Group of people in a garden with flowers and trees at Acorn Community Farm.

Acorn Community Farm

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Social
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 1993

What we do

Acorn Community Farm is an intentional community located in the rolling farmlands and woods of Central Virginia. We are an egalitarian, income-sharing, secular, anarchist, feminist, and consensus-based commune. The community was founded in 1993 and has since co-owned and -operated a successful bioregional seed cooperative that is the primary source of our shared income. Membership in the community usually fluctuates between twenty and thirty individuals.
Full members of the community receive an equal share in the land and its assets, and in return are expected to work 42-hours per week in the community. This is inclusive of our cooperative, but also includes garden work, domestic work, volunteer work, carpentry and maintenance work, and other diverse labor options.
Acorn has many shared amenities that our members enjoy open access to, such as a music room, art room, hot tub, libraries, and a gym. We also have 72 acres of land that we use for various building projects, organic and permaculture gardening, and animal husbandry. Each member is entitled to their own room, and full members have access to shared vehicles. Members tend to take up personal projects in the community, such as earth building a sauna, creating parking infrastructure, installing solar panels, and other self-directed, community-approved initiatives.
We are currently working on community-building, which includes hiking trips, volunteering in Richmond, developing workshops, and other coordinated events. Everyday we share lunch and dinner, and each week there are two community meetings. People tend to congregate informally everyday to organize get togethers, dance parties, game nights, and more.
Acorn is currently seeking candidates for full membership! We especially encourage women and non-binary folks to consider joining us for a visitor period. Our community is looking for people who share our values while also being self-driven, passionate, and ready to live communally. The membership process includes a month-long visitor period, and a year-long provisional membership status before acceptance as full members. Please feel free to inquire about our openings, the membership process, or anything else!

Our Mission

Secular, Egalitarian, Anarchist, Autonomous, Sustainable, Cooperative, Non-Violent, Feminist, Intentional Community

  • Purpose
  • Social
  • Community type
  • Commune
  • Sustainability practices
  • Renewable energy systems
  • Permaculture design
  • Activities
  • Farming
  • Experiences
  • Services Business

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 1993
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 1993
  • Started living together
  • 14 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
27

Basic expectations or agreements for members

All visitors must be approved in advance. Please see our website for the information we need from you to consider your request for a visit or internship. We prefer email, though if your internet access is limited we could also gather this information by mail.

Primary decision-making authority

  • All Community Members Together

The whole membership decides collectively.

Decision-making process

  • Modified Consensus

Generally seek agreement, but have backup methods when consensus isn’t reached.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Economic model

  • Complete Income-Sharing

All member income goes into common pool for community use.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • Members need to pay fees, dues, or similar to live there on a per month or per year basis
  • There is a labor obligation

Additional economic information

Regular fees: $0
Labor: Yes (42 hrs/week)
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
All members are expected to contribute 42 hours per week, with one month of vacation time per year. Over-quota work can be turned into vacation time, or monetary support for forming FEC communities. While residing at Acorn, members are expected maintain an egalitarian setting by not using personal outside resources (savings, vehicles, etc.).

Vehicle accessibility

  • There are car sharing opportunities in your community

Shared resources and amenities that are accessible to everyone in the community

Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Hot tub or hot springs, Outdoor Kitchen, Large Scale Kitchen, Tractor & Farm Equipment, Stage or Auditorium, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Gym or sports area, Internet

Frequency of communal meals

  • Approximately all meals

Significant food acquisition practices

  • Locally sourced
  • Livestock / Animal Husbandry

Community activities and engagement

  • Volunteer, Internship, or Apprenticeship, or WWOOF’ing
  • Ethical Business, Investment Group, or Alternative Currency
  • WWOOF'ing, Guest Farming

Substance use culture

  • Substance use is frequent and public in the community

Gender composition

  • Roughly balanced (no group over 60%)

Age demographics

  • Multi-generational (all ages well represented)

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a Land Trust, Home Owners Association, or corporation

Setting

  • Rural

Countryside locations with significant distance from urban centers.

Community type

  • Commune

    Communal living with shared resources, property, and often income or work responsibilities

Sustainability approach

  • Renewable energy systems
  • Permaculture design

Land practices in our community

  • The community practices permaculture

Self-produced energy

  • Up to 33%

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%

Local, organic, or fair trade food

  • 33 - 66%

Food systems

  • Community garden
  • Greenhouse / aquaponics
  • Shared kitchen or food co-op
  • Land area size
    72 acres

Guest Book

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Location

  • Virginia, United States

Promoted Needs and Offers

Offer
  • Marketplace
6 years ago

Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves Books for Sale

Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves, Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant introduce Cohousing with stories and pictures of both Danish and American communities. Beautiful photographs and line drawings illustrate the warmly written account of how these communities came to be. Specific information on legal and financial aspects of working with developers, group process, and design issues make this book informative as well as inspiring. This is the book which brought Cohousing to North America. This book is the much prized second edition which has become a rarer and somewhat of a collectors item. Its community case studies were not included in the more recent publication. It preceded Creating Cohousing which is widely available. I acquired 25 cases from a local distributor who closed down. If you would like three or more copies for yourself, to share with your friends or to market your group, please let me know. I would love for them to be made useful and find great homes. Books are paperback (hard copy was not an option at the time from the publisher) all brand new, in Oakland (CA) so could be picked in Oakland or mailed to you. I would very much like to recuperate what I paid which is $10 per book. So, If you would like three or more shipped, I will add the postage, packing and handling fees. I have sold several cases (18 books per case) for $150 per case ($8 per book). I have a little wiggle room on the pricing. Please let me know if you are interested. Use the Send Message button on this page.
Offer
Offer
Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
3 months ago

Home available in Evans Oaks

Join a small co-housing community in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Silverton offers a rural lifestyle just a half hour from Salem and an hour from Portland. Step into an open-concept living area where natural light meets the warmth of a sleek gas fireplace. The open-concept layout flows seamlessly over premium flooring selections tailored for both beauty and durability: Living Areas: Warm, rich wood floors extend through the living room and bedrooms. Entry & Baths: Durable, elegant tile flooring greets you at the door and lines the bathrooms. Kitchen & Laundry: Eco-friendly, resilient marmoleum flooring makes clean-up a breeze. Windows: Double-pane vinyl windows throughout ensure maximum insulation and quiet comfort, along with custom high end window coverings. High-tech keyless entry at the front door for ultimate convenience. Year-Round Climate Control: Stay perfectly comfortable with a high-efficiency mini-split heating and cooling system. Luxury Touches: Retreat to bathrooms featuring heated tile floors for those crisp Oregon mornings. Universal Design: Thoughtfully crafted for longevity and ease, the home features zero-entry access and 32-inch wide doors throughout. The exterior is equally impressive, featuring: Garden Patio: A serene space perfect for alfresco dining or quiet morning coffee. Professional Landscaping: Beautifully maintained grounds connected by elegant flagstone walkways. Detached garage with one parking space and extr

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A residential project: people live here as their primary home.

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An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).

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