Why an Ecovillage?

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, counseling 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 necessarily 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, i.e. You own your own block as in any other development. However, the beauty of an ecovillage 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.

Some of the benefits of living within an ecovillage are:

Reduce the need to earn by developing greater control over food production and energy consumption.
Trade within the village which reduces transport and travel needs. Ideal for the self employed and those with vital maintenance skills.
Produce a surplus or provide a service that makes the strong local economy able to reach out.
Provide non-material needs, especially for children, through meaningful work, relevant education and a rich natural environment.
Cooperate to encourage various enterprises and associations e.g. Local Banks and trading systems.

As the abundance of non-renewable fossil fuels declines, David Holmgren (the co-founder of Permaculture) and others predict an "energy descent" future. It seems obvious that the solution to the energy descent future is the ecovillage where food production and employment are localised. A recent interview with Megan Quinn, "A Community Solution to Peak Oil" discusses this theme.

The SomerVille Vision:
"A vibrant village where community flourishes, in which every person is supported and contributes
in balance with a sustainable ecological ethic."