LITR 5737: Literary & Historical Utopias
Historical Presentation 2007

Monday, 11 June:

Historical presentation: Jo Lynn Sallee: Twin Oaks

Modern Day Utopias (?)

Twin Oaks Community

Course objectives:

3e. What relations are there between fictional and actual utopian communities?  What has been the historical impact of utopian fictions?

3g. What is utopia’s relation to time and history?  Does a utopia stop in time, as with the millennial rapture of an idea of perfection?  Or can utopias change, evolve, and adapt to the changes in history?

The Twin Oaks community runs on a similar communal work ethic portrayed in Bellamy’s Looking Backward.  However, they do not considered themselves to be a perfect utopia.

History

  • Twin Oaks was founded in 1967 by a core group of 8 trying to emulate BF Skinner’s book about a fictional behaviorist community called Walden Two.  Kat still lives there.
     
  • One of thousands of communes to be established in America during the turbulent 60’s and 70’s.  While most would disappear, Twin Oaks still exists today.
     
  • Located on 465 acres in rural central Virginia.
     
  • The community was established as an escape from standard middle class values, an increasing violent society, and a desire to become more “earth friendly.”

 

Core Values

  • Egalitarian and income-sharing.
     
  • Non-violence – physical or verbal abuse is not tolerated in the community.  This includes a ban on spanking children.
     
  • Television is banned because many members want to live free of the influences of produced mass-media.

 

Leadership

  • There is no one leader.  Their system is based on the Walden Two Planner-Manager system.

 

Ecotopia

  • Twin Oaks produces a significant amount of their own food including vegetables, fruit, beans and meat.  Members may make their diet choices based on knowing they are eating organic, free-range, locally-produced food.
     
  • Sharing houses and producing their food reduces their “footprint” on the earth.  Members see themselves as being gentler on the earth.
     
  • Alternative energy features include passive solar energy, super insulation,
    skylights and suntubes for natural lighting, wood heat, solar hot water and
    photovoltaic solar electricity in one residence.

 

Religion

  • There is no set religion.  The community claims to be secular and non-religious.  Personal spiritual paths are left to the individual.

 

Work

  • Each member works 45 hours per week and is responsible for keeping a daily/weekly work log.
     
  • Members can choose from a variety of jobs within the community (except for dishwashing that is required for all to take a turn).
     
  • Members may choose what time of day their work is to be done. 

 

Business

  • Hammock making, indexing books for alternative publishers, making organic tofu, and woodworking.
     
  • Shared domestic work includes gardening, cooking, building maintenance, office work, construction, bicycle repair, etc.
     
  • Income is shared and all needs basic needs are met for members.  Members receive a $75.00 per month allowance.

 

Day-to-day life

  • There is a coffee house on the grounds where poetry and music can be
    performed. 
     
  • A pond is located on the property for swimming and canoeing.
     
  • There is a home theater, volleyball court and shared musical instruments.
     
  • Knowledgeable people regarding alternative health care, massage and
    home-birth are among the members.
     
  • Numerous clubs and activities can be pursued including a juggling group, a sewing/knitting group, a singing group as well as participation in varied political activism in nearby cities.
     
  • There are about 15 collective computers that are connected to the internet.  Members are also allowed to bring personal laptops and desktops to keep in
    their rooms.
     
  • Personal possessions such as books, musical instruments, cameras, stereos
    and CD’s can also be brought to community.
     
  • There are about 18 shared vehicles for the 85 members.   A designated “day
    tripper” will run collective errands for members.  Bicycles are the main form of transportation.  All bikes are shared. 

 

Gender roles (feminist utopia?)

  • Men and women are encouraged to be whoever they are and members will step outside of “traditional” roles.  All are expected to take a turn at taking care of children and doing domestic chores.
     
  • A Women’s Gathering is held every summer with drumming, dancing, music and more.  Women from outside the community are also encouraged to attend.

 

Population

  • Currently there are approximately 85 adults and 15 children.
     
  • Resident median age is 41 and the average stay in the community is 7 years.
     
  • Reasons for leaving can range from a broken relationship to a need for more traditional housing.

 

Children

  • The original attempt to copy the Walden Two child-care system failed as individual parents wanted more control over their offspring.  Parents now raise their own
    children respecting the values and norms of the community.
     
  • Permission must be granted for a member wishing to conceive or adopt a child. 
    Women are encouraged to have only one child.   
     
  • For children, Twin Oaks may seem like an eternal summer camp without many
    of the consuming fears and pressures of the outside world.  However, at this
    time there are no second generation members.
     
  • Various options are available for educating children.  Parents may choose from home-schooling, public schools, Montessori schools, etc. 

 

Conflict

  • Conflict that cannot be solved by mutual conversation will be referred to a
    mediated meeting with a third party present.

 

Housing

  • Each member is furnished with their own bedroom in one of 8 common houses.  Bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are communal.
     
  • Bedroom furniture will be provided or you can bring your own. 

 

Lifestyles/relationships

  • Members may be single, married, gay, bi-sexual, celibate or “polyamorous.” 
    There is no community norm or expectation.

 

Visitors

  • Twin Oaks gives tours most Saturday afternoons from March through October, and most alternating Saturdays from November through February.

 

How do I join?

  • 3 week visitor program includes – meetings, tours and conversations with
    members, learning about the financial, legal, health and governmental structures
    at Twin Oaks. 
     
  • Visits are arranged by letter only, and not over the telephone.
     
  • NO DROP INS – to stay the night a guest must be sponsored by a member.

 

Society for Utopian Studies (Montreal) – Dr. White met “Nexus,” a resident of
Twin Oaks 

  • Nexus had an androgynous 1960’s (hippie) type of appearance.
     
  • Likeable but almost like a visitor from another planet.  He was honest and not
    afraid of sharing, but also restrained.
     
  • He stated that to understand the community “you need to be there.”

 

Questions for discussion:

1.  Twin Oaks was founded by members in their twenties.  Now the average member is in their forties. Will the community be able to draw younger members in order to survive
another twenty years, or is the community doomed to die out along with its future elderly members?

 

2.  What attracts a modern prospective member to an ecotopia such as Twin Oaks? 
Does their appearance of being “stopped in time” prove a seductive factor?

 

3.  What attributes contribute to the long-term success of this community?

 

Twin Oaks Community

138 Twin Oaks Road #W

Louisa, VA 23092 USA

 

Sources and Links

Twin Oaks Community web page– www.twinoaks.org

Member “Valerie” writes about her experiences – http://ahimazine.com/arch/twinoaks.html

The Other American Dream – Washington Post Story – http://www.twinoaks.org/members/paxus/dream

Interview with Dr. White on June 5, 2007.

2005 Litr 5737 – Matthew Mayo, “Twin Oaks: an ecotopia” – http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Whitec