Ecovillages and intentional communities are on the rise at the moment, but I don't think they can be labeled "hippie communes" since they are developing a much more complex approach toward lots of issues that were not that relevant at the time of the so-called hippie communes but that are now and will be in the future, and that will potentially attract lots of people that do not feel "hippie" in the strict sense of the word.
Linking SA to this topic, I can really advice towards trying to get a bit more related to local initiatives like that if they exist nearby, because I think it's a good way to escape from the negative mental loops we use to impose on us in a very healthy and open-minded way. Since the initial meetings use to take places in a group environment, people tend to be more open than the average, and you can concentrate in other things than just pure social skills (learning to grow food, crafts, arts, meeting over the average interesting people, etc), it can be a good way to meet people that can potentially alter your life course and vision (Source: personal experience).
To the OP: do you know about the
WWOOF network, present in many countries? It's essentially what you described, work in exchange for shelter, food and gaining an invaluable personal experience.
