Ask HN: Is there a hippie commune for hackers?

#1

Post by citizenkeys » Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 2:39 AM UTC

Seriously, is there a hippie commune for hackers? There's gotta be one somewhere in the Bay Area.

If I could just plow the fields during the day and work/sleep in a little cottage and be left alone, that'd be alright with me.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a hippie commune for hackers?

#2

Post by shaunxcode » Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 2:48 AM UTC

wouldn't a hacker hippie commune be more about building a robotic plow and spending your, now spare, time OCRing and analyzing old farmers almanacs to determine the optimal time to plant/rotate/water crops?

Re: Ask HN: Is there a hippie commune for hackers?

#3

Post by citizenkeys » Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 2:56 AM UTC

shaunxcode wrote: post #2

wouldn't a hacker hippie commune be more about building a robotic plow and spending your, now spare, time OCRing and analyzing old farmers almanacs to determine the optimal time to plant/rotate/water crops?

many years ago, i've lived on non-hacker hippie communes. there's actually several outside of austin in texas. it makes sense given all the cheap ranch land in rural texas.

ideally, you have a "main house" with the kitchen and where everybody meets up. then you have little cottages all over the ranch with bunk beds where everybody sleeps and works. when people need to buy stuff, they drive into town.

for hackers that just need a roof over their head and a few meals so they don't starve, it's not a bad idea.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a hippie commune for hackers?

#4

Post by zackattack » Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 3:02 AM UTC

shaunxcode wrote: post #2

wouldn't a hacker hippie commune be more about building a robotic plow and spending your, now spare, time OCRing and analyzing old farmers almanacs to determine the optimal time to plant/rotate/water crops?

http://www.sproutrobot.com

Re: Ask HN: Is there a hippie commune for hackers?

#5

Post by there » Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 3:21 AM UTC

GNU?

Re: Ask HN: Is there a hippie commune for hackers?

#6

Post by trotsky » Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 3:22 AM UTC

I think the bay area hacker version of a hippie commune is a co-op loft that hosts parties on the weekends to cover some expenses. Or some version there of. The ones I knew of still charged rent but it was easy enough to work out a way to do work for rent or a sliding scale.

Not nearly as communal as what you're imagining, but way more communal than 99% of living situations.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a hippie commune for hackers?

#7

Post by gruseom » Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 3:23 AM UTC

A commune where you're left alone? A charming oxymoron.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a hippie commune for hackers?

#8

Post by PostOnce » Sun, Nov 21, 2010, 3:24 AM UTC

I was joking about this with a friend a while back. I prize my solitude a bit much, but I think it might be fun. Outdoor work might be better for hackers' brains than most realize. Get your body in shape in the morning and your mind in shape in the afternoon. Hrmm.

You could always start up one of your own. Kickstarter could help. :P