Hello,
First of all, so amazing that so many people share this same interest and have a desire to live in a more connected and supportive community! I read through and skimmed as many of these posts as possible, and one thing that strikes me is Detroit does not seem to be mentioned. Some questions I am curious to know the thoughts of others:
Questions/Thoughts:
- Would starting a commune in a city such as Detroit be more economically viable than a rural community? Detroit offers affordable land in close proximity to external amenities such as jobs, health care, and other communities.
- Detroit also allows for the homesteading opportunities. The vacant land can be farmed, the city has programs that allow communities to farm surrounding vacant land, without having to own the land. A potential negative is that farm animals such as chickens are not legal within city limits, but this is not heavily enforced and local groups are organizing to legalize poultry.
- With a changing climate, cities like Detroit are likely to become climate refugee zones, experiencing an increase in population and relevance. A communal community would have the potential to influence this growth to be sustainable and equitable.
- Large tracts of vacant land would allow a communal community choice in a location with room to grow.
I hope to hear your thoughts and learn from you. As we know, research shows that having a strong sense of community not only enriches our lives with fulfillment and purpose but can also improve our biological health. I have never felt a sense of community and I deeply desire to share this experience with many others one day. I get afraid of making big changes or commitments, and I am sure that you guys can relate to this fear too. Maybe talking about it with other people who share this desire is the first step in action.
Cheers guys,
Henry
