Creating Local Ecovillages and Neighborhoods The ecovillage model is a conscious response to the complex problem of how to transform our human settlements, whether they be villages, towns or cities, into full-featured sustainable communities, harmoniously and harmlessly integrated into the natural environment. Findhorn Foundation Findhorn Ecovillage, Scottland www.thegeographyofhope.com Rolf Disch s solar-powered neighborhood, Sonnenschiff, "sun ship. Freiburg, Germany Findhorn Ecovillage, Scottland What is an Ecovillage? Ecovillages are urban or rural communities of people, who strive to integrate a supportive social environment with a low-impact way of life. To achieve this, they integrate various aspects of ecological design, permaculture, ecological building, green production, alternative energy, community building practices, and much more. Global EcoVillage Network. http://gen.ecovillage. org Myrstacken, Sweden What is an Ecovillage? [A]n ecovillage is a human-scale, full-featured settlement in which human activities are harmlessly integrated into the natural world in a way that is supportive of healthy human development and can be successfully continued into the indefinite future." Robert Gilman, Ecovillages and Sustainable Communities (1991) From the early stages of ecovillage networking, consideration was given as to whether it would be useful and appropriate to specify criteria and establish a minimum threshold of achievement in order for a community to identify itself as an ecovillage. The decision taken was that we're not about sitting in judgment and monitoring, [but] rather, encouraging everyone to do what they are able, to live sustainably a community is an ecovillage if it specifies an ecovillage mission, such as in its organizational documents, community agreements or membership guidelines, and makes progress in that direction. Linda Joseph, Ecovillages of North America (ENA) President and Albert Bates, ENA International Secretary Understenshojden EcoVIllage, Stockholm, Sweden 1
A Great Variety. Urban, suburban, rural Remote communes to urban upscale developments BedZed. Suffolk, England. Earthaven. North Carolina Common Strategies Green buildings: materials & design Clustered housing or Cohousing Common, auto-free areas Water catchment, greywater reuse, constructed wetlands, living machines Renewable energy systems, centralized systems Community Supported Agriculture Consensus or modified consensus decision making Developing and developed nations Spiritual in focus to secular Full-featured to Green housing Thlolego Ecovillage,South Africa Examples Westwood Cohousing, Asheville, NC. Auroville Ecovillage, India. Ecovillage at Ithaca. http://mha-net.org/msb/graphics/clients/c-nola14.jpg Habitat preserved/ restored Green building Green Infrastructure: energy, water, storm water, waste Toxics avoided Food Production Common Themes The ideal: full-featured, socially supportive, sustainable community, harmoniously and harmlessly integrated into the natural environment Reduced role of automobile Onsite business/ economy Resident management/ decision-making Educational Component Davis, CA Founded 1975 (building continued into1980 s) One of the first modern green developments Village Homes 70 Acres;12 acres of greenbelts and open space; 12 acres of common agricultural land 225 Homes, 20 apartment units; 4,000 ft 2 of commercial office space 2
Passive solar, energy efficient design Pedestrian/Bicycle paths alternate with cul-de sac streets Swales, retention pond Extensive common land Extensive edible landscape Free cooperative childcare to residents. High degree of voluntary resident participation in neighborhood activities. Common facilities: dining room, children s playroom, teen room, wood shop, neighborhood gardens & play areas, walking trails Most land owned by EVI, inc.; 5.5 acres owned by First Resident Group (FROG); 5.5 leased long term by Second Neighborhood Group (SONG). FROG & SONG are cooperatives. Residents own shares in coop & get a proprietary lease for home. Land planning & design achieved with great future resident input and utilizing community resources, including university students. Ecovillage at Ithaca (EVI) http://www.ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us/ Ithaca, NY Founded 1991, as a non-profit. Rural; 3 miles from downtown 176 acres 80% green space; 55 acres conservation easement 2 cohousing neighborhoods - 30 homes each (clustered housing, cars to periphery). 3 rd neighborhood (12 homes) in planning phase. Buildings have passive solar design, are energy efficient, some green material & features. Some homes have solar energy (hot water & PV); hope to have village scale wind energy in future; also planning to grow crops for biomass. Wastewater currently treated Wastewater currently treated conventionally. However, homes plumbed to accommodate gray water treatment on site. Plans include future onsite biological wastewater treatment. 3
Community pond and underground cistern capture rainwater to irrigate neighborhood gardens. Large Organic Farm (CSA) & a berry farm on site. Strong educational mission & activities (including connections with 2 local universities). Managed by EcoVillage Community Association. Architects have designed 6 model home plans. Green features in homes: Passive solar, super insulation, high-tech ventilation systems Green stormwater management. Utilities currently provided from off-site. All 180 acres are organically managed/certified. ECA is looking to hire a farmer to work 20 acres. EcoVillage at Loudon County www.ecovil.com Loudon County, VA. 180 rural acres; 5 minutes to commuter rail to Washington D.C. 85 % open space/ preservation and reforestation 2 cohousing neighborhoods; h 25 homes each. In construction phase. All but 2 lots sold. Individual homesites owned individually. Site price includes share in common facilities. Berea College Ecovillage http://www.berea.edu/sens/greensteps/physicalplant.asp Ecologically-sustainable residential and learning complex Housing needs for student families- 50 apartments & a common house Childcare for campus children- Child Development Laboratory Residents construct playground. Interior of home. Common house. Living/labor opportunity for students (SENS) demonstration house Solar heating Photovoltaic panels and wind- powered electrical l generators. On-site treatment of waste: Ecological machine, SENS house composting toilets Wetlands Permaculture food forest, and individual gardens 4
Six Crucial Steps in Establishing an Ecovillage Diana Christian Identify you community vision and create vision documents Choose a fair, participatory decision- making process appropriate for your group and get training Consensus? Make clear agreements in writing including an appropriate legal entity for owning land together A Good Place to Start Learning About Ecovillages Six Crucial Steps (cont.) Learn good communication and group process skills. Make resolving conflicts a priority In choosing cofounders and new members select for emotional maturity Learn the head skills and heart skills you need to know. Founders need to be generalists Other Resources Global Ecovillage Network http://gen.ecovillage.org/ The Farm EcoVillage Training Center http://www.thefarm.org/etc/ Ecovillage at Ithaca weekend emersion & weeklong training in building ecological communities http://www.ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us/evi_programs.html Living Routes. Study abroad in Ecovillages. http://www.livingroutes.org/ The Cohousing Association of the United States http://www.cohousing.org/ Clear Creek Ecovillage - Denton Vision: build an ecovillage on land adjacent to the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Area and future site of the Clear Creek Water Reclamation Plant. Why that location: Near City of Denton Near Nature Education Future home of Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center Water, Compost, Services Partners UNT, private sector, master naturalist? 5