Medieval Spanish ghost town becomes self-sufficient ecovillage

It's a utopian fantasy- discover a ghost town and rebuild it in line with your ideals-, but in Spain where there are nearly 3000 abandoned villages (most dating back to the Middle Ages), some big dreamers have spent the past 3 decades doing just that.
There are now a few dozen "ecoaldeas" - ecovillages - in Spain, most build from the ashes of former Medieval towns. One of the first towns to be rediscovered was a tiny hamlet in the mountains of northern Navarra.
Lakabe was rediscovered in 1980 by a group of people living nearby who had lost their goats and "when they found their goats, they found Lakabe", explains Mauge Cañada, one of the early pioneers in the repopulation of the town.
The new inhabitants were all urbanites with no knowledge of country life so no one expected them to stay long. When they first began to rebuild, there was no road up to the town so horses were used to carry construction materials up the mountain. There was no electricity either so they lived with candles and oil lamps.
In the early years, they generated income by selling some of their harvest and working odd jobs like using their newfound construction experience to rebuild roofs outside town. Later they rebuilt the village bakery and sold bread to the outside world.
Their organic sourdough breads now sell so well that today they can get by without looking for work outside town, but it helps that they keep their costs at a minimum as a way of life. "There's an austerity that's part of the desire of people who come here," explains Mauge. "There's not a desire for consumption to consume. We try to live with what there is."
Today, the town generates all its own energy with the windmill, solar panels, and a water turbine. It also has a waitlist of people who'd like to move in, but Mauge says the answer is not for people to join what they have created, but to try to emulate them somewhere else.
"If you set your mind to it and there's a group of people who want to do it, physically they can do it, economically they can do it. What right now is more difficult is being willing to suffer hardship or difficulties or... these days people have a lot of trouble living in situations of shortage or what is seen as shortage but it isn't."
- Website: www.lakabe.org/
Original story here: faircompanies.c...

[@danielalmeida7126]

my girlfriends dad is the architect in charge of restoring an old French village in the gers (next to the Pyrenees and Spanish border). Same concept over there. Some Germans bought it to make it an eco friendly village. Very noble.

[@epen1898]

what is the name of that village?

[@danielalmeida7126]

they are renovating it but in reality it is a hamlet as there are like 10 houses. I can't remember the name exactly unfortunately.

[@Nadyabb]

Daniel Almeida by any chance do you know the name of the eco friendly village close to Pyrenees you mentioned above? I am very interested in starting a community in the region, and would love go and meet others who have walked this path before, to learn from them. Thanks

[@lofilatte7598]

A Barca is an abandoned hamlet located in the municipality of Cortegada, Ourense, Galicia, Spain. It is located near the Minho River and the Portuguese border. It consists of twelve houses and measures around 15,000 square metres (18,000 sq yd).

[@lofilatte7598]

A Barca i think

[@asaldanapr]

I’d like to see an update to this story as it has been nine years already.

[@joanfotli]

the latest I know is that they got sued by energy companies for the use of renewables. Renewables were kind of illegal in Spain. I´m just not sure if it was them that got sued of another similar community. so trust me a 100%

[@cosmicsprings8690]

asaldanapr it’s totally amazing and unspoilt and is now a hippie holiday camp and you can enjoy the rustic charm at just at £150 per night..ps bring your own toilet rolls ✨🤔😮😲✨✨✨✨😂😂😂😂😂✨✨🌸🌼🌺✨🌞✨✨✨

[@TheRedTrucks]

joan masoliver Almost 40% of Spain’s electricity is from renewables. please stop

[@lolal2502]

@@TheRedTrucks what does it mean - renewables?

[@TheRedTrucks]

Lola L girl STOP you have google, take some responsibility. Lol

[@bacnneggs]

Inspiring! So many valuable lessons in this video...EVERYONE should watch this. This is what every city, town and neighborhood in America should be like: self-sufficient, communal, humble, intelligent, hardworking, and appreciative.

[@MrEndz00]

amazing and very eye opening :) thank you for all your efforts in recording and sharing with us.

[@lorcatorres4868]

The house you have translated as "The arena" is actually called "Ederrena", which means "the prettiest", "the nicest" or even "the biggest" in Basque, a language spoken in Navarra and The Basque Country

[@danderegil]

Hey, Lorca! Thank you for sharing this info, as I was wondering what "Ederrena" meant. Do you have any idea what "Errezil" means? You've probably heard of this town, as it's located in Gipuzkoa in the great Basque Country. ¡Saludos!

[@lorcatorres4868]

@@danderegil Errezil, if translated literally means "easy to die" or "easy to kill", I have been doing some research and legend has it that when the ancient Romans tried to invade the village nearby (Azpeitia) the people from Errezil threw stones at them, and killed them pretty easily. This is not a confirmed take, but I love how most names in Basque have a meaning linked to their history.

[@danderegil]

@@lorcatorres4868 Wow, that is amazing! Thank you for sharing this. Indeed, as a matter of fact, I have heard this legend before from a guy that teaches Euskera here on YT. Thanks again, and may God bless you!

[@dacejaunzeme4849]

Lorca Torres thanks

[@maialendch4001]

Lovely that you mentioned it, I'm basque and it is very preciated. However I have to correct something in you message, if you don't mind. Navarra is part of the Basque Country. I know it sometimes gets confusing, but the Basque Country includes Euskadi, Navarra (or Nafarroa in Basque) and the Basque France region in Southern France.

[@kirstendirksen]

@imanolUriaBlanco Thank you. I realized I'd made that mistake right after I posted. Well, I didn't know how to spell it exactly (Basque spellings are difficult for me) so I just put in my phonetic estimation in the subtitles and meant to ask for help, but never did. So thank you very much for finally pointing that out. And what a great translation. Gracias por la ayuda!

[@abbanjo13]

If this village is truly all that the speaker claims it to be it is a beautiful example of how collectives do not negate but rather they empower individual freedoms.

[@wolfy1987]

Collectives are a beautiful thing when not forced on people by a central government. Here in the US the Amish have been living in collectives for 300 years

[@iconicon7354]

@@wolfy1987 Pseudo-gov't serves the puppet master and its role is the negation of liberty and its sole purpose is to perpetuate the plutocracy. Anarchy precedes natural human evolution.

[@henrikpetersson3463]

@art cafe That's why it's a good idea to keep them small but large enough to be self sustainable.

[@enricoalberti3007]

Thank you 🌱🌼❤️ I wish you love peace joy and happiness!

[@roseliopalma9710]

It's an amazing life to be living in a secluded place away from Cities and towns. but this family survive by using the available materials that made them live a sustainable life.

[@Windchild69]

These people make me feel we can strive all this craziness that is going on now. Thank you for this great video!

[@LavenderLori406]

This is beautiful Kristin! One of your best. So authentic, real!

[@jesuscarrillo3705]

que hermosos recuerdos.. asi era la granja donde crecio mi mama en chihuahua Mexico y donde pasabamos las vacaciones en mi infancia.. ojalay algun dia pueda volver :(

[@georgerascon1825]

Chihuahua es uno de los lugares más bonitos de México 👍🏻

[@jesuscarrillo3705]

George Rascón si! Tambien eres de alla?

[@epen1898]

¿cómo se llama el pueblo en Chihuahua?

[@pauljmeyer1]

Guts and determination. Their grit and hard work has given them stature.

[@brandaomelo7138]

What as masterclass about relations between human principles, notion of place and architecture. Very humanist.

[@nagybrendan9902]

Considering Spain's austerity problems at the moment where greed and waste out way the needs of the majority I find it refreshing that here we have a community through hard work and determination are able to live a good and fulfilling life without the greed and waste that the rest of us living in our towns and cities take for granted. Well done them.

[@geraldfrank1630]

Check out Gaviotas, a self sufficient city built in a desert in Colombia & Auroville in India. Two shining jewels of what Humans can realize with vision & determination! 👌🙏👏

[@CatherineSTodd]

Tone, I hope you are able to find your dream - after losing it the first time. Know that there are many in your situation and I'm sure someone with your skill and love for your daughter will be welcome many times. I'm so glad to find this video and website and have applied for membership myself.

[@fernandotalavera3404]

Muchas gracias por vuestra gran dedicación.

[@NotAnAngryLesbian]

I stay in a friends off grid place from time to time. No connectivity. No cell. Nothing. You remember how to slow down. Its very nice. The wind. The stars at night. Nothing can be very good.

[@wudangmtn]

Beautiful village. I wish you all the best of luck.

[@kirstendirksen]

It's important to distinguish between public & private property. Lakabe was public. I agree it's a waste to bulldoze new homes, but it's important to protect private property rights. You may choose to relinquish them to live in a communal environment, but it's important to be aware of the consequences of infringing on property rights. I know I want the right to own my own home- it doesn't have to be large and it can be handbuilt-, but I want the privacy/security/personalization of ownership.

[@Angel_Gomez]

Spain has lots of beautiful abandoned villages

[@wendywinn270]

Working people get the best of life.. How lovely would be to live this way... Wonder how are they re doing now after 9 years..

[@lolanone751]

It's thrilling to know they did all this in such a short amount of time.

[@joadhenry]

this is beautiful and inspiring on every level of humanity

[@theamazingmiguelx]

GRACIAS POR ANIMARSE! y por difundirlo. en unos años habrá que hacer lo mismo en los lugares menos pensados. Algunas sociedades ya parecen estar colapsando.. incluso a nivel psicológico, antes que energético. Es el comienzo de una nueva era! SALUD!

[@kingneddy]

Thank you Kirsten for this great video.I subcribed to your channel. I am extremely interested in moving to Spain and trying this,It is amazing.wow :) have you any suggestions on locations?I'm in Ireland at the moment so its only an hour and a half flight to Spain.

[@kingneddy]

J.A. L.R Hi, yes I am very serious about living this lifestyle.it is beautiful,I know it will be hard work but I am not afraid of that. I have been researching locations in northern Spain and I am seriously considering going there in April when I am finished my welding college course.

[@kingneddy]

I'm beginning Spanish lessons in the evenings soon but I have friends who speaks fluent Spanish and I will get them to translate for me. thank you very much for the links. so you plan to try this in 7 months?

[@kingneddy]

yes that sounds very interesting, I would want to go to Spain and visit some communities like these before committing money to buying land but that would definitely be a plan for the future.I would want to gain the experience and knowledge needed to thrive in that environment first.the idea of joining a community that wants new people is probably most appealing to me for the beginning.I would be very happy to meet with you and continue our communication. can you tell me a bit about yourself? My name is Eddie, I am 32 and love growing fruit and veg on my land here in Dublin Ireland, I am tired of living in the city and have been thinking of going to Spain for a few years now. I like to hunt rabbit,pheasant and I like camping, I don't have experience with chickens,sheep or cows but want to gain experience along those lines. the life i want to live for the future is the same as the people in this video, it is a beautiful way to live and work, and I want to find people who think the same way.

[@kingneddy]

J.A. L.R Hello stranger :) how are things with you? remember me?

[@Zone10Permaculture]

@kingneddy have you heard of the Bealtaine Cottage KZbin channel? You might really enjoy that seeing as you were living in Ireland.

[@lonnieherbals]

I wonder if they use compost toilets, or just out houses? Also, what about plumbing, and waste water as in dirty sink water? I would be interested in finding out what they did here. I've been wanting to build a cabin out a ways and they seem to have the right idea. I would love to join and contribute to a community like this. It seems like a simpler slower life.

[@beth8775]

lonnieherbals They said the houses were abandoned in the 50's/60's, so I imagine there is at least sink plumbing in place already. They probably do use some sort of outhouse or composting toilet.

[@ciskavanstuijvenberg8413]

yes they have compost toilets

[@melcollins6547]

This is what I would like to do. Go back to where my family came from. M. Iriarte Keep your dream alive.

[@ArtoPekkanen]

These people are doing wonderful science! :-) Ecological, self-sufficient communes are a topic not researched enough. We need this mode of habitation to become more commonplace to get rid of scarcity driven capitalism.

[@caveri100]

Beautiful film from Norway 🇳🇴 with all my love.

[@TheMusachioedBrony]

Here is the thing-someone owns the land-who?? That was never really clarified in this video. Did the government take it over after it was abandoned?? Did a bank? So even if they just up and settled the place, at some point the owners are going to appear and demand rent or that they buy the place outright. I wish that had been clarified. By not clarifying this very critical point, it leaves in place the very romantic notion that one can in Northern Spain, one can just show up in an abandoned town, work super hard together and become a communal success. Also, wasn't it really weird that there was barely anyone there??? Where were they? Were they told to stay off camera, or were they working outside jobs?

[@MsSomeonenew]

+Geny R. Well it always remains government property, as long as they don't care you are fine but I imagine in countries like the US they would demand payment for every conceivable tax in existence, and some would get put in place just for them. And if these guys are really self sufficient it means working their ass off on the fields every day, you don't get to sit around and order food deliveries with this.

[@bennynunez]

She mentioned that they choose this particular location so no one would be interested in kicking them out, it is not near a road so no one can easily see them. They have done a good job but they are squatters.

[@forcedchannel5996]

Mary Anne Brown if you payed attention to the video she explains who "owns" the land, and why they chose this place. And noniys not weird they didn't have a pile of people wondering around because it's a documentary lmao. Ffs it seems you're trying to dig deep to seek out a negative in a positive video.

[@user-tt5js4bh2v]

_"one can just show up in an abandoned town"_ Most of Europe has ancient squatters rights whereby property deeds will revert to the occupant after a certain amount of time without claim or challenge by the original owner. Due to the fact that there have been a lot of people living on the European continent for a very, very long time, the concept of derelict property as an asset isn't anything like it is in the _new world_ where only 25% of the land has ever been walked on, never mind built on. Oh and you'll probably need to be a Spanish citizen to fulfil any romantic notions you may have developed as a result of misinterpreting this film.

[@sonofeloah]

If they were to install savonus rotor units instead of bird and bat chopping wind propellers, they would produce much more energy and the rotors would not have to be so high up. One at the lower levels can be used to shaft drive a water pump that can draw water from a deep well and pump it up the hill to a small lake they could dig out and thus use gravity to supply water and raise food fish With the protein supplied by goats, chickens, and fish, they would not have need for swine and would have a cleaner system. Biowaste from humans can be used to make methane in digesters that can run stoves, heaters, generators, or be sold as biogas.

[@TamBayo]

Pigs other name is the poor mans plow. The choice would have been between a tractor that costs way more money and keeps eating money and an animal that reproduces itself, feeds you, speeds up the composting of kitchen waste, speeds up the composting of leaves in the forest around your village (lessens risks of forest fires, because there is less tinder to start one). Simple math in such a place really. Reconnecting all puzzlepieces of the old integrated farms teaches you the why of each one very quickly.

[@beebop3734]

and you need them for chorizo!

[@dennisbaecht7860]

Biowaste from animals can be used in a methane generator. Swine excrement is quite excellent.

[@dennisbaecht7860]

You need to process raw methane to use it in engines. Processing also improves its cooking and heating properties. The biggest drawback to methane is storage of the gas. It liquifies at around 5000 psi. Gas bag store is the best storage. Raw methane contains CO2 and sulfur dioxide. Bubbling it through lime water will remove the CO2 and passing the gas through iron filings will remove the sulfur dioxide.

[@olegagata7072]

Yo quiero una vida así, que bello

[@greenspirit8]

for security/crime, I can tell you that I walked through the area where this hamlet is located and it's an area where mainly farmers live. They got more important thinks to do than being criminal and it's remote away from city lunatics. Besides the basque people seem to be an honest folk. for medical needs, I don't know...maybe they know about jim humbles MMS plus the power of mind can make the body stronger than most people can imagine. :)

[@elreyvd]

Es muy bonito, pero siempre hay que tener en cuenta que sólo es viable para pequeños grupos marginales. Para hacer el acero necesario para su turbina eólica, los paneles solares, el cable eléctrico, los motores eléctricos, el vidrio plano, el plástico del invernadero, la ropa que llevan, las bicicletas de los niños, el acero del tobogán o resbaladilla y muchas cosas más que disfrutan y en cierto modo son esenciales para su proyecto, es _necesario_ que afuera exista una sociedad científico-tecnológica que suministre esas cosas. Está muy bien irse a vivir al campo y disfrutar lo que consideran una experiencia espiritual, pero es demasiado simplista _despreciar_ todo lo que te permite precisamente darte ese lujo, mismo que no se pudieron dar los que abandonaron la aldea hace 50 años.

[@kidandresu]

+Mauricio Schwarz Exacto!, Y ese es precisamente el gran error, a mi juicio, de todos estos movimientos, y lo que los torna ilusorios. Es muy bonito, pero no es autosuficiente, no con ese nivel de desarrollo tecnologico, es muy dependiente. Otra cosa seria tratar de encaminar el desarrollo humano a modelos mas cooperativos y descentralizados, pero siempre siendo muy muy conscientes de donde vienen las cosas y aquello que las hace posibles.

[@aduralkain]

Estáis hablando sin saber. Mi hermana vivió en Lakabe durante más de un año. Estuve un día de visita y vivían prácticamente sin electricidad. Si mal no recuerdo, solo una de las casas tenía electricidad. Y podéis estar seguros de que en los primeros años no tenían ni turbinas ni paneles solares. Los "lujos" que citáis no son en absoluto esenciales para el proyecto. Esta gente es auténtica, y para nada necesitan esa "sociedad científico-tecnológica" para sobrevivir. Sería perfectamente posible que todos volviéramos a vivir así. De hecho me parece bastante probable que todos vivamos así dentro de unas décadas, cuando se agoten las fuentes de energía no renovables.

[@hipatiadealejandria2452]

Lo que yo extrañaría en un caso como este es el tema médico. Está todo muy bien hasta que te enfermas o te discapacitas. Sólo que te duelan las muelas, la cosa se complica.

[@DrQuiza]

"Los primeros años". Luego se rindieron a la evidencia.

[@tuanoestaenpeligro5701]

claro que si guapi .

[@theadventuresofbrockinthai4325]

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL, IT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO WHEN I WAS YOUNG BUT OF COURSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT. NOW THAT I HAVE THE MONEY, I AM OLD AND I DON'T HAVE THE ENERGY TO DO IT. SUCH IS LIFE. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ASK THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE INTERVIEWING IF THEY COULD TALK A LITTLE SLOWER BECAUSE US OLD PEOPLE CAN'T READ THAT FAST. LOL

[@theadventuresofbrockinthai4325]

@@MrRuben1963 UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE SUBTLETIES. I COME FROM THE PART OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 10 MILES FROM THE MEXICAN BORDER CITY OF MEXICALI. SO I DO KNOW SOME SPANISH BUT THE LANGUAGE THAT THE MEXICANS SPEAK IS NOT THE SPANISH THAT THE PEOPLE IN SPAIN SPEAK. ANYMORE THAN THE ENGLISH THAT THE AMERICANS SPEAK IS THE SAME AS THEY USE IN ENGLAND. SO I COULD UNDERSTAND BITS AND PIECES OF WHAT WAS BEING SAID. I DID HAVE TO STOP AND START THE VIDEO ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT AND WHEN I WAS DONE, I WENT BACK AND WATCHED IT AGAIN BUT WATCHED THE VIDEO THIS TIME. LOL I AM DOING SOME TRAVELING BUT NOT AS MUCH AS I WANT TO. I AM LIVING IN THAILAND AT THE MOMENT AND TRAVELING AROUND SOUTHEAST ASIA BUT I HAVE TWO BAD KNEES. I AM GOING BACK TO THE U.S. IN MAY AND HAVE THE KNEES FIXED AND POSSIBLY A HEART VALVE REPLACED. THEN WHEN I COME BACK TO THAILAND I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO DO EVEN MORE.

[@juandelacruzgalindocalvo2656]

También quiero ir a vivir a uno de estos pueblos

[@witko7239]

the earth is mother when we connect with it we release the spirit

[@simontenkate9601]

Very good. Way to go.

[@thomaslevy9985]

Nice place to live , an gateway

[@madjeepernh6834]

I would love to live in a village like this! I suppose I would need to learn a bit of Spanish.

[@thetribalelevator]

This is THE most impressive commune I’ve ever seen. One question, what do you do for water?

[@juanprats3975]

Wells

[@WintererMr]

When thinking about obtaining some property as this, wait till a large hosing project goes down and contact the mortgage holder, make a low offer that a small group can afford by combining their resources in co-op structure with a probably agreement, not to build a housing tract , then do the same as these people have, this gives you title and the mortgagee is off the hook, ask the municipality for downsizing the zoning, and good luck and think like a Village.

[@Irishbeth]

A self sustainable life is all what ive been dreaming of but first i need to save up some buck to be able to bought a piece of land😊

[@johnnyaingel5753]

Beautiful LOVE it

[@papiciapapicia3546]

The best thing that could have happened to this village and people

[@cowboyfromnorway1441]

Well done

[@slobomotion]

It's a pity. We built up a rundown subsistence farm with extensive lands in Brittany, France over a long, long period of time in my family but when the elders died & I could invite Americans over to live and stay here, they didn't seem to understand their sunny smiles were not enough to bring to the table. No one had two nickles to rub together and it takes about 5 years to integrate here. You'd at least need to be able to pay your own medical bills for quite awhile. Logistics.

[@ItalyUnplugged]

I love ghost villages !

[@mangoryder7139]

Excellent !!

[@MarvinFalz]

Truly inspiring!

[@naiad5]

Really inspiring, thank you for sharing.

[@wit1135]

nice one,, well done

[@Hereticalable]

The irony is of course that nearly all medieval towns and villages were self-sufficient....and most medieval people could provide for their own food, clothing and shelter without any help from the State.

[@Chrisnes1987]

Wow, just amazing ! :)

[@anaestelaperezbuendia7863]

En este mundo... hay gente para todo. tu de cual eres? o cual quieres ser?

[@elepheriakarageorgis9177]

Es una anatomy de ecologia.

[@Ana-ws6xj]

I felt sad when she said they are selling calfs for meat. Calfs are babies.

[@noemi3018]

wow, this video was great.

[@manuelcastillo6251]

No gusta el problema y no la paz y apesar que lo sabemos y sufrimos en problema hay estamos por nuestros miedos mira con poco de fe donde han llegado sólo una recomendación quédense a vivir cual carencia esto es comienso y y se siente en tu ❤❤♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ corazón a lo que realmente somos yo te aseguro si volverás vivir 100% tu vida a la ciudad ya no es lo mismo todo eso que da la tierra es vida en todo sentido con dios bendiciones show

[@robertm4050]

I don't speak Spanish terribly well, but I know enough to know the translation was pretty off at times.

[@angelialvares]

Inspiring!

[@evelialopez3965]

DE VERAS QUE ES UN MUNDO MUY ERMOSO PERSONAS VALIENTES Y ADMIRABLE ESE ASIDO MI SUEÑO ATREVERME A VIVIR DE LO QUE YO PRODUZCA ES SENTIRSE LIBERADO DEL DINERO DEL DEPENDER DEL COMERCIO Y EL LUJO DE MIERDA QUE CARCOME EL CEREBRO DE LAS PERSONAS SOY DE ESTE PENSAR OJALA DIOS ME CONCEDIERA CONSEGUIR UN BELLO LUGAR COMO ESE Y UN GRUPO DE PERSONAS QUE PIENSE DE ESA MANERA YO SERÍA MUY FELIZ BELLO REPORTAJE TIENE MUY FUERTE MENSAJE AL QUE LO VALORIZA EL MUNDO SERIA COMO EL DE LOS ABUELOS DURADERO MIS FELICITACIONES A ESA COMUNIDAD Y SU REPORTERO DIOS BENDIGA A TODOS ESOS SERES

[@danisageeza]

Inspiring....

[@reagan-s-parrot]

Great, but where’s the water?

[@CBLOVE2856]

What is the difference between tiny homes and trailers/mobile homes?

[@pahwraith]

@LithiumLogica Well, North Dakota is full of ghost towns.

[@meggles2188]

It's just like when you're a small kid and find little places in the woods or abandoned houses and pretend it's your new home.. except they actually did.

[@ddriveddrive4986]

Meggles * yea it’s called being a squatter and they’re not children but grown adults. How this is of any virtue is absolutely shocking to me. Although I can see how it might peak the perversions of the disenfranchised, sadly.

[@meggles2188]

@@ddriveddrive4986 It was a joke...lighten up, man.

[@ddriveddrive4986]

Haroon Abdul Majeed nope, sucker for order and taking responsibility

[@tortugaconqueso]

@@ddriveddrive4986 do you ever make room for a balanced diet or is it just all boot

[@ddriveddrive4986]

tortugaconqueso its called coming from nothing and having everything and knowing what it takes bitch

[@nooper]

I love this. Talk about breaking out of the Matrix.

[@miraisaindimaidi2441]

Just to point out the name of the first house they describe here is not "Arena" as they say in the video but "Ederrena" which in basque means "the most beautiful".

[@jaionealberdigabilondo6586]

"Ederrena", ("the most beautiful" or "The Biggest", and in this case is more likely to be "The Biggest"

[@ATH420]

I am Basque and "Ederrena" means the prettiest, it has nothing to do wit the biggest which in Basque would be "Handiena". By the way I think that this Town is not located in the Basque Country have to look that

[@ATH420]

The town is located in Navarra, which nowadays thecnically is not part of the Basque Country (modern autonomous region of Spain, which we know in Basque as Euskadi), but it is part of the Basque Country (greater region, which we know in Basque as Euskal Herria), so yes it has Basque roots.

[@baskoviceasic1117]

@@ATH420 Sorry but ederra does not have a single meaning, in this context is clear that it means imposing, large, refering to the big size of the house. She says, "se habito ederrena, esta casa grande".

[@ATH420]

@@baskoviceasic1117 You dont have any idea. I am Basque and I know Euskera. Ederra means pretty and Ederrena means the prettiest....

[@StonedustandStardust]

"Learn to live with the rhythms of Nature" Wonderfully stated.

[@franklinpayero8382]

They're rich in many way, that place is paradise on earth.

[@peetsnort]

Probably zero covid 19

[@cacique260]

Especially nowadays 😬

[@kirstendirksen]

@KdubbG I would agree it's a waste to bulldoze perfectly good homes as one commenter put it, but I also stop short at those who would like to literally "occupy" the homes of others. I think it's important to critique our system and fix many things that are broken (banking regulation, our tax system, etc), but I also think we should protect basic individual freedoms (the right to own private property, etc). Perhaps that's an obvious distinction, but an important one to keep clear.

[@AnyoneCanSee]

This village seems to have been truly abandoned unless you are aware of the old owners asking for the land back? As you state there are thousands of abandoned villages and a way of life was destroyed when they were forced off their land by Franco to create a workforce to industrialized Spain in the 1950s. The government should sell these houses for 1€ to anyone that can prove they have the funds, time or skill to fix them up and then give them a timetable to begin and complete work. This would breathe life into abandoned communities and 100s of sustainable communities like this could be created and others could be used by people able to work from home or even for holiday homes. Spain has many unused homes but here in the UK there is a terrible shortage and many home and flats built for one and cut into studios for several families. In Edinburgh, where I live, they proposed a law forcing property owners either to live in a home, fix it up and rent out or sell it as we have tens of thousands of unused homes and tens of thousands of homeless or those wishing to buy and fix up a home. Land is finite and although ownership rights should be protected that doesn't allow the right to let a house fall down and land going unused. Abandoned homes mean abandoned communities and abandoned communities cannot get taxes for school and infrastructure for the few people that do live there. This is why you cannot just abandon a home and leave it to rot. Especially in the countryside where new builds are limited as they protect green spaces. The owners need to sell or give up the properties to be sold on to revive the villages destroyed by fascism.

[@badapple65]

What a beautiful way to live. Little village repaired and made livable again.

[@oolformacha]

WOW. It use to be a village. Now its a village. Amazing.

[@rudolfkraffzick642]

Livable again, yes. Not to forget, based on hard work, especially the first years. Pioneer work for younger people.

[@indiracamotim2858]

This would be the best answer to the chaos that the Universe is going through now. Getting out of consumerism and getting back to basics, to what really matters and is good for us and Mother Earth. Beautiful post. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@ddriveddrive4986]

You are so naive. If any quantity of people did this, we would return to the kind of starvation on a scale that we haven’t seen for more than 200 -250 years. Please be careful what your ideology has convinced you to wish for.

[@indiracamotim2858]

Ddrive Ddrive - thank you for your comment. I am curious as to why my wanting to go and live off-grid would cause such a commotion to the world ? As far as I am concerned., I said that I would love doing this and getting out of the rat race.

[@titoMCish]

You are free to do it.

[@TheRedTrucks]

Ddrive Ddrive 80 years ago everybody even the city had vegetable gardens. Your antithetical attitude towards education...are you perhaps American...amazing...get a passport

[@MAXSOL69]

😂 you say this while watching a documentary on a tables in the comfort of your bed.

[@mikelbarruetabena1002]

la casa Ederrena (que significa "la mas hermosa" en Euskera) ha sido subtitulada como "arena" en inglés.

[@brolin96]

Gracias por el dato. Yo había escuchado "aRRena". ¡Saludos!

[@kirstendirksen]

You're right. I had that in as a placeholder since my Euskara is non-existent and never checked to find out what it was. Thanks for pointing that out. It's a great name. Much better than "sand".

[@chimeleta08]

Entiendo que hay un pequeño error en la traducción y que una de las casas se llama EDERRENA (que significa la más hermosa en vasco-euskera) y no ARENA.

[@bob_frazier]

Reminds me of the book "The Man Who Planted Trees" the trees grew back and the people returned. Kirsten, you are a wonderful storyteller, allowing the individuals to narrate their own trials and tribulations.

[@peetsnort]

I bet that that village does not have a single case of the co19 virus

[@s.durbar1294]

Yeah, their entire village is social distancing from the rest of the population, so..... figures

[@CarlH08]

id like to live there,that place would be beautiful in autumn.City life is stressing.

[@larrysherk]

You're right Karl. These eco-villages are showing us all how we have forgotten how to live. We are part of the Gaia ecosystem and will suffer when removed from it.

[@beccalittlespace6331]

Karl.S. Hilario I am in the process of creating an Eco village in Missouri. :) it’ll take some time but I’m getting there.

[@samnikole1643]

Karl.S. Hilario Life is what you made it! And only you can change it for the best or worse! Dont think too long, just do it. Go and see what you can do when you dont think about money and bills. A whole new life waits. Are you courageous enough to take the road to it?

[@rubinakhan666]

Larry Sherk the Gaia ecosystem as you mentioned is something I am reading for first time, can you please help me to understand it what exactly it is?

[@AnyoneCanSee]

This is absolutely incredible. I know someone who bought ONE abandoned house in Galicia in North Spain as they are sold VERY cheaply and they are trying to get people to move back to these communities. Some are moving back now due to the financial crises in Spain as they can live off the land. He hired transmen and doesn't even speak the language and it has been a total money pit. He's spent £150,000 and it isn't anywhere near finished. These people have done it all themselves. Tradesmen charge even more out there as it is hard to get materials to the locations and the have to stay in hotels etc. So it could take a week's work for a team of guys just to get the stuff to tile a bathroom to the location. Then you need generators on site as no electricity and powerful lights to work. Then they need to hike in and out each day. I've spent a lot of time in Galicia living with a Galician family and I knew about many abandoned villages but this is the first time I finally got the answer as to why. They always said that "during hard times" in the 1960s people abandoned all these villages. It never made sense to me as if things are tough you want to be self-sufficient and living in the countryside. This woman finally explains that the fascist government pressured the people off their land and into the cities so they had a large powerful workforce to industrialized the nation. At the same time in the UK, we were bringing boatloads of people from Jamaica to fill our workforce. So these people were forced to give up their rural way of life and made to go work in factories under Franco.

[@kirstendirksen]

@nagaempress I would be careful about assuming that these towns can sustain too many people. Mauge was careful to point out to me that Lakabe (population 32) is full with a wait list because the surrounding land just can't sustain that many people. Urban environments often use less resources than rural ones because of the way urbanites share resources (walls, floors, heat, public transport, etc).

[@timhark6819]

Iowa is a no zone state. I have been researching many alternatives to moving off the grid and the communal, off grid, self sufficient lifestyle is legal here. No permits necessary. We are doing this now on my land and it is very fulfilling.

[@jesuscarrillo3705]

can I join you guys??

[@hectorkeezy1499]

Tim Hark Way to go Dude. 👍 I wish you all the luck in the World.

[@yvonnemccullaghward361]

Did you Jesus C

[@samnikole1643]

Tim Hark Wonderful to hear. May you make it out what you envisioned!

[@DanielinLaTuna]

Parts of Idaho and Texas are like that too. Is all of Iowa No-Zone?

[@NimlotArt]

In this village people can say "YES WE CAN" without being manipulative, hollow or fake.

[@iconicon7354]

The sublime power of the third eye-sixth sense and monastic, consecrated lifestyle are instrumental in the transcendental rebirth of human civilization.

[@skanwank]

These videos are fantastic. I don't know how you find these people, but they are truly inspired.

[@kirstendirksen]

@LiliannahBudlidottir I'm glad you raised the question. Mauge actually was very clear to say that there is no room in their town for more inhabitants. Though they occasionally have visiting work parties/overnights, they have a waiting list for those who wish to move to Lakabe. There are other medieval towns turned ecovillages in Spain (we heard of a dozen or two) and I know there are others in Europe. You could try the "Global Ecovillage Network" under a google search and they list by country.

[@daniellbondad6670]

Nice.A village repopulated despite it's uninhabitable condition.Sucess is 99% sweat you know.

[@UniversalKalitron7]

It looks like poverty but basics are meet the people own the ghost Town and have work very hard to make a community in wich they live down to earth and Mother Earth personally I love this kind of towns after all material things are not all loving their neighbors and helping each other give then peace of mind, congratulations god bless them all,

[@lesliejanicke2250]

OMG! I would love to live like that my living & giving would be quilting, sewing, crafting & etc. I would even help with the bakery & cooking, cleaning & gardening.

[@stephenowens5375]

These people are rich beyond their wildest dreams. I would swop my life style for this any day of the week. Not sure my family would understand though. Brilliant just brilliant! :)

[@SonicVisualGR]

same thing is happening to me !

[@indiracamotim2858]

So true ! 🌹🌹

[@anazumbalia]

I agree!!

[@kirstendirksen]

It was a music loop from my editing library (part of the Apple program Garageband).

[@OrthodoxChristian809]

Wouldn't be allowed in the UK. The energy companies make too much money from the population. It's rarely possible to find a way of being self sufficient. Only if you're a rich eco hipster or the like.

[@kr1886]

It is possible in the UK to do something similar.

[@GlennnD]

Music in the background: Awareness - Darián Stavans

[@rosendogonzalez8374]

That is a wonderful way of life. I wish it was a place that we as people able to create something like that here in America. I would love to live like that as a community where all members do their part to sustain the community.

[@TheKrakenawakes]

Having rebuilt an old Spanish mountain farmhouse with my wife over a period of twelve years, I am fascinated by this video - and full of admiration, knowing the work involved.

[@samnikole1643]

I wish I saw this first before I left the US! I will move in in a New York second! I love everything about it! I was thinking of doing something like this in my country but with foreigners so that my people see it and hopefully start using these concepts for a better life instead of sleeping in boxes on the streets!

[@geryo88]

Mauricio Schwarz, es cierto que el discurso ecologista contradictorio que comentas es bastante recurrente por gente que simplemente se lanza a la moda de lo "verde", pero en este caso, en ningún momento dan a entender que desprecien, como tu dices, las ventajas del mundo tecnológico. Simplemente es un grupo de gente que aprovechó lakabe para vivir una vida menos alienada de los procesos de producción y más sana y acorde con principios ecológicos. Me parece una iniciativa estupenda, ojalá la iniciativa viniera por parte de la administración pública.

[@trecemundos]

Hay que organizarse mejor para algo global, comprueba la propuesta y el plan de "The Venus Project", es muy interesante ;)

[@fredidom]

estoy contigo "geryo88", en el vídeo se escucha que incluso que tienen cerdos, gallinas, tecnología, a mi los verdes recalcitrantes no me van.... pero puede verse en este caso que hay otros pensamientos + abiertos.... La idea es maravillosa, sobre todo para personas que quieren intentar otra cosa en la vida, que no sea la recetita del sistema..... ¡¡¡Parabién!!!

[@lmk10000]

A mí me parece admirable. Incluso se dieron cuenta que la vida totalmente vegetariana no es algo natural, sino que en el campo debes criar animales y que todo forma parte de un ciclo. Están recuperando los saberes ancestrales por la experiencia. Un gran aprendizaje y digno de admirar.

[@simenabc277]

@@lmk10000 yo creo que el problema del consumo animal, ya sea alimentación u otra forma de explotación es que en la sociedad actual hay un sobre consumo. Criamos animales en muy malas condiciones para luego tirar a la basura gran parte de esa carne, no respetamos la vida animal, producimos sin pensar que al final del día son vidas, no respetamos especies en extinción, no respetamos que esos animales para el consumo puedan tener un mínimo de dignidad. Por lo menos yo no veo el problema del consumo en estilos de vida más primitivos. Sino en la sociedad actual de consumir y producir sin objetivo, sin pensar las consecuencias del exceso

[@lmk10000]

@@simenabc277 me parece acertada tu opinión. Ahora bien, no todos los mataderos son lugares espantosos y crueles. Y también creo que debemos diversificar el consumo de especies animales para no criar intensivamente unas pocas especies en desmedro de muchas más que pueden proveer las mismas proteínas y alimento.

[@dirtydsrc]

Right on. Way to take back your life. :)