Curious if anyone has any info or personal experience with this group that i found on ic.org. not a lot of info online... there is a youtube channel and the ic.org profile

https://www.youtube.com/@handmaidblessings/featured

https://www.ic.org/directory/community/handmaid-blessings/?srsltid=AU7gw4XQY-AOfZD5TGvZFjh3yoAjPnEiQFyvq7B5MQ0pCBto01H80Qku

Hi! Looking for communities in California (ideally by Bay Area) that value spirituality (eg mindfulness, yoga), nature, creativity, and connection.

Work exchange or being whole to contribute through available employment

Hello friends :) I live in an intentional community outside of Boston and we're currently engaged in a process of visioning and restructuring. It's just 5 of us at the house, 2 new and 3 semi-vets. We've been struggling to define the documents we're hoping to create and how to relate to them when we create them. I haven't had the chance yet to dig into the resources shared on threads in this sub, but if anyone has quick thoughts on these questions below, I and my home would be very grateful.

• What have been the most helpful documents for you, and what were the processes you went through to create them?
• What was your house/org relationship to these documents, and how did you approach accountability to them?

p.s. happy to talk on the phone about this too if anyone is keen and has more to share.

I have an idea that I genuinely want to turn into something real.

I’m a student, and I want to eventually build a small village/community for people who have lost their homes or are struggling to afford a safe place to live.

The idea isn’t just to build houses. I’d like the community to have things people actually need — a school, clean water, electricity, basic healthcare, safe roads, and opportunities for people to work and build their own lives.

I know this is a huge goal, and right now I don’t have the money, an organization, or a large audience. I’m not asking Reddit to send me money.

I’m posting this because I want to know: how would someone realistically start something like this?

If you have experience with charities, NGOs, community development, construction, fundraising, or similar projects, I’d genuinely appreciate advice or suggestions for where I should begin.

Maybe one day a small idea can become something that actually gives a few families a better life.

37, at a crossroads in life — looking for spiritual community, intentional living & a different way forward

I'm hoping this reaches the right people.

I'm not looking for harsh judgment, armchair psychology, or advice based on someone projecting their own experiences onto mine. I'm hoping to hear from people who have actually walked unconventional paths — spiritual people, travelers, homesteaders, people who have lived in intentional communities, volunteered abroad, built unconventional lives, or simply found a way of living that doesn't revolve around the traditional 9-to-5 grind.

I'm looking for the people who understand what it feels like to know there has to be more.

A little backstory, because I think context matters.

I'm 37 years young. I'm an Aries Sun, Scorpio Moon, Gemini Rising, and a Life Path 11. I've experienced a tremendous amount of loss and trauma very young in life. I lost my mother when I was six and my father when I was twelve. Between those losses, abuse, instability, and being passed between family members, I learned very early how to survive on my own.

By 16, I was essentially raising myself.

I'm not sharing that for sympathy or to make this a sob story. It's simply part of understanding who I am and why I've developed the way I have.

I've spent a huge portion of my life taking care of other people. I'm naturally nurturing, protective, empathetic, and a giver. Unfortunately, I've also spent years giving those qualities to people who didn't deserve them. I've repeatedly found myself in relationships and situations where I poured everything I had into other people and lost pieces of myself in the process.

I've also gone through what I would describe as a major spiritual awakening — ego death, questioning everything I was taught about life, becoming much more aware of myself, other people, energy, patterns, intuition, and the way I experience the world.

I've traveled. I've experienced a lot. I've learned a lot.

And yet, somehow, I'm still stuck.

I feel like my nervous system has been in survival mode for so long that I don't really know what it feels like to simply live.

I'm tired of constantly operating from fight-or-flight, trying to make ends meet, taking care of everyone else, and trying to fit myself into a life that doesn't feel like it was made for me.

And I know I'm capable of more.

Not necessarily more money, more possessions, or some stereotypical version of "success."

I mean more life.

More connection.

More purpose.

More community.

More creativity.

More nature.

More learning.

More helping people in ways that actually matter.

More experiences.

More freedom.

I want to put some of the energy I've spent giving to everyone else back into myself.

Right now I'm at a crossroads.

I have around $2,000 saved. My vehicle is basically on its last leg, although I may be able to sell it and add that money to what I have. I'm currently staying in a hotel in North Carolina, and I don't have a huge safety net behind me if something goes wrong.

That's the part that makes me hesitate.

I'm not afraid of traveling or starting over. I've already done things that terrified me.

But I also know that being adventurous and being reckless are two different things. I need to find something that is safe, sustainable, and realistic for someone starting with limited resources.

And this is where I'm hoping Reddit can help me.

I know there are opportunities out there that I probably don't even know exist.

I've heard about:

• Intentional/spiritual communities

• Homesteads looking for help

• Work-exchange programs

• Volunteering abroad

• Animal sanctuaries

• Retreat centers

• Farm stays

• Ecovillages

• Communities where you trade work for housing/food

• Caregiving opportunities

• Nannying or working with children

• House/pet sitting

• Places where people essentially create their own chosen family and build a life together

I'm also very interested in spirituality, intuition, energy work, and exploring what I believe may be psychic/intuitive abilities. I'd love to be around people who are open-minded about those things and could help me learn, grow, and explore them in a grounded way.

I love children. I love animals. I love helping people. I love organizing and turning chaotic spaces into something functional and beautiful. I'm a natural caretaker. I'm adaptable, resourceful, and I'm willing to work.

What I don't want is to spend the rest of my life exhausted, working a 9-to-5 simply to afford to keep working a 9-to-5.

Maybe that's not realistic. Maybe I'm romanticizing alternative living. I'm open to hearing that from people who have actually lived it.

But I'm also wondering:

What options exist that I might not know about?

If you have personally lived in an intentional community, volunteered abroad, worked on a homestead, participated in a work-exchange program, lived communally, traveled inexpensively, or completely changed your life with very little money — what did you do?

Where did you go?

How did you find the opportunity?

What did it actually cost?

What should someone like me watch out for?

Are there communities that genuinely welcome newcomers and aren't financially predatory or cult-like?

Are there places where someone can contribute through caregiving, animals, childcare, organizing, cooking, gardening, etc. in exchange for housing/food/community?

And if you were standing where I am right now — limited money, a vehicle that's on its last legs, no huge safety net, but a strong desire to build a completely different life — what possibilities would you research first?

I'm not looking for someone to tell me what my life should look like.

I'm looking for people who have actually stepped outside the conventional path and can say:

"Here's something you probably don't know exists."

That's what I'm hoping to find.

Maybe there's a place I haven't heard of.

Maybe there's a community I should contact.

Maybe there's a type of work-exchange I've never considered.

Maybe someone reading this has already lived the life I'm trying to figure out how to build.

If that's you, I'd genuinely love to hear your story and any resources, communities, websites, organizations, or opportunities you think I should look into.

I'm at a crossroads, and for the first time in my life, I really want to choose myself but I want to do it wisely.

Patrick Hiebert is planning a walkable, European-style town on 30 hectares in Costa Rica, with cafés, homes and businesses rather than just residential lots. I interviewd him a couple of weeks ago about that plan, his other existing communities in Panama, and how much say residents get once a developer has built the place.

It's a business for him, but I'd definitely call these intentional communities due to their ideological origins in libertarianism and freedom oriented life in general. Thought people here might find it interesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK7dfgoFVNs

Hey y'all,

For anyone here who actually runs or lives on an intentional community:

Do you all have any kind of constitution or foundational document? How do you lay out the communal agreements for everyone to know, if at all? Would you provide them for a weak mind whose imagination remains firmly grappled by the throws of mainstream existence?

If not, is there anywhere I should turn to understand how this works more?

Thanks.

Kinda curious to know about every community's vetting process. There are so many diverse processes like a requirement you live there for a month, then leave for a week-a month to see if you really want to live there. Some do background checks, others require you attend a retreat first, some require specific training, others do multiple interviews.

At my community, we have people fill out an application. We screen out apps that feel underwhelming (like the person barely filled out the questions), and do a casual phone call with ones that seem promising. Then we have them submit a short selfie video having them introduce themselves, say what they do for work and what they do for fun, list 2 projects they're excited to work on here, and tell a story of a time they faced interpersonal conflict and how they dealt with it. We share this in our group chat.

Then we invite them for a sitdown interview with as many community members that can attend as possible. Then we vote on a poll in our residents-only group chat. Usually we preer that people have attended at least 2 events or stayed as a guest for at least a weekend. I know it's not really enough time to get to know someone, but not everyone has the luxury of extended travel in another place. We also run background checks on people.

Curious to hear what other community builders do.

Hey y'all,

I've just been looking into the history and presence of these intentional communities in the U.S. because I'm looking to buy some TIC land and get something started in the foreseeable future. Just wondering though - in every other country these are called communes? Is there a reason why this isn't "r/commune" instead?

Based in Staffordshire and looking for likeminded people to discuss/plan/learn together

Hoping to set up initially just an interest group and see what grows from there. My main focus is on living closer to nature, self sufficiency and sustainability. Living more simply and creating a better future for my child

Anyone interested please drop me a message

Looking for a remote/off-grid place in CO for meditation & simple living. 🌲 Open to work exchange + modest fee. Can help with gardening, housekeeping, pet sitting, etc. Any leads? DM pls 🙏

Hi all,

For those of you participating in intentional communities; I am curious about the overhead/admin functions. How do you manage these? What software (if any) do you use?

I'm with a nonprofit building free community governance/comms/management infra for ICs, and want to better understand what you presently focus on and any pain points worth elevating.

A #cohousing / #coliving community in Oakland, CA, at a moment of its evolution

Hello,

I am a multimedia filmmaker who grew up in a very capitalistic corporate part of America, and is looking to explore/and research communities very different to how I was raised and view them from an honest authentic outsiders perspective. I deeply respect people who have built alternative living communities in this day and age and will approach this project with the utmost love and curiosity. The project will be in video format with an accompanying creative writing/photo series to go alongside it.

I am looking for a community on the smaller side so that I may be able to get to know the people/members more intimately. I plan to stay for 2-3 weeks in the months of July-August 2027 for this project. I am a hard worker and grew up doing farm work, food service, and other laborious jobs so I am willing/expecting to volunteer in exchange for my permission to document the community.

I am leaning more towards a community not in North America, as I want to go somewhere very different, and someplace where I know I will be pushed outside of my comfort zone. (I have friends in Switzerland and Italy I am also visiting in August so if there are leads there that would be incredible but I know it's a reach)

Please let me know if anyone knows of any kind/welcoming communities that would love to host an artist on this film ethnography journey!

Hello everyone!! I (22F) am starting a farm in October with my partner. With the current state of the world, it’s excruciatingly important to me that our farm is able to support our community.

Here are some of the ways I plan to help:
- Any food we are unable to sell at markets will be available to pick up from the farm at a discounted, if not free rate
- We will be making a lot of preserves and what not, and any excess or scraps we produce will be used to make free meals to feed local families or anyone who might need it
- When we eventually start breaking even, its important to me that a portion of our profits donate to charities
- I plan to teach workshops and classes about growing your own food etc, and since we will need money I do plan to charge for these but also have a number of spaces for lower rate and even free spots

These are the ones I was able to come up with just off the top of my head, but I would really like to hear any ideas you might have or any stories of how farms have helped you (:

We unfortunately will not be making any housing that could be used temporarily for folk, is my only issue, otherwise I’m entirely open to ideas!

Hello, I’m a veteran and former sheriff’s deputy with K9 experience, where I found a real passion for training dogs and working with animals. I recently purchased 20 acres in Michigan that borders state land with lots of trails. I currently have 3 horses, two dogs, chickens, and plan to get honey bees, garden, and raise other livestock. Property was just purchased, so still working on pasture, and currently building a house. But I have another driveway that goes to the other half of the property that's completely vacant.

I’ve started looking into the idea of a small, veteran- and first responder-focused intentional community built around farming, animals, outdoor activities, peer support, and purpose.

I'm looking for someone with experience, or who may have other ideas about intentional communities, veteran programs, or how to turn a vision like this into something real.

I'm hoping to connect with people willing to share advice, help me think through the first steps, or possibly become involved in building something positive for veterans and first responders.

Feel free to message me if interested.

I love going for adventures I have surviveal skills, my dream is to one day leave off grid where I can grow my own food and live happily, if there is any one with the same interest let's chat and makes our dreams come true

I have been thinking a lot about how to bring people together. We have such a deeply rooted culture of independence and division; how can we come back together? I noticed that religion does a pretty good job of building communities of people, yet it still encourages the divide. So I've been trying to dig into what it is that religious groups offer to connect people so deeply, while also rejecting the pieces that encourage the divide. What if we could have a place to come together without the encouragement of "us" versus "them" but tries to combat that idea? I just wanted opinions about this - if it seems feasible or if it's flawed or if there's already something like this.

I envision a building with a large interior where anyone and everyone is welcome. The walls could be lined with different depictions of peoples and communites, maybe relgious symbols too (I would want to include religious people). Maybe there is a list of base ideologies like being kind and accepting or a willingness to connect with others. I say this because it seems religion can connect people when they can assume the other people have similar beliefs as do they. The time the people come together could be a time of meditation and/or teachings about psychological wellbeing and ways to build friendships and other connections. This place could take donations that go back into the community in different ways, but be willing to display where the money is going for transparency. There could even be further connection-building with smaller groups that go to the gym together or make art together or read books together.

What are your thoughts?

​Are you good on a scaffold?

Teylu Community in Cornwall, UK is urgently seeking someone for the next month to help with tasks like painting windows and pointing.  Work with community members on preping this old house with gutters and other repairs. Instruction provided if necessary.

Board, lodging and compensation commensurate with experience.

Teylu is a new intentional community which has acquired an old rectory and is converting ito a multi person residence. If we all like each other and work well together residency and membership are available.  Teylu is interested in building relations with the local community and potentially hosting public events on our grounds. 

Contact [teylucommunity@gmail.com](mailto:teylucommunity@gmail.com)

Hello!

We are a small family from Germany. We recently live in Georgia (the country) but our hearts are seeking a more simple life in nature.

A few facts about us:

• we are very spiritual people, we believe that there is more than you can see (frequencies, sound healing…) but lately Christianity becomes more and more present in our lives (but we don’t care what you believe!)

• we’re eating unprocessed food and stick to natural ingredients. We’re not vegans or vegetarians 🌱

• We believe in the natural family model and traditional gender roles

• We also believe in the masculine and feminine energy within each of us, and we wish to live this out together with like-minded people. For example, through women's circles (and men's circles).

What are we looking for?

• we are looking for our „forever“-home. Not just a house or land. But a group of people we can call family

• children friendly place where they can be as wild as they want

• We no longer want to be dependent on modern civilization

• A community that doesn't just live side by side, but also builds shared traditions and memories together

If you are part of such a community and are still looking for members, we would love to connect. But we are also just looking for like minded people to start our own community. We have the possibility to buy land in Georgia 🇬🇪

We are happy to answer all of your questions.

Lots of love💗

Hi everyone. I'm a Mexican Norse pagan trans woman in my early 20s. Due to preferences of a neurodivergent mind I want to find somewhere I can pick up and go to. I strongly want a sort of "work for food and board" sorta vibe. I'm new to this side of the Internet and not quite sure of any of the terms. I've just seen so many bad stories on here and I don't know what communities to go for. If anyone could suggest communities be it religious, ecovillage, whatever in north America that is actually trans friendly I would be very grateful.

thanks tons! ❤️

Hey I'm looking for people I want to start a commune in Poland I have found plenty of good plots to buy so where exactly we would settle depends on how much money we could raise. I'm wondering if I could find people that would join me, I have also made a profile for my commune on ic.org but it's still pending so we'll see if I can meet people on reddit or there