We are accepting new applicants for membership. There is a 2-week quarantine requirement prior to any visit. See our Membership Process page for more information.
Acorn Community Farm is an egalitarian community in central Virginia founded in 1993. We are committed to non-coercive, non-hierarchical, voluntary associations both within our community as well as within the larger community in which we find ourselves. We are also committed to income-sharing, sustainable living, and creating a vibrant, eclectic culture.
We are members of the Federation of Egalitarian Communities, which means that we hold in common our land, labor, resources, and income, and that we use this for the good of our community as a whole and our members as individuals. While all members must be enthusiastic about a culture of radical sharing and working with one another, we do not share religious, political, or philosophical beliefs. We use consensus decision-marking in our weekly meetings in order to make decisions about use of collective money, land, and resources.
Acorn is non-hierarchical. There are no bosses, owners, investors, or supervisors. Although structured in areas such as membership, we intentionally keep policies to a minimum (we have a policy of very little policy) preferring a calm anarchy to prevail. Of the few policies that are in place, our culture encourages personal responsibility rather than supervision, as well as taking issues on a case-by-case basis keeping in mind that needs of individuals vary.
Our community strives to create a stimulating social, political, feminist and intellectual environment. Acorn strongly desires to support developing egalitarian and like-minded communities through participation in the Federation of Egalitarian Communities. Our collectively owned business has been active in protesting GMO seed contamination by Monsanto. We desire to support queer and alternative lifestyles and gender expression.
Our thriving seed business – Southern Exposure Seed Exchange – is part of an exciting movement and growing network of farmers, gardeners and seed savers dedicated to organic, heritage agriculture and independence from the processed, genetically modified, corporately delivered “food” paradigm.
If you are interested in visiting us, interning in our seed business and garden or in other areas of our farm-based livelihood, check out our page on How to Visit Acorn Community Farm.
We are looking for folks to live and grow with us. Folks who share our vision of a vibrant, non-coercive, supportive, environmentally appropriate, self-sufficient community and have skills that are helpful in getting us to where we want to get to. Skills such as: vehicle & farm implement maintenance, repair & construction of our infrastructure, farming, livestock care, business management, customer service, healthy cooking, seed saving, organic gardening. Or if you lack specific skills but just like to work hard, get things done, and are willing to learn and take on responsibility, we would like to talk to you, so call us and schedule a visit.
Remember, this stuff is hard! Living and working together, trying to have fun while at the same time running a business, making decisions together and sharing income, are all challenging every day. These challenges give us many opportunities for personal growth. So in addition to the above mentioned skills, we are interested in meeting people experienced in community-building, communication and facilitation, who interested in building a healthy, dynamic, supportive social culture.