Finding Community: How to Join an Ecovillage or Intentional Community
By (Author) Diana Leafe Christian
New Society Publishers
New Society Publishers
1st May 2007
United States
General
Non Fiction
Environmentally-friendly (green) architecture and design
Sustainability
Urban and municipal planning and policy
Human geography
307.7
Paperback
264
Width 191mm, Height 229mm, Spine 18mm
465g
Finding community is as critical as obtaining food and shelter, since the need to belong is what makes us human. The isolation and loneliness of modern life have led many people to search for deeper connection, which has resulted in a renewed interest in intentional communities. These intentional communities or ecovillages are an appealing choice for like-minded people who seek to create a family-oriented and ecologically sustainable lifestylea lifestyle they are unlikely to find anywhere else.
However, the notion of an intentional community can still be a tremendous leap for somedeterred perhaps by a misguided vision of eking out a hardscrabble existence with little reward. In fact, successful ecovillages thrive because of the combined skills and resources of their members.
Finding Community presents a thorough overview of ecovillages and intentional communities and offers solid advice on how to research thoroughly, visit thoughtfully, evaluate intelligently, and join gracefully. Useful considerations include:
Important questions to ask (of members and of yourself)
Signs of a healthy (and not-so-healthy) community
Cost of joining (and staying)
Common blunders to avoid
Finding Community provides intriguing possibilities to readers who are seeking a more cooperative, sustainable, and meaningful life.
Diana Leafe Christian is the author of Creating a Life Together and editor of Communities magazine. She lives at Earthhaven Ecovillage in North Carolina.
Diana Leafe Christian is the author of Creating a Life Together and editor of Communities magazine. She lives at Earthhaven Ecovillage in North Carolina.