There are now many property companies providing ‘guardians’ for commercial and residential properties. These are UK links, but the schemes also exist across Europe.
They can provide a cheap from of accommodation, but there are challenges too. Some of the big commercial sites offer some communal possibilities.
Here’s a link to one.
And a look at the down-sides of the ‘reality’ of some schemes from the BBC magazine.
Commune/intentional community in Monterey Bay, USA.
‘There’s nothing like home’ video with Nikki Silva, one half of the Kitchen Sisters. A nice video plus a link to Sally Bookman’s description of La Selva Beach Community.
“Halfway between Dogpatch and Shangri-la”.
Canadian off-grid, tight-knit community with over 400 permanent residents. Described in a recent article as a ‘secret island’ near Vancouver. ‘Statistics Canada’ says it is the most highly educated community in British Columbia. The residents say that they are ‘not’ an intentional community. They do offer places for WWOOFERs.
A link to the residents’ site, and to an article that includes an interesting (if rather glamorous) video.
Agriculture, conscious living, protest. This is:
A 50 year-old campaign of resistance against the construction of a second airport near the city of Nantes, in western France. This resistance culminated in the establishment of a self-organised autonomous zone, known as the ZAD. Over 40,000 people have taken part in creative acts of disobedience to defend this zone.
Links to their official site and a film about the resistance.
Lebensgarten, which means the ‘Garden of Life’ - is a spiritual intentional community located in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is on the site of a former Nazi arms factory. Lebensgarten also has a large permaculture park, in which the organisers say that our “agriculture and human settlements are modelled after nature”.
There’s a second link to a video about the community and park.
A German initiative in Schermbeck. It appears to include workshops and a creative café.
They say: “The Life Lernort Old brick factory consists
of two parts, the interconnected and are mutually strengthening:
1. The living area is an incorporated,
non-profit organization, which can issue donation receipts-and receives received subsidies-members.
2. The social enterprise Life Lernort Old brick has three areas which include:
2.1. Space - Rentals
2.2. LehmOase - earth construction / consulting
2.3. Life Workshop”
Founded by Vít Jedlička. Liberland motto is: “To live and let live”.
On the borderlands of Croatia and Serbia, this self-proclaimed micro-nation of Liberland has no residents and is in effect disputed territory. But it has excited much interest from around the world. A ‘playful’ free state – perhaps!
Links to the official site with links to lots of articles from media around the world. And a short video from Vit.
Living in the Future. The personal website of Helen Iles, with lots of links to intentional communities, eco-villages and participatory film-making (she used to work with ‘Undercurrents’, and more.
Based in LA, in the USA, they are no longer a brewery. They say that they are:
"...are one of the oldest and largest artist colonies in the world.
Covering 23 acres in 14 buildings of live-work spaces, 500-700 artists and businesses call The Brewery their home.
Twice a year, the LAB opens its doors and invites the public to enjoy our open studios at The Brewery Art Walk."
Check them out.
Lost Valley and Meadowsong Eco-Village is located near Eugene, Oregon in the USA. This well-established community is home to resident artists and workers who help run the associated education and permaculture centre.
A useful site to explore just how they deal with visitors and those seeking to join the community team.