Collection F1549 - Dandelion Community collection

Dandelion officially formed with its group of 5 founding member in January 1975 when their first newsletter was published, although three attended at Communities Conference at Twin Oaks Community in September 1974, and had been talking community before that. They incorporated in Ontario as a non-share-capital cooperative “Dandelion Community Cooperative” in March when they were also looking for land and bought the farm in March.

Dandelion was an intentional community inspired by B.F. Skinner's Utopian novel, "Walden Two." They lived communally on 50 acres in southeastern Ontario, sharing goods, income and expenses, caring for each other, and working to create a cooperative, non-violent, egalitarian and joyful way of life, in harmony with the natural environment.

They supported the community through their own industries, including a tinnery which recycles tin cans into candle holders, plant holders, lamps, and other items. They also made hand-woven rope chairs, and tried to grow their own food, service their own equipment, build their own buildings and heat them with wood grown from the land. Work was shared through a labor credit system designed to distribute it as equally as possible and maximize the enjoyable work of each member.