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Share Facilities through Intentional Communities, Eco-Villages, Cohousing
A basic tenet of sustainability is to share what you have with others. Doing this can diminish the need for unnecessary duplication of facilities. In this way a group of people can not only have fewer tools or appliances or functional areas, but at the same time they can have available a greater variety of these facilities. This benefits both the environment (through less industrial activity) and the individual (by providing more options for living.)
Architecturally, a prime example of sharing facilities is what is known as co-housing. With this, a group of people agree to live in a housing situation that is designed so that each family unit has their own basic living accommodations, which are private, but then there are other facilities used in common. For instance, each family might have their own bedrooms, bathrooms, living room and small kitchenette, and then all of the residents might share the use of laundry facilities, meeting room, recreation room, swimming pool, a large kitchen and workshop.
Other modes of living in a cooperative group are intentional communities or communes and eco-villages. Any living arrangement where people share facilities can be beneficial.
There is a social benefit to living in community that is often of considerable appeal to the residents. With the changing make-up of our society, the single-family unit no longer defines how many of us choose to live. People often prefer to be solitary, or at least find themselves in this condition, and becoming part of a larger group can give them a sense of belonging, without the extreme intimacy of marriage.
With co-housing and other community arangements there is often the added advantage of the preservation of open space around the development. The greater density of housing can mean less impact on the environment. Here we have a winning situation for both the residents and the earth! |
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Developing Sustainable Planned Communities by Richard Franko, et al, 2007.
Get practical how-to information on designing and developing attractive, profitable, and environmentally responsible planned communities. This book includes 10 case studies of successful projects in the U.S., the U.K., and Australia
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Living Green: Communities that Sustain by Jennifer Fosket and Laura Mamo, 2009. Social issues are, and need to be, a central part of environmental and economic sustainability efforts. Using stories of extraordinary communities across North America, Living Green showcases the social side of living green. The book features communities that explicitly integrate social and human factors into their design and planning, and examines the impact living in these communities has on personal health, well-being, and the capacity for pursuing sustainability. It includes interviews with developers, architects, and residents, highlighting personal ideals and efforts to pursue a sustainable lifestyle. The book's three parts explore: How community is central to sustainable living in everything from cohousing to communes; Communities that specifically integrate green building design components with social justice politics such as racism, poverty, and urban alienation; Housing options geared toward mainstream living that offer individual choices to those who wish to live green.
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Finding Community: How to Join an Ecovillage or Intentional Community by Diana Leafe Christian, 2007. Finding community is as critical as obtaining food and shelter, since the need to belong is what makes us human. The isolation and loneliness of modern life have led many people to search for deeper connection, which has resulted in a renewed interest in intentional communities. These intentional communities or ecovillages are an appealing choice for like-minded people who seek to create a family-oriented and ecologically sustainable lifestyle-a lifestyle they are unlikely to find anywhere else. However, the notion of an intentional community can still be a tremendous leap for some-deterred perhaps by a misguided vision of eking out a hardscrabble existence with little reward. In fact, successful ecovillages thrive because of the combined skills and resources of their members. Finding Community presents a thorough overview of ecovillages and intentional communities and offers solid advice on how to research thoroughly, visit thoughtfully, evaluate intelligently, and join gracefully. Useful considerations include: Important questions to ask (of members and of yourself); Signs of a healthy (and not-so-healthy) community; Cost of joining (and staying); Common blunders to avoid. Finding Community provides intriguing possibilities to readers who are seeking a more cooperative, sustainable, and meaningful life.
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Co-op Villages by Jack Reed, Jen Chendea, Jim Costa, 2007.
Very seldom does one hear about a viable plan to transform the planet and to address all its problems. Co-op Villages: The Next Evolution offers such a plan, a plan that could change everything. The authors trace the challenges we face to the legacy of the everyone-for-themselves paradigm that has ruled this planet unquestioned for thousands of years. But what if we instead choose to have this planet work for every one and for all life on the planet? The heart of this book lays out that vision. The basic building block that is needed is how we live together and relate together in Community, and the authors meticulously describe how that would look in a Highest Good for all model. Envision a world that enjoys the latest technology, yet respects the natural resources of the planet and keeps them intact. Imagine living in a diverse, sustainable Community where everyone is well cared for, with all their needs being met. This is not a utopian fantasy. This IS the next evolution-literally a blueprint for transforming our world through realistic and practical solutions to the present-day political, environmental, economic, and social problems of the entire planet. This book details how a village could house 500 persons on 500 acres to live sustainably forever, while providing all food, utilities, medical coverage, transportation, advanced education and jobs for its residents for life. For more details see www.co-opvillagefoundation.org |
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Ecovillage: Ecovillage, Intentional community, Sustainability, Social network, Sociology, Anthropology, Anarcho-primitivism, Bioenergy village, Bioneers, Cohousing, Communities Directory by
Frederic P. Miller, et al, 2009.
Ecovillages are intentional communities with the goal of becoming more socially, economically and ecologically sustainable. Some aim for a population of 50-150 individuals because this size is considered to be the maximum social network according to findings from sociology and anthropology. Larger ecovillages of up to 2,000 individuals exist as networks of smaller subcommunities to create an ecovillage model that allows for social networks within a broader foundation of support. Certain ecovillages have grown by the nearby addition of others, not necessarily members, settling on the periphery of the ecovillage and effectively participating in the ecovillage community (see, for example, Findhorn). Ecovillage members are united by shared ecological, social-economic and cultural-spiritual values. An ecovillage is often composed of people who have chosen an alternative to centralized electrical, water, and sewage systems. Many see the breakdown of traditional forms of community, wasteful consumerist lifestyles, the destruction of natural habitat, urban sprawl, factory farming, and over-reliance on fossil fuels, as trends that must be changed to avert ecological disaster.
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EcoVillage at Ithaca: Pioneering a Sustainable Culture by Liz Walker, 2005. In a world filled with stories of environmental devastation and social dysfunction, EcoVillage at Ithaca is a refreshing and hopeful look at a modern-day village that is taking an integrated approach to addressing these problems. This book tells the story of life at EcoVillage at Ithaca, an internationally recognized example of sustainable development. It transports the reader into the midst of a vibrant community that includes co-housing neighborhoods, small-scale organic farming, land preservation, green building, energy alternatives and hands-on education. By integrating proven social and environmental alternatives into a living model, EcoVillage at Ithaca provides a rare glimpse into one possible-and positive-future for the planet. EcoVillage at Ithaca delves into the heart of the lived experience at this innovative community. It provides a warm, personal and reflective look at what it is like to create a sustainable culture. The book tells in-depth stories about an integrated way of life: Running a family farm; Creating invented celebrations"; The poignancy of a home birth, as well as a conscious death; Community work parties; Dramatic examples of personal transformation. At the same time, as one chapter states, "This is not Utopia," and the struggles and conflicts inherent in any community endeavor are not glossed over. Human scale, accessible and inspiring, the example of EcoVillage at Ithaca will help readers imagine fresh alternatives to "life as usual." It will appeal to all who are hungry to learn about successful working models of a more sustainable approach to living with each other and the earth. |
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Ecovillages (Schumacher Briefings) by J Dawson, 2006. In the last twenty years ecovillages -- local communities which aim to minimise their ecological impact but maximise human wellbeing and happiness -- have been springing up all over the world. They incorporate a wealth of radical ideas and approaches which can be traced back to Schumacher, Gandhi, the 1960s, and the alternative education movement. This Briefing describes the history and potential of the ecovillage movement, including the evolution of the Global Ecovillage Network and the current developments in both North and South. The threads that are brought together in Ecovillages include: * Learning from the best elements in traditional and indigenous cultures; * Alternative economy: community banks and currencies, and voluntary simplicity; * Designing with nature: using permaculture design, eco-building, small-scale energy generation, waste-management, low-impact transport systems, etc; * Organic, locally-based food production and processing; * Reviving small-scale participatory governance, conflict facilitation & social inclusion as well as reviving active inter-generational community; * Creating a culture of peace, and holistic, whole person education. In an age of diminishing oil supplies, the Briefing examines the lessons that we can learn from ecovillages about how to live in a more ecologically sound and sustainable way. In an age of diminishing oil supplies, the Briefing examines the lessons that we can learn from ecovillages about how to live in a more ecologically sound and sustainable way. |
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The Cohousing Handbook : Building a Place for Community by Chris ScottHanson, Kelly ScottHanson, 2004. Cohousing offers an end to the isolation of the single-family suburban home. Balancing community and personal privacy, cohousing is a chance to create a modern village in an urban or rural setting. Residents own their own homes and can gather in common areas to share meals and socialize. An increasingly popular form of housing in both Europe and North America, cohousing addresses and alleviates many of the demands and pressures of modern life-everything from day care to aging at home is easier with the help of your neighbors. The Cohousing Handbook covers every element that goes into the creation of a cohousing project, including group processes, land acquisition, finance and budgets, construction, development professionals, design considerations, permits, approvals and membership.
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Senior Cohousing: A Community Approach to Independent Living by Charles Durrett, 2009. Senior Cohousing is a comprehensive guide to joining or creating a cohousing project, written by the US leader in the field. The author deals with all the psychological and logistical aspects of senior cohousing and addresses common concerns, fears, and misunderstandings. He emphasizes the many positive benefits of cohousing, including: Better physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health; Friendships and accessible social contact; Safety and security; Affordability; Shared resources. Successful aging requires control of one's life, and today's generation of seniors—the baby boomers—will find that this book holds a compelling vision for their future.
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Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves by Kathryn McCamant , Charles Durrett , Ellen Hertzman, 1993. Alright, you tried living in a commune in the 1970s, and people kept borrowing your toothbrush and leaving dishes in the sink. Then you set up house by yourself and felt lonely. You got married, started raising a family and ended up feeling isolated from your friends and the rest of the community. You go to work, wave to your neighbors over the fence now and then, and think there must be more to life than this. There is: a whole new concept of building a neighborhood and sense of community. This is the story of how and why cohousing works, and how to go about making it happen for yourself.
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Intentional Community: An Anthropological Perspective by Susan Love Brown, 2002. Although anthropologists have studied intentional communities in the past, they have seldom exerted a concerted effort to evaluate the intentional community in terms of the anthropological language of cultural change. Drawing from the work of Victor Turner, Gregory Bateson, and Anthony F. C. Wallace, Intentional Community examines historic and contemporary intentional communities within the United States, leading to a better understanding of these communities, the larger nation-state of which they are a part, and the ways in which the two interact. Applying classical anthropological theory to elements of western society, the contributors discuss how the individuals function; the ways in which these communities come into being and disappear; the various forms these communities take; how their members reinterpret features of the larger culture; and the ways in which outsiders relate to people within them.
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Voices from the Farm: Adventures in Community Living by Rupert Fike, 1998. Twenty-five years ago, at the height of the counter-culture movement, several hundred hippies drove their school buses into southern Tennessee and founded America's largest, modern-day intentional community, The Farm. In its heyday, the community was home to over 1,200 optimistic young people and the young-at-heart. Their purpose for coming together was to experiment with alternative lifestyles that could help raise the standard of living for impoverished people around the world while conserving the planet's resources. The results of these experiments were not always predictable, but were always interesting, and created lasting bonds among community members that are still strong today. The Farm remains a vibrant, working environment for change. Why has it lasted so long? Discover the answers as members past and present recount some of their more memorable experiences.
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Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities by Diana Leafe Christian, 2003. This book provides step-by-step practical information distilled from numerous first-hand sources on how to establish an intentional community. It deals in depth with structural, interpersonal and leadership issues, decision-making methods, vision statements, and the development of a legal structure, as well as profiling well-established model communities. This exhaustive guide includes excellent sample documents among its wealth of resources.
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Ecovillages : A Practical Guide to Sustainable Communities by Jan Martin Bang, 2005. Ecovillages have arisen around the world in response to the social fragmentation of modern life and its alienation from nature. They provide a variety of ways of living in community with others and with nature and are linked worldwide through the Global Ecovillage Network. While interest in this approach to sustainable living is rapidly increasing, there is relatively little literature on the topic and none that brings the design principles of permaculture to bear on the successful design of these communities. Ecovillages explores the new departures in personal, social, and ecological living represented by this phenomenon. This book explores the background and history to the ecovillages movement and provides a comprehensive manual for planning, establishing, and maintaining a sustainable community using a permaculture approach.
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Natural Building: Creating Communities Through Cooperation by Timothy Rieth, 2008. The book is an illustration of a successfully built natural building, including the necessary human element. The book takes the reader through the entire building process for the folly, and with text and photographs documents the experiences of dozens of students and instructors as they created the small, natural gem of a building during a single summer. The processes and material result of this adventure are well documented, but the authors also tried to document what is harder to transmit: the creation of a strong social bond between all of the participants – students, teachers, the owner, residents of the town and the land itself. This intangible result—the creation of a community or tribe — is perhaps one of the greatest benefits of such an event and program.
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World Peace Ashram - An Eco-Village with a Mission by Ed. D. Donna Daniel, 2009.
A photo-journal of the Desert Monastery & Retreat / World Peace Ashram, in northeastern Arizona. With visits by WWOOFers, work-exchange volunteers, friends and Tibetan Buddhist monks, this remote location hosts a intriguing variety of retreatants annually.
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LINKS
cohousing.org The Cohousing Association of the United States lists locations of cohousing projects, frequently asked questions, web tours, news and events, and other resources, including a free magazine.
cohousing.ca The Canadian Cohousing Network has a directory of cohousing projects, a newsletter, frequently asked questions, and many other resources.
cohousing.org.au a directory of cohousing contacts in Australia.
cohousingresources.com the authors of The Cohousing Handbook provide lots of information about cohousing in general, as well as offer their consulting services.
cohousing.org.uk The UK Co-housing Network provides a wealth of information about cohousing in the UK.
converge.org.nz The Eco-Village and Cohousing Association of New Zealand: a national umbrella network linking people, projects and the global Eco-village community.
yulupacoho.com an excellent example (in Santa Rosa, California) of one of the many cohousing projects sprinkled around the world. My sister, Alexandra Hart, and her architect husband, Michael Black, were instrumental in bringing this into being.
mblackarchitect.com Community Life Development; Michael Black Associates: community planning/architecture, cohousing design, community formation and development consultation.
chicagocohousing.net provides regional and national resources related to cohousing.
directory.ic.org is a directory of communities around the world.
eldercohousing.org the online home of the Elder Cohousing Network creators of Elder Cohousing Neighborhoods for Active Adults.
sewaneecreek.com describes an intentional community in the Tennessee mountains.
greatdreams.com this is a huge directory of communities and related links to housing, energy efficiency, agriculture, etc.
greenecocommunities.com lists green communities by state in the U. S., along with other resources. |
