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

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Location

  • Western Australia, Australia

Needs and Offers

Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace

  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
1 month ago

3000sf House+Apartment, Rosewind Cohousing, Port Townsend WA

We are a retired couple who are downsizing, still living within the community. We are selling our large, flexible, comfortably rustic house, perfect for a multigenerational household, a family with kids or for 2 separate households. It’s 3000 square feet on 3 levels. The house is on a slope, with 2 main entrances. At one time it housed a large blended family. The current setup is a 2250 square foot, 2 bath main house with a 700 square foot rental apartment, also called an auxiliary dwelling unit (ADU). There is a staircase between the main and lower floor, with a lockable door. If desired, the ADU kitchen can be removed. The main floor has a very large kitchen/dining area, large living room, two small bedrooms, a bathroom with 2 sinks and a shower, a laundry room and a large mudroom. The non-bearing wall between the 2 bedrooms can be removed to turn it back to a single primary bedroom. The top floor has two bedrooms, one of which is primary with a large bright sitting area, and a large open middle area between them (game room, TV room, kids sleeping area, etc.). There is a bathroom with a claw-foot tub, no shower. The lower floor is the ADU, a finished storage area and a stand-up “crawl space“ which is used as a second pantry and storage.Attached to the house there is also a 150 sq ft wood paneled office/hobby space with its own electric and propane lines. Features: – straw bale construction, which is energy-efficient, great sound insulation, and provides a warm, soft, feeling. -very large functional kitchen with a long granite countertop. The dining area fits 10 people. -natural construction, with solid maple floors in the middle and upper level, marmoleum floor in kitchen and oak floor in the lower level. The two small bedrooms have painted wood floors. The doors are all solid wood. -large, functional, low maintenance patio area. Room for a table for eight and an additional sitting area. Propane hook ups for grills and smokers.
  • Promoted
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Communities with Openings
7 months ago

Worktrade Opportunities on Big Island Hawaii

We are continuing our work-trade program at Bridge Hawaii for the right people on this beautiful 86-acre land located along the Hāmākua Coast. Ideally, we want to host those individuals who can help with the garden and who can support with build projects for up to a 3 month stay. This work-trade would include lodging, food staples, community kitchen, running hot water showers, off-grid electricity, and laundry. There is access to high speed wi-fi. We often have a car that can be reserved. We also have full bar signal strength with Verizon cellphone service. We have about 2 acres of permaculture garden that needs to be cared for including; weeding, planting, picking up mulch, some tree trimming, ect. We are currently in a building stage on the land. We have a few current grant projects we are working on and some build projects that are underway. We are an intentional community with about 8 permanent residents. There are rescue dairy cows, mini cows, mini donkeys, horses, a donkey, cats, dogs, and active bee hives. We are a drug and alcohol “free” space. A glass of wine or beer with dinner is fine, but absolutely no day drinking or parties. We have a meditation temple and many waterfall pools that are wonderful for swimming. Close to some of the nicest beaches on island. We have snorkeling gear and a kayak. Since this is an animal sanctuary, we limit the consumption of meat on the land. Fish, eggs, honey, and dairy are fine. Let me know if you’re interested by sending an email or text for our application. Maomi (801) 623-0738 ma***@*****************ii.com

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