Communities to visit

How to use this list

These are established intentional communities with formal visitor programs. Go visit at least two before you commit to starting one. The Foundation for Intentional Community directory at ic.org/directory is the master index; everything below is a curated entry point.

Communities

• Acorn Community *Mineral, VA, USA (Louisa County)

  Founded 1993 · ~28 adults plus ~4 children on 72 acres

  Twin Oaks sibling community in the Federation of Egalitarian Communities. Income-sharing with a strong seed-saving and heirloom-seed mission.

  Governance: Consensus-based, non-hierarchical · Economy: Full income-sharing; primary business is Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (heirloom seeds, mail-order). 42 hr/wk labor quota.

  Visiting: Structured visitor periods by appointment via email

  Southern Exposure Seed Exchange is one of the most respected heirloom seed companies in the Eastern US. Acorn's own site has HTTPS issues; the FEC page above is the canonical link.

• Auroville *Tamil Nadu, India (near Pondicherry)

  Founded 1968 · More than 3,300 residents from 60 nations

  Sri Aurobindo and The Mother-inspired experimental city dedicated to human unity. The largest active international intentional community.

  Governance: Internal self-governance via Auroville Foundation bodies, subject to the Auroville Foundation Act of India · Economy: Non-monetary internal accounting (Auroville rupee tokens for residents) plus external grants. Complex collective ownership.

  Visiting: Visitors Centre; Matrimandir Viewing Point open to day visitors; Inner Chamber by appointment (closed Tue and Sun); registered-volunteer pathway. Full residency requires a multi-year process.

  Uniquely operates under a special Act of the Indian Parliament. Ongoing tension since 2021 between the Indian government's appointed Governing Board and many longtime residents over development direction.

• Federation of DamanhurValchiusella valley, Piedmont, Italy

  Founded 1975 (federation as currently structured: 1981) · ~600 residents

  Spiritual community famous for the "Temples of Humankind," a 30+ year hand-built underground temple complex carved into a mountain.

  Governance: Federation of "nucleo-communities" with rotating internal leadership ("King Guides") · Economy: Internal currency (Credito), member-owned businesses, and federation-level shared assets

  Visiting: Physical visits to the Temples of Humankind; Damanhur Academy courses; virtual tours; multiple "experience" pathways

  The Temples are an architectural achievement unique in the world. The community functions as a fully integrated alternative society including its own school system and constitution.

• Dancing Rabbit EcovillageRutledge, MO, USA

  Founded 1997 · ~30–50 adult residents on 280 acres

  Sustainability-focused ecovillage with strict ecological covenants (no fossil fuels for personal use, etc.) and ongoing natural-building demonstration.

  Governance: Consensus-based participatory governance with documented Ecological Covenants and Sustainability Guidelines · Economy: Private homes and businesses on shared land; members operate independent livelihoods within ecological covenants

  Visiting: 2-week Sustainable Living Visitor Program; weekend retreats; workshops and PDCs; work exchanges

  Hosts the FIC main office on-site. Arguably the most rigorously eco-covenanted US ecovillage.

• Earthaven EcovillageBlack Mountain, NC, USA (near Asheville)

  Founded 1995 · ~75 adult members plus ~25 children; goal to grow to ~150

  Permaculture-designed village with strong natural-building demonstrations across multiple neighborhoods.

  Governance: Consensus-based, organized across 14 neighborhoods · Economy: Private homes on shared land with internal village-scale economy and on-site businesses

  Visiting: Monthly in-person tours; virtual tours; School of Integrated Living (SOIL) runs classes including "Experience Week" July 26–Aug 1, 2026

  One of the few US ecovillages with a parallel formal education arm (SOIL) running paid programs.

• East Wind CommunityTecumseh, MO, USA

  Founded 1974 · ~70 adult members

  Sibling community to Twin Oaks within the Federation of Egalitarian Communities. Rural, secular, communal.

  Governance: Egalitarian and non-hierarchical, with a planner/manager system similar to Twin Oaks · Economy: Full income-sharing; members hold land, labor, and resources in common; community runs East Wind Nut Butters

  Visiting: Formal visitor period application required; Family Visitor Program also available

  Operates East Wind Nut Butters, one of the better-known intentional-community businesses, distributed nationally.

• Ecovillage Findhorn *Findhorn, Scotland, UK

  Founded 1962 · ~500 in the broader community and ecovillage

  One of the world's oldest spiritual ecovillages. Longstanding pioneer of consensus-based community and "co-creation with nature."

  Governance: Ecovillage Findhorn Community Benefit Society (~370 members) with elected leadership, following the 2023 reorganization · Economy: Charity plus community benefit society plus member-owned residential and educational structures

  Visiting: Experience Week immersive programs (4–7 days, scheduled July–November 2026); shorter retreats; tiered pricing and bursaries available

  Major organizational transition: the original Findhorn Foundation legally ceased in November 2023 after a 2021 arson fire destroyed the community centre. The rebuilt Light of Findhorn Sanctuary opened Easter 2025; programming resumed under the new society.

• Ganas CommunityTompkinsville, Staten Island, NY, USA

  Founded 1979 · ~65 members across 8 adjacent residences (~8 core, ~25 philosophy-aligned, ~35 others)

  One of the only large US urban intentional communities. Emphasizes "feedback learning" and direct communication.

  Governance: Non-hierarchical with designated managers per area, coordinated through morning planning and regular meetings · Economy: Mixed: community businesses (two "Every Thing Goes" thrift stores) plus external employment, with members paying $1,000/mo dues or contributing 30+ hr/wk in community work

  Visiting: Weekly dinner open to visitors; online prospective-member sessions; in-person stays by arrangement

  A genuine urban-communal alternative to the rural ecovillage model. Accessible by a half-hour free ferry from Manhattan.

• Meadowsong Ecovillage (Lost Valley)Dexter, OR, USA (18 mi SE of Eugene)

  Founded 1989 · ~20–30 residents on 87 acres

  Combined intentional community and sustainability education center with a permaculture site design.

  Governance: Consensus-based with sociocracy elements · Economy: Mixed: affordable cooperative housing within the Meadowsong arm plus an educational nonprofit

  Visiting: Community Experience Weeks in May, July, October 2026; volunteer and internship programs; PDC participants live on-site

  One of the cleanest "live-and-learn" experiences in the US. Workshop students stay in the community itself.

• O.U.R. EcovillageShawnigan Lake, BC, Canada

  Founded 1999 · ~25–30 residents on a 25-acre site

  Regenerative-living demonstration site and educational research center with extensive natural-building infrastructure.

  Governance: Sociocracy · Economy: Registered Community Services (Non-Profit) Cooperative

  Visiting: Public tours and accommodation services; PDC + reVILLAGEing Family Camp (July 3–18, 2026); intensive cob workshop 2026

  One of the only legally permitted cob-built villages in North America. Pioneered municipal natural-building code in BC.

• Sandhill FarmRutledge, MO, USA

  Founded 1974 · ~8 adults plus 1 child

  Long-running small egalitarian land-based community focused on sorghum syrup, honey, garlic, and food preservation.

  Governance: Egalitarian and consensus-based · Economy: Income-sharing (FEC member); operates a sorghum-syrup-and-condiments business

  Visiting: Visitor and intern applications via info@sandhillfarm.org; visitor numbers swell during growing season

  Famous annual sorghum harvest draws communards from across the country to help bring in the crop. Adjacent to Dancing Rabbit (also in Rutledge); visiting both in one trip is realistic.

• Sirius CommunityShutesbury, MA, USA

  Founded 1978 · Historically ~30 residents; "tens of thousands of visitors" across 45+ years

  Spiritually-oriented intentional community modeled on Findhorn. Integrates contemplative practice with sustainability.

  Governance: Meditative consensus · Economy: Non-profit educational center model; mix of community-owned facilities and private residences

  Visiting: Community Experience Weekends; day visits; group tours; 2026 internship program

  One of the few US communities founded by ex-Findhorn members. The closest US analogue to the original Findhorn model.

• Tamera Peace Research & Education CenterMonte do Cerro, near Relíquias, Portugal

  Founded 1995 (German precursor 1978) · ~150–200 residents on ~330 acres

  A "Healing Biotope" research center: water-retention landscape, solar tech (Test Field 1), peace research, and "Free Love" / community-of-trust experimentation.

  Governance: Internal council and group structure with consensus · Economy: Non-profit research and education center plus community contributions

  Visiting: On-site courses and seminars; day visits; community service opportunities; published event calendar

  Pioneering water-retention-landscape design by Sepp Holzer is on-site and visitable. The explicit "Free Love" politics are worth knowing about before booking a visit.

• The FarmSummertown, TN, USA

  Founded 1971 · ~200 residents on 1,750 acres

  One of the oldest and largest intentional communities in the US. Birthplace of Ina May Gaskin's midwifery school and the Plenty international NGO.

  Governance: Collective decision-making (post-1983 reorganization from full income-sharing to a land trust plus private membership model) · Economy: Cooperative businesses plus member-owned ventures on shared land trust

  Visiting: Day and overnight accommodations; Farm Experience Weekend immersive programs; monthly Market Day (April–October); workshops and dance retreats

  Founded by Stephen Gaskin and 320 caravan members from San Francisco. A direct living link to 1970s communalism that successfully transitioned to a long-term land model.

• Twin Oaks CommunityLouisa, VA, USA

  Founded 1967 · ~85 adult members plus ~15 children

  The longest-running secular income-sharing community in North America. Runs Twin Oaks Tofu and hammock businesses.

  Governance: Democratic self-governance with planners, managers, and committees (Walden Two-inspired) · Economy: Full income-sharing; members work 38.5 hr/wk and receive housing, food, healthcare, and spending money

  Visiting: Saturday tours by pre-arrangement; structured 3-week visitor program with Letter of Introduction required. No drop-ins.

  The gold-standard example of secular income-sharing communalism in the US. Recovering from a February 2026 residential fire; visitor program is ongoing.

• ZEGG (Zentrum für experimentelle GesellschaftsGestaltung)Bad Belzig, Germany (near Berlin)

  Founded 1991 · ~100 residents

  Experimental community for social design, "Forum" communication practice, and relational and community research.

  Governance: Consensus-influenced with working groups · Economy: Mix of community-owned guest-house and seminar business, private livelihoods, and member contributions

  Visiting: Sommergäste-Mitarbeitswochen (summer guest work weeks June–July 2026); seminars; ZEGG Sommercamp 2026; garden tours; "In Service to Life: A Training for Conscious Peacework"

  Birthplace of the "Forum" communication method now used across the global ecovillage network. Like Tamera, has a "Free Love" history worth understanding before visiting.