Creating a Life Together

The 1990s saw a surge of interest in community living, with thousands of people seeking communities to join and hundreds of visionary groups attempting to launch new ones. Yet only about ten percent actually succeeded. Most disbanded--often in conflict and heartbreak. This is a unique guide to launching and sustaining successful ecovillages and intentional communities--and avoiding the typical mistakes in the process. Distilling the wisdom from dozens of successful community projects, it outlines what works, what doesn't work, and how not to reinvent the wheel. It provides step-by step, practical advice on everything from the role of founders and the need for vision documents, through agreements, decision-making, legal options, and buying and financing land, to sustainable site design, communication, group process, and dealing well with conflict. Along with community profiles, cautionary tales, and ample resources for learning more, Creating a Life Together can help you make your community dream come true.--From publisher description.