Columbia Ecovillage (part 2) — Shaping a Life Together

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What's it like, living in an urban ecovillage? Barbara Ford finds that this size community enables people to contribute while doing what they love. Dennis Karas and his wife had to adjust to noise levels with more children around, but enjoy having many friends with shared … [Read more...]

Columbia Ecovillage (part 1) – From Apartments to Community

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What if you could turn an apartment complex into a houseful of friends? Joe and Pam Leitch did. They purchased the apartments adjoining their farmhouse in metropolitan Portland, with the vision of creating an intentional community. While retrofitting the apartments to … [Read more...]

An Eco-Sense House – Natural Building, Natural Living

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The Eco-Sense House is alive! From dream (see episode 103) to reality. Its curving cob walls embrace Ann and Gord Baird's three-generation family. A living roof offers summer cooling and filters winter rains stored for garden water. The composting toilet provides rich soil … [Read more...]

Dignity Village – A Community By and For the Homeless, part 2

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"No violence. No theft. No drugs or alcohol. No constant disruptive behavior. Everyone must contribute to the village."  While finishing our tour, Jon Hawkes lays out the five agreements residents must abide by, all forged by real-world experience. What would it be like if … [Read more...]

Dignity Village – A Community By and For the Homeless, part 1

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"Anybody can come through our gates 8 am-10 pm and use all of our facilities. We have hot showers, a telephone, free computers internet-ready, our commons, offices, [and a free store of donated items.] Anybody has access to this." Tour guide Jon Hawkes highlights this … [Read more...]

Titanic Lifeboat Academy — Navigating a Path to Resilience

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Caren Black and Christopher Paddon couldn't find mentors to teach them self-reliant living when they became aware of peak oil. So they created a homestead and opened their doors to training others. People can take a personalized Lifeboat Course online or in person, where … [Read more...]

An Earthen House Built by Hand

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"I think it's very very important to know you can provide things for yourself… build your own house… grow your own food… make your own medicine." Walking his talk, Greg Crawford shows the magical wattle-and-cob house he built with hand tools using local materials: … [Read more...]

Two Households, One Car

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At first Judy Alexander was reluctant to share a car with neighbors Richard and Sue Dandridge. But their invitation intrigued her, especially since her aging car felt unsafe for long trips. After a trial year, she found the arrangement freeing and sold her car. Judy and … [Read more...]

Sail Power Reborn – Transporting Local Goods by Boat

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"We are revitalizing an ancient form of transportation … using just the power of the wind and the tides … to move goods and people," says skipper Fulvio Casali. In their CSA (community supported agriculture), the Salish Sea Trading Cooperative uses nearly no petroleum to … [Read more...]

Awakening the Village Heart and Mind

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From their "Zero Mile Meal Eatery" to zoning and financing innovations, O.U.R. Ecovillage in BC, Canada has paved the way for many communities worldwide. For Brandy Gallagher, the story on the planet right now could be a shared ethos of caring: "Everyone is fed. Everyone is … [Read more...]