What is an Ecovillage?
Compiled by Lois Arkin Over the past few years, ecovillagers everywhere have had to learn how to translate the vision of our communities into pragmatic everyday language that people from all walks of life can understand and accept. Here are quotes from some of those who have been the most helpful in teaching us how to talk “easy” about our visions. We hope they are as helpful to you as they have been to us. DEBBIE FRYMAN AND LINDA HICKS ASHMAN describe a sustainable community as one that offers healthy living conditions to everyone. Each person has access to nutritious food and adequate shelter and outlets for spiritual, cultural and creative expression. There are many community-based businesses, and equal opportunities for fulfilling livelihood. Residents work, play and learn in a safe and clean environment. Neighbors know each other and work together to identify and resolve community issues.
We like Robert and Diane Gilman’s definition: “Ecovillages are human-scale, full-featured settlements in which human activities are harmlessly integrated into the natural world in a way that is supportive of healthy human development, and which can be successfully continued into the indefinite future.” Robert has more recently stated that the definition should specify that an ecovillage must have multiple centers of initiative.
Ecovillages are communities of people who strive to live a sustainable lifestyle in harmony with each other, other living beings and the Earth. Their purpose is to combine a supportive social-cultural environment with a low-impact lifestyle. From Ecovillage Living by Hildur Jackson & Karen Svensson.
