For many people another way of living starts with this book...

So you’re fed up with living in a little box. Maybe just by yourself. Maybe with your family. Just being a docile consumer alongside the billions of other docile consumers. And the combined outcome of it all is a wrecked planet.

Isn’t there something more to life than this? Couldn’t we have access to many of the best things in life without doing such harm if we were prepared to share more with our neighbours? Perhaps in an intentional community – that’s a community that has come together by intention rather than by chance.

Believe it or not, many people have been living in intentional communities like this for decades. And it’s not all hippy crash pads where nobody does the washing up! This website will open your eyes to the multifarious ways in which communal living happens in the 21st century.

It’s your way into the future!

Diggers & Dreamers first appeared in printed form in 1989 and – in its various incarnations – has now been an invaluable resource over many decades The name came from the recognition that there are two classic types of people living in intentional communities. The Dreamers: who spend a lot of time imagining different ways of doing things; and the Diggers: who do the day-to-day work of making it actually happen. A successful community blends both of those ways of  being together.

The 12th edition of our legendary book is available from the D&D Shop

196 pages packed with articles, photo-essays, ruminations and a directory of intentional communities in Britain

“… it shows how this community-oriented housing model continues to attract interest from people looking for housing alternatives better attuned to the needs of contemporary life.”

Kathryn McCamant, President of US consultancy “CoHousing Solutions”

So much has happened in the world of Cohousing in the UK during the last decade that we’ve decided to publish a second volume of our Review!

Take a look at what’s inside:

• Updating the Cohousing scene in the UK
• Dynamics of ‘intentional neighbourhoods’
• It’s all about the process
• In Conversation with Chuck Durrett
• What Happens After You Move In?
• Building a Diverse Cohousing Community
• Wellbeing and mutual support
• GraceWorks Gardens, Nottinghamshire
• Cannock Mill Cohousing Colchester
• Senior Cohousing
• Setting up On the Brink
• RUSS, Church Grove, Lewisham
• Finding Land for Cohousing Projects
• Mutual Home Ownership
• Financing Cohousing Development
• Funding our Common House
• Housing Associations and Developers
• Is Cohousing sustainable in the UK?
• UK Cohousing Network
• Resources

Hear from Nancy Thompson about what it was like to grow up hippie…

The 2024 Intentional Communities Symposium formed part of the UK Communities Conference that took place in July. For those who couldn’t make it to the three evening sessions at the time there are now recordings available online.

One thing that we really want you to know:

There are many different ways to live communally

Cohousing Community

Living fairly separately but with the possibility of sharing a lot of facilities. The best of both worlds perhaps!

Big House Commune

This is the classic idea of the commune in a big mansion in the country. Here are some places that fit that mould.

There are quite a lot of examples of a big house communes – here's just one of them:

Beech Hill Community

Welcome to Beech Hill! Our community is made up of 17 adults and a baby living together in a large…

Read more about Beech Hill Community »

Urban Communal

These housing co-ops and big shared houses in built up areas show that not every commune has to be rural!

Spiritual Community

Having a focus often helps. These places all have some spiritual or religious belief that underlies their existence.

We have quite a lot of spiritual community – take a look at this one:

L’Arche Highlands

L'Arche Inverness is part of the world-wide federation of L'Arche communities founded by Jean Vanier in 1964, that aims to…

Read more about L’Arche Highlands »

Low Impact Community

Many aspire to low impact living but these places go all the way with off-grid, low consumption lifestyles.

Want more Detail?

The D&D Reviews are more specialised books about particular types of community

Want more Detail?

The D&D Reviews shown above are more specialised books about particular types of community

Currently seeking... communards

Check out these noticeboards for communities that like to host volunteers as well as those that are currently looking for people to join.

Volunteering and WWOOFing are amongst the best ways to to try communal living out for yourself. Once you’ve decided that you really want to go for it then Places needing Members is the next stop.

Trelay

Trelay Experience Week : Date TBC We offer the opportunity to experience living in an Intentional Community, helping with tasks…

See more Places that need Volunteers »

Ty Brethyn

Ty Brethyn Housing Co-operative in Llangollen  Looking for members to move in early 2025 We have one two-bedroomed home and…

See more Places that need Members »

So you want to start or join a forming community?

Don't underestimate the scale of the task! Maybe follow up some of these links...

Sorrel Housing Co-op

We are a newly forming housing co-op in Bristol. - a group of 6 young people staring a co-op to…

See more Developing Communities »

This noticeboard is for Developing Groups that are fairly well established – they may even have a building or a site lined up.

An outline Co-housing project to try to save farming & natural food.

Hello, There are so many Diggers And Dreamers Co-housing projects now, that show very enterprising spirits are alive and well.…

See more notices like this »

People Forming a Group is our noticeboard for those at the very early stages whereas Developing Groups are usually quite a bit further down the road.

Eco Retreat Centre for sale Argyll, Scotland

Hello, We are selling our loved Yoga retreat Centre with 5 acres of land in a stunning secluded, riverside location…

See more notices like this »

Properties might suit Communities is where people who are trying to sell or make people aware of a particular vacant property can place a message.

And don't forget our other Noticeboards...

Looking in Devon

Hello, I’m trying to find my community. I work full time in Mental health and am looking for a place…

See more notices like this »

A place to stay

Hi all 🙂 I’m looking for a calm friendly safe environment where I would be appreciated in exchange to lend…

See more notices like this »

Ghosts of Communes Past

What was that about people who haven't learned from history being doomed to repeat it?

Ghosts of Communes Past

What was that about people who haven't learned from history being doomed to repeat it?

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