🌱 Hello! I'm looking for intentional communities (already existing or projects) aligned with my vision, to go and visit, experience and maybe join for the long term if it's a match!
I've already visited several and researched a lot, but if you know of any project that would fit my vision, I would be really grateful for any advice! 💚
👨👩👧👦COMMUNITY KEY POINTS
(Non negotiable):
Size: 15-200 members, >5ha
Focus: Ecology, Sustainability, Healing, Arts, Dance, Events
Climate: Mild Winters, Warm summers
Environment: Forest, sun exposure, water source (plus if proximity to river, mountains, sea)
Structure: Common shared spaces, private sleeping/living units
Diet: Plant based common meals
Community life: Shared daily meals, Weekly talking circles, Celebrations and activities
🙋🏽ABOUT ME
Davide, 43yo, Italian
Fluent: Italian, English, Spanish Intermediate: French, Romanian
Since 2010 I started travelling long term and I lived in dozens of projects as a volunteer for up to 3 months length, from large projects (Auroville in India, Pachamama in Costa Rica, Arcosanti in USA, etc.) to uncountable smaller ones and I’ve volunteered for the Italian Ecovillage Association (RIVE).
In 2024 I attended the EDE, 5 weeks intensive residential training "Ecovillage Design Education".
Now I feel a strong call to put down roots, build stable relationships and cultivate and offer my gifts in an intentional community that I can call home.
❤️ Some of my passions:
yoga, meditation, contact dance, ecstatic dance, pottery and ceramics, wood carving, arts, natural buildings, playfulness, massage, travel, photography, hiking, tennis, cycling, reading
💰Economical sustainability: Handicrafts production and classes (Ceramics, pottery, wood carving), community events, hiking and cycling tours, photography, natural buildings
If you feel like it resonates, continue below with my
☀️EXTENDED COMMUNITY VISION
I envision a community of like-minded individuals, living in harmony with nature and its inhabitants, and contributing to its protection and restoration.
We are committed to our personal growth while positively influencing global change: we spread beauty, care and love.
Each one is on his own path of spiritual exploration and personal development with no imposed dogmas nor obligations.
We create a multi-skill, multi-ethnic, multi-generational environment where we offer and receive support, love and empathy and we are of mutual benefit and inspiration to each other. We are emotionally and economically independent and resilient, while being supported by the community, in our path to flourish and expand and to be the best version of ourselves.
We share communal structures while having our private nests, immersed in a green, natural and healthy environment. We grow our own food and we exchange what we can’t produce. We live frugally but we support the blossoming of creativity and abundance.
We are committed to our common vision, equally involved in the decision making process and we feel at home in the environment we are creating.
PROJECT SIZE
• On the long term over 20 members (ideally more than 50), to have a "village" dynamic, several clans and multiple skills
ECOLOGICAL
• Practicing an all round sustainability and ecological lifestyle
• Self-construction or restoration using natural or recycled materials and organic architecture
• Aiming at energetic independence and off-grid lifestyle
• Permaculture gardens, food forest and reforestation project
ECONOMY
• Frugality but abundance
• Basic shared economy to support the needs of everybody through community events
• Extra private economy for personal expenses and needs
• Gift Economy for events, or in case of fixed prices, reductions, or free scholarships are offered
• Shared ownership of the land and common structures
SOCIAL
• Commonly agreed decision making method, inclusive of everybody’s opinion
• No single owner/leader
• Conflict resolution tools and facilitation
• Regular community meals, skill sharing, team-building, healing activities and sharing circles for the residents
• Meals shared daily
• Weekly hours of community service for shared jobs (cooking, cleaning, etc.) but plenty of free time for personal projects
• Open to different approaches on relationships, intimacy and sexuality, with respect and no obligations
CULTURAL
• Offering events and retreats as a healing and learning center
• Focus on transmitting knowledge, healing and bringing change, rather than making profit.
• Continuous learning and personal development
• Playfulness and celebration with ceremonies, parties, shows and performances
• Homeschooling
• Possibility to travel
• Beauty and artistic expression
• Initiator of socio-ecological change also outside of the community
• Limit of alcohol and drugs usage out of ceremonial context
DIET
• Plant based shared meals, with possibility of animal products integration in private spaces and secondary kitchens
• No animal farming/killing/exploitation
SPIRITUAL
• Personal spiritual growth and self development with no Spiritual dogmas or obligations
SITE SPECIFIC
• Mild climate: dry winters with temperatures above 5⁰C, summer temperatures not consistently over 40⁰C
• Site surrounded by nature
• Own source of water within the property
• Presence of a Forest to sustainably collect and use the wood
• No high risk of fires
• River or other water body
• Good sun exposure throughout the year
• Far from pollution sources (atmospheric, acoustic, luminous, electromagnetic, etc.)
• Shared public spaces, with private units for everybody
• Temporary accommodation to host volunteers, visitors, pilgrims, etc.
TRANSPORTATION
• No cars within the boundaries of the project, if not in the parking space or for unloading
• Discourage the usage of private cars, and promote public transport, cycling, walking, internal car sharing
• Small urban center with services and transportation hub within reach
• Easy accessibility to public transport network and services
Davide Vadalà
