| Shannon is a cooperative intentional community, home to over 60 adults who range in age from the 20s to the 60s and over 30 children from infants to teenagers. Together, we share 520 acres of mountain forests, pastures, and river-bottom hayfields at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, located 27 miles west of Charlottesville.
The purpose of Shannon Farm is to be a residential intentional community where people share land, encourage member-managed agriculture and businesses, and support cooperative and harmonious living situations here and in the larger world.
No overall belief system, other than a commitment to cooperative living, has defined our community since moving onto the land in 1974. Different lifestyles coexist at Shannon, and we seek new members of diverse races, ages, financial resources, and adult sexual orientations. Our spiritual values are based on concern about each other's well-being, ecological land stewardship, and respect for the right of each member to express their own beliefs about the nature of reality. While committed to our intentional community, we remain connected to the wider society through jobs, friendships, and individual interests.
The land and all buildings are owned by the community as a private, nonspeculative land-and-housing trust. Shannon members finance their personal homes and own long-term leases that may be transferred to other members at a fixed maximum price. So far, we have built 35 homes for families and individuals, three group houses, and several small cabins. Shannon homes are grouped in eight clusters, one of which is exclusively solar powered. There are farm buildings, a 3-acre lake, and other recreational facilities by the river. A cabinet-shop complex has been developed, with sites available for more small industry.
Shannon Farm Community is financed by monthly membership dues--7 percent of personal income after taxes. There is no joining fee; but personal assets are necessary to finance house construction or purchase one of the few leaseholds that occasionally become available. Expectations of members include participation in physical, organizational, or social work; monthly dues payment; and involvement in community events.
Over half of us commute to work. We support ourselves by cabinet making, construction, teaching, nursing, physical therapy, massage, counseling, health research, auto mechanics, computer programming and training, administration, retail sales, insurance services, technical writing, and artwork.
People who wish to explore Shannon may start by visiting on monthly meeting day, usually held on the first Saturday of each month. Members are responsible for their own housing, which is often off the land at first. Shannon does not operate a central kitchen or offer apprenticeships. So, with many of us maintaining full-time jobs, we are not set up for long initial visits. However, we are open to new people and welcome those who share a commitment to the values of our community--those who want to help build Shannon and the global intentional-communities movement.
For more information or to schedule a visit, please write to our visitor coordinator. | |
