Acorn Community
Encyclopedia
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.
, always with vegan
options. The community keeps a small chicken flock.
, 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.
There is also a large Quonset hut
which houses a wood shop, seed processing facilities and long term seed storage freezers.
Intentional community
An intentional community is a planned residential community designed to have a much higher degree of teamwork than other communities. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, or spiritual vision and often follow an alternative lifestyle. They...
located in rural Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is a member of the Federation of Egalitarian Communities
Federation of Egalitarian Communities
The Federation of Egalitarian Communities is a group of egalitarian communities which have joined together with the common purpose of creating a lifestyle based on equality, cooperation, and harmony with the Earth....
. 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
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange is a cooperatively-owned seed company and the principal industry of Acorn Community, an intentional community in central Virginia. SESE is a source for heirloom seeds and other open-pollinated seeds with an emphasis on vegetables, flowers, and herbs that grow well...
(open pollination
Open pollination
Open pollination is pollination by insects, birds, wind, or other natural mechanisms, and contrasts with cleistogamy, closed pollination, which is one of the many types of self 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
Consensus decision-making
Consensus decision-making is a group decision making process that seeks the consent, not necessarily the agreement, of participants and the resolution of objections. Consensus is defined by Merriam-Webster as, first, general agreement, and second, group solidarity of belief or sentiment. It has its...
. 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.
Diet
Most meals are vegetarianVegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
, always with vegan
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
options. The community keeps a small chicken flock.
Labor
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 childcareChildcare
Child care means caring for and supervising child/children usually from 0–13 years of age. In the United States child care is increasingly referred to as early childhood education due to the understanding of the impact of early experiences of the developing child...
, cooking
Cooking
Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
, 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.
Buildings
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
Quonset hut
A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel having a semicircular cross section. The design was based on the Nissen hut developed by the British during World War I...
which houses a wood shop, seed processing facilities and long term seed storage freezers.
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.