All The World’s a Commune
by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC
Many students studying sustainability come for tours here in my co-housing community. Ashley visited and interviewed me for a school project yesterday and her biggest questions concerned why I’m here. The answer that sums it up for me is that this kind of modern commune living is truly and realistically, the best of both worlds. Her next question was, just how does this work? And my short answer on that is simply, by sharing.
This seems so logical to me that I got especially excited when I heard about WannaStartACommune.com, a project sharing these positive and simple concepts, applicable not just to planned “intentional” communities, but to existing neighborhoods of all kinds. Whatever you know or don’t know about communal living, if you’re taking a second look at your environmental or economic lifestyle, it sounds irresistible, doesn’t it?
Stephanie Smith is a Harvard-trained architect and social designer, who launched this project at the end of last year. Back in 2003, she started a green design lab in Joshua Tree, CA, calling it Ecoshack, a design firm focused on low-impact design, mass production and alternative forms of community.
Her project, WannaStartACommune is a plan that allows neighbors to commune as a way to share resources, grow food together, share transportation, even get off the grid, and, perhaps most importantly, manage the stressful economic time in a productive and communal way. “Every single neighborhood in America and around the world is a commune,” Ecoshack’s Smith says. “And every single apartment building is, and every office building is, and every single thing is built new using guidelines around sharing resources. Nothing less than that.”
VIsit the site for a look at the complete “Tools for Commune Starters” 24 page document, including:
Using a few simple tools you can start sharing with your neighbors, friends or co-workers today. You’ll save time and money, connect more deeply with those around you, and do right by the planet.
– ‘Getting Started’ Checklist
– ‘What’s in a Commune?’ Resource-sharing Guide
– Potluck & Workshop Planning Tools
– Simple Organizational Documents
– Technology Tips to help you manage and grow your commune
Tags: Commune, EcoShack, neighborhoods
April 10th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
the only co-housing i have been to. is yours, i know there must be challenges and problems, but, the way “see” it is people coming together to build a community. helping others, helping the environment, caring about the place you live……plus its so pretty where you live. and i always remember the elder lady who told me that she stays with the little children until their parents come home. how sweet is that.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Hi Trace.
I definitely want to visit there soon. Pick a date/
I am making a CD of the poem/songs for you. A mix of music and peoms ( at what point do differentiate)/
If you’re at Julia’s, I’ll have, or I’ll leave it.
I sometimes forget, that just because an artist or song hits me the audio-soul, that it might not have resonate at all with someone else.
Do I’m just sharing some stuff I like. If you have stuff you like, I’d be glad to listen.
Pugs, Roger