Ecovillage and ownership?

Hello
I have looked at some of the Ecovillage here in the navy it was communal living I was not a fan I like having my own bedroom, kitchen and bathroom and MT. Is to far north for me I don't do well with the cold. But a village that works together like a gated community kinda might be nice. By the way it seems like a lot of people see my name and have problems thinking is is really mine I even had to seen a copy of my dl to Facebook

This is an interesting one, Ive been thinking about starting my own eco-village, but laid-back you know...no rush but at the same time there is always hardwork to be done. But with what has been happenning, not just this year, humans have the need to be self sustainble, the more the better.

Returning to the lands will be very appealing in the future, why not start now?!?

Hi all, I'm the original poster of this topic and saw there has been some activity. I enjoy reading about everyone's ideas! It's been three years since I created this thread and our ideas have evolved a bit over that time. The original idea still resonates with us (my husband and I), but the things that are posted here by others are too ambitious for people like us. That doesn't take away that I still admire it, though.

We actually moved to France end of 2019 to rent somewhere and realised it really wasn't the country for us. We just don't fit in with the more conservative traditions and principles. Our ideas about giving birth, education, attitudes around raising children, etc. are very different. For us these things are quite big topics, as we plan on having more children and we also plan on sending our one-year-old son to school in the future, because we don't think homeschooling is a good idea as foreigners who aren't native speakers of the local language. When you're already a newcomer in a country, you feel vulnerable by default. If you then also have to deal with a mindset that goes against the current, it really won't help you feel at home in a country. So that's what made us leave France.

The corona crisis has been tough, but it also led to some new insights. We think Sweden is best for us (ironically maybe not so much from a corona perspective!). We already travelled quite a bit and we've seen a lot there before we had our son. Sweden really has a special place in our heart. We will fit in much better there. It's still going to be a journey with challenges, but we're committed. Moving abroad is never easy.

As for the eco village aspect, we're currently looking at properties that include variable plots of land. Some have a lot more land than others, but they all have different pros and cons we need to balance, though having more land would be such a nice bonus. If we can get a certain amount, we could have another person/couple/family on the land, maybe two at most. We would be open to a potential sale of part of our land if this can be arranged in such a way that the other party can still reside there. But we need to figure out exactly how this works in Sweden. From what I currently know this would need to be a smaller outbuilding like a homemade cabin (not officially seen as a house). This is the most we will ever do, and completely casual. No formal meetings schedules or management. Just all following our own plan. We personally don't have the mental capacity or energy to take on anything greater. And honestly? That's all we would need for the social side. It would be great to share this adventure with some other people, but that doesn't need to be 50 other people. Raising young child(ren) takes a lot of energy, especially with a family business that we need to work on as well. And all this outside of our homecountries. So, this is where we're currently at!

Hello Rosa, and everybody else reading.

By what I read in this thread, most people are interested in a more "hands-off" approach to homesteading and community, and that's exactly what we're looking to start in the northern regions of Spain (Asturias and Cantabria)

The community would be structured in such a way that each "unit" or "family" would purchase and own their own plot of land (however big or small they want) in a rural area that has "spread out" properties and land, together forming an aggregate of like-minded people living together creating a community (but not in the sense of communal sharing)

Here below is the website, if this sounds interesting at all to any of you, please get in touch with us!

https://www.homestead.community/

If you use telegram and want to chat with us, here's a link: https://t.me/homesteadcommunity

I have this exact model working now, each person owns there portion. Buy or sell with cooperative living with neighbors, great model. Write with questions, tom

Xaloc - I replied to your pm
Tom - where are you? Do you have any space for new members?

Thanks

Emma, there's a link to our chat and our email on our website....

@Thomas, can you provide us with any further info/links to your project/operation?

I don't have telegram. Please reply to my message and we can arrange a time to chat?

Yes emma there is space, currently in new Mexico, Mexico or arizona.

Thanks Tom. A bit far for me, I need to stay in Europe.
Thanks for getting back to me though!

Emma Laurence wrote:Xaloc - I replied to your pm
Tom - where are you? Do you have any space for new members?

Thanks

Yes space for new members
www.unityonesolutions.org

[
Rosa.  Check here www.unityonesolutions.org

xaloc franco wrote:Emma, there's a link to our chat and our email on our website....

@Thomas, can you provide us with any further info/links to your project/operation?

www.unityonesolutions.org.  Please check this site

Nizarah Dragon wrote:Hello
I have looked at some of the Ecovillage here in the navy it was communal living I was not a fan I like having my own bedroom, kitchen and bathroom and MT. Is to far north for me I don't do well with the cold. But a village that works together like a gated community kinda might be nice. By the way it seems like a lot of people see my name and have problems thinking is is really mine I even had to seen a copy of my dl to Facebook

Unityonesolutions.org

Fast forward 4 years. I like these quotes and would like to add one.  “We are blessed with this opportunity to create a community based on shared ideals. What can we do to best feed and protect our land?”

The outcome of both of these questions is static while the questions are variables.  

Shannon Lawrence wrote:This is an old thread, just wondering if anyone has made a go of it?!

And I would be interested in anyone still looking for something like buying adjacent farms, or a big plot of land, for an "ecovillage" with more than one bathroom
We're currently on a scope tour through Europe. Spain would probably be the place to settle down in the end.  

Benjamin Dinkel wrote:

Shannon Lawrence wrote:This is an old thread, just wondering if anyone has made a go of it?!

And I would be interested in anyone still looking for something like buying adjacent farms, or a big plot of land, for an "ecovillage" with more than one bathroom
We're currently on a scope tour through Europe. Spain would probably be the place to settle down in the end.  

Hi Benjamin.  Writing you from Spain.
I would like to know more 🍀
silme00505@gmail.com

Hi. I read (not everything) this thread because the subject Eco-villages interests me. I understand the topic starter and first comments were about buying and owning land (farm land) next to/close by likeminded people, but not living close to each other like in Eco-villages in general.
Probably the general idea of Eco-villages is formed by the organisation named GEN, the Global Ecovillage Network ( https://gen-europe.org/ ). There's a definition for what's called an Eco-village and what isn't. But still all Eco-villages are different.

I see one big disadvantage in the idea of buying some pieces of land close to each other to form some kind of Eco-village: this is only possible for people with money. A piece of land (with a house on it, or with permission to build) in most European countries is not cheap! And then you need more money to build or renovate the house, to start your farming/gardening, etc. You can not get a loan/mortgage for it. If this plan succeeds and an Eco-village is formed this way, this will be a somewhat onesided community. There will only be people who can afford it. Or do I see that wrong?

Until not-so-long-ago I thought I would never be able to buy anything (land, property, house). But now my mother died and her house will be sold. (it's in a town where houses are sold at high prices). So I'll inherit my part (we are three siblings). That will be enough to have my own tiny house (I know someone who builds them), if that will be on land that's shared by an eco-community. And ... is it serendipity? ... there seem to be more people in my region who want the same ... Would it be possible???

I am interested to live in an Eco-village. I don't need to own the land. I will be glad to do the gardening together with others who live there, to grow our own food, and to do more for the 'community'. But I do not want to live in a community where everything is shared. I need my own living space (tiny house). Especially I do NOT want to live in a community where is so-called 'free love', or where there's a lot of non-productive activities, or where's a certain 'religious background' (I want to be free to have my own religion).
I understand in a community it's needed to have get-togethers to talk about those activities that are done for the community (like the gardening). But I'm not interested in more get-togethers than those.

Take a look at Paul Wheaton and . It should be adaptable to this!

Wow this is a really good idea! Is there a detailed thread somewhere?

Found it Skip

I have been sering the courses and badges didnt realize what was going on very interesting

Hi everyone,
I saw that this old thread got reactivated.

I see that we're all trying to find the right word to describe a project of adjacent homesteads with fences, and where everyone owns their own land, is independent. rather than one huge land where others are staying for exchange of work. The latter can often become a kind of neo-fuedalism.
 
So what would the right word ? Ecovillage/Intentional Community ....or Foodscaping ?

I started a thread on this "Looking for like-minded people in Central Mexico" and put it in the Ecovillage category, and then there was a discussion about whether "ecovillage" is the right word.

I think that independent adjacent homesteads allow for independence, a prerequisite for inter-dependence.
Whereas a community of shared land is co-dependent.

 

Mia Angelo wrote:
I see that we're all trying to find the right word to describe a project of adjacent homesteads with fences, and where everyone owns their own land, is independent. rather than one huge land where others are staying for exchange of work

That is called an HOA or Home Owners Association.

Some people call this an agrihood or agrivillage.  A group of houses with their own space but which want closeness and which prioritize farming and growing of food, some of which is done collectively and some of which is done seperately on one's own parcel.  I think that would be an ideal situation.  So this isn't in Europe where the original poster is, its in the state of WA in the U.S., but it sounds like a good example.
Rooted Northwest in Arlington WA.

Riona Abhainn wrote:Some people call this an agrihood or agrivillage.  A group of houses with their own space but which want closeness and which prioritize farming and growing of food, some of which is done collectively and some of which is done seperately on one's own parcel.  I think that would be an ideal situation.  So this isn't in Europe where the original poster is, its in the state of WA in the U.S., but it sounds like a good example.
Rooted Northwest in Arlington WA.

This is kind of what I want, there can be individual pursuit for any betterment for one's self, including what one can grow for one's self, but the community as a whole, still a small collection of those for this community, focused mostly on a common project of growing enough for all, in which work on all that is growing is shared for all to be involved as they can be for it, it can involve simplicity with having enough for each to thrive and be comfortable and happy enough in this. I am along the west coast.

This is what I want ! I dont like living on expected obligations. Own what is mine and live in peace

Riona Abhainn wrote:this isn't in Europe where the original poster is, its in the state of WA in the U.S., but it sounds like a good example.
Rooted Northwest in Arlington WA.

Rooted Northwest is a large cohousing project with land for farmers as well. It may fit with some people, but the original post here is about onwing separate pieces of land near each other and not managing one piece together as Rooted Northwest is doing. Also, the prices at Rooted Northwest are extremely high. We have visited and it's a beautiful piece of land, with very nice people involved.

Excellent yeah that sounds more like what we want I myself am curious I also have a friend that's interested

Did you all find homes? Love the idea of the ecovillage with own land Ala Permaculture. We have a 3 ac in CA that we food forested about 11 yrs ago --but water sources are expensive and the community is not very prolific or inspired around here...looking to be a bit more wild with rivers and a real rainy season...we have been interested in northern Spain and western france...we are physician/surgeon looking to work less and be entirely food/botanical medicine based...we homeschooled/free schooled the majority of our children's lives and now they are all about to fledge...we are looking to share of love of nature and permaculture and traditional food processing etc. with others who get psyched about that ...and are looking for joyful and rich relationships with nature and others...as neighbors...looking to find what seems to be calling us... in the end I think it will be the people that will be the deciding factor...any recommendations about obtaining residency via a eco village start up ---wonder if qualify as self employment...or if it needs to be proving financial sufficiency with a savings account and agreeing not to work?? Anyone want helpful and energetic neighbors around 50 (happily married).

Hello Sarah, my wife and I (mid-60s) are about to do an exploration of northern Spain for potential move and will be glad to correspond. We are not so much looking for a farm at this stage, but haven't ruled it out.

Generally, I wanted to comment with some ecovillage ideas. We considered establishing such an effort some years ago but it never got off the ground - these ideas remain theoretical. But we based our concept on "Creating a Life Together" by Christian - a book about intentional communities. People want to have some ownership of a thing in which they invest so much effort (and indeed, if they do not have ownership they may not invest much) - and I am speaking of time and enthusiasm as much as financial investment. So we considered that there would be some cluster of at least relatively-equal properties surrounding a common area - relatively equal due to issues of proportionate interest in the common area. If one person owns 60% of the land around a common area and the other owns 40% - how will either of them ever feel their interests in that common land are fairly reflected in group decisions? Sometimes we just disagree.

Further, we dreaded the "poison neighbor" issue; that a member of an harmonious group of owners would sell to an incompatible newcomer. How could the community defend against such an issue? In some ways, this is the HOA issue. The reaction of an HOA is to devise a BOOK of rules up front to wield against bad actors (though if the HOA leadership deign to consider an owner to be "OK" - they can equally overlook rule violations). We though of making some rules too, but decided you can't legislate common sense and instead proposed to make the common area a one-vote-per-owner corporation with share prices of $1 and giving an elected planning committee of the owners some heavy-handed powers to reassign ownership of the fixed number of shares. Because the various owners would presumably attach part of their individual properties' values to the benefits of their attachment to the ecovillage (such as trash and compost management, communal gardens, communal gathering areas, communal storage, and perhaps communal facilities like laundry or water storage or tools or other things) - losing ownership in the ecovillage would presumably be a deterrent against bad behavior despite only having a tiny face value.

Another concept we developed was apportionment of land into equal pieces. This kind of issue can relate to the "cake cutting" problem in logic. We would have an equality group that would work together to divide a property into equal pieces - considering a range of factors like vista, soil quality, water features, road access, etc. The equal pieces so devised would be apportioned in a randomized way like is sometimes done with secret santa gifts (see, this post is SEASONAL!): someone would be randomly chosen to have first choice of parcel. The second to choose could choose a different parcel, or take the parcel from the first-to-choose - who might be given a second choice, or might be kicked to the end of the queue. Each subsequent member would have two choices: select an available parcel or take the parcel the prior member has chosen - until all parcels are taken. If they are truly equal, at least the members of the equality group should be relatively easy to satisfy. Perhaps other kinds of choosing could be done this way too.

Oh well, it never happened. I think it is really difficult to make such a scheme work and feel fair to all involved . . .

So great to see a bunch of people considering to change their lifestyle. I read a wide variety of ideas and vision and that's a good start!

I've been through all these questions and wonder myself.

And now I'm living in an eco-village in Latvia.

But it took me 2 years of exploration and experiences to discover many places but most importantly to discover myself (what I truly wanted).

What helped me the most was to drop the internet research and plan a 6 months trip to discover many eco-villages while volunteering.

What are you situations at this moment?

I notice that most large towns in Spain have one or more "horto" - where you can rent a 25 square meter plot of land for a garden at about $30 per month. They will plow it for you for a fee, tend it in some ways for a fee if you are on vacation, and they provide a shed with hand-tools; bring your own gloves and get to work. That seems like a pretty nice model for high density city-dwellers. The hortos are generally near a city bus route too.