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April Poland
Приєднався 19 січ 2014
Review of Acron, Mimosa, Cambia, and Living Energy Farm in Louisa, VA
#cambiacommunity #livingenergyfarm #mimosacommunity #acorncommunity #communities #louisava
Переглядів: 2 148
Відео
Review of my 3 week visitor program at Twin Oaks in Louisa, VA!
Переглядів 4,5 тис.4 роки тому
#twinoaks #community #louisava #thewayofthefuture
Review of Twin Oaks Community after my tour!
Переглядів 2,3 тис.4 роки тому
Took a 3 hour tour of twin oaks community. I talk about what I learned and my opinion of what I saw.
So how are you doing / where are you at these days?
Sustainability is hard to achieve when everybody is spending all their time trying to create new names for their genitals.
What would you need money for?
To leave if you wanted, to buy anything for yourself, to save. I could go on and on.
They seem like they could use some cavemen like me. I don't have any problems working and I kiss butt just fine, but I'll just live in the dirt and tell everyone to kiss my butt just to give them something to talk about. They would love me. Doesn't hurt that I spent my life living off the land and building or fixing anything you can think of. I might just become a hermit and live in the woods around there just so I can be around people with good attitudes. I'd have to work some of the left wing intellectual out of them though.
His house... Magnolia has a lot of mold in the basement!!! I dont know if hay was better or not
So appreciate your honesty!! I've been researching for a long time... and this explains SO. MUCH. that I haven't heard/read yet.! Frustrating that I'd have to have gone through a lot I wouldn't be in-line with, so thank you for that! I wish them well, but sounds like it doesn't align with me/my intentions/hopes/dreams. Glad you were vocal!! Hope you've found something that resonates with you!
If work is hard to come by then that defeats the purpose of a commune for me….there should be unlimited work. Twin Oaks sells too much outside the community
I see online that they drink alcoholic drinks. Did you see anyone who seemed dependent on alcohol or got drunk a lot?
I did not!
Thanks for your candor!
Twin oaks is dirty. No one takes any pride in the buildings/ structures. The members are miserable group of individuals. Everyone is afraid they are working one second more than the other person. It’s just filthy and falling apart.
Hi April! You seem to be in some need of education surrounding pronoun usage in general~ Using pronouns that don't fit a persons gender can cause a massive amount of discomfort and unease. Remembering the right pronouns all of the time can be difficult, but it is a relatively very small challenge compared to how it feels for a trans person to be misgendered. Everyone communicating their pronouns right away creates a more inclusive and accepting place for transgender people! This is a good opportunity to learn more about transgender people and be aware of your privilege as a cisgender person. Thank you for reading.
Hi Rowan, lol...my privilege as a cisgender person🤣... You have no idea who I am or my struggles. I am really baffled you would even think i was cisgender. I have been in the LGBTQIA community before gay marriage was legalized in the states. My ex wife and I had to go to Canada to get married. I have been on and off of testosterone only for too many negative side effects. If I had $10,000 dollars I would do top surgery in a heart beat. But you can label me as a cisgender if you want because I don't care, I know who I am. If it takes a pronoun for you to know who you are then you can live in that box. I choose not too. I live in a world where all humans are treated equal as humans not because of the gender they identify with. I wish you the best in your transition and good luck with life.✌️
@@aprilpoland684 Hi again, April. Sorry for assuming you are cisgender. I made that assumption because I often hear cis people around me complaining about learning pronouns, while being unaware of how helpful/important it can be for some people. However, just because you aren't cisgender, and a relatively older member of the LGBTQIA community, that doesn't mean you don't hold any views that could be problematic. It doesn't take a pronoun for me to know who I am. First and foremost, I am always me! But in the English language, we use pronouns all of the time. Only one set of pronouns feels right to me, and different ones make me uncomfortable/dysphoric in conversation. I bet most cisgender people would feel the same way if they were talked about as if they were a different gender. For trans people whose appearance don't align with their internal self, it can be extra important for people to know the pronouns that they use. If you don't care what pronouns people use for you, then thats totally fine. But your trans experience is not the same as everyone else. Unless you're truly living in a space that uses no pronouns whatsoever, then why not opt for sharing pronouns and being more inclusive/comforting for those who are often the minority and seen as "other"? I believe it is the more empathetic and friendly thing to do :) I feel skeptical of your world where one's gender identity doesn't alter a perceiver's thoughts/actions in some way. But if you're living in it, then congratulations because it's certainly not where I am, or anywhere that I know to exist. Best of luck to you. I hope you get your top surgery and don't let using/talking about pronouns prevent you from meeting some very cool trans people
lol 42 hours a week!!?!? lol. Thank you for your review. Very helpful.
i’ve been researching and the lack of AC is for sure a deal breaker.
I try to support Acorn by buying a lot of my seeds for gardening from them.
I've heard Twin Oaks doesn't accept people with mental health issues, which might include, what, most Americans? Yes, Twin Oaks has been hurt by a few suicides, but a member who had been a therapist told me, "Some of the people here are paranoid of people who have had mental health issues." I thought it amusing that some of the regular members viewed themselves as so much healthier, mentally, than visitors who had mild mental health issues. Anyway. I found your observation about male visitors interesting. I've heard that said about East Wind; that male visitors are viewed more harshly. Which I find sad as being male entails much social isolation, to the point of higher suicide rates. When I visited Twin Oaks decades ago, I was depressed and the visit was stressful. Lastly you mentioned heat. I think these places their own worst enemies in this regard, as few Americans will give up AC. Why not at least one room with it? I've heard lack of AC was a reason Twin Oaks founder Kat Kincade left when she got old. Hey, I'm glad you reviewed a community. Too many people visit these places at great expense without ever learning how others have perceived the places. Thanks for the valuable info.
Kat managed to finagle her way into the largest room in the new residence being built. She got a medical exemption that allowed her to have an ac unit in her room. Kat also always had a medical exemption so she didn't have to do a dish shift. And though she was labor manager, she never had to do labor sheets because she hated it. Kat got whatever she wanted. I was working on a project at 3AM and she comes parading into the office and insists I get off the computer because she wanted to use it. It was 3AM and no one was up, but she couldn't sleep and decided to use the computer. Kat had her following at TO, but generally speaking, she was not well liked. She was a person best avoided. For her, the community movement had failed and she was stuck in a place she really didn't want to be. When you are at TO (and certainly East Wind) for a long time, you really can't leave. Some people like living there, but others feel trapped. Most people leave within a couple of years. They see what going on and that they are wasting their time looking for a rainbow at the end of a dead end road.
Hi! I don't know if you'll see this BUT... I'm really really interested in visiting Twin Oaks. How long after you sent your introduction letter asking to come visit did you get a response from the community?
What was the average age...what if you get older like in your 60s and can't work 40 hours? Seems like they are still participating in capitalism to much and seems a bit hippier than needed. Love to work but that clockwork society method seems to be falling apart there. I do believe in the shareable resource based society and I think democracies work great in like minded small groups.
I love your video. You seem to have knowledge on other communities. I’d love to see more videos on this. PS - you’re adorable
So some thing I was really wondering about, if you would be so kind to share… Even though you’ve been mostly positive about the experience you were honest to say that they did not invite you back and it feels like I don’t know listening to you I can’t imagine why but I was wondering if you feel that it was because of a vocalizing your thoughts can you share with us what specifically you think made them decide not to choose you? I just feel it would be really helpful for us to understand what you and your honest perspective feel it was. Thank you so much for this video IA have a family history in Louisa and mineral Virginia and have wondered about this place for a long time. I’ve often thought that it would be just a wonderful lifestyle if it is not cult-like.
Love this honest and fair review. Even down to the details of the shape things are in and clutter. (Yep, I can’t do clutter 🤦🏼♀️) I’d love to see your reviews on other communities such as Dancing Rabbit or The Farm (in summertown, TN)
I’ve been looking into the community life, and your videos have been incredibly helpful. It really helps one understand what to expect.
$700 for one shift at a dog kennel?
Once a week for a month. Slept at the kennel overnight.
I never heard of any place paying that much. I need to work at that kennel.
Not sure about Twin Oaks but some are downright scammy about financial assets
The only scam with TO is they claim to be a religious community for tax purposes. They are in no sense a religious community. The courts have ruled otherwise however so whatever.
Thank you for this. I am just beginning my exploration of Intentional Ecovillages. I ordered Diana Leafe Christian's books, and I am plotting and planning my adventures. This kind of review is very helpful because it reveals the "shadow" aspect of these "utopian" communities. Meantime I bought The Cobden Cottage, a small holding in a rural community in Southern Illinois with the intention of creating an intentional regenerative farm. Here's a little video I made about my first year here after 23 years of living in urban California: ua-cam.com/video/fj4T5qBTkJU/v-deo.html
Thank you for doing this! Be well.
I too wish we could get away with pronouns. Just one descriptor for all. It’s a difficult subject when you don’t want to offend. Be well!!!
conned into doing labor for free 3 weeks.
Nah. You can't stay anywhere for free. Plus I want to work towards something/build something with other like minded people. They just weren't my people.
@@aprilpoland684 i investigated them about 5 years ago, after some research i quickly realized their whole "community" is just a scam for labor and exploitation. the elders are looking out for themselves. all of their policies are designed in this manner. also if you google how ruthless they are to older members with health issues.. its a pretty dystopian community. you got lucky to not get stuck there.
It's not really a con. You must have known all that before you arrived. Also, it's not exactly 'free'; there is a visitor fee ... you are expected to pay.
so did you join any of these communities if you dont mind asking?
Thank you for your honest review!!
Shit gay as hell
Thank you for sharing and being vocal about all this ❤
I didn't know places like this really existed and am trying to gather info; thank you for talking about this. I'm not sure I'm understanding the asset aspect - if you have savings in a bank account, are you allowed to keep that, or do they take that and give it back when/if you leave?
Hello! What I understood was if you became a member you were able to keep any assets you obtained before becoming a member. If you received any assets after becoming a member then you shared with the community. However there were a lot of rules and best to ask the nice people at Twin Oaks. Good luck gathering info!
@@aprilpoland684 Thanks so much!
Thanks for this review. It sounds like it wasn't a good fit for you but I love living very openly and don't care if others hear me. The poly part and respecting pronouns sounds great to me too. Really appreciate this.
Sounds like it would be a good place for you!
Thank you for this review 🙏
Super cool.
6 different communities in Louisa County??? I have lived here off and on since the 80s...I didnt know.
What kind of dog kennel were you working at where you could make $700 in one night?
How do they really know how much money or assets you have, as long as you don't visibly spend it? How do they check if you have a bank account?
You have a pretty name lissa
So you didnt encounter any cult type stuff?
42h is long..
Not actually, if you're coming from a system which expects 40h/wk to make money to pay for your life and then you have to do all of your own chores (cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, (potentially) childcare, doctors appointments, commuting, etc. on top of those hours. 42 can encompass everything I mentioned and more.
Hi ! You re really not holding back. Honesty is not always appreciated.... I like you, have a cupcake !! 😁👍
Are you currently living in a community ?
Living Energy Farm 🙏🏽❤️🌻
God your fine. 😍 Can’t concentrate on the video 🤦🏽♀️
🥰Thank you😊
I’d love to be apart of a community. I’d be willing to purchase land with a group of people and start something 😬😬😬
Same here!
Not a good experience... I'm sorry
Hi April, thanks for the video! I'm not interested in living in Twin Oaks or a similar place (I somehow read about it and started down the rabbit hole, eventually watching some videos.) I want to say that I appreciate your common-sense approach to the review. I should not have judged you by how you look (I thought your video would be a ringing endorsement for their community) 🤔🙄🤨😊 Your talking about the pronouns being a source of drama is exactly how I feel: sure, go ahead and tell people what you want to be called, but let's not make it a huge deal! 🙃 It is what is. Anyways, if more people knew about this community, I bet your video will get a lot more views.🥳 But thank you for going and for sharing you honest experience. You see like a nice person, and if you ever stated your OWN community, I think it would be a great place to live!👍👌 About your being there during the beginning of the virus: Funny that communists would be writing their wills! I found that funny. I didn't think the community elders would own ANYTHING! 🤔🤨😜 This is something I had no clue existed but will be going down the rabbit hole. I bet my wife would love the videos. She's always interested in 'unusual' communities and ways of life, religions, etc. I don't see any other videos on your channel; did you get around to making them? ✌️
Brilliant review! You're such a chill person, love it x
Oh damn, they are woke there? I'm a guy, people should not be confused what to say.
Hey April, this is a super useful rundown! What kind of skillsets were they looking for at Acorn?