A community by any other name - definitions

Intentional community, eco-village, co-housing community... call it what you will, but to us the terms are not so far apart.

The "co-housing" community model suggests that the residents will share some things that need not be purchased by every household. These might include lawnmowers, tillers, a pick-up truck, laundry equipment, exercise equipment, and so forth. Co-housing residents will share occasional meals as a group, and will make group decisions on issues that affect them all. Co-housing communities are intentional communities.

An "intentional community" is one in which all residents share certain values and agree to certain rules about how their community will operate. Both of these terms describe the Raccoon Creek Community.

An "eco-village" may not be an intentional community when it begins. Whether it does or doesn't begin intentionally, though, over time, residents of an eco-village take up practices that are environmentally sound and the community expects all members to abide by them.

None of these terms necessarily implies that a community will grow vegetables or fruits, or raise poultry or livestock. But the term "sustainable agriculture" implies that whatever things are grown will be grown in an earth-friendly, sustainable manner. Raccoon Creek will use sustainable practices to raise as much of our own food as we can. Who knows, we might even sell some at farmers markets or along the road nearby.

Raccoon Creek will have a "community building", sometimes called a common house, that will allow residents to meet, house shared equipment, perhaps hold a library in which members can share their books, encourage work on community projects, and provide a place to accomplish other shared purposes. The community house may also include a few apartments for residents or visitors.