Community Living - Beech Hill

IMAGINE a home where you share the living space, meals and chores with 16 other people. You may think this sounds like hell. But to the residents of Beech Hill Community, near Crediton, it is a daily reality - and that's how they like it.

Beech Hill, a large period house with more than six acres of land, is an 'intentional community', where residents pursue a communal ideal.

Contrary to popular belief, communes didn't all flower and die in the heady Sixties. Diggers and Dreamers, a directory of communal groups, now lists more than 80 nationwide, although the editors estimate there are in fact between 700 and 800. There are thousands more communities worldwide, and in the United states alone there are estimated to be well over 2,000.

The common feature of intentional communities is sharing, and what is shared may include resources, eating, child-rearing, social life, living space, political ideology and decision making. There are degrees of communalism, however, and groups vary greatly in size, structure, social organisation and purpose.

At Beech Hill there is no clearly defined focus; residents simply agree that they enjoy sharing, whether it be growing organic vegetables, planning eco projects or simply conversation and ideas. Judging by the fact that the community has survived for nearly 20 years, it clearly works.

In their entry in Diggers and Dreamers, the self-styled 'Be-Chillies' say:
"We do not want our community to be a place of dogmatism, judgement or preaching. We value our diversity and flexibility. We aim to care for one another and enjoy life as it happens."

At present there are five men, seven women, two teenagers, three children and several dogs and cats at the community. Accommodation is both leasehold and rented, in the 30-room main house and in converted outbuildings across the courtyard. There is a Victorian walled garden, a paddock that is home to three sheep and a flock of chickens, an orchard, a little vineyard, a swimming pool, compost toilets and a reed bed sewage system. Space is occasionally rented by course groups, and Beech Hill is also the base for the parish community composting scheme, which recycles large amounts of garden waste.

Most adults work part-time outside the community, in fields such as education, complementary health and writing or editing. One communard even has a successful sideline presiding at alternative weddings and funerals.

There is a shared evening meal, but no rotas - Be-Chillies prefer to volunteer for jobs. And there are plenty of birthdays to celebrate, with cakes, candles and song.

The freehold at Beech Hill is owned by a company set up by the community with loans on property likely to be paid off in about 10 years time. But the 'engine' that runs the place on a daily basis is a second company, a community co-operative, which meets each week.

Each resident is encouraged to become a director, and decisions are made by consensus, a system that works remarkably well. When personal conflicts arise, residents are encouraged to try and sort them out on a one-to-one basis.

I have been at Beech Hill for 10 years and have found it a very rich place to live. It has certainly given me lots of joy over the years.

The emotional support is tremendous, and when we share energy pursuing a common goal, it feels great.

There is a down side, of course. It often feels like there is too much to do, whether it is domestic work, maintenance of the lovely old house, gardening or dealing with interpersonal issues. And when residents move out, and new people move in, it can feel a bit exhausting, but fortunately we have been quite a stable community over the years. Hazel Underwood, a teacher, who moved in after living in towns all her life, said:
"Living here I feel a greater connection with nature, the people I live with, the food we eat, the resources we use and the waste we produce. I am more aware of the impact of my decisions, actions and energy on those around me and the land we share." SIMON McEWAN

Beech Hill, at Morchard Bishop, currently has some space available. Prospective new residents are encouraged to attend Visitor Weekends to learn more about the community.



For more information, call 01363-877228 or 877587.
The Diggers and Dreamers website is http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/edgeoftime.