University of Virginia Library

Twin Oaks, Virginia — Look At
Experimental Living Of Walden II

By Mickey Tinder

Work Load At Twin Oaks Averages About Six Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week

Projects Range From Building A Root Cellar (lower right) To Manufacturing Hammocks (lower left)

With the recent trends toward social reform taking on
their much publicized massive and sometimes violent
presentations, it is interesting that we in Charlottesville
have a reformed society in our backyards, so to speak.
The influence of this small community known as Twin
Oaks is somewhat less than that of the national social
movements, and it is doubtful that influence is the goal of
Twin Oaks. However, there is now, located on one
hundred and twenty acres of land just outside of Louisa,
Virginia, a community a society, if you will, that is based
on the reform principle of co-operative living.

As one travels cast along route 250 through the
beautiful, but typical piedmont countryside on his way
to visit what has probably been described as an
"Experimental Community", he begins to wonder what
he will find. If he has by chance been directed to Twin
Oaks by some well-meaning but misinformed resident of
the area, he will more than likely expect to find a cult of
Hippies who talk of many unintelligible ideas. Thus he
travels on to Lousia looking for a strange, new
development with his curiosity hanging around his neck
like a medallion.

Twin Oaks Does Exist

Upon arriving in Louisa our traveler will receive the
first of his awakenings. Twin Oaks has no billboards, neon
signs, or even small direction posters. If one expects more
from American, he certainly won't get it because relying
on the local gas station directions will at best get him to
the Willow Oaks Restaurant (to Louisa residents one oak is
as good as another). The traveler, now very much
confused, must turn to the Louisa Courthouse where he
will find that Twin Oaks does exist somewhere, but the
sheriff must be contacted for directions since no one
really knows where it is. After receiving these directions
which consist of a number of turns on three rather small
back roads, the traveler sets out to find a series of small
farm buildings and a medium size modern house known as
Twin Oaks, If he is lucky, he will find it, after passing it
twice.

Twin Oaks has been in existence since September of
nineteen sixty-eight, when it was formed under the
leadership of George and Kathline Greeby (you will note
that Mr. and Mrs. are not used here, the reason being that
the people of Twin Oaks feel titles are a sign of
distinction between people, and in the community all
adults are equal) In the beginning there were only eight
members all of whom came from a co-operative house
that had been temporarily established in Washington D.C.
After finding the land in Louisa County, they leased the
property, and the small group moved into small
farmhouse on the premises.

Stable Population Of Sixteen

From the original eight the community has grown to a
stable population of sixteen people in a year. At certain,
times the group has numbered as many as twenty, but
some people find Twin Oaks not to their liking, as is
expected. Kathline Greeby says that they are prepared to
take on all the people that come to join them. If the
number becomes too large they can divide into two
groups. However, with a new project it is hard to find a
large number of people who are whole-heartedly
interested in co-operative living. In addition to this fact,
Twin Oaks does not try to recruit residents. Their primary
interest is to live in their society and the is not that
important, in fact the larger numbers produce more work
and greater living problems. These problems, however,
should be relieved by their social structure of living.

Founded On Walden II Philosophy

Twin Oaks was founded on the philosophy presented
in the book Walden II by Dr. B.F. Skinner and
equalitarianism is the essential concept of this philosophy.
The community plans to set a new precedent for living
based on Skinner's ideology. The principles set forth in
Walden II are in summary that every member of a social
community should work toward the betterment of the
group in a peaceful and friendly atmosphere with an
understanding between members on their basic unity.
There are always personal differences, but these are
expected and for this reason there are no social rules at
Twin Oaks. There are only two codes or understandings,
they are that one will always clean up after himself in all
aspects and endeavors and that a member's room is
inviolate, to be entered only by invitation.

Of course, as all farms must. Twin Oaks has to be
productive and once again this experimental community
has its own approach. Personal incomes are virtually
nonexistent, except for a small allowance (about
twenty-five cents per week) all the money of the
community is pooled to support its existence. This is all
inclusive from Social Security (which no member is
collecting as yet) to copyright royalties. As the
community grows to the number Skinner felt was
optimum, about 1000, there are plans to increase the
allowance per week and to provide money for a two week
vacation per year for each member. As it is now, every
member of the community is allowed twelve free days as
a vacation during the year.

Hammock Sales Produce Capital

Work at Twin Oaks is done entirely by the people.
Food production relies on the crops and animals raised on
the farm. Of course some capital is needed and this is
gained through the sale of rope hammocks which are
expertly produced by the artisans of the community.
Sturdy and useful, the sale of hammocks is hoped to rise
in the future. Plans have also been made to produce an
annual publication, but it has not yet been completed.

Since all this work has to be done by the members,
some systematic approach is needed. A labor credit
system has been formulated by the planners to care for
the work on the farm. Labor credit is given for the
amount of work done and every members has a
certain amount of labor credits to earn each week
depending on the total amount of work to be done.

Job managers at the beginning of each week report
estimates of approximately how many hours of labor they
will need for there particular areas. Managers are
appointed by a three man committee elected by the total
population, and known as the Board of Planners. There is
a manager of crops, auto maintenance, laundry, food
preparation, child care and so forth. Each manager
submits his estimate in hours needed to the Labor Credit
Manager, who adjusts the work load and distributes the
work equally among the members. In order to maintain
some justice, the more undesirable jobs are given more
credit value than the desirable jobs.

Another interesting aspect of Twin Oaks is the method
employed in raising the children. While parents are
encouraged to spend time with their own children, the
process of raising them is basically part of the community
effort. Positive reinforcement is the basis of the
discipline, rewarding children for their good deeds and
not rewarding them for bad behavior. Punishment is
not used, developing a non-aggressive discipline which is
more desirable to the community. A total of fourteen
hours are spent daily in taking care of the young children.
Part of the labor credit system, the adult has full
responsibility for the care of the child in his charge.

Option For Child Education

Options for the education of the child include public
schools or private tutoring from qualified members of
Twin Oaks. Eventually, it is hoped that the community
will be able to handle the schooling of all the children on
the premises since they feel that public school experience
teaches competitive values to the child.

As a teenager, the child assumes the role of the adult
and of necessity accepts those responsibilities consistent
with adulthood. No member of the community will
interfere with any decisions that the child makes.

Membership Not Difficult To Attain

Perhaps a few other interesting aspects of Twin Oaks
are its outside ties. The community has had some
connection with the Unitarian Church in that Twin Oaks
is recognized as having a fellowship on the property,
however, no real affiliation has ever been established.
Furthermore the community has no political associations
or religious, or racial affiliations. The members refrain
from discussing with non-members any topic that might
prove generally sensitive. They desire to keep their
opinions to themselves and for the outsider to do the
same unless he wishes to join their dialogue and their
living.

For those who are interested in joining Twin Oaks and
changing their way of life, membership is not that
difficult to obtain. The major prerequisite is a $200
deposit to cover the cost of the first three months at the
community. This deposit also serves to limit the number
of vagrants who might otherwise enter the community.
During these three months, the person is considered a
provisional member, which consists of very little
difference from the regular membership except that the
understanding exists that the provisional member is
making every attempt to re-adjust to the new way of life.
If he decides to leave, the balance of the deposit is
returned to him. The whole community has the right to
accept or decline his membership during these three
months.

Life at Twin Oaks is without a doubt different from
the norm, however, it is not so different as to be
considered radical. Unlike many of the communities
established in the recent "National Experimental
Community" movement, Twin Oaks is neat, well
structured and productive. It is based on ideals which its
members feel are adequate if not better than those of the
more prevalent societies' and they have the strength,
stamina, and will to try to make them work.