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In this article, the author shares his experience of building a military veteran community. He mentions that the community members' activities involved informal socializing, meetings and walking meditation. He informs that community members also published an award-winning book "Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace." He reports that peace, justice, and reparation in the community life are the cures for moral injury caused by war.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of buying a real estate property with the help of community.

In this article, the author discusses the importance of community living. He mentions that in communities many things such as vehicles, gardens and tools are shared by people so fewer things need to be owned individually. He informs that in a community children, teens and adults have opportunities to choose one for sharing thoughts, caring and playing.

In this article, the author discusses the meaning of intimacy. He recounts the intimate connection he felt with the earth, the community of life, and the people through listening to American robins, common ravens, and spotted towhees at a community in Oregon. The intimate familiarity felt by the author with the community's history and the meaningful experiences and feelings he shared with many people are also explored.

The article presents the author's views on the effect of community support on mental health. He says that the true measure of mental health is the ability of the community to recognize the needs of its members and not to isolate people. He mentions that a community that is designed to empower its members fosters emergence of functional people.

The article offers tips among younger generation on the reinvention of retirement and living communities' assistance to the elderly. Factors to be considered as given of what the baby boomer generations can offer to intentional communities such as supporting advocacies, appreciation for diversity, and outreach. Also listed are the following factors also to be considered and e provided in a community such as accessible walkways, devotional areas for socialization, and an ample community space.

A personal narrative is presented which recalls the author's experiences of living in a community along with other elders, as the author celebrates her 70th birthday.

The article examines the influence of the community life on the author's vocation in the U.S. It states that the author's experiences in living with an intentional community pushed him to pursue his Doctorate of Educational Leadership. It also describes the author's way of living while honed as an educator in the traditional style of educational theory at Pacific Lutheran University.

The article offers the author's insights about the impact of the Pacific-Slope Flycatcher to herself. She talks about living in the Emerald Earth Sanctuary, an intentional community in Boonville, California. Particular focus is also given to Adivasi villagers in India, Quechua Indians of Peru, and dancers in Swaziland.

The author discusses the significance of having consensus among the community service centers in the U.S. Accordingly, the author recognizes the necessity of having consensus among the community centers particularly in dealing with the political side of community service and cites the importance of voting among the workers within a certain community center.

The article focuses on the author's community involvement experiences. He appreciates the core values to match with his ideals which differ from the concept of dominant culture. He shows dedication in working with Lost Valley Education Center as editor, coordinator of organic vegetable garden and a publisher of an organic songbook. He explains the goal of the community pertaining to the concept breakdown of the term "in community."

The article discusses the principles of the Federation of Egalitarian Communities (FEC) and its practice of nonviolence approach. FEC is a network of communal group that values nonviolence, egalitarianism and decision-making. The values of FEC members are to accept responsibility for the staple needs of the people living in the community and the possession of land and labor. FEC communities personify nonviolence and frameworks peaceful and wholesome lifestyle for the world.

The article discusses issues concerning the impact of organic food on community life in Missouri. The Sandhill Farm is breeding and selling organic food with sorghum as the main crop. The opportunities for community leading from the Peak Oil crisis include the increase trust on locally produced goods which means money and jobs will be closer to home. On the other hand, energy costs will decrease which means survival of local businesses and a reverse of the fortunes of small town life.

Discusses the importance of communication in the community in the United States. Life of the author in an urban intentional community; Ethos to community communication; View by the author that it helps to think out loud.

Discusses reasons residents are leaving the cohousing community in the United States. Dissatisfaction with the community; Job offer in another place; Need to care for family members in another state; Absence of values match.

Discusses how the first principle guiding the Federation of Egalitarian Communities (FEC), Each of the Federation communities holds its land, labor, income and other resources in common, is realized in an FEC community in Seattle, Washington. Purchase of a condemned house at a bargain price; Birth of the Emma Goldman Finishing School; Experiment with a labor-sharing system.

Presents news concerning community groups in the United States as of September 2005. Participation by communitarians from the Americans in the 9th Continental Bioregional Congress; Formation of the Community Living of Southeast Wisconsin by six communities in southeast Wisconsin.

Provides tips on how to improve relations within the cooperative housing in the U.S. Inclusion of shared access to high-speed Internet; People of diverse backgrounds and skills working projects; Consideration of the extended family members in community life.

This article reports that when the FIC named its conference series "The Art of Community," it wasn't a public relations ploy. That simple phrase conveys the essence of building and sustaining intentional communities. Living in community is analogous to other artistic pursuits such as ballet, writing poetry, or painting with watercolors. There are four areas of community living that can serve as vital signs for the health of any group, namely, vision, leadership, accomplishments, and morale. An accurate assessment of those areas can be a useful tool for predicting whether a community is going to thrive or whither. Communities that thrive tend to have a clearly articulated common purpose, especially those accompanied by a logical plan for implementation. Some groups rely on a founder or other inspiring individual to articulate and reaffirm the vision, some have a leadership core group, and others are thoroughly decentralized.

This article focuses on the importance of art and living in a community. Anthropologists tells that making art and living in community are two key factors that define civilization. Making art and living together are among the most recent steps in human evolution and are what makes people human. A short walk from the author's house are some rock paintings made by the Cahuilla People, who have lived in and around the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains of Southern California for about 3,500 years. The paintings are a long, horizontal line of simple diamond patterns in red paint on the face of a massive granite boulder that faces across the valley to Tahquitz Rock, the most prominent geological feature in the area. Members of the Cahuilla tribes say that the artwork was a traditional part of coming-of-age ceremonies for girls.

This article focuses on culture and agriculture at Sandhill Farm in Missouri. The author came to the Sandhill Farm from California to ask questions and to find answers about agriculture in the Midwest, but have found that concerns about farming are inseparable from questions of community. At Sandhill, a family-farm style intentional community with four full-time members and six-plus interns, sugar sorghum is more than just a commodity to be pumped from a machine, it is integral to the daily lives of the community, representing this community's labor and love. At Sandhill Farm, 10 human beings, until recently many of whom were strangers to each other, have found a space of peace and mutual support a makeshift family. Here, they process each other's happiness and sorrow and turn it into something sticky and sweet.

Comments on the aspects of establishing intentional communities in an election year in the U.S. Possibilities and pressures raise in an election year; Diversity in the issues and causes embraced by the communities movement activists; Implications of major political initiatives.

Describes the communal living at East Wind, an intentional community in Missouri. Means of living; Plans of the community to build large communal shower houses complete with amenities; Responsibilities of Nut-Butter Management Team. INSET: About East Wind.

Relates experience of helping a neighbor in a housing community in Washington. Help offered by community members in fixing a neighbor's house destructed by heavy snow; Tools and materials donated by other neighbors to help fix the house; Response of the owner to those who helped her.

Presents letters to the editor about topics related to community living in the U.S., published in the Spring 2004 issue of "Communities." "About the Review of New Encyclopedia of Communities," which answers to the review on the book "The Encyclopedia of Community"; "Corrections About Twin Oaks' Hammocks and Tofu," which clarifies the situation at the Twin Oaks Community; "Intentional Communities on the Radio," which provides information on efforts made by radio networks to help facilitate intentional communities.

Provides a guide concerning the quest for a community to join. Encouragement for community seekers to create a written summary of features wanted in a community; Features of the resource "Communities Directory"; Account of necessary knowledge to become a well-prepared community seeker.

Focuses on the importance of the development of a well-organized visitors program in any given community for community seekers. Repercussions concerning the lack of initiative to facilitate a visitors program; Aim of the Spring 2004 issue of "Communities" concerning community life; Overview of articles published in the magazine which explore topics involving visitors and community hosts.

Presents and author's account of how an individual named Julez became a member of the Sandhill Farm community in Missouri. Review of the story regarding a visitor who fell sick after driving three friends from a sister community on the East Coast to Sandhill Farm; Reception by Sandhill Farm community members of the sick visitor; Recount of the encounter of Julez with the visitor who described to her the hospitality in Sandhill Farm.

Discusses the ways to measure community's success. Members' belief in the system; Participation of members in community activities; Personal growth of members; Impact of community and members on friends, neighbors and surrounding culture; Assessment of members' attitudes and feelings.

Focuses on the activities at Songaia, a cohousing community in Bothell, Washington. Annual community retreat of the community; Establishment of a mentoring program; Sharing circle activity of the community; Work of the group with stories. INSET: About Songaia.

Reports on the background of "Communities" periodical's decision to publish a fifth issue entitled Directory Update. Cost of postage in magazine publishing; Publisher Fellowship for Intentional Community; Efforts to put the magazine in the black and make it the flagship publication of the intentional communities movement; Additional expense of a cover, binding, and extra pages.

The article focuses on creating an ecovillage youth exchange program to help communities in implementing changes to community life and personal development. It states that the program may help in transfer of human resources, skills and knowledge by increasing the rate of information sharing between and within communities. It also discusses the views of youths of 10 European communities on involvement of various topics including creative projects, proper education, and personal development.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of living in an intentional community with an ill tempered woman. INSET: Divisiveness.

The article offers the author's insights on the basic process reminders for community life. The author says that meetings should be done with a good spirit and it is important to address and change poor energy during discussions. He mentions that the group must stand up or call for the attention to solve the problem on bullying. He adds that mission and values are complex and broader in an intentional community setting than an activist or a nonprofit group.

An essay is presented on the author's experience of growing and living at the EcoVillage in Ithaca, New York. It explores her trip into the forest that surrounds the village with scavenging for vines with curvatures. It also discusses the freedom in the village, the dark tag games she played with children, and the endless space and time for exploration in the village.

The article offers tips among younger individuals on the encouragement and realization on the value of elder status. The author introduces herself in two aspects, one referring to her elderly status in the international community and the other as an elder in the local Native American community wherein she is active as a storyteller. Moreover, tips are enumerated such as giving more importance of being in service to the elderly, paying attention to their needs, and giving community support.

The article offers reflection on the article about living in a community along with the elders and serving to the welfare and for the benefit among the elderly people in an assisted care facility. Dianne G. Brause and Marc Tobin commented on their respective article that have shown dedication to the welfare of its elders. Brause highlighted issues she confronted within the communities of elders while Tobin expressed admiration to what Brause had played in helping and sustaining the community.

The article discusses the author's experience of living in an economic system, based in relationship at Emerald Earth in Mendocino County, California. He describes the moment when he wakes up to the sound of a chicken that has laid eggs for breakfast. He relates that as he look around his house, he think of the people who has built the walls. He also points out that the main challenge of living at Emerald Earth is how to stay interconnected to the wider community.

The article offers information about the organizations co-founded by the residents of Ecovillage at Ithaca (EVI) in Ithaca, New York. The Sustainability Education at Ithaca was formed through the partnership of EVI members and the educators of Ithaca College which aimed to incorporate sustainability themes in the undergraduate curriculum of the college. The networking organization Sustainable Tompkins brings together people from business and nonprofit sectors to achieve regional sustainability.

The article offers tips and advice for people who are planning to have a community adventure. Get to know the community members, do not be embarrassed to ask questions or ask for what you need and be confident that you can manage all the obstacles. Get into situation with an open mind and heart to see if you can learn and experience things you have never been through . Discover and built boundaries between your personal time and community time.

The article provides information about the editorial policy of the magazine "Communities." Communities is a forum for exploring intentional communities, cooperative living, and ways where readers bring a sense of community into their daily lives. On the other hand, the magazine do not publish articles that advocate violent practices, or advocate a community interfere with its member's right to leave. Moreover, it aims for a balance reporting.

The article offers information about the periodical "Communities." The journal is an assembly for searching designed communities and corporate living. It provides thoughts regarding how an individual live cooperatively and work problems in a peaceful manner. It searches contributions which profiles community living and news about living and organizing communities. The journal introduces articles that light up past and present community experiences and cultural issues.

The article presents several lessons learned from characters in the "Harry Potter" book series which include Hermione, Dumbledore and Hagrid. The characters reflect on their persona to the real community. It is emphasized the significance of loving each other as one of the strongest powers that a man can draw upon in his time of need.

This article presents information on several novels on community living. In "Walden Two," B.F. Skinner shows how the science of behaviorism can be used to induce socially desirable ways of interacting. Early chapters of "The Dispossessed," by renowned science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin, describe the communal income-sharing society the protagonist grew up in, recalled as he journeys to visit the mainstream society from which his culture succeeded. His communal society is rather extreme in its desire to make everyone equal. "Woman on the Edge of Time," is set in a mental hospital in contemporary New York and a village-scale community in New England of the future, the time-traveling Latina protagonist contrasts the contemporary welfare and mental health systems with this rural/decentralized, multicultural, multiracial future culture.

Focuses on the life in a community. Arrest of people for demonstrating their belief; Habit of spending; Planting in the community garden.

Features several ecovillages and intentional communities worldwide. Description of EcoVillage at Ithaca in New York; Activities of the La Caravana Arcoiris por La Paz; Purpose of the establishment of the Deir Mar Musa community in Damascus, Syria.

Lists internships in community living in the U.S. Free creative summer residencies for gay writers, artists and craftsmen at the Hermitage in Pittman, Pennsylvania; Internships in sustainable community living at Sandhill Farm in Rutledge, Missouri.