Ecovillages — A Leading Edge for Sustainability (318)

What might ecovillages show us about living sustainably? Political science professor Karen Litfin visited fourteen ecovillages in both developing and developed countries. The author of Ecovillages: Lessons for Sustainable Community looked for commonalities among such … [Read more...]

Re-Becoming Villagers Wherever We Live (268)

Whether city folk or country folk, North Americans don't tend to know our neighbors, much less do things together. Mark Lakeman (Portland) and Brandy Gallagher (rural Vancouver Island) talk about "repairing" our isolation. How can we we reclaim our village roots−living, … [Read more...]

Visiting EcoReality Co-op on Salt Spring Island, BC

We were welcomed at EcoReality Co-op by Jan Steinman and Cleome Rowe (top right) and the goats. EcoReality Co-op is an ecovillage at the southern tip of Salt Spring Island working to be a model of cooperative, sustainable land habitation and land use. Jan's "Veggie Van … [Read more...]

BC Island Journeys – Sooke, Salt Spring Island, Shawnigan Lake

Robin has an interesting image about traveling in our rolling home. We pack up our little house to go somewhere new, and the earth rolls beneath her wheels. We find ourselves in a new surrounding, and yet nothing has changed—we're still at home. In the last two weeks, … [Read more...]

Columbia Ecovillage, part 2 — Shaping a Life Together (232)

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 (231)

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...]

Fences Down! Fostering Community in an Urban Neighborhood (179)

Gardens replace driveways, a chicken coop replaces a garage, and personal relationships are deepening. Meet the residents of three adjoining houses, who removed the fences and talk about shared projects (and their one auto!), meals together, ecological living, and treasured … [Read more...]

Columbia Ecovillage: Accomplishing the Impossible

Monday, August 16, 2010. When you turn into the driveway from the busy four-lane thoroughfare, you're greeted by trees and flowers within the central parking lot and in front of the surrounding warm-colored apartments. It's an oasis of lush green biodiversity, a … [Read more...]

The World of Ecovillages (164)

The ecovillage movement is gaining a lot of traction and in some surprising forms, says Diana Leafe Christian, the author of Finding Community: How to join an Ecovillage or Intentional Community. Drawing from ecovillages worldwide, she describes many examples of these … [Read more...]

Creating the Impossible – O.U.R. Ecovillage

O.U.R. stands for "One United Resource," expressing how interdependence and inclusion undergird this 25 acre demonstration sustainable community on Vancouver Island. This model ecovillage comprises natural buildings, a school, long- and short-term residences, extensive … [Read more...]