Echowood Challanges Where is Everbody?

Greenhornet here. I live at Echowood, a small community near Austin Texas.

We've been going for about a year now and currently have 5 people living here.

I want to start this thread by opening with this: we have land and a lot of infrastructure: a garden, industrial kitchen, heard of goats, egg laying chickens, 2 houses . . . we also have several great products, soap, incense, and tofu presses that are selling well . . . but finding people who want to dedicate themselves to creating a rural community has been our biggest challenge. We have had lots of visitors and many have come and gone for a multitude of reasons, different reason for each person, actually. Some leave for love, some for money, some because they found they hate living with people and would rather be a farmhand somewhere, some because of a personality conflict with another resident, tons of reasons.

I think the main lessen we've learnt so far is how much we, here in 2008 America, need community more than ever, but how poorly prepared we are at actually creating it. People are so isolated and lonely, but often not up to do what it takes (lots of communication and dedication) to get what many of us need the most, a genuine of connection with others.

Any thoughts?

 

Hello, how are ya?

I believe many people think the commune thing is a great idea, until they're faced with it first hand, then realize how much work and compromise is involved, then panic and run back to the comforts of modern society.

As for me, I've seen the Echowood site many times and think its a good thing you got there, but I don't see myself living in Texas... my uncle lives there and says the weather to too hot during the day, so people work in the morning and sit in the AC during the day, also rattlesnakes and tornado's are a factor.
As for the housing, I'm from a large family, and the only privacy I got was outside the house in the woods... I prefer to have my own space and hang with people as I choose, either working or chatting, but not all the time.
Maybe you can consider making individual quarters, like a yurt or roundhouse, for those who like more privacy than others.

Just a thought...

Peace

 

Actually we have a good deal of privacy for a communal living situation - right now everyone has their own private space - but that could change when we have more people.

Yes Texas is hot in the summer, but it's good the rest of the year & we get very few tornadoes in this part of the state. As for rattle snakes, very few of them (I haven't seen one here yet, but we do get some copperheads that visit in the Spring - very non-aggressive snake, but you certainly don't want to accidentally step on one)

Yes, actually creating a community is hard work, but it's worth it. I've learned a lot about a lot of things here: people, farming, and dealing with copperheads, to name a few.

 

I looked at you guys website nice, looks like you got some cool stuff going on..

I tried living on communes before it was a great experience, but the really close intense interaction was just too intense and restrictive for me.

A lot of it was going to well established places also when places are established they have system running and everything is just controlled by the system everything has to be voted on and discussed then when you get so many people together there is always manipulative people to deal with.

It’s really cool to do though everyone has this dream I could create the perfect society if only..
But then when you go out and really do it.
It’s not so simple it is complex and challenging.

That was just some thoughts reading your post made me think.

 

yah , sometimes it's hard to talk about the inability to find people of quality willing to do what is necessary to make community happen.....sounds like we're being too negative.
My own experience over the years is to choose carefully those that you so closely associate with....you tend to meld together, taking on each other faults and sometimes even the strengths.
Many of us are more deeply into spirit than society at large and find that we are not willing to compromise that part of ourSelfs that we consider to be most important....and finding others.....well one certainly finds many who agree with words, but little else.
Yet the community idea for combining for ease of survival and creating a space to Grow still seems sooo important....and sometimes one must near go it alone....not give up because it still seems to be the right Way to go.
And when all the dust settles....one come up with 1 truth.....how did you live ?
One cannot judge another but actions speak far louder than words, and the first and only 1 each of us must answer to, is looking back from the mirror.

to end on a positive note...it becomes paramount in these fragmenting times to Be and Stay True to ones higher Self.

Blessings

Namaste

 

Part of the problem you run into is that folks are just too selfish, and too lazy. If they've already put in a day's work, they are grouchy if a minor emergency cuts into their free time. If they want to just goof off, you can "call in" on a job ~ it's a little harder to lie to someone's face.

Well, that's how people are ~ egoistic (not misspelled ), lazy and argumentative.

i guess that's probably why communism and socialism don't work ~ you can't force people to be nice, and you can't make them care about others.

Sad, but true.

On the up side, the climate in Austin is completely different than that of the rest of South Texas ~ less humidity, cooler temperatures, etc.

Good luck with y'all's stuff!

 

The nice thing about small community is that it is like a family you choose for yourself. There are many communities that are proving that it can be done and the movement is only becoming stronger and more diverse as more people see the benefit of cooperative living. The real trick of living in a community is to find the one that is right for you. Every community is different and has different ways of doing things and a very different feel.

I have seen communities that work and are proving that it is possible.

 

Shit, we've got about as many dedicated, though some are away for the winter as we have almost no infrastructure at all! We long for things like industrial kitchen and goats, and are working to build soil for gardens and food forests. We also have the very same problem of people, as many come and go and few stay and dedicate themselves, though some have!

Rock on you family at Echowood! We're all in this ship together!

Joshua of the Reading Rainbow Library Tribe

 

Yes, I have heard of goats. lol, sorry

I have been studying communal living for sometime, and what I have found is that to get a community going and keep it going for any time, it takes just a few people that are truly willing to do two things: Work their fingers to the bone, and keep doing it everyday, for a long time.

The rewards can be fantastic, and eventually the workload will lighten, once things are established. A lot of people will come and go, but to survive as a community you have to have a lot of heart and courage.

Don't settle for persons that don't cut the mustard. If they think a few hours work a day the bills will pay, they have their heads in the clouds. It is a way of life that can attract slackers, the reason they are dissatisfied with modern urban life may be because they don't want to have a job at all.

 

seeker, how's it going? I've been considering moving to Mineral Wells, so it is neat to see a hippie from there. I'm far from making my final decision though, so I probably will not move there. I'm just north of there in Bridgeport for a few months.

Greenhornet, I've had Echowood saved to a list of communes that I've been interested in. After looking at the website a few times over a few months time I decided that the community was too small for me. You see, I'm single and seeking, and I read somewheres that Echowood seeks to keep gender balance. I know that there are a few hippie chicks in Austin, and I've considered moving there too, but I need to be on land the country, specifically for organic gardening and permaculture without being confined to a small lot. Oh, and the price of real estate in Austin is above my price range.

Yet, if there were more single hippie chicks at Echowood, I would really reconsider it. I know, there are more important reasons for joining a commune, and oldwolf mentioned them, but I'm just so tired of not living near potential mates. I'm in north Texas right now, and most all of the women I see in my day to day life are traditional.

 

i was just reading in some propaganda that my Dad got from some place that sends emails to everyone in the gov about different stuff ~

well, all anyway,

the pamplet was saying that in the "Obamination," we're going to need to figure out, real quick like, how to do exactly what communal living entails ~ grow / raise food, schooling, learn how to make electricity, etc, etc.

We won't have the internet ~ not with fluctuations in the power grids.

nor ANYTHING electrical ~ UNLESS we can make electricity.

My folks have a nice little ranch, complete with several wells, a pond that they're having re-dug (to hold MORE water), a generator, cattle, plenty of room for growing crops (not to speak of the other folks that live out there, and grow / raise their own stuff ~ goats, sheep, horses, fruit and nut trees).

But check this out ~

How in the WORLD do you manage to get along with your 78 year old parents??? i seem to be failing, miserably...

Well, THAT is what ALL of us know as a "commune" ~ our families. And, hey, i'm sorry, but i, for one, am exceptionally dysfunctional, and i come from a super dysfunctional family.

How do y'all get over that? Just kick 'em to the curb and get on with your own lives? i can't seem to do that...

Hey, sorry about this ~ i'm just back from the ranch ~ we needed to leave about midnight, when my Dad got up.

Sometimes, i think about just walking off. There are LOTS of, just, open fields out here, and it's like, i can walk, i LIKE walking. Why don't i just sort of stroll off into the setting sun? Aaaa. We can't do that... just throw our lives away.

i'm just truly afraid for us ~ all of us, as in the United States of America. Things are happening that are going to set this country back so far, we'll have to look forward to see behind us... (In other words, we'll be looking forward to getting somewhere that we ~ this country, this society, these folks ~ have already been...)

i'm almost to the point of asking folks that if they own and can use firearms, PLEASE (!), come on down to the Southern States,

and how much sense does THAT make?

Cripes.

Oh, yeah! btw ~ Merry Happy, Christmas/New Year, to all!

The entire WORLD is in my prayers.

 

O fryenza, queen of the dufii,

hey young one....woulda coulda shoulda; wishes being fishes, the seas were poisoned by our own lack of doing more than a little ago.
What you Do have, and always have, is How you Live.
Make the day better...help us all to Grow...and Become More.
Strive on, stretch ...Move into the Beyond of what was and Is into that which is Becoming.
Be a part of the continuing saga...write your own ending...Empower your Self
Be True
to your Self.

For you are a seedling long nourished in the hope that one day you would burst forth and Become.

Blessings

Namaste

 

Hey, All,
It is my first post, so don't expect any bells or whistles.
I've been looking at Echowood's site for a bit, considering visiting. I lived in Austin many years ago, for many years...meaning, one gets used to the weather, and there are no mosquitoes, at least, not that many. BUT, there are fireflies...and they are lovely.
That part of Texas is really nice, a bit humid, but no storms to be afraid of. Unless you dislike the very occasional rainstorm.

 

I'm rather tempted these days to run away to some community and hide out from my life. Echowood sounds nice, though the notion of living in Texas scares me... though where doesn't scare me to live these days (except where I'm living now), I can't say.

Sigh,
Joshua

 

I too have come across your website and was intrigued. The lack of people is something that turned me away too. Getting people to come is the hard part until you have a nice size group established. I am interested in visiting at some point though. Your property looks beautiful and I like the feel of your site/post.
I plan on contacting communities after June to start setting up visiting periods.

 

How does your community feel about children? I am 6 mos pregnant.. I feel that I have alot of skills that could be a positive contribution to a communal living environment. I am a massage therapist and I design and make handmade clothing. I homeschooled my daughter for years(she lives with her father as of now) and am excellent in the kitchen as well as the garden. I am definitely not afraid to get my hands dirty. I'd love to hear back from you if you're at all interested.

 

Hi, I'm new here and have read through this thread and wondering if there is an update to your community? I know that area and it is really lovely. It sounds like you have a great place started. I am very close to wanting to chuck this rat race. Living and working in a city starts to feel like a maze after a while. You are just chasing your own tail to make a living, pay off debt, etc. without ever feeling like you are a real part of something and you never have the time to nurture yourself, nurture your loved ones or nurture the earth. I am envious.

 

I was thinkin about visiting Echowood (I'm @ Ohio) but the idea of putting all my eggs in one basket is kinda scary.

I figured I would get a nursing certification, make the big $$$, and then go searching for communes. If there's a good one out there I'd definately invest in it like a home. If not, make my own.

I want to make a commune made completely of Mongolian yurts. Connected like a web, stretching as far as the eye can see. Lol.

 

We stayed in a Yurt up in Arkansas last year. It wasn't the traditional Mongolian one but a newer one...it was really nice. Other than sound issues, I liked it much better than a tent or cabin.

 

Ohh if I could only walk in your shoes.

I think Echowood needs to start blogging! I bet you could get a lot of converts if you give people a sneak peak into the workings of a commune.