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Ecovillage
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Why
an ecovillage?
No
individual family or scattered community can self provide for any of the
major services we take for granted. (Food, water, waste removal,
employment, entertainment, education, counselling etc.).
It is probable that a group of between 30-200 households, who
co-operate to utilize the community’s resources, can provide most if not
all of these services and basic facilities.
Many
people are concerned about privacy and ownership issues when considering
community living. Community living is not communal living. When designing
your home and garden you will always consider the privacy of yourselves
and any neighbours. Crucially, your family would have their own house,
ownership of which would be ensured by conventional title, ie. You own
your own block as in any other development. However, the beauty of an
eco-village development is that your influence does not end at the back
fence.
Ecovillages
take what is best from the environmental movement and blends it with
cutting edge technology to provide a synthesis of the two. Practicality
and common sense are the buzzwords of this kind of community. With
existing information and design processes it is possible to implement a
settlement that meets the tightest environmental audit yet still allows
for all the ‘basics’ of modern life (computers, telephones, hot water,
electricity, cars, child care etc.).
This
is a plausible reality. Other communities are already in existence which
mirror the direction we are heading. If you would like to join in and have
your say on this revolution in settlement design then please fill in the on-line
questionnaire and let us know what you think and how this concept
could apply to you.
The
benefits of living within an ecovillage are:
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Reduce
the need to earn by developing greater control over food production
and energy consumption.
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Trade
within the village which reduces transport and travel needs. Ideal for the
self employed and those with vital maintenance skills.
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Produce
a surplus or provide a service that makes the strong local economy able
to reach out.
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Provide
non-material needs, especially for children, through meaningful work,
relevant education and a rich natural environment.
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Cooperate
to encourage various enterprises and associations eg. Local Banks
and trading systems.
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