People gathered outdoors for community event at Pinakarri Community Inc.

Pinakarri Community Inc

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Home-sharing
  • Suburban

Founding year

  • 1991

What we do

Pinakarri means “listen deeply” or “undivided attention to the other” (literally, “ear stand,” in the Nyangamarta Aboriginal language). Our statement of intention: “Through Pinakarri — listening deeply — we learn to love”. This is an aspiration and is explored, practiced and realised in many ways, personally and as a community. However no dogma associated.
We are a suburban intentional community of about 35 women, men and children in 14 houses (eight low-moderate income rentals, plus private ownership and private rentals).
The houses are climate-sensible with rain-water tanks and extensive use of grey water; we are also planning for photovoltaic systems and other renewables. In 2006 we won the inaugural Sustainability Award by our local government council.
We share meals two times a week, a monthly open house community dinner, and a changing feast of planned and spontaneous social activities such as house concerts, nonviolent communication skills, satsang, and BBQs (we’re Australian).
We cooperatively manage 8 rental properties and the commons. Decision-making is a workable combination of absolute consensus and delegated authority. We discuss things that matter at focused or casual fireside chats, community email list, business meetings, one on one, and listening/sharing heart circles.
Community training includes Nonviolent Communication.
We have a guestroom for personal and community guests, fellow communards, AirBnB, WWOOFers and other travelers who contribute work.

Our Mission

Listen deeply, learn to love

  • Purpose
  • Home-sharing
  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Activities
  • Property management
  • Farming

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 1991
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 1999
  • Started living together
  • 17 Total members
  • Not open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
35

How to join

Get to know us socially
Be pro-active in getting involved – attend and cook dinners, busy bees, firepit forums, business meetings, sharing circles
Non-residential members are welcome, may apply for housing when available

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Email or call first. You’ll be invited to an Open House Community Dinner (these occur on the first Friday of each month, beginning at 6 p.m.; bring some food to share), or at a mutually convenient time. Everyone welcome :)

Primary decision-making authority

  • All Community Members Together

The whole membership decides collectively.

Decision-making process

  • Full Consensus

Everyone must agree before moving forward.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Conflict resolution approach

consensus method incorprating sociocracy and nonviolent communication

Economic model

  • Independent Finances

Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • Members need to pay fees, dues, or similar to live there on a per month or per year basis
  • There is a labor obligation
  • Members typically need to have their own job or other personal source of income to cover their expenses while living in the community?

Additional economic information

Regular fees: Yes
Labor: Yes (2 hrs/week)
Monthly contributions represent commitment and/or for amenities, go to a community chest
No interest loans to enable those on low incomes to repair or purchase essential items

Shared resources and amenities that are accessible to everyone in the community

Common House, Garden(s), Workshop, Large Scale Kitchen, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Internet

Frequency of communal meals

  • 2-5 times per week

Significant food acquisition practices

  • Locally sourced

Dietary restriction

  • People can cook and eat what they want in their own residence

Community activities and engagement

  • Neighborhood, Community Housing, or Homeowner's Association
  • WWOOF'ing, Guest Farming

Substance use culture

  • Substance use appears in public spaces but no pressure
  • Substance use occurs primarily at celebrations or ceremonies

Gender composition

  • Roughly balanced (no group over 60%)

Age demographics

  • Multi-generational (all ages well represented)

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By several individuals through an LLC or a Tenancy In Common agreement

Setting

  • Suburban

Residential areas outside city centers but within metropolitan regions.

Community type

  • Cohousing

    Private homes with shared common facilities, designed for neighborly
    interaction while maintaining independence.

Self-produced energy

  • 33 - 66%

Energy sources used

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%

Local, organic, or fair trade food

  • Over 66%

Food systems

  • Community garden
  • Land area size
    1 acres

Guest Book

Written reviews are available for plus members. Click here to upgrade.

Location

  • Western Australia, Australia

Needs and Offers

Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
2 months ago

Beautiful 4-bedroom, 4-bath passive solar home in Southwest Colorado

Beautiful 4-bedroom, 4-bath passive solar home nestled within Heartwood Cohousing, a thriving multigenerational community on 360 acres of meadow, pine forest, pastureland, and farmland just outside Durango, Colorado. Offering approximately 2,600 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space, this stick-built home combines comfort, efficiency, and connection to nature. Enjoy radiant floor heat, wood ceilings, abundant natural light, and multiple indoor and outdoor spaces for gathering, working, gardening, and relaxing. The spacious layout includes four bedrooms plus two flexible bonus rooms, four bathrooms, and a lower-level guest suite with living area, kitchenette, bedroom, and bath. Covered front and rear porches, a balcony off the primary suite, and private and extended backyards create inviting spaces to enjoy every season. Step outside to extensive drought-tolerant landscaping, fruit trees, perennial gardens, raised vegetable beds, flagstone patios, and direct access to forested open space. Heartwood Cohousing residents enjoy shared amenities including a greenhouse, hot tub, workshop, farmland, horse pastures, playground, Common House, and more than seven miles of trails right outside the door. Located just minutes from Durango, you’ll enjoy easy access to world-class recreation, including skiing, mountain biking, hiking, rivers, desert canyons, and the vibrant cultural life of Southwest Colorado. A rare opportunity to enjoy spacious living, beautiful land, and meaningful community in one of the region’s most unique neighborhoods.
Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
3 months ago

House for Sale at Valley Oaks Village Chico, CA

Welcome to 1997 Wild Oak Lane in Chico, CA— a beautifully maintained 4 bedroom/3 bathroom 1,620 SqFt home nestled in an established Cohousing community. Step inside to discover a spacious open floor plan, which bamboo flooring, and generous natural lighting. The downstairs offers a bedroom, and bathroom off the main living room. The spacious dining room and kitchen has quartz countertop overlay and will lead you out to a bonus 11×12 fully enclosed porch. The upstairs provides laundry hookups, 2 additional bedrooms, including a large loft, and a bathroom with a jacuzzi tub.. The spacious main bedroom features an en suite bathroom and ample closet space. The back patio has low maintenance patio pavers, a new 6’x8′ shed along with a 220V Level 2 EV charger. See listing on Zillow.com COHOUSING DESCRIPTION – chicocohousing.org Valley Oaks Village was designed using the Cohousing model, built in 1996 with 28 homes on about 5 acres. We have numerous shared amenities, such as a large community building (“Common House”) with a kitchen, multipurpose dining room, lounge with wood stove, guest rooms, rec room, laundry, as well as a pool and sauna. Other shared amenities include a workshop/arts and crafts room, bike sheds, large grassy lawn, playground, pond, gardens and orchards. The neighborhood was designed to promote interactions between residents with picturesque pathways, benches and gathering areas. Valley Oaks Village is right next to Bidwell Park and Big Chico Creek with its running, hiking, horseback riding and park trails with a bike path to either downtown and Chico State University or upper Bidwell Park. Price- $470,000
Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
3 weeks ago

2 Units Available in Forest Grove, OR - Where Town Meets Country!

Two Homes Available at Green Grove Cohousing – Forest Grove, OR Discover Green Grove Cohousing, a fun-loving, vibrant, family-friendly community that embraces environmental sustainability, social justice, community service, and the arts in the heart of Forest Grove, home to historic Pacific University. Enjoy the perfect balance of country living just minutes from town. With just nine privately owned homes on five natural acres, Green Grove offers a rare opportunity to live independently while enjoying an intentional, connected community. Shared amenities include a spacious common house with guest accommodations, gathering and entertaining space, play and art areas, a large woodworking shop, ample storage, organic vegetable and flower gardens, fruit trees, a chicken coop, a 30,000-gallon rainwater catchment system for irrigation, 14.7 kW of solar power supporting the common infrastructure, carports with living roofs and EV charging capability, and beautifully maintained grounds with buried utilities and walking paths. Homes are thoughtfully arranged around a shared village green, creating opportunities to connect with neighbors while preserving the privacy of your own home. 3926 Coho Cir | $595,000 3 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,475 SF A bright, detached two-story home featuring a main-level bedroom and full bath, bamboo floors, quartz countertops, high ceilings, abundant natural light, and beautiful Mt. Hood views. Thoughtfully designed for flexible living with modern finishes and energy-efficient comfort. MLS#: 704265931 3934 Coho Cir | $615,000 2 Bed | 1 Bath | 1,400 SF A beautifully designed single-level detached home with vaulted ceilings, stunning Mt. Hood views, radiant heated

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