Communes That Succeeded

I have long been interested in communal living situations, and I've lived in a few of them, including one in Eugene, Oregon called Children's House. From what I've seen, most people go into communal living with the absolute best of intentions and considerable naivete. As a result, most of the communal living groups turn out to be relatively short-lived.

I am interested in knowing more about those communal groups that have survived since the 1960's or early 1970's. So far, I can only find about three that have made it since that time, and I'm also interested in knowing why they made it when so many others didn't.

 

I'd be curious to see your list.

Here is what I found. I consider the religious groups (Ananda, Bruderhof, Emissaries) to be in a separate category, so I don't list them.

The Colony, 1940, CA
Koinonia Farm, 1942, GA
Tolstoy Farm, est. 1962 Spokane WA
Hog Farm, est 1965 Laytonville CA (Wavy Gravy's group)
Table Mountain Ranch, 1968, Albion
Black Bear Ranch, 1968
Libre, 1968, Colorado
Morehouse, 1968, CA
The Farm, 1971​

Many of these groups are quite small, some have had the same real estate but have completely changed their people and / or their internal structure. I think the most interesting cases are where you have a lot of continuity among the people and you can see the evolution of the community.

 

AlchemistGeorge, Two of the three that I know about are on your list. The one that's not on your list is a community called Twin Oaks in Louisa, Virginia.

I saw something about Black Bear Ranch on the Sundance Channel. It was narrated by Peter Coyote, who, apparently, had been a member. The impression I got was that most of the people who started the community had scattered, but the group still owns the land, and some of the people get together for special events.

While we're on the subject, why is it that some communes turn into cults?

 

yep, I forgot Twin Oaks. Their website says they were founded in 1967.

 

Communes turning into cults?

I dunno.

If I had to guess I'd guess its mostly the other way around, that some cults take form or manifest as communes. Or that the vision of the 'charismatic founder' includes group living of some sort.

 

I think this is a really good question. Some of us talked about it yesterday and thought we could write an essay "How come we are still here". We do need to get a better title.

Our group was established in 1968, some of the things that I'm guessing have been key were:

• Group ownership of the land (everyone equal, no landlords, no tenants)
• Equal power in decision making through a system called "one no vote"
• "Having Fun" as a major goal
• Broad agreement on some unifying philosophy & principles
• Celebration of diversity of people, viewpoints, lifestyles

 

AlchemistGeorge, OK, I think that "having fun," is a wonderful thing to do, and if that's a "major goal" of your community, that's all well and good. Can you give a better description or definition of what "having fun" is about. Also, are there any limitations to "having fun," legal or otherwise?

 

Because sadly, saying, "I am god (or the path to god/salvation/aliens/whatever) you should follow me and not question anything" is much more attractive to many many more people then saying "Come be an independent person who works with their friends"

 

You indicate you're interested in a commune in Oregon. It's been a couple years since I updated this, but check it out, about communes in the northwest: http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=5008&f=145

 

AlchemistGeorge, I've been thinking some more about what you said about having fun be a "major goal." I can have winning the lottery be a major goal, but that still doesn't mean that I'm going to make a big score. In fact, having it be a major goal doesn't increase my chances of winning in the slightest.

Speaking of winning the lottery, there is a show on HBO (I think it's still running) about what happens to people who do win. It turns about it's about 50/50 whether or not the lives of people actually improve or if they get worse. In some cases, people lose all their friends, blow their money and are suspicious of everybody.

People can have "having fun" or lots of other things as major goals, and some of those things at least hold out a flicker of hope to people. So does buying a lottery ticket.

 

well, if you are going to pay the bills (or clean the bathroom), what's the most fun way to do that? Do you have appropriate music? a tray of snacks? your favorite kind of tea or coffee fixed the way you like it? People to help? People to cheer you on? And of course, bring a good attitude. Maybe a trip to the hottub when you are done?

Life is full of things that need to be done, why not enjoy each of those moments as much as possible?

 

AlchemistGeorge, OK, I'm willing to accept that cleaning the bathroom or washing the dishes can be made more fun. You mentioned something about broad agreement on some unifying philosophy & principles. Can you elaborate on that?

 

yeah, people seem to be more likely to stick around for a lifestyle they enjoy.

- well, its laid out much better on the group's website - lafayettemorehouse.com - we are big on perfection, and believe that perfection includes the potential for change; our decision making system of "one no vote"; not doing things you don't want to do; "fun is the goal, and love is the way"

 

AlchemistGeorge, Thank you for the response. I'll check out that website, and I may have more questions.

 

AlchemistGeorge, I checked out the website for your community, and I'd say it's pretty well put together and contains some interesting things. I also googled your community and found that your group has had something of a notorious history. I totally want to keep an open mind, but do you have anything to say about some of the bad press your community has received and some of the other things you are into?

 

yes, we have gotten some bad press.

The sixties (and early seventies) were a time of wild behavior, and social experimentation. We, as a group, are focused on group living, and a group can be as small as two people - ie a couple is one kind of group. Sexuality is a factor in groups, and it was decided that to approach this by researching and understanding as much as possible about sexuality - since it can have such a huge impact on a group. Back then we got no end of controversy over our willingness to examine such a topic, and then more controversy over our willingness to disclose our findings. Today it doesn't seem so controversial.

Then there was a big fight we got into in the 90s where the group claimed that it had the right to feed and shelter homeless people. We had the local sheriff’s office and two local town police force helping us, and bringing us homeless people to shelter, while the neighbors were very upset at us. We still shelter homeless people in the house I live in, again, it doesn’t seem like such a big deal today.

We still have really good relationships with the police, and we still are the targets of harassment by local teenagers.

As far as I can tell, the group basically adopted a “no publicity” approach in the seventies after one really bad article, so pretty much the only stuff out there until about 2008? was written by our critics. I'm not sure, but I might have read everything written about the group. There are something like a total of three or four negative "primary" sources out there [primary source meaning things written by people who've actually met us, actually visited us, actually talked to us]. Then any number of secondary articles based on those few sources. I haven't been able to talk to the journalists who did the primary reporting, but I've talked to most of the people they met and interviewed.

 

AlchemistGeorge, If I should be visiting the Bay Area, maybe this fall, is there some way I could visit your community? Also, if somebody wants to move into your group, how do they do that? What happens if somebody decides to leave?

 

AlchemistGeorge, I've been thinking about this some more. As you see it, what are some of the advantages of living in a community? Also, what are some of the disadvantages?

 

How do people move in? People who live around here come to parties, events, groovies, mark-groups, and take some our courses - generally get to know us.

For people who are serious about living with us, there is a two week course called an "evaluacy" which is a two week residential course on communal living. You live with us, you spend time doing all the normal things we do, and you do a project. You have guides, and course sessions and you keep a log. During this time you check us out and we get to know you. At the end of the course if you are interested, you ask everyone in the house if you can move in. If everyone agrees you can move in.

If people who live with us want to leave, they move out.

Right now the only house open to new residents is the Oakland Morehouse (where I live). If you want to visit us, send me a message with your email and I'll send you our schedule of events, parties, groovies, mark groups, etc. (most of the schedule is on the Oakland Morehouse website). Often people from out of town will come to town to take one of our courses and will stay in the Oakland Morehouse.

 

Advantages: First, and foremost, its a LOT more FUN living with people. People can be so much fun and so interesting. There is almost always somebody to hang out with, there are people to do things with (even if its just doing the dishes), its easier and more fun to throw a party with 10 to 15 people helping (you should see our Halloween parties!), and the group has lots more skills - there is one person in our house who is an IT consultant - he helps people keep their computers running - we have a bike mechanic - a massage therapist - several first rate cooks (including a culinary institute grad) - it goes on and on - more skills and perspectives. Its cheaper than living alone, its easier on the planet (we have one washer & one dryer for 15 to 20 people, one (tough) set of kitchen appliances, etc)

The downside? Clearly the people. People can be jerks, they can be boring, annoying, intrusive, and they can have the nerve to see you clearly and tell you some truth about you or your behavior! These are, of course, the same people who are so entertaining and helpful.