| This case study seeks to understand the interaction between two communities in Western Massachusetts, one "intentional" and one "natural." The intentional community is a self-described "ecovillage" based on principles of environmentalism, spirituality, community and education. The natural community is the rural "host" town in which the ecovillage exists. Examined here are the ways members of both communities define community for themselves; their perceived barriers to, and facilitators of, community building and maintenance; the interaction between the two communities; and larger societal impacts on their interaction.;Members of both communities defined community primarily in terms of physical location, interests, and relationships. Ecovillage members reported more definitions and cited "intentionality" as an important defining factor in their community. Participants cited a variety of factors that led them to feel more or less connected to others in their group, such as expectations of other residents and the physical design of the communities.;Most participants cited little to no interaction between the two groups. Reasons given centered around physical distance, different interests or values, and weak relationships, with ecovillage residents emphasizing different interests or values but town residents emphasizing physical distance. Perceptions of one another were also negatively affected by public policy, such as zoning and tax codes. However, participants also discussed specific points of interaction, positive changes in the relationship over time and the creation of a third community surrounding the ecovillage made up of friends and former members. Future research could explore the role of "bridging" community members, "neutral" spaces for interaction, and institutionalized contact in creating deeper and broader connections between ecovillages and their rural host communities. |
