Acorn Community Farm

  • Community
  • 2 followers

About the Community

  • Established
  • Rural

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 Vision

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

Our Mission

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

  • Community type
  • Commune
  • Activities
  • Services Business
  • 27 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
  • Open to volunteers
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.

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

Monthly fees/dues: $0
Labor required: 42 hours/week
Members with pre-existing debt: Yes
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.).

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

Substance use culture

  • Substance use is frequent and public in the community

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.

Self-produced energy

  • Up to 33%

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%
  • Land area size
    72 acres

Reviews

Location

  • Virginia, United States

Acorn Community Farm

Promoted Needs and Offers

Need
  • Communities with Openings
8 months ago

Oak Park Commons Cohousing – Plan to Move in Fall 2025

Illinois’ first cohousing community fosters intergenerational connection, diversity, and inclusiveness. We welcome all those who share our vision of creating a sustainable residential community in a vibrant urban suburb. Oak Park Commons Cohousing seeks new members. Join the dozen households that have already helped plan and design a five story, 24-unit building near the commercial heart of Oak Park, Illinois. The building includes a mix of one, two, and three, bedroom ADA accessible units. A package friendly first floor mailroom adjoins the lobby, elevator, and parking entrances. Noise mitigation and energy efficient air conditioning assure year-round comfort. The Carpenter & Madison streets corner location includes within a pedestrian friendly half mile radius: a middle school, bus stop, grocery co-op, drug store, bank, CTA train station, Unity Temple, Rush Hospital, Fox Park, Mills Park, and many restaurants. Madison has traffic calming and bike lanes. The Village commercial center, barely a mile away offers the Lake Theatre Cinema, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Formula Fitness Center, Public Library, Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, and specialty retail and service shops. Oak Park includes excellent K-12 schools. Lincoln public elementary school offers an optional Spanish bilingual program, Gwendolyn Brooks middle school’s wonderful performing arts opportunities and OPRF high school’s great college and career prep. Eight two and three bedroom units are still available for purchase starting at $406,640. Buyers pay a five percent earnest fee when signing a purchase agreement that goes toward down payment at closing. Units available for occupancy starting the last week of October 2025. Visit our website and talk with some of our members to learn more about who we are and how we envision building our community together.   Website: https://oakparkcommons.com/ Contacts: Charles Hoch 708-721-8817; Susan Stall 708-772-8817

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