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Walden III Or Cult: Examining the Organization and Structure of Life Within Contemporary Intentional Permaculture Communities Abstract Approved

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Walden III Or Cult: Examining the Organization and Structure of Life Within Contemporary Intentional Permaculture Communities Abstract Approved Walden III or Cult: Examining the Organization and Structure of Life within Contemporary Intentional Permaculture Communities By Suzanne M. Moberly Submitted to Plymouth State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education November 17, 2014 AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF Suzanne M. Moberly for the degree of Doctor of Education, Learning, Leadership, and Community presented on November 17, 2014. Title: Walden III or Cult: Examining the Organization and Structure of Life within Contemporary Intentional Permaculture Communities Abstract approved: Marcel Lebrun, PhD Dissertation Committee Chair Despite decades of economic and medical improvements since the end of World War II, Americans report they are less satisfied with their lives and more unhappy than they were 20 to 30 years ago. Americans in general enjoy a high standard of living, but also report feeling more stressed than individuals living in Third World countries. The spread of this cultural malaise has coincided with American communities across the country reporting a precipitous drop in the level of civic engagement. This has occurred in tandem with the dawning realization that personal happiness and well- being does not correlate with increased income levels beyond the point of meeting basic needs. This research focused on three intentional permaculture communities and determined there were factors of community cohesiveness and commitment that could transfer back into mainstream communities to rejuvenate depleted levels of social capital and civic engagement. Part of the requirement of residency in intentional permaculture communities is the expectation residents contribute to the community and share their life with other residents while leading a sustainable lifestyle. Understanding the organization and structure of life within these communities is of use to mainstream communities as we, as a nation, move toward rebuilding mainstream community structure to enhance individual well-being, increase levels of civic engagement, and move our First World nation into becoming a responsible global partner. Key words: intentional community, permaculture, permaculture communities, ecovillage, sustainability, well-being, anti-consumerism, Transition Town, La Cité Écologique, D’Acres, Findhorn, environmentalism, civic engagement, social capital, Walden, high and low context culture ©Copyright by Suzanne M. Moberly November 17, 2014 All Rights Reserved Walden III or Cult: Examining the Organization and Structure of Life within Contemporary Intentional Permaculture Communities By Suzanne M. Moberly A DISSERTATION Submitted to Plymouth State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education Defended November 17, 2014 Degree Conferral December 1, 2014 Dissertation of Suzanne M. Moberly Presented on November 17, 2014 APPROVED: Marcel Lebrun, PhD, Dissertation Committee Chair _____________________________________________________________________ Michael Fischler, EdD, Dissertation Committee _____________________________________________________________________ Katherine Donahue, PhD, Dissertation Committee _____________________________________________________________________ Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies I understand my dissertation will become part of the permanent collection of Plymouth State University, Lamson Library. My signature below authorizes release of my dissertation to any reader upon request. ____________________________________________________ Suzanne M. Moberly, Author Walden III i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I have been blessed throughout my life with the care and support of many amazing people. This fact has never been more poignant as I have progressed through my doctoral program at Plymouth State University (PSU). Although the ultimate achievement of completing a doctorate is mine, it would not have been possible without the loving support, guidance, and encouragement of a multitude of people. My blessings in life have grown exponentially through the care and support of the faculty of the doctoral program at PSU. Thank you! I particularly wish to extend a heartfelt thank you for the guidance and wisdom extended to me by Dr. Marcel Lebrun, my Dissertation Chair, who patiently read my chapters over and over, while offering practical advice and inspiration through every step of the process. Dr. Lebrun was very adept at keeping me on task, focused, and sane throughout this last year. I also wish to thank Dr. Lebrun for his continued mentoring and helping me transition to a higher level of self-identity. I also wish to thank the other members of my committee, Dr. Katherine Donahue and Dr. Michael Fischler, for their advice and encouragement as my dissertation developed from a concept into a concrete reality. Thanks to you both for fostering my scholarship and helping me to see myself through a new lens. The research for this dissertation would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of the community members of the intentional permaculture communities in this study: the Findhorn Foundation, La Cité Écologique, and D’Acres. I owe a debt of gratitude to you for taking an interest in my work and Walden III ii allowing me to ask hundreds of questions while granting me the privilege of living within your communities. Plus, you allowed me to interview them and graciously agreed to complete the surveys and questionnaires. I also wish to extend a very special thanks to Marie Josée Vallaint, Director of La Cité Écologique. I don’t know what I would have done without you and your support from the very beginning. Marie Josée Duval, Staff Attorney for La Cité Écologique, thank-you for your advice and careful reading. Maya and Maevá, thank you for being my friends as well. Josh Trought, Director of D’Acres, and Regina Rinaldo, community member, Thank you for supporting my course work and for allowing me to ask you endless questions. Peter Finch and Jörn Fiebig of the Findhorn Foundation, you were of tremendous help in moving my research along at the Cluny Education Center and on the Island of Erraid. Thank you! When it comes down to the essence of the root of support, this dissertation would not have been possible without the support of my loving husband, Dr. Alan Moberly, and my children: Scarlett, David, and Genevieve Moberly. This work is dedicated to all of you. I love you all from the bottom of my heart, and thank you for all that you have sacrificed to make this possible. I wish to thank the members of Summer Cohort I for your friendship, your laughter, and your love. We have shared a long and intense journey. Live long and prosper. Lastly, I wish to acknowledge the support of my friend, Melissa Brogna, for her formatting expertise and unwavering support. Walden III iii Table of Contents List of Figures……………………………………………………………...v Abstract………………………………………………………………..vi-vii Chapter 1: Introduction…………………...............................................1-15 Background…………………………………....................1-3 Conceptual Underpinnings……………………………...4-11 Rationale and Purpose………………………………….….11 Research Questions………………………………….....11-12 List of Terms……………………………………….…..12-13 Summary……………………………………………….13-15 Chapter 2: Literature Review………………………………………….16-46 Chapter 3: Research Design and Methodology………….…..................47-52 Problems and Purposes…………………………………47-48 Research Questions………………………………………...49 Research Design and Data Collection…………………..49-52 Chapter 4: Results…………………………………………. …………..53-84 Introduction…………………………………………………53 Research Questions……………………………………...53-54 Procedure………………………………………………...55-56 Participant Demographics…………………………….…56-64 Analysis of Data…………………………………….…...64-84 Walden III iv Chapter 5: Discussion and Recommendations for Future Research…...85-104 Summary………………………………………………....85-89 Discussion of Title……………………………………..…89-92 Correlation of Data to Research……………………..…....92-95 Discussion………………………………………….……..95-99 Recommendations for Future Research………….……...99-102 Conclusions…………………………………….………102-104 References………………………………................................................105-113 Appendix……………………………………………………..…………114-117 Table 1.1: Qualitative Face to Face Interview Questions......114 Table 1.2: Email Survey Qualitative Questions……….…….115 Table 1.3: Flourishing Scales………………………..............116 Table 1.4 Satisfaction with Life Scales…………….………..117 Walden III v LIST OF FIGURES 4.1 Number of Study Participants by Community………………………………..55 4.2 Study of Participants by Community…………………………………………55 4.3 Years of Membership…………………………………………………………56 4.4 Other Family Members Living With You in Community Face to Face Interview Participants…………………………………………………...……57 4.5 Gender Chart…………………….…………………………………………….60 4.6 Community Participants by Age Range……………………………………….61 4.7 Participants Level of Education……………………………………………….63 4.8 Coded Community Participant Results: Combined Face to Face Interview and Qualitative Survey Question…………………………………………........66-67 Research Questions Results Charts 4.9 What influenced your decision to become a member of your community?....68 4.10 What do you think is different about your life in the community in comparison to a mainstream community life?................................................69 4.11 Do you feel that your live a fulfilling life within the community? If so why? How would you define a fulfilling life?..................................................................70 4.12 How do you feel you coordinate your personal needs
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