Re: ecovillage and sustainability

Oh dear, the size thing!

Definition is everything, isn't it? If an ecovillage to be an ecovillage
HAS to be entirely self-sufficient to be called sustainable, then it must
have acres and acres of GOOD land to grow all its food AND its hydrogen
fuel. On the other hand if sustainable DOES NOT equate with
self-sufficient, there are a lot more options aren't there? Please note
that many very old communities and establishments do exist fairly
sustainably on 5 acres-Findhorn (which helped instigate the ecovillage
movement) and Esalen Institute (which would never call itself an ecovillage
but has better permaculture than most) are only the first two that come to
mind. Both are over thirty & thriving.

In an urban setting we would hardly expect to find 50 acre ecovillages, yet
the movement IS arriving in the city and could most practically do the most
good there since thats where most people are!

Maybe we at EarthSea haven't "thought things through..deeply" but we've
been actually doing it for 10 years and can say this:

an ecovillage has a better chance of sustainability and "full-featuredness"
if it relates well and closely with adjacent existing communities, a
geographically scattered support community and network-communities of a
like minded nature. EarthSea for instance has a working office/studio in a
neighboring town, has a "ring" of 150 supporters who participate regularly
in our events and donate time, $ and other resources towards our goals; and
we participate in Shambhala, Waldorf School, Cultural Centre, Organics
Co-op, Credit union and other organizations & circles in a 40 mile radius.

Please notice that ordinary small villages often don't have every amenity
or feature and often depend on their neighbor who has exactly what is
needed. And serving that need strengthens the "thing" in the other
community as well. Our inland neighbors seldom have boats, wharves or fish!
We on the coast seldom have enough hardwood, maple syru, blueberries or
cedar.

in an ecovillage, sustainability shouldn't mean insularity. by definition
an ecovillage models to the mainstream and the best way to model is to
remain part of the mainstream where you can.

sorry to get pedantic but it is trying to have the wannabees telling the
the bumble-bees they can't fly!

David Cameron
EarthSea Shamanic Ecovillage

*******************************************************************************
                          EarthSea Shamanic Ecovillage
                                    Home of
             Nancy Dancing Light, Bluefeather, Shamanic Pathways

                          Shaman's Helper Trading Post

                          and the Ecovillage Members.

     Box 95 Riverport NS Canada  BOJ 2WO   <http://www.earthsea.ca/> 902
766-4129



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