I feel like this commune is probably a bit of an outlier due to the large success of their nut butter business. I hope I'm wrong, but I am extremely doubtful that other communes have similar economics.
Without the profit from their nut butter, what would it look like?
Or does maintaining a nice commune basically require you to figure out some kind of profitable business? In that case, maybe it is fairly common because the ones that don't, don't last?
That's not really anything like a commune. It's basically a grocery store you work at for discounts. I don't doubt it quite beneficial and nice, but really doesn't answer anything about the OPs question.
Park Slope Food Coop is a pretty involved organization and run democratically with a pretty intense culture.. but yes I agree that a commune is a couple orders of magnitude beyond PSFC.
There are similarities however and much to be learned. We even have a cash and labor fund to help others start cooperatives.
You hit the nail on the head. As mercutio2 has been pointing out, there are basically three communities like East Wind in America, and together they form the backbone of the Federation of Egalitarian Communities, the FEC.
Out of the thousands that started in the 60's and 70's, these survived because they all had and have successful businesses.
Furthermore, I'd venture to say that most successful intentional communities run a business. The ones that don't probably rely on outside donations or government assistance.
Without the profit from their nut butter, what would it look like?
Or does maintaining a nice commune basically require you to figure out some kind of profitable business? In that case, maybe it is fairly common because the ones that don't, don't last?