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RequestsHave your sayThe Newsletter team is putting out a request for articles, points of interest, requests etc, have your say, share your knowledge. If you are interested in making a contribution, or have any queries about the structure or content please visit http://www.ecocom.org/newsletter.htm and read the Newsletter Structure, Content and Submission Guidelines, then send any newsletter contributions to newsletter@ecocom.org. Membership CoordinatorWant to become more involved? Here is your chance! If you have basic computer skills and most importantly love to have a chat, this is the ideal opportunity for you! We would really appreciate someone “putting their hand up” to help us with maintaining the membership database, sending out membership renewals and following up on overdue membership renewals. To get an idea of what is involved please review the memberships procedures at http://www.ecocom.org/members_information.htm Please contact Karen if you would like more information or would like to take on this role. Help for the SomerVille Open DaySomerVille Open DaySunday 10 April 2005 10am – 4pm ..and here is another chance for you to become more involved……..We need lots of willing helpers to assist with the preparation for our first big public event for 2005. Paul Moes has kindly offered to coordinate the overall planning but requires assistance with the following:
In the past we have had great fun and a lot of laughs leading up to and on the Open Day, so if you would like to volunteer to help please contact Paul. Help Promote SomerVille Ecovillage™ |
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Rezoning approval |
2)
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Community Building |
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Upgrade road into village |
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Camping ground with ablution block and 6 chalets |
3)
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Swimming Pool |
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Tennis court and Beach volley ball |
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Play ground |
4)
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Agriculture established for growing food |
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15 families living on the land |
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Operational enterprises |
5)
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Final lot lay out pegged out |
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Firewood lot established |
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Working plan of village lay out |
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Water way rehabilitation |
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Land care management plan |
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Fire management plan |
6)
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Loans paid out and restructure new loan system |
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Higher level of engagement from members |
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Evolve and test a governance model |
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Defined by laws/guidelines |
7)
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Fund set up and ready to receive monies |
8)
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lets system |
SomerVille calendar of events
Please note that the calendar format has changed and rather than having a tentative calendar which is changing all the time, it has been decided to coincide workshops and meetings etc (with a few exceptions) with the SomerVille viewing days on the first Sunday of each month, which we will now call SomerVille Sundays.
We will still email you in advance of events if we have your email address or you can check the calendar located at http://www.greenedge.org/calendar_of_events.htm a few days before each event.
Sunday 10th April 2005:
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SomerVille EcovillageTM Open Day |
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From 10 am |
Sunday 1st May 2005:
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SomerVille Sunday |
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From 10 am |
Sunday 5th June 2005:
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SomerVille Sunday |
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From 10 am |
Sunday 3rd July
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SomerVille Sunday |
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From 10 am |
Sunday 7th August
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SomerVille Sunday |
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From 10 am |
Sunday 18th September 2005:
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SomerVille Spring Fair |
Sunday 2nd October
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SomerVille Sunday |
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From 10 am |
29th October 2005:
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AGM and Bush Dance Celebration |
Note: Chidlow Markets occur on the last Saturday of every month the next two being on the 26th March and the 30th April.
For the latest list of all the coming events please visit http://www.greenedge.org/calendar_of_events.htm.
Articles
The SomerVille Way – A Global Perspective
Paul
Returning from our 5 month research trip it enabled us to obtain perspective about SomerVille and how other groups and communities view what we have done and where we are going. This was very helpful as it often takes removing yourself for a while so that you are able to truly value and understand where you are at.
A summary of our journey is as follows:
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1st September 2004 to 2nd February 2005 (154 days) |
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Visited 13 countries across Europe and North America |
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Total KM’s driven on the ground 23 508 |
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Number of communities visited 25 |
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Educational Institutions Centres 6 |
We were impressed by some of the amazing and inspiring projects which exist around the world. There openness and generosity enables us to learn from their process and experiences hence continually improving the evolution of ecovillages.
Here are some of the key areas in which the SomerVille Way is different and diverse from the way in which most communities are formed:
1. Small group to wide group process
In the SomerVille way initially a small group facilitated an approach in which a common basis and foundation could be developed. Most projects start off with an approach where everyone decides everything, usually by consensus, and often poorly trained in consensus. Different people want different things. Conflict occurs with fragmentation. The dysfunctional or demanding drive out the functional and reasonable.
2. Self sufficient from a funding and finance point of view.
From the onset we were keen to minimise the amount of economic leakage which occurs. We have utilised an approach which has enabled us to date to be totally self funding from a community perspective. In most projects if funding is obtained it is usually obtained from external sources creating high cash flow demands which in turn apply strong financial pressure to the project.
3. Linking money input with potential outcomes and benefits.
Providing financial support in the SomerVille way was all about providing a value exchange and encouraging those who could put in more funds through incentives to do so. This process was inclusive of all and whilst members had an option there was no obligation on members to have to end up purchasing a lot at SomerVille . Most projects amount of money put in is not linked to anything – and there is an expectation that you will end up living in the community.
4. Survey and market research as the key basis
The SomerVille way is about not making any assumptions and carrying out continual market research and surveys to provide direction and clarity for the project. This minimises risk and allows as many people as possible to provide input. Most projects carry out very little if any market research. Many assumptions with very little understanding of what people want.
5. Project team which will be reimbursed for their work based on results
The SomerVille way is about developing a project which is viable. Processes have been developed to ensure that based on outcomes contributors are remunerated for their work, even though this may not occur until later stages in the project. Most projects have part time members who have to put in time around their existing lives. This often leads to burn out.
6. Sufficient money not only for land but also infrastructure and other needs.
With the SomerVille Way the financial model has been developed to ensure that all aspects of the projects can be provided for. This includes acquisition of land, development of infrastructure and support of enterprise and economic activity. Most projects aim to purchase the land with little consideration at the front end for the other financial needs further down the track.
The SomerVille Ecovillage™ is clearly a project which will set a new bench mark for sustainable development not only in Australia but the world. We as a community should be proud of what we have achieved and what we are workings towards creating.
Draft Lot Layout Survey Results
Neil
During January and February 2005, Paul Moes conducted phone surveys of 33 members about the draft lot layout. The results are listed below with percentages rounded to the nearest whole number.
If Paul was not able to contact you at the time, you can still have your say by submitting your comments on the Draft Lot Layout forum. The forums are at:
http://www.greenedge.org/forums
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Have you seen the lot layout? Yes - 58% No - 36% Leaflets - 6% |
Most of those surveyed have now seen the lot layouts. |
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Have you Walked on the site? Yes - 39% No - 39% Some - 12% All - 9% |
Over half of those surveyed have walked around at least some of the site. |
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Are you planning to live at the ecovillage? Yes - 61% No - 12% Undecided - 27% |
88% of respondents are planning or considering living at the ecovillages. Reasons given included "lifestyle", "living with like minded people", "sense of community", "environmental and sustainable", and "a good place to bring up children". |
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What is your cluster first preference? Eight - 24% Five - 9% Two - 6% Three - 6% Ten - 6% Undecided - 36% |
Over a third of respondents had cluster number eight (near the orchard) as their first or second cluster preference. At this stage, only 21% or respondents had particular lots picked out. The other most popular clusters were five (south of village centre including Walnut Cottage), two (cleared lots - west of village centre), three (in the trees - south west of village centre) and ten (south of village centre - terraced lots). Reasons given included "being in the bush", "the view", "like open space", "like to be near trees", "near the trees but not in them" and "great balance between water and trees". |
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What is your cluster second preference? Eight - 12% Two - 9% Seven - 6% Three - 3% Five - 3% Undecided - 67% |
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What is your cluster third preference? Two - 6% Three - 6% Nine - 3% |
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Do you anticipate paying higher, lower, or the planned average lot price of $75000 for your lot? Higher - 30% Lower - 21% Budget - 27% Unspecified - 21% |
Respondents were fairly evenly balanced between paying higher, lower and the average lot price. It seems that pricing expectations have been met. |
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Do you have any general lot layout comments? |
General lot layout comments included, "Prefer cluster like living, like cluster 7", "yellow shed should stay were it is and not be removed because of resources to pull it down", "blocks are too narrow", and "a semi circle is more agreeable with me". |
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Are you concerned that lots should be within 500m of the village centre or not? No concern - 48% Either way - 15% Prefer 500m - 24% Unspecified - 12% |
Only 24% of respondents were concerned that lots should be within 500m of the village centre. |
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Are you in favour of clusters with a theme? No - 67% Good Idea - 21% Some Concerns - 6% Unspecified - 6% |
73% of respondents had negative responses to the idea of cluster themes. Cluster theme comments included, "too complicated", "this will happen naturally", "in theory good idea but in practice this will not work", "worth exploring", and "mixture is more desirable". |
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Do you want the ring road behind or in front of your cluster? Behind house - 64% In Front house - 15% No Preference - 18% Unspecified - 3% |
Most respondents (64%) are keen to have the ring road behind their cluster. |
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Are you in favour of semi-detached houses? Yes - 27% Yes - but not for me - 39% No - 33% |
66% of respondents were in favour of semi-detached houses although not all of these respondents were planning to live this way. |
