UK's first purpose built commune...

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UK's first purpose built commune...

Downsizer Forum Index -> Energy Efficiency and Construction/Major Projects

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sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 05 11:13 am Post subject: UK's first purpose built commune...
Interesting article in today's Indie here Wonder whether it'll work in the long term.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 05 11:20 am Post subject:
Dunno, but it sounds great to me

ken69

Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 316
Location: Norfolk

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 05 8:33 am Post subject: commune
Hi Sean...I always associate self sufficiency on a personal level...for example self help, waste not- want not, and so on, what puts me orf communes are the spongers, who like the idea of everything free but don't contribute.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 05 8:44 am Post subject:

I would certainly like the idea of living *near* to a group of people who shared the same activities, it would be fine to share equipment, surplus produce, ideas, buying in food and garden things, perhaps be able to get someone who knew what they were doing in to feed the animals if you need to go out somewhere, all that kind of thing. But I'm afraid I share your concerns Ken...plus I would not like to feel myself one of those spongers if I happened to be surrounded by people much more capable than me.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 05 8:58 am Post subject: Re: commune

ken69 wrote:

Hi Sean...I always associate self sufficiency on a personal level...for example self help, waste not- want not, and so on, what puts me orf communes are the spongers, who like the idea of everything free but don't contribute.

I think issues of sharing the load are probably a big problem with communes, but I think also that "self" sufficiency on a personal level is a pretty contradictory idea.
People have always existed as communities, and sharing is absolutely fundermental to "waste not". If you can run a car sharing scheme for example, it would save tons of resources, let alone half the other gadgets involved in downsizing.

ken69

Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 316
Location: Norfolk

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 05 10:05 am Post subject: communes

Yes Jema, you are probably right, and reckon talking thru any misunderstandings can strengthen everyone. On tv not so long ago, on a Scottish Island I think, an experiment in community living. Initially a lotta physical effort was needed to build the houses, get the sanitation in, and so on. Most of the community pitched in but one chap refused to do anything, was then told off , then refused even further to do anything on the grounds that he had been told to work. No doubt he did contribute somehow, somewhere but I for one, at that stage, would have chucked him over the cliff.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28239
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 05 10:30 am Post subject: Re: communes

ken69 wrote:

I saw that one. I can't help thinking though that in all the "fly on the wall" TV documentarys, they actually select people who will screw up. I think they figure if they showed people who knew what they were getting into and were prepared to pull together, it would be boring television.

I personally like the idea of quite a loose commune (really more like a village) where you can do your own thing, but the community facilities are there as well.

ken69

Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 316
Location: Norfolk

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 05 12:46 pm Post subject: communes
I come from an extended family scenario, half do-ers, and half takers.Now live solo, way better. Mind you a lot easier to economise and so on when living on your own.

Blue Peter

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 2400
Location: Milton Keynes

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 05 4:24 pm Post subject: Re: communes

jema wrote:

I personally like the idea of quite a loose commune (really more like a village) where you can do your own thing, but the community facilities are there as well.

Yes, that appeals to me too. The article implies that someone is trying to do such a thing:

Article wrote:

He's hoping that his ambitious vision to create an eco-village for up to 600 residents in Dorset will spark interest in co-housing at government level.

Does anyone know what might be involved in such a scheme? since generally planning people aren't very keen on people converting large tracts of land into housing areas, even if they might have an eco component,

Peter.

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