Rivendale Commune

By Dave Johnson And Aragorn
Published on July 1, 1970
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Photo by Dave Johnson and Aragorn
Many members feel that Rivendale has developed a personality but the individuals who live there are a mixture of opposites. Some are actively involved in politics, others are apolitical, a few are into personal hangups and still others are concerned with society's problems. Their one common ground is Rivendale.

Originally published in the Eugene, Oregon Augur.

Rivendale is a commune of 20 adults, five children, two dogs, too many cats and a pony living on four acres close to Eugene, Oregon.

Named for a mythical elf city in Tolkien’s Middle Earth, the commune was started in August, 1968 by “Pip” Cole and John Butler. The primary goal of Rivendale is to provide a large family unit in which all members work for a common good. The secondary goal is a move toward self-sufficiency. Although some members have a strong desire to be relatively independent of the consumer society, others are less concerned with disaffiliation. Many members work in Eugene and the commune buys much of its supplies.

But most of the food is grown in the community’s two gardens. The meals consist of vegetables, nuts, fruits, rice and homemade bread. Little meat is eaten, but a strictly vegetarian diet is not stressed.

In theory, everyone is expected to work according to his ability. But the commune has learned that some people naturally pull more weight than others.

This and other day-to-day problems that exist in society have to be coped with at the commune. Because it is a microcosm, the community feels these problems more acutely.

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