The Barley Jar :: Communities Directory

Formed: 2004 Established: 2008

This page last updated:4/6/2012

The Barley Jar

Toronto, Ontario,

Canada

We are an intentional community that aims to live sustainably socially, environmentally and economically. Our desire is to be the change we want to see in the world.

We share meals/cooking, groceries, cleaning/chores, music/art/ideas, joint parties, Sunday dinners, collective space and household items, a mixture of privacy and community,...We have positive shared values / enthusiasm for sustainable transportation (bikes, no cars owned), local organic/mostly organic purchases, vegetarian, natural materials (minimal or no plastic), fair trade ...inclusion and diversity are highly valued and desired e.g. no labels / all ages / all abilities / queer-positive etc.

Our house is medium to large, we really like having people around as well as having a balance of privacy, we like having guests.Our members positively contribute to our community and to the network of similar homes that we are a part of.

Physically: We live in a century home at the north end of Brunswick Ave, the house has 6 bedrooms. There are lots of shared spaces - a kitchen, 2 bathrooms, sunroom, patio-deck, garden. We generally have had 6-8 housemates including couples and recently a baby...

Our members tend to be community activists, social change agents, artists and farmers.

We host:

- community sunday dinners once a month (last sunday of the month - potluck optional with a music jam) all are welcome

- workshops (anything and everything)

- music and art events (house concerts, readings and the like)

- guests from all over

Contact:

Barley Jar Community House
528 Brunswick Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5R 2Z5 Canada
Phone: (416) 966-1963

Links:

Toronto Now Magazine: Now Magazine Dailiy News article

View Map of Locations
for this Community

Former/Other Names: Brunswick Community House, Plastic Free House, Punswick House

This page last updated:4/6/2012

Visitors Accepted

(We love having visitors.)

Visitor Process: Contact us! Interested guests are asked to participate in the community as members with respect to our various intentions. We ask that visitors participate in contributing to food for longer stays and those who stay two weeks or longer are generally asked to share rent in some way with the collective.

Statement of Housing Non-discrimination:

Our community does not discriminate in regards to housing based on race/color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, family status (i.e. having children, not having children, or being pregnant), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, source of income, age, creed, personal appearance, political affiliation, HIV infection, military/veteran status, unfavorable military discharge, gender identity or expression, receiving public assistance, or being the victim of domestic abuse.

Population Members(adults and children): 6 (7 adults and one baby) Non-member Residents: 1.5 (there are generally 1-2 member partners or guests who live with us on any day) Open to new members: Yes (we are in a period of frequent turnover so members are frequently coming and going.)	Government Decision Making: By consensus (Most or all decision are generally made by consensus unless they involve the building itself, these decisions are made by the owning member in consultation with the rest of the membership.) Leadership Core Group: Yes (There is some respect given to seniority in regard to some more lasting decisions that will affect those who intend to or have lived longer in the community who would be more affected by those decisions. We are still figuring out our governance... One of our members owns the house, over time some have lived here longer and others very briefly which impacts on decision making on issues that have long term consequences. Decisions are generally made in a friendly collegial way reflecting the friendship that we share.)	Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt: Yes Labor Contribution: Expected (All members have chores and weekly cooking amounting to about 2-3 hours/week.) Join Fee: No Regular Fees: Yes (We contribute to a common bulk items and food pot that we all draw from to pay for food and bulk items.)
Land and Buildings Urban Land Owned By: A subgroup of community members Number of Residences: 1 Cohousing: No	Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: 1-5% (herbs, berries, greens and some veggies.) Share Community Meals: 2-5 times/week (6 dinners cooked per week by members who each cook once per week...gatherings of members and guests are usually spontaneous...except for an intentional community wide once per month sunday dinner (last sunday of the month). There is some desire to have more regular communal meals.) Dietary Choice or Restrictions: We all share a common diet Dietary Practice: Primarily vegetarian (Communally, the house is vegetarian, however many members are occasional meat eaters and will have meat around once per month or so. We are moving toward a vegetarian only community.) Alcohol Use: Used occasionally (seldom to occasionally.) Tobacco Use: Prohibited (No smoking in the house itself, otherwise it's up to the individual.)	Social Factors Common Spiritual Practices: No (There is desire to incorporate spiritual intentions.) Which Spiritual Traditions(s): Native American :: Buddhist :: Paganism/Earth Religions :: Roman Catholic :: Jewish :: Eclectic (integrates pieces from many religions) (Desired by a number of members but not really fully defined yet.)

Become an Editor Current editor(s): tomislav

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