Copyright 2018 by Deanna Jaya Nakosteen
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, digital scanning, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
ISBN: 978-1-948787-13-0
Published by
Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press
Las Vegas, NV
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Printed in the USA
Permaculture farms, real community
We can get along, learn to live in peace
Teaching our children all the skills they need
To build a beautiful future, learn to live in peace
With our mother nature, all living beings
Shine, community member & musician
from his song Regenerative Living Ecosystems
Introduction
In a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains is a five-acre plot of land that is home to an intentional community. On Google Maps, it appears as mostly trees, with an opening at one end allowing the abundant greens in the garden to absorb the sun. Approximately two hundred of the trees on this land bear various kinds of fruit: apricots, plums, apples.
At the end of the driveway sits a large house, in which there are four bedrooms, a large living area, and a sizeable kitchen with another common room beside it. A beautiful, colorful Persian rug covers the floor. There is vibrant art on the walls and bright batik fabrics drape on the sofas. There is a piano in the common room and yoga mats tucked in one corner.
The large kitchen is the hub of the community where someone can be found preparing food most any time of the day. A long communal table fills the center of the long room, with benches on either side. Well-used wooden countertops run around the perimeter of the room. A whiteboard is on the wall next to the pantry, holding messages between community members: updates, notes, announcements, requests. On the shelves in the pantry there are jars of dried herbs for teas, dried beans, grains, and other staples. Stepping into the kitchen, one receives warm greetings and hugs. In the evenings, the members take turns cooking dinner for everyone. An abundance of food comes from the local farmers market and health food store each week.
Throughout the property, there are all sorts of structures hidden here and there among the trees, some of which are creative and inspired dwellings for community members. There is an earth dome, a geodesic dome, a yurt, six cabins, three motor homes, and a converted school bus that looks like a work of art while being a cozy home. To support the activities of the community there are other buildings: a tool workshop, a laundry, a bathhouse, and a stage. In front of the stage is a bench made out of cob, forming a semi-circle around the fire pit.
At any given time, there are on average 20 adults, across a wide range of ages, and three children residing on the property. The members often express gratitude to be living this unique life style of working together and playing together. Even though sometimes the energy is intense, it is very rewarding. Changes are always happening, and members strive to create an even better way of living and communicating on a daily basis. The feeling is like that of being supported by a large familya large, expansive, connected, caring, and loving family.
When I was a child, growing up in Nebraska, I could never have conceived of a place like this. Even as an adult, alone in Southern California in my early thirties, I had no idea this was possible. I knew I wanted to be connected. I knew I longed for support. I just didnt know where to find it. I was living what was the norm at the time, first, with my husband, then, later, on my own, in a single-family dwelling, and had yet to awaken to what was possible. I couldnt see, yet, that there are many different ways to live our lives and that sharing resources with others and living in a community full time was a possibility that existed.
Its all too easy to get caught up in what is, but when we do this, we end up missing out on seeing whats possible.
I have two great loves in this life: children and community. What connects these for me is the constant presence of possibility; the constant presence of wonder. Just watch a three year old wander through a park. Her eyes light up with such curiosity and astonishment; she wants to touch or connect with everything on her path. A five-minute walk turns into a half-hour meanderthe child smelling this flower, touching that patch of grass, asking about the bird in the tree, laying down on the splash pad, giggling as she gets drenched. Children have their eyes open for whats possible in a way that we tend to ignore as we age.
In the same sense, community has always held a sense of possibility for me. While community invariably takes on a variety of shapes and sizes, it is always dynamic and expansive. Community is what connects us, and any time humans interact in relationships, were heading into unchartered territories. Community can be defined singularly, as in the intentional community I live in, or much more broadly to include your neighbors in your apartment building, the people you work with, or your kids soccer team.
By consciously living as part of a community, Im constantly learning. Im constantly surrounded by incredible people, deep sharing, evolving children, and all within the harmonious environment we have all created. I live with people who share my values, who revel in the connection we have, who are willing to support and be supported; truly, were an extended family. We are all on a journey to learn more about ourselves. I have grown in ways I never could have foreseen back in Nebraska. I have an expansive feeling of connection. I find myself often experiencing situations that remind me Im supported and in harmony with life. Living in a community where we give each other assistance and love has led me to feel an even deeper understanding of lifes mysteries. All because I was open to possibility.
This is my invitation to you. I felt moved to write this book as a way of introducing you to whats possible; specifically, whats possible in terms of how we create community and use this to feel a deeper connection with one another. How we live in our society can take so many different forms than what weve been taught! What may work for some people may not work for others. In todays world, especially, were seeing higher numbers of lonely, disconnected people. The prevalence of depression and anxiety, and the number of people taking medications for these, speaks to whats missing for so many when it comes to emotional and social support. For many people, interaction with their neighbors is limited. Often, a person might come home and park directly in their garage, which means they are then in their home without once encountering the neighbors. If theyre single, they may eat dinner alone, watch television, go to bed, and repeat.
