How This French Philosopher Inspired An Early Version of Cohousing
Posted on July 23, 2016 by1 Comment
Although not as famous as some of his contemporaries, the French thinker Charles Fourier was one of the early visionaries of the intentional community movement. A utopian socialist, he proposed that society should be organized into Phalansteres, or “grand hotels,” each housing several hundred to several thousand people. At the peak of his popularity, he… Read More
The First YIMBY Conference Says Yes In My Backyard
Posted on July 21, 2016 byMany U.S. cities are in the middle of a housing crisis. Some, like San Francisco, have been struggling with it for years, while others, like Portland and Seattle, hope to avoid following the same trajectory. There are many factors at play, including high rates of migration to urban areas, and the impact of peer-to-peer homesharing… Read More
True Sustainability: Indigenous Pathways
Posted on July 21, 2016 byAt Maitreya Mountain Village, mainstream pragmatism meets radical idealism.
A New Movement Is Rethinking Our Relationship With The Earth
Posted on July 18, 2016 byLast month, I had the chance to visit the Windward Education and Research Center, an intentional community in rural Washington, for an event called the EcoSex Convergence. Over 5 days, 150 participants explored topics related to environmentalism, spirituality, sexuality, and more. The event’s guests of honor were Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens, who combine academic… Read More
Case Study: How One Community Handles Maintenance Expenses
Posted on July 14, 2016 byHere at Foster Village, my community in SE Portland, we share access to three houses on adjoining plots of land. Although we have plans for collective ownership, for now the houses are owned individually, but most of our expenses are shared. This means we have to think creatively about maintenance agreements. Each member contributes an… Read More
This 1800s Commune Tried Free Love and Income-Sharing Long Before It Was A Thing
Posted on July 11, 2016 byMany of the intentional communities that we hear about are recent ones: the back-to-the-land communes of the 1970s, the student co-ops and cohousing spaces being formed today. That’s why it’s especially fascinating to get a glimpse into a commune from a different era – as I did recently in a book called “Oneida: From Free… Read More
Creating Carbon-Negative Communities: Ecovillages and the UN’s New Sustainable Development Goals
Posted on July 11, 2016 byDiverse ecovillages are modeling how to create more just, equitable, and sustainable human societies.
The Placemaking Movement is Turning Cities into Communities
Posted on July 8, 2016 byOver 15 years ago, a group of natural builders organized the first Village Building Convergence in Portland, OR. It’s partly the reason why the city is now dotted with colorful intersections, cob benches, and unconventional living spaces. According to the organizers, “We recognized that modern life and the structure of our cities often don’t create… Read More
Community As Sanctuary: How These Retreats Offer Refuge in Rural Places
Posted on July 7, 2016 bySome communities, like the Tonic Housing project in the U.K., were founded as a way to provide cohousing to LGBT elders in rapidly gentrifying cities. Others offer a refuge away from the city, a place where like-minded people can gather for retreats and other seasonal festivities. For decades, the Radical Faerie movement has been creating… Read More
Going Biking This Summer? Try Out This Network For A Shower and A Place to Stay
Posted on July 4, 2016 bySince 1993, the Warm Showers network has been connecting touring bicyclists with hosts willing to offer them a couch, shower, camping space, or other form of hospitality. Originally started as a listserv, it was developed into a full website in 2005, and currently has 86,000 active members and 36,000 active hosts around the world. The… Read More
The Bridge to a Greener World
Posted on July 1, 2016 byThis Australian community’s bridge is a lot more than just a bridge.
Power Shift Hosts 4 Regional Events for Young Climate Activists
Posted on June 30, 2016 byThe Energy Action Coalition, the “Hub of the Youth Climate Movement,” has hosted four Power Shift convergences for young climate activists since 2007. This year, the event is expanding into four regional convergences taking place in Philadelphia, Detroit, Orlando, and the West Coast: “Power Shift brings young climate leaders together as a movement—building the organizing… Read More
NuMundo Hosts Southeast Bioregional Convergence in Asheville, July 9-10
Posted on June 27, 2016 byNuMundo wants to make it easier for travelers to connect with ecovillages and intentional communities around the world. Their site has dozens of listings in the U.S., Europe, South America, and more, many of which offer permaculture classes, natural building courses, and other hands-on, land-based experiences. NuMundo calls these locations “impact centers“: “An impact center… Read More
One of These 7 Finalists Will Be the First “Smart City” in the U.S.
Posted on June 23, 2016 byLast year, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced its “Smart City Challenge,” a contest that will award one mid-sized city with $50 million in funding to improve its transportation networks. The USDOT hopes the selected city will become a role model for implementing safer, more energy-efficient technology. Out of 78 entries, the USDOT has narrowed… Read More
Want an Ecovillage? Stay Put!
Posted on June 21, 2016 byHow can we care for a place if we’re not there, day after day, year after year, paying attention?
Challenges and Lessons of Community
Posted on June 20, 2016 byCommunity Bookstore Feature Best of Communities ― The Cream of Our Crop Challenges and Lessons of Community by Kim Kanney, Community Bookstore Manager Best of Communities Volume XIV Challenges and Lessons of Community A special selection of articles from Communities: Life in Cooperative Culture $10 Digital, $15 Print The Foundation for Intentional Community is pleased to… Read More
Try One of These Unique Alternatives to Airbnb
Posted on June 20, 2016 by3 Comments
Airbnb and other “sharing economy” sites have been getting some bad press lately, with many cities arguing that the platforms are driving up rent, contributing to housing scarcity, and turning residential neighborhoods into tourist districts. Some cities, like Berlin, have begun to regulate room- and home-sharing, while San Francisco and New York are struggling to… Read More
The FIC loves events!
Posted on June 17, 2016 by2 Comments
The FIC Loves Events by Kim Kanney It’s always a pleasure to network and share experiences with people both within the communities movement, and at events of related movements. In 2016 we will have a presence on both coasts and many places in between. Explore the list below to see where we will be near you!… Read More
The Ephermisle Festival Imagines What A Floating City Might Look Like
Posted on June 16, 2016 bySince 2009, a small collection of sailboats, houseboats, rafts, and other watercraft have gathered each summer to create a floating city in California’s Sacramento River Delta. Called Ephemerisle, the week-long event was originally created by the Seasteading Institute as way to demonstrate how ocean-based communities might function. Now, it serves as a kind of Burning-Man-at-sea,… Read More
Communities Movement Across The Continent
Posted on June 14, 2016 byCommunities Movement Across The Continent FIC News Highlights Are you feeling the Summer buzz yet? We are! Here are highlights from some of our recent adventures. Old Friends Lost Valley Education Center, outside of Eugene OR, hosted the FIC’s biennial Organizational Meetings in May. The FIC and Lost Valley go back to the early ’90s. The… Read More
This Biologist Wants To Set Aside Half of The Earth To Protect Biodiversity
Posted on June 13, 2016 byEdward O. Wilson’s new book, Half-Earth, offers a timely proposal for the conservation movement: dedicate half of the planet’s surface to nature, and we’ll be able to hold off the worst losses of biodiversity. If half or more wild spaces can be protected from destruction, “more than 80 percent of the species would be stabilized”… Read More
Ecovillages Worldwide—Local Solutions for Global Problems
Posted on June 11, 2016 byA wide array of ecovillages throughout the Global North and South address our shared challenges.
Do You Know Your Watershed?
Posted on June 10, 2016 byLast month, I took part in Oregon State University’s online permaculture class, taught by Andrew Millison. While permaculture design certificates can cost upwards of $750, this class was free, open to the public, and available to access from anywhere. It was pretty inspiring to see people from all over the world engaging in the discussions – some of… Read More
The “Moved to Act” Climate Leadership Intensive Comes to Dancing Rabbit
Posted on June 7, 2016 byThis August, the Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage in Rutledge, MO, will host “Moved to Act,” a climate leadership intensive offered by Aaron Murphy and other instructors. The event takes place from August 12-18, 2016, and is open to a limited number of participants. According to the organizers, “Moved to Act is an immersive training for supporting… Read More
Switzerland to Vote on Basic Income Referendum June 5
Posted on June 2, 2016 by2 Comments
This Sunday, June 5, Switzerland will be the first country to vote on whether or not its citizens should receive a universal basic income (UBI) of $2,600 per month. The proposal would guarantee a payment to every citizen (and $650 per child), without any pre-conditions or work requirements. Liberal advocates argue that a UBI will… Read More
Overcoming Apartheid—the Global Ecovillage Network
Posted on June 1, 2016 byCommunities worldwide are exploring how to heal our separation from each other and the natural world.
How These Co-op Bars Are Reinventing the Idea of a “Public House”
Posted on May 30, 2016 by“Have a pint – change the world,” is the motto of the Oregon Public House, a co-operatively owned, non-profit bar in Portland, OR. According to co-founder Ryan Saari, the city has no shortage of non-profit charities, but these organizations expend a large part of their energy on fundraising. The Oregon Public House was created as… Read More
A Career in Creating Sustainable Communities
Posted on May 27, 2016 byJump-start Your Career Contributing to a More Sustainable Future! By Jenny Godwin, CoHousing Solutions Collaborative communities across the country need project managers and marketing assistance to help them realize their dreams. CoHousing Solutions’ 500 Communities Program is halfway through its first year training. This Program is intended for passionate entrepreneurs ready to devote themselves to… Read More
Here’s How You Can Participate in Global Sharing Week June 5-11
Posted on May 26, 2016 byShareable.net and The People Who Share are collaborating on this year’s Global Sharing Week, which will take place from June 5-11, 2016. Originally launched as Global Sharing Day, the event has grown to the point where over 100 activities take place each year. This year’s listings include dozens of potlucks, neighborhood festivals, and other gatherings,… Read More
Ecovillages and the FIC
Posted on May 24, 2016 by1 Comment
The Fellowship for Intentional Community and the Global Ecovillage Network partner in support of empowered citizens and communities designing for a sustainable future.
