This doesn't address the desire for separate parcels/individual ownership, but there's an unusual opportunity in Lane County, Oregon right now. Here's a link to the listing I found:
http://www.johnlscott.com/propertydetail.aspx?IS=1&ListingID=301571514
The property itself is just over 22 acres, southwest of Eugene, located in prime vineyard territory. It has a mix of forest and open land that would need to be cultivated more for crops or animals, although there are already established garden beds and fruit trees on-site. In addition to being on a creek, there is also established spring water with spring water rights/easements that would come with the property.
What makes me think that this could be a fabulous possibility for an intentional community is that it's currently home to seven (yes, 7!) two-bedroom cabins that appear to have been built in the 1920s. They are currently used as rental properties, which means that the county has already acknowledged them as legal dwellings - something that should give future owners more "rights" in terms of replacing/renovating the buildings for future occupancy. The place IS fairly run-down, judging by the pictures, so some capital and a lot of elbow grease would probably be necessary to make it a place where you'd thoroughly enjoy living. That said, if seven individuals/families each contributed $57,000, you'd be able to buy the property outright AND have $120,000 for supplies and repairs. If you had to fully finance the purchase at 4%, the residents of each cabin would only have to contribute $190/month to make the mortgage payments.
You'll find lots of organic and family farms in Lane County, along with other intentional communities with all sorts of wonderful missions, including the Alpha Farm, which was established in 1972 and runs a bookstore and cafe on the way to the Oregon coast. There are several well-established farmer's markets (including the fantastic Eugene Saturday Market) in the area, too, which would provide an opportunity for you to sell what you grow if you're interested in generating income that way. There are biodynamic farming groups, the Organic Seed People company, along with Glorybee Foods (a great resource for guidance and supplies if you want to try your hand at raising bees). And one of my favorite things in the area is BRING Recycling (
http://www.bringrecycling.org/) which manages a lot of recycling efforts in Lane County and provides a place for everyone to shop for salvaged and surplus building materials, garden supplies and other reusable items at a very, very good price.
Yes, building codes and zoning restrictions can be difficult to navigate here. But since this already has the footprint of a multi-family living arrangement, you wouldn't have to fight nearly so hard as you would to establish a community on an undeveloped tract of land. Just thought I'd pass it along for people to think about!
