Intentional Community Reviews

Wounded in Community

This is meant as a truth and reconcilliation forum for those who have lived at an intentional community, including an ecovillage. We support the movement, and it needs accountability. Speak truth to power. "Do no harm and take no shit" the title of a chapter by Elizabeth Lesser. Said another way, "be therefore as wise as serpents and yet as harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16, 21st Century King James Version).

Don't Give Up

Do you find yourself wondering why it didn't work out? How much of it was the group dysfunction and how much of it was you? Was it just a bad fit or could you have tried harder? These are hard questions to grapple with, but doing so could help you do better the next time.

Search for Compatibility

Committing to an intentional community is like committing to a long-term relationship, times however many are in the group. With a divorce rate around 50%, it's clear most of us weren't raised with the skills to navigate life in community. Starting with as much compatibility as possible is an important step. Here are some sites to search. Newly forming communities may not be well advertised, but some can be found with google searches.

ic.org

ecovillage.org

Warnings

Lolia Community in Hawaii is apparently more of a sex cult than the "sustainable community" it advertises itself as.
Maya Eco Village in Akumal, Mexico is an excellent vacation rental that has eco-friendly elements, but it isn't an intentional community and doesn't meet the GEN definition of an ecovillage
O.U.R. Ecovillage in British Columbia Canada failed to pay a Brazilian worker in 2020 who asked to remain anonymous. He had agreed to receive $500 per month for his full time work 6 days per week. He was paid for only 2 of the 7 months worked. Leadership is authoritarian but presents itself as consensus-based.

Send Your Real Accounts

You are invited to send your cautionary tale so that others can be warned or prepared. We're looking for egregious violations like those above. If they had typical problems, give them a review somewhere else, and try to include some positives as well.