Community Activities

Probably the largest single operation we have is community dinner, which we cook and serve in teams, four nights a week Monday through Thursday and breakfasts on Saturday. Dinners are held in the common house. We meet as a large group typically once a month, although much of the real work gets done in small groups which meet as needed. We regularly re-invent our large group meeting process in search of the perfect process--a never ending quest for truth, justice and the cooperative way.

We use a mixture of decision making processes, usually seeking consensus on most things, but prioritizing and voting when its appropriate to do so. Our general goal is to seek all the wisdom of the members before making a decision and we encourage all members to contribute without making it mandatory.

Amazingly enough we have managed to get along without any sort of work requirement system, at least to date. When tasks are needed, people step up and do them, and it all seems to balance out over time, although some of us need to step back a little sometimes so others can step forward. Occasionally, small things do not get done and we always have more to do than there is energy to get done.

We hold random parties at regular intervals, tell stories around the campfire in our campground, buy bulk food, help each other watch and educate the children, work together on community projects and generally hang out and socialize a lot. The gifts of community are often small and personal, like when a neighbor brings you a hot steaming bowl of homemade chicken soup when you are ill, a "love note" from a four year old, or always having an ear to tell your joys or troubles to.

At Sharingwood, the blend of social intimacy and privacy is defined by each individual, and is not imposed by the community.  Beyond attending meetings, there are no formal social requirements.  Community dinner is our main social event, and members get together informally at their interest and convenience.  The group has occasional parties and even camping trips which are open to all, but attendance is not required.

We have no common religious or political ideology.  Religion, relationships, politics, and family are considered your private business and you can share as much, or none, of these things as you want.