ECO-VILLAGES

► If we wait for the governments, it will be too late, too little.

► If we act as individuals, it will be too little.

► But if we act as communities, it might be just enough, just in time.

- Hopkins, 2011

Someday, the hunger for higher GDP and technology integration will cause the collapse of the world economy like anything, and it will be irreversible. However, there have been some initiatives to break the circle of production-consumption and exploitation of the natural resources. Communities, called eco-villages, aim to incorporate a sustainable lifestyle and thriving economy without growth.

1

DEFINITION OF ECO-VILLAGE

Eco-villages are sustainable communities, designed and managed by the cooperation of the community members. The intention of the communities is to make it sustainable in three ways, ecologically, economically and socially. Based on these three factors an eco-village can be called a three-legged stool (R. Gilman, 1991).

There are around 15 thousands communities in the world which claim to be eco-village (Global Ecovillage Network), however, the numbers are quite vague due to some reasons. Firstly, there are eco-villages where the eco principles are not strictly met, so we would not call a village using plastic chairs "eco". Secondly there are some communities which purpose is to do business and they call themselves eco-village for marketing advantage. Sometimes there is a misunderstanding about the term, when people follow traditional farming (not using machines) and they think it is ECO. However the use of technology might be a key solution for eco-villages. In the technological world it is impossible to go back to the Stone Age, to give up all our achievements.

2

BASIC PRINCIPLES

Eco-villagers live in harmony with themselves and nature by sharing social and ecological values. These communities mostly use centralized energy-, water-, sewage system and farming. Generally, an eco-village relies on renewable energy, co-housing and permaculture for local food production.

The main ecological aim of a genuine eco-village is to avoid the worst consequences of climate change and the overexploitation of natural resources. Residents of the eco-villages live and create a sustainable life for themselves and for the next generation. Eco-villages aim at recycling the available sources, so they have no problem with water or waste.

Their economy is based on communal sharing, using land and utilities as joint property, working and cooking together, looking after each other.

3

RESIDENTS

People think sharing tools and rooms (kitchen) implies a loss of freedom and control over what you own. In practice it is just the opposite. Renting and hiring give more freedom even in the traditional economy, as you are free to give up the rent any time. Moreover the burden of service and maintenance is not yours.

Social sustainability means building communities of like-minded people. Educated and intellectual people are fed up with the fast-changing technological world where competition has no end. They have realized it is not the future for their next generation and there are plenty of examples when they decide to move to eco-villages by quitting their highly paid and c-suit positions.

People, who recognised the situation, organise communities from the bottom. Sustainability is not about giving up or making sacrifices. It is about shifting the use of resources (natural and physical capital) to the use of human capital (skills, knowledge) and social capital (collaboration, reciprocity). It is a shift from possession-centered life to activity-centered life.

How existing eco-villages cope?

They are doing well, in fact. Let's dive into the three-legged stool for further examination.

1

Economical sustainability

Most thriving eco-villages can offer some kind of employment for their residents, from gardening and tinkering to recreational programs and organizing trainings, conferences, providing education.

2

Ecological sustainability

Eco-villages have their own energy and water supply. They strive to make their own food by gardening as much as possible. Based on our research it is possible, as most eco-villages produce their own food and energy to a certain degree, some even 100%.
They also recycle and process the solid and liquid waste. The eco-houses and their furniture are built of environmentally friendly and locally available materials.

3

Sociological sustainability

This is the toughest part. The problem most of the eco-communities are facing is neither environmental nor financial but friction and discord. Life in an eco-village is a game-changer, shifting from competiton to collaboration. You have to sacrifice some luxury and also you have to learn how to live in a community, putting aside your selfish desires and cooperate with others. People jump into the idyllic life, moving to eco-villages, where they just don't get on with the neighbours. They buy land and build the house and get stuck when they realise this is not for them.

We studied over 200 eco-villages across continents in details. In Europe the movement has a 40-year old history. Eco-villages, especially in Western and Northern Europe, are populous. For example Findhorn in Scotland has 2000 residents. One of the secrets of a successful community is employment. Villages who offer jobs at least to 30% of their residents, are likely to flourish. Findhorn makes its money from organising conferences and producing organic food.
Of course the outside world doesn't cease to exist. Many, and in the future even more people find online jobs and become digital nomads, as companies recognise the benefit of saving money on offices.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ECO-VILLAGES

Trademark

Litvill is short for Little Village

Contacts

Email:
imran@litvill.com
pandora@litvill.com

Feel free to contact us.
We are grateful for any feedback.

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