply who have written helpful resources. There is no replacement for connecting with your community and this can be done in person, through Craigslist, local newspapers, flyer boards at community spaces, social media and more. Here is an article I wrote when I was seeking land to place my tiny home in Orlando, Florida in 2018, which provides insight into work exchanges for land for a tiny home.
I highly recommend practicing Nonviolent Communication (NVC) / Compassionate Communication for living in community.
Global Ecovillage Network
“The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) catalyzes communities for a regenerative world. GEN is a growing network of regenerative communities and initiatives that bridge cultures, countries and continents.
GEN builds bridges between policy-makers, governments, NGOs, academics, entrepreneurs, activists, community networks and ecologically-minded individuals across the globe in order to develop strategies for a global transition to resilient communities and cultures.
What is an Ecovillage?
An ecovillage is an intentional, traditional or urban community that is consciously designing its pathway through locally owned, participatory processes, and aims to address the Ecovillage Principles in the Four Areas of Regeneration (social, culture, ecology, economy) into a whole systems design.
Ecovillages are living laboratories pioneering beautiful alternatives and innovative solutions. They are rural or urban settlements with vibrant social structures, vastly diverse, yet united in their actions toward low-impact, high-quality lifestyles. Read more about ecovillage definitions in our Glossary.”
Foundation for Intentional Community
“Your resource hub for the intentional communities movement.”
Explore Intentional Communities with their directory of over 1,000 communities
“The Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC) has over 35 years of partnership with hundreds of intentional communities around the world. We believe human society has the potential to support the well-being of all people and the ecosystems of which we are a part, recognizing that the well-being of one depends on the well-being of all.
Why we do what we do:
“We face an overwhelming and inextricably intertwined set of challenges. They are all results of mutually-reinforcing systems, operating on a global scale, that perpetuate harm and foster violence. They include:
Social isolation, division, disconnection, & trauma
inequality, injustice, oppression, & exploitation
climate disruption and ecological system collapse
Because of their integrated, place-based nature, intentional communities provide unique opportunities to address a variety of issues in a holistic way. As places for sharing lives, resources, land and purpose, they provide and maximize an interconnected set of ecological, social, and economic benefits.
As a movement, intentional communities have unfulfilled potential to
Support the well-being of the people who live in them
Support each other
Support the shift the world needs towards cooperation, justice, and resilience
People need community. Communities need people. People and communities meet at ic.org.”
The Cohousing Association of the United States
“The Cohousing Association of the US (CohoUS) is a national nonprofit that seeks to advance cohousing and shift the culture toward a new American dream where every home is surrounded by caring, collaborative neighbors who use less of the earth’s resources while living in abundance.
Mission: CohoUS fosters a more cooperative society by supporting cohousing communities and educating the public about the benefits of cohousing.
Vision: Our vision is to shift the culture toward a new American dream where every home is surrounded by caring, collaborative neighbors who use less of the earth’s resources while living an abundant life.”
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)
“Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a worldwide movement to link visitors with organic farmers, promote a cultural and educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming and sustainability practices.”
The website connects organic farmers and gardeners with people who want to learn to grow organic food. “WWOOFers” learn to grow food organically and live sustainably by getting their hands dirty and learning through actual farming work in exchange for around 25 hours of work on the farm. In exchange for work WWOOFers get food, lodging, education and experience. And the host farmers get help with work on the farm. It’s a win-win for everyone! No money changes hands. Instead it is about creating community and working together.
WWOOFING makes it possible to live with very little money. With farms all over the world, it is an opportunity to travel on a budget while gaining the experience and knowledge to start your own organic farm or garden in the future! All while giving back to the earth!
Mouvement Colibris of France and Belgium
See their map of community initiatives of in France, Belgium and the surrounding countries.