What do ya'll think of communal living?

[farmerlor]

There's a big book that comes out annually that lists the many communes available around the world. It's a BIG book. It tells what kind of government is in place, what the prevailing religious views are, housing, and what the society in general strives for. VERY interesting reading. Many have communities set up so that those who garden or farm can do so while those who are crafty and can sew or construct things barter for the vegetables and meat grown by others. You want to eat? You better be busy sewing or building.

 

[dragonlaurel]

I tried living in an intentional community. The land was owned by a man that bought it for a tree farm. He let people build and live in places on the property. There were some really cool people and some I wasn't crazy about but we hung out with the ones we were more in tune with. Most of the people built shacks since it wasn't their property.
We stayed about a year, then decided to move instead of building there. No job opportunities in that area.
This place was not about religion, he just wanted to be living on the land with other people. It had a few springs, no electric, a few outhouses, steep hills, and a whole lot of red clay.

If money was no object

I would buy 100 - 150 acres, partially wooded, for a small village and set aside parcels for friends to live on.
Have a covered patio with summer kitchen for common use for canning or celebrations.
Community orchard plus individual kitchen gardens.
Grazing area for various critters.
Supply tractor, tiller, and reference materials for organic crops and naturally raised animals.
Grow organic crops and get certified so we could sell for better prices.
Have a craft shop for people to make projects.
Have a few dairy goats and a dairy cow and make cheeses.
Workshops on alternative building, solar, wind power, gardening, various how to subjects
Barn/Cabin raisings to get peoples places and community buildings up, safe, and dry. They personalize it from there. (Don't want every body's places to look the same - just safe and in a home quicker.)
Village market/barter fair area.
People living there could pay land rent by money, products or needed skills.

 

[lorihadams]

I'm in, put me down for 5-10 acres and some goats!

 

[dragonlaurel]

I'm in, put me down for 5-10 acres and some goats!

first I need some info-
what are the winning lottery numbers for tomorrow?

 

[okiegirl1]

Yea, maybe co-living was more of what I was thinking than commune.

It would be great to have some acreage but all your neighbors be on the same homestead mind.

I don't want to co-own my property, but if I have goats and want to breed my female to my neighbors male, I could trade some eggs for it. And another neighbor would come work in my garden for us helping gut their kitchen. Ya know, that kind of thing. where you knew everyone around, you could trust your kids playing at the neighbors but we all had our own land, jobs and homes.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

If money was no object

My turn!!

I'd buy 1,000 acres. At the very center would be 100 acres fenced in for living/raising animals on. Hopefully most of the outter area would be woods.

Of the 100 acres, 30 acres would be divided up into 5 acre tracts for home sites. One 5 acre tract for myself and my DH, and five 5 acre tracts for each of my children and their spouses. Five acres is plenty of space for homes, garages, chickens coops (or other small animals), and a household garden. Fifty acres of pasture for any large livestock (beef, work horses, sheep, alpacas, goats, dairy cows, etc.) The remaining 20 acres would be for hay, wheat, oats, etc.

I suppose the outter 900 acres could be rented out to like minded folks, as long as they were willing to clear their rented area, and their cost to rent would be whatever the yearly property taxes for their portion would be.

Don't know if it would ever work, but fun to pretend!

 

[DianeB]

Some of us 20somethings have found ourselves in a communal living type situtation. No job or oppurtunities after college - except for part time that does not pay the bills. Moving back in with parents to save up and help out - times are hard for them too. Not so bad. Get along with my parents. We pull things together and do for each other. Pretty much, all my friends that are not in school have moved back home

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Some of us 20somethings have found ourselves in a communal living type situtation. No job or oppurtunities after college - except for part time that does not pay the bills. Moving back in with parents to save up and help out - times are hard for them too. Not so bad. Get along with my parents. We pull things together and do for each other. Pretty much, all my friends that are not in school have moved back home

See, this is why I don't think it would work out. Adam and I, are both in school working on our associate degrees to be RNs and we are currently living with his parents on 8 acres. While we all get along, I don't like to share. For more than one year, Adam and I have toiled in the garden to plant 2-4 tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and strawberries. Well, every single year the Father in Law picks the tomatoes before Adam and I can get to them. Adam and I, plant tomatoes, because we like the tomatoes to ripen on the vine and NOT in the window sill. So, Adam and I will look at a yellow tomatos and plan to have a meal with them 2-3 days later, only to come in the house and find them sitting in the kitchen window to ripen.

I had a broody duck go to hatch eggs and when she did, Adam and I were in the mountains. I instructed everyone how to feed and care for the animals, and then when I called to check in, the FIL had taken the ducklings from the mother.

So, this is the reason I couldn't live in a commune. Not having to share everything. LOL BUT if I live in a place where everyone had their "own" stuff and we just swapped to accomodate for other occasions, then I could see that working. I look forward to having my own farm, and Adam and I doing things "our" way. LOL

 

[xpc]

For more than one year, Adam and I have toiled in the garden to plant 2-4 tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and strawberries. Well, every single year the Father in Law picks the tomatoes before Adam and I can get to them. Adam and I, plant tomatoes, because we like the tomatoes to ripen on the vine and NOT in the window sill. So, Adam and I will look at a yellow tomatoes and plan to have a meal with them 2-3 days later, only to come in the house and find them sitting in the kitchen window to ripen. LOL

Fruits and vegetables are picked early for shipping and not to sit in your window ... Your FIL would get the broad side of my compost shovel, he seems like an arrogant narcissist, there is no cure but to run (fast).

 

[Wolf-Kim]

For more than one year, Adam and I have toiled in the garden to plant 2-4 tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and strawberries. Well, every single year the Father in Law picks the tomatoes before Adam and I can get to them. Adam and I, plant tomatoes, because we like the tomatoes to ripen on the vine and NOT in the window sill. So, Adam and I will look at a yellow tomatoes and plan to have a meal with them 2-3 days later, only to come in the house and find them sitting in the kitchen window to ripen. LOL

Fruits and vegetables are picked early for shipping and not to sit in your window ... Your FIL would get the broad side of my compost shovel, he seems like an arrogant narcissist, there is no cure but to run (fast).

He actually did contribute to the garden this year and installed a sprinkler. And I know that it's his land, it just seems that, if Adam and I didn't plant the garden, it wouldn't be planted.