Topic: Twin Oaks

Greg Carlwood reflects on previous discussions regarding conceptual projects like New Earth Nation and the Venus Project, noting listener frustration with the lack of tangible, existing communities. He introduces the Acorn Community and its sister site, Twin Oaks, as functional examples of egalitarian living in rural Virginia. The host explains that these pockets of community offer an alternative to the consumer-driven system through togetherness and shared business models.

Guests Belladonna and Marduk join the program to discuss their lives within the Acorn Community in rural Virginia. Marduk describes discovering the Federation of Egalitarian Communities (FEC) website while serving in the Army and seeking an alternative to the status quo. Belladonna shares her journey from childhood interest in communes to her involvement with the Occupy movement, which eventually led her to Twin Oaks and then Acorn.

The history of Twin Oaks is traced back to 1967, when Kat Kincaid founded it based on B.F. Skinner’s book *Walden Two*. The guests describe the community's evolution from behaviorist roots to a successful commune supported by hammock and tofu businesses. They also highlight the advantages of communal childcare, where raising children is considered creditable labor, allowing parents to spend more time with their kids in an extended family environment.