Page 22 - C.A.L.L. #34 - Winter 2011/2012
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A visitor’s-eye view of Acorn Community
It’s great to meet a group of people – with people and was friendly with those
especially so many young ones – who in the community.
have opted out of the capitalist rat There is a lot of talent here: Delicious
race and are trying their best to live meals are routinely prepared by people
their values: community, sustainability, who sign up ahead of time to make
kindness. The few ramshackle buildings them. Although the booklet titled
where people live and work are ―READ ME‖ - which must have been
surrounded by oak, poplar and beech written a long time ago when there
woods. There is both seriousness – were children here – says the commune
they run a seed business that sustains is vegetarian, that has evolved and
the community – and playful: the path there is meat or chicken at almost
to a dance party last night was lit by a every supper and often also at lunch.
row of Christmas lights. The party took People are on their own for breakfast.
place in the ―love shack‖ just past a The booklet also describes the
collection of diverse and members as being a little
amazing tree houses. shy. So a visitor often has
People mostly danced in a to make the effort to
circle and for a while, initiate conversation, ask
four young women were questions, and then people
dancing on a bouncy are perfectly willing to
mattress in the corner. talk. The biggest age
Daniel (ah, if I was only group seems to be in their
40 years younger!) was early to mid twenties with
walking around with a a sprinkling of other ages
box of wine, playfully up to 62. At meetings,
offering little cups of many busy hands are
―the blood of Christ‖ to either cutting tomatoes
willing takers. He then for drying or cleaning
put a big pillow under his herbs from the garden or
shirt and asked people if processing the never-
they wanted to punch ending supply of onion
him, then made another bulbs for the seed
round and offered well- business by sorting into
padded hugs. small and large, and
Although they joke about being a hippie cleaning them with a toothbrush.
commune, there actually isn’t a lot of During my visit, there were always
public physical affection. People seem bushel baskets of onion bulbs waiting
contained. One member described to be cleaned in the living room.
himself as being on the cusp of What surprised me: that there are no
extrovert and introvert: he would not children; no live music, at least during
be comfortable talking to random my stay; and most of all, that only one
strangers in a bar, but he loved living person has been here from the
beginning about 20 years ago. I’ve
