ZEGG (community) - Community Life

Community Life

ZEGG’s social aim is the long-term promotion of a community-based way of life and it has created its own social structure to achieve this. Community members participate in social processes designed to promote communication, resolve conflicts and support personal development processes. There are also regular discos, seasonal celebrations, internal lectures and discussion rounds and other cultural events.

Many of the community members work within the seminar business, which encompasses catering, accommodation, organisation of events run by external workshop leaders and running ZEGG seminars. Other areas where members work directly for the community include the garden and the site maintenance team (which also has external employees). These working areas are responsible for their own organisation, with the employees also making the decisions. Other members are self-employed, some have day jobs in the region and a few earn their living further afield. Members are also expected to carry out some voluntary work within the community.

Most community members live in shared accommodation of various sizes; some live alone or as couples. Most children live together with their parents and go to nurseries or schools in the region. In the afternoons, a parents’ initiative organises childcare in the Children’s Building. The whole community shares the costs of maintaining this building and providing accommodation, food and care for the children.