I live in a women-only commune — there’s no men and no drama

Twelve small homes sit upon acres of manicured lawn in the Texas countryside.

Under the warm sun, the residents that call this gated community home live a rather idyllic life: there’s a fit pit, yoga, book club and a swimming pool.

It’s peaceful and supportive. And for those that want to live here there are two simple rules: no men, and no drama.

The Bird’s Nest is a five-acre women-only commune, and the brainchild of 70-year-old Robyn Yerian.

Dedicated to ’empowering women’ the group ‘encourage, help, console and laugh with each other.’

‘This community is our little utopia,’ says Robyn. ‘We have dogs running around, and get together all the time. We are a bunch of really great friends.’

In 2002, she started to consider her retirement plans, and realised she’d struggle to support herself from the money she’d saved.

So, instead, she withdrew it, and bought five acres of land, costing her $35,000 (£25,926.41). A further $100,000 – cash from her life savings (£74,075.45) – was spent to make it liveable.

At first, Robyn advertised The Bird’s Nest to anyone aged over 55, but after hosting a workshop for a group of women, teaching them how to use power tools, she pivoted to the idea of a women-only commune.

‘It was all by accident. I had around 20 women come for the workshop and we were all sitting around the fire pit one night.

‘Everyone thought the idea was awesome,’ Robyn, a retired radiology technologist, reflects. Robyn says she ‘didn’t want to exclude men’, but that this was ‘all about empowering women.’

Since she welcomed her first tenants three years ago, 12 women have lived at The Bird’s Nest.

The homes on the site are all quirky ‘tiny homes’. Robyn herself first moved into a tiny two-bed in 2016 after watching the TV show, Tiny Home Nation, a documentary about people living in mini-homes.

Another important part of The Bird’s Nest ethos is affordability, as Robyn charges just $450 (£333.28) for a plot, which includes a contribution towards water, the septic tank, rubbish, and lawn maintenance.

Robyn insists that since they ‘all run this place together,’ she isn’t the only one who runs the roost as it’s ‘their home too.’

But, she adds that everyone is expected care for each other, and though she’s fortunately never had to ask anyone to leave, she would have no problems doing so if she felt she had to.

She says: ‘I’m pretty straightforward. I don’t sugarcoat anything – you have to be direct so people understand.

‘I won’t put up with drama, pettiness, talking behind people’s backs – we don’t do that here. If we have an issue, we will say something.’

Most of the women who live on her land are now aged between 60 and 80, with the exception of one 33-year-old.

Comparing the vibe of the community to that of a ‘college dorm,’ Robyn and her comrades are always finding fresh inspiration for on-site entertainment, and in the past, they’ve offered wholesome activities including yoga, games nights, swimming, cardio drumming, book clubs, crafts, and gardening.

Mental wellness is also an important element of life at the Bird’s Nest, as Robyn wants it to be a place where both friendship and connection flourish.

There’s always a ‘listening ear’ and a ‘helping hand’ around, and the women will often cook and eat meals together and gather around the fire pit, as well as shuttle each other to and from appointments.