Week five - Living in a 'community'

In discussing my impending change of lifestyle with friends, family and colleagues the word ‘commune’ was muted on more than one occasion, and more often than not with negative connotations. So much so, in fact, that I began to make a joke of it myself.

Playing and singing down the pub on a Saturday night

The word commune by definition indicates a group of people living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities. By which, I suppose it could be argued that this is in fact a commune. Though we do all have our own private spaces in our caravans there is a very strong sense of togetherness. We all work for the farm, and therefore to some extent subscribe to similar values, we cook for one another, and eat together, spend our days working in groups, and socialise together. As far as I can ascertain people’s negative views on communes stem from the belief that with the sharing comes promiscuity (on the most part that’s not the case here) and the idea that you lose individualism in group consensus.

It is in fact a wonderfully comforting and secure set up; though I can’t deny the drawbacks, the closer we are, the more likely frictions are and it can sometimes be hard to find space. This week it was demonstrated very plainly to me how wonderful it can be. I took an unfortunate and quite ridiculous fall last week and managed to damage the ligaments in my foot. In the time between the compassion shown to me has been almost overwhelming. Not only the farm but the wider community here have been so kind and reassuring, taking me to hospital, helping with my laundry, buying me chocolates, generally enquiring regularly after my wellbeing and understanding when I can’t perform to par in daily activities. 

You could argue that this would have happened in many other situations, certainly in the past I have found a similar sense of unity and caring. University is the most striking example I can recall and to a lesser extent some work places which have caught a spirit in me and I have therefore committed myself to. Sharing house I’ve always felt a sense of unity (especially in London) but the intensity of the combination on the farm and the slight removal from the world beyond creates something different,

As far as individualism goes, I do not feel restricted in airing my views and opinions, and at present we are certainly a varied bunch. The huge benefits of living in this way from my perspective are the sharing of skills and knowledge. It is still surprising me daily the talents and experiences that people have, and collectively this makes us capable of achieving so much – if only we had more time! But our varied talents work together on a daily basis to keep the farm going, which is exactly the way in which I would like to sustain a lifestyle in the future.  I know even as I write this that among friends will be those who still doubt my choice and for those, these words will confirm that I am separating myself from the mainstream. However that certainly is not my intention, nor is it that of anybody I have spoken to whilst living here. 

The beauty (and of course occasional tension) of living in a close community is a symptom of the fact we’ve had to give up paid employment to have a go at this. The bottom line is that we believe in the importance of what this place is aiming to achieve. A better way of farming, a more sustainable and dependable food system for us all, eating well, living well and giving consideration to the land which supports us all.

It’s becoming quite obvious from my failure to reach any conclusion that the jury is still out on communal living for me :) Five weeks in, it is still a pleasure but I will confess there have been trying moments and I can see how it might be tough in the future. I know that making time for myself will be an essential part of maintaining sanity, but with one day off a week, so many people to see and things to do it is going to be difficult. Perhaps ask me again in 6 months time...