Thinking of starting a new commune.

Hello all. Recently I've been considering starting a commune on a 34 acre plot my father owns down near Liberty IN. It's all woods now and hasn't had anyone living on it in over 50 years. There's a large creek or at least there was when I last went there 3 years ago, plenty of lumber for future building, it's about 30 miles from the nearest town, and overall it's just a nice spot. Not sure what it would take to start a commune and not even sure if 34 acres is enough land to start one on. It looks like alot of land when you go there but I know most communes I've looked into have at least 70 acres often more. If anyone is interested in giving some advice or wanting to help start one there you can contact me here. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and if it is a viable spot to get going at in the future, people who are interested in joining a fledgling commune are encouraged to contact me as well.

If I were to start a commune we'd probly have to start with a communal money chest to pay for the land taxes which aren't that high at this point. Eventually tho I'd try to implement a barter system for a future commune. Once we got off the ground and had some experience under our feet we'd be able to trade with each other for what we need.

 

Good luck with your commune

I just know mountain communities which tend to be difficult in winter when everything is frozen and covered with snow, hope your land is better suited for autarcy.

 

very interested, I'm in western ohio a bit north of Dayton. Would like to know more about what you have planned. skookyartist@yahoo.com

 

Well it's 32 - 34 acres of old farmland in mid Indiana, since it hasn't been used in so long it's pretty much one big forest now. Lovely place and with the creek we have fish, an' we used to be able to swim too. There is an old house foundation on the property which burnt down some 40 years ago. Can't say if the foundation is really useable again but you never know. Obviously I've never been to a commune or what not so I don't know much about them. I figure 34 acres is more than enough for a small group to live comfortably as long as we're willing to share what we grow and live almost or completly off of the land. It would take alot of work to clear it out and there is no way to get a car back in there seein' as how it's too overgrown. It also has a large deer population so should have great hunting as long as we kill and take only what we need. If I were to get it started I'd need to find a job or what not nearby to pay for the taxes on the land but eventually I'd want to make it a completly, or as near to as possible, self sustainable community there. We could definintly use some people with some farming knowhow to get going, as well as some strong backs willin' to put in the effort to get enough of the land cleared to live on. I figure 10 acres would be more than enough cleared to start a small community, and realistically that would be more than we'd need for a nice start. I've always wanted to join a commune, well since I was old enough to understand them, but I never liked the idea of everyone having to pay to live at one. Maybe I'm just unrelistically idealistic.

 

Not sure if that would place it in the middle of Cattle or Corn land but if you plan to use that creek water for anything but hydro-power make sure to take it to a lab for testing, preferably around planting season if it's corn. Could be loaded with fertilizers or antibiotics and growth hormones from the cow piss.

Check out the county records on the parcel and see if theres maybe an old well you can reopen for water, but again have it tested before drinking or using to water crops (Unless you want seconhand, non-organic fertilizers).

With 50 years of growth you may just luck out and be able to work out a contract with a lumber company to clear some of it for you with which to help fund buying more land, digging that well or setting up some sort of alternative energy source.

And not sure what your feelings are about Cell towers but I know they're always looking for 1 acre or less plots to lease for them. Might at least pay the property tax on the place if you dont mind it's presence.

 

That sounds awesome. I'm definitely interested. Get in touch with me about any plans you may have. indeathyourbride@yahoo.com

 

Another idea that a friend from a gardening forum I used to go to often had was to open small plots nestled within the woods (20'x40'ish) on his land as opposed to fully clearing large multi-acre plots, seemed to work well for him and added the benefit of retaining the privacy of being in the woods. I'd imagine thinning the perimiter around these areas would help for the more sun-loving crops, but there are quite a few crops out there which like partial shade.

 

Cool! I'm near middle north IN. Sound like you have the beginnings for a awesome place. Are you going organic, cash crops, live stock? I'd luv to have that kind of acreage. I'm on about 3 acres. We have chickens and two pure bred Labs we might breed. Selling sweet corn and firewood now. Good money makers.

Invest in one of those portable lumbermills you see in Mother Earth News. With that kind of timber stock you could probably have enough wood for a log cabin and outbuildings.

 

How serious are you about this, IndyHippy?

 

If I can figure out ways to make it work I'm quite serious. I don't approve personally of most organised society and I want to go back to the ways that are most natural, I figured that since my family has the acreage at least for a small group, why not see if any other cats want to live likeminded

 

Entirely organic if I can. Chickens would be useful, we'd have to see about labs, my wife and I own a pair of half breed wolves that will definintly be coming with us. Yeah I'm definintly gonna use most if not all the lumber we'll be cutting down to build with, but I havn't got any clue how to build log cabins

 

I would help in any way I can I live in South Bend,In. and could/would help with building structures/ clear cutting land, starting up "plots" for gardens. Could even have some stuff finished by winter's start if your geeked about getting it going fast. just email me or respond in the forums and we can chat more. email is reid1007@yahoo.com

 

sounds like a cool place, im an hour north of chicago, email me if you want any physical help with it. ywarpeacee@yahoo.com

 

I'm definetely interested. I love the idea! I want to help in any way I can! contact me at waring@oswego.edu

 

fuck yeah!
Its my dream to help start a commune. and a smaller one like this sounds amazing! the locations seems great too. im leaving home on june 1st, and at that point, if you are still doing this, ill throw everything to the side and make this my first, and perhaps last stop for a while. since you didnt provide an email for infrequent members such as myself, throw me an email next time your on here buddy!
andrewdiazrecurt@gmail.com

 

i suggest going to live in a commune first and learn how to run your own that way

 

I don't usually dig up old threads but whats the prognosis on this project ? Are you Still looking for people to help out, join, build stuff, garden, etc. or not. Curious, cause it's within walking distance from where I am now.

 

would love to talk, we are also in IN

 

I am interested as well, if you would like to get in touch with me my email is Vdas93@gmail.com, again very interested

 

I suggest you start with reading this thread from the intentional community forum over at "permies" (permaculture) How I know what I do about starting successful new communities (& why buying land isn't it)

The thread is started by Diana Leafe Christian who has written the one book that I recommend to everyone who is interested in starting or joining an IC - "Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities"