Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, a chance for a new beginning

As my marriage began to crumble in 2001, and the reality was in my face that I would have to make a new plan, I started on the course of change.  I knew that I wanted to work with pregnant women, and I immediately took a workshop to learn about being a birth doula.   There was the urging feeling inside that kept saying, “prepare for the future”.  I had some prior experience in visiting over the years with my sister who lives in a 20 year old intentional community in Alabama.     Each time I left her home, I felt an empty spot in my heart.  I really enjoyed the experiences there and began to think about living like that myself.  Unfortunately her community is full, and has been for a few years.  There is no hope to live there in the immediate future.  I took some time to begin searching the internet for other communities, and found the Intentional Communities Website.   I was amazed that there are several communities for almost everyone who is interested.  Skimming through the extreme right wing and conservative communities, I kept coming upon the website for Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage.  I really thought, “Who would name their community that!”.  However, for weeks I visited their website over and over, reading throughout their site about their vision, their pacts (environmental) and their way of making decisions.  The photos were so impressive…they showed REAL people getting real dirty growing gardens, raising houses and playing together.  I knew that I wanted to live in this type of community eventually.  Over the years I have contacted them about their community, and I believe that this summer I will visit there with my children, to see first hand what it would be like living in community with the Rabbits. 

It is possible that we will want to be Rabbits too, but there is a process where interested parties apply, have a probation period and eventually become full fledged members.  They don’t just accept people off the street.  They want to see how they will get along with the person or family.

At this time, they are open to families and I feel this is my chance to visit and see how it will work out for us. 

Being a part of a community is something you shouldn’t take lightly.  If you think you are community material/minded, and you would like to spend your day working and playing, maybe you should check it out too.