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.
Currently Acorn has 24 members and 3 interns 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). The income from this business 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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Most meals are vegetarian, always with vegan options. The community keeps a small chicken flock.
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, cleaning 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.
Living is communal rather than individuals building their own houses. Each member is provided with their own bedroom in one of the two living structures.
There is also a large Quonset hut which houses a wood shop, seed processing facilities and long term seed storage freezers.