Acorn Community
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Acorn Community is a medium sized egalitarian, intentional community located in rural Virginia, USA and is a member of the Federation of Egalitarian Communities. Acorn was started in 1993 as a daughter community of the older, larger Twin Oaks. For reasons not entirely clear, the early 1990s saw a surge in interest in intentional communities. The Twin Oaks population swelled to capacity and Acorn was born. The population and stability of Acorn has fluctuated significantly in its relatively short history. Financial crisis and interpersonal conflict have brought the community close to an end on a number of occasions. However, having survived these difficult times, its business has now paid for its startup costs and its members are optimistic about the community's future.
Currently Acorn has roughly 20 members living on 75 acres (304,000 m²). They generate income by running the widely respected mail order seed business Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (open pollination, heirloom and traditional varieties only) and produce art from recycled tin cans. The income from these businesses is shared among its members. Group meetings are held regularly and decisions are reached through consensus. Members share a strong sense of environmental awareness and strive to live lightly on the land. Although structured in areas such as membership and work, policies are kept to a minimum, preferring a calm anarchy to prevail. Of the policies that are in place the culture encourages taking issues on a case-by-case basis and respecting that the needs of individuals vary.
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[edit] Money
There is no requirement to buy into the community, most members do not contribute preexisting financial resources when they join. However all income generated whilst a member is given to the community. The community provides for all the financial needs of its members, giving only a small monthly allowance for discretionary purchases. Most members work in one of the community businesses, although in recent years telecommuting has become more popular.
[edit] Diet
Most meals are vegetarian, always with vegan options. The community keeps no livestock. Factory farmed products are never purchased with collective funds.
[edit] Labour
Acorn has a work quota of 42 hours a week, which all adult members are expected to do. All work is equally creditable. Almost anything that needs to be done is considered work. This includes traditionally recognized work such as taking orders in the office, farming and accounting. However less traditionally recognized work such as childcare, cooking and preparing for communal parties are equally labour creditable. As a result members feel they have significantly more free time than when they were working regular jobs. Four weeks holiday are given for free and working over quota can accumulate additional holiday. The labour system is a little more relaxed than the Twin Oaks system of assigning work. Members simply do what they believe needs to be done.
[edit] Buildings
Living is communal rather than individuals building their own houses. Each member is provided with their own bedroom in one of the three living structures.
 Heart Wood: A 12 bedroom custom built community house. |
 The Farm House: A 4 bedroom traditional clapboard house built in 1908. |
 The Barn: An old barn converted to add additional living space, 3 bedrooms. |
There is also a large Quonset hut which houses a wood shop, seed processing facilities and long term seed storage freezers.
[edit] External links
- Acorn Community website
- Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
- Federation of Egalitarian Communities
- A chapter in Is It Utopia Yet? written by Kat Kinkade provides a history of the planning stages and early years of Acorn.
- Additional information about Acorn can also be found in the Communities Directory book. Printed copies are available in most libraries and they also have a website.
- Communities Magazine has featured many articles about Acorn.
