EVRP - Acorn Community Research Overview

EVRP - Acorn Community Research Overview12/31/2011 This blog will offer an overview of the preparing research done on Acorn Community, exploring the various foundational, organizational, and sustainable elements. The abundance of information below was gathered from the Acorn website, which is exceptional! For more detailed information you can check out: ·      The D.r.e.e.m. Reality EVRP study page ·      The Acorn Community Website I. Foundation ·      Founded: Spring 1993 ·      Location: Louisa County in heart of Central Virginia, borders the South Anna River ·      Geographical Information: 72 acres ·      Infrastructure: Original farm buildings, starting to build new green buildings II. Organization ·      Identification: Secular, egalitarian community, eclectic culture ·      Decision Making: Consensus, non-hierarchy ·      Council & Committee Structure: Meet twice a week to discuss community issues and check in with members. ·      Income Structure: Shared (Part of Federation of Egalitarian Communities) III. Visitation Information ·      Tours: Day tours available with advance contact, $5 donation per person ·      WWOOF/internship: Send letter of introduction to info@acorncommunity.org ·      Membership Application: required 3 week visit, $75 donation IV. Social A. Membership ●      Present Members: Around 20 members, age – early/mid 20s mostly ●      Membership Process: 3 week visit, interview, community decision, 1 year provisional member ●      Membership Rights & Responsibilities: Full members – health care benefits, right to block a vote (Provisional members do not) ●      Community Service Requirement: Expectation – 42 hrs/week, 6 hrs/day B. Community Life ●      Meals: Shared dinner, breakfast on own ●      Community Events and Social Life: Heritage Harvest Festival – educational event promoting gardening sustainability, local food & preservation of heritage plants. Liesure – hang out, art, music, no cable tv, movie nights, visit Twin Oaks (7 miles away) ●      Children and Families: welcome, but no education structure ●      Health care needs and practices: Full members have health care coverage ●      Spiritual/Ideology Focus: Personal responsibility, supports queer & alternative lifestyles, strives to create a stimulating social, political, feminist, and intellectual environment VI. Environmental  A. Energy, Transport, and Water ●      Energy: no mention of solar or other alternative energies ●      Automobiles: Cars are shared – town trips by one person with list of needs for members, community and personal bikes B. Agriculture ●      Farms & Gardens: Certified organic in 2000, Garden 4 acres for food & seed business, Orchard, Herb Garden ●      Food self-sufficiency/supply: Garden C. Architecture ●      Building Descriptions: Learning and experimenting with green building. 2 original land building renovated, 1 new built, 1 Strawbale/Cob visitor hut in process. ●      Future Goal: More sustainable and green building techniques VII. Economic A. Assets vs. Liability ●      Legal Entity:  Unsure ●      Land ownership: Unsure B. Business and Income ●      Sources of Income: Seed business (1999) – Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, growing network of farmers, gardeners & seed savers dedicated to organic and heritage agriculture ●      Shared Income Process: Trip Request Sheet - items needed in town by members are deducted from their account without money exchanged VIII. Further Questions ●      What alternative energy sources/goals they have? ●      Children and education? ●      Health Care for Community members? ●      Number of members on average? ●      Does seed business provide all community and individual income? Personal Thoughts – this seems like a small, hardworking community  of people that want to spend time together and away from mainstream. They have found a way to live peacefully and comfortably, have their minimal financial needs met as a community. Not necessarily striving for large scale village status. Thanks for reading! ~Dani