Dancing Bones

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Dancing Bones

Located in Wentworth, New Hampshire, United States

Mission Statement
Simply Living, Interdependently.

Community Description
Dancing Bones is located in the Baker River Valley and the entrance to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The Connecticut River is a 20 minute drive and the Appalachian Trail is 1.4 miles from the end of our driveway. There are many other ponds, streams, lakes, hiking trails, rock climbing and camping opportunities close at hand, to say nothing of the wintertime activities. The nearest gas station is ten minutes away and the nearest major shopping destinations are 30+ minutes away.

The community is situated hillside, amongst 40 acres of deciduous forest. A 16×32 cabin functions as our community building with shared kitchen, shower and laundry. For overnight visitors, we have indoor, four season accommodations available. Peppered throughout are a handful of residential cabins. Each cabin is given a name that reflects the character of the person/people who originally built it or the function it serves. All residences and public privies use a humanure composting toilet system.

The land is held in a community trust. The trust is made of nine members, three from Dancing Bones and six from the greater community. The trust leases the land to Dancing Bones residents. All residential decisions are made using consensus.

We are ever striving to increase the interdependence of community relationships. Participants are emotionally, economically, ecologically and/or morally reliant on and responsible to each other.

While the residents of Dancing Bones are diverse, there are common values and interests we share. These values include deliberate decision making and action, personal responsibility and social inclusion and involvement. As a result, our interests tend towards unschooling, attachment parenting, alternative technologies and construction, non-mainstream diet and hygiene, temperament theory, voluntary simplicity and an appreciation for the undomesticated aspects of life.

Once a week, we have a shared meal following our business meeting, both open to all visitors.

We are *always* seeking new community members. We’re looking for adaptable, committed, hearty folks who respect the consensus process and seek interdependence.

Housing
Status: We have land we have developed on
Area: 40 acres
Current Residence Types: Room(s) in a house or building, Tiny house
Current Number of Residences: 7
Planned Residence Types: open to prospective structures
Housing Provided: Included in Membership
Land owned by: Community controlled land trust
Additional Comments:
All residential cabins are heated with wood.

Membership
Adult Members: 7
Child Members: 4
Percent Women: 31-40%
Percent Men: 61-70%
Percent Transgender: 0%
Visitors accepted: Yes
Visitor Process:
Send an email to set up a time that works for you and the community. We have a “two weeks free” visitor policy. We need to know upfront about any animals, large or seemingly insignificant, that you have and would like to bring with you. Animals must be under the owners responsible control at all times.
Open to new Members: Yes
Membership Process:
During the “two weeks free” guest period, you would attend weekly community meetings and get to know all the residents of Dancing Bones. If after two weeks you have not been asked to leave, you would then become a full voting resident.
Additional Comments:
Regular attendance to weekly meetings is required by all individuals. This includes visitors and full voting residents.

Economics
Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: Yes
Regular Fee per Month: $275
Shared Income: None
Required Labor Contribution: Encouraged or suggested
Open to members with existing debt: Yes
Additional Comments:
We share utilities, taxes, maintenance and infrastructure costs, all of which is covered in the monthly fee. This fee is revisited at a yearly budget meeting.

Sustainability Practices
Energy Infrastructure: We are connected to the grid.
Current renewable energy generation: 50-75%
Energy sources: Solar, Biofuel
Planned renewable energy generation: Almost All, around 90%
Current food produced: Up to 25%
Planned food produced: Almost All, around 90%
Food produced locally: From 50-75%

Lifestyle
Common Facilities: Common House, Garden(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Internet, Shower
Internet Available: Yes, community provides it
Internet Fast?: Yes, it’s fine.
Cell Phone Service: Good for most people.
Shared meals: About once a week
Dietary Choice or Restrictions: No – people may eat however they wish.
Special Diets OK: Sometimes
Alcohol Use: Yes, used occasionally.
Tobacco Use: Yes, used occasionally.
Additional Diet Comments:
We have shared meals every week after business meetings.
We have a few small communal and private gardens in addition to wild foraging.
Smoking is not permitted during business meetings or in communal structures.
Education Style(s): Home Schooling
Healthcare Options: Up to each family or individual

Source: http://www.dancingbones.net
             https://www.ic.org/directory/dancing-bones/