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118.
COMMUNITIES #1-2, #4, and #8 (Louisa, VA: December 1972 - May/June 1974).
4to. Stapled wrps., each 64pp. Photo-illustrated. Four issues of this bi-monthly inter-communal magazine produced by the Twin Oaks community in Virginia.
The first issue, featuring a commune directory, states its purpose as "describing and discussing communes, co-ops, and collectives; concepts, ideologies, and theories dealing with our efforts to build a better world, a peaceful one in which all people will be able to live happy, productive lives without exploiting others." Three articles in the first issue are written by women ("It's time for women to speak - and for men to listen"), one of them on selecting potential commune members (4pp.): "don't accept sloths, boors, crazy people, or too many dependents." Another focuses on the history of "Women and Communal Societies" (4pp.), and "Women in Community", the transcript of a taped group discussion, appears in issue #8.
Other articles feature Camphill Village in upstate New York (founded in 1961 for people with special needs), and Twin Oaks itself (5pp.), along with eco-anarchist Murray Bookchin asking the question: "Is this new technology staking out a new dimension in human freedom, in the liberation of man?" (5pp.). A 'Grapevine' section prints "reports from existing communes, communities, or cooperatives", and the 'Reach' sections aims to establish a communication network "to help people contact other people: individuals looking for other individuals, groups forming, people looking for communities to join" (6pp).
Further articles include features on communities such as Open Gate (Oregon), Papaya (Hawaii), Changes (Chicago), and The Farm (Tennessee); plus a report from a conference in Santa Barbara on the "Future of the Counter-Culture"; an 8pp. feature on open relationships and coping with jealousy; "The Community Market Cooperative Catalog", a 9pp. marketing service for communes… and other new age groups with products and services to offer"; and guidance on the perennial issues of waste disposal and washing up.
Newsprint age-toned; partial off-setting to covers of #4 and #8; o/w Very Good plus.
