Thinking of Starting an Ecovillage? Real Talk After Talking to Dozens of Members/Founders

[@lets7121]

Starting an eco village is a hot topic right now. Some great advice in this video. We need to help each other create these villages and communities and not give up!

[@bobklass5377]

I lived in an intentional community in Santa Barbara from 1975-1981. It was an amazing and life-changing experience. Looking back, I believe the key to shared-space living is establishing and maintaining a shared, common belief system. For us, it was group meditation every morning and evening. This meditation practice is what kept us together along with a strict moral code (no drinking, drugs, sex outside of marriage, etc). I know this sounds cult-y, but without these shared beliefs we never would have been able to pull it off. Working the land together is a great start, but a shared, underlying approach to what makes life meaningful is key IMHO.

[@Snappypantsdance]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I believe that is such good and timely advice for right now especially.

[@yvesbugel2483]

Was it vipassana meditation twice a day?

[@artofmindfulness782]

I definitely feel like rural ecovillage life can quickly become utopic to those who don't have direct experiences within them. I lean towards the idea of retrofitting suburbia and trying to involve the community that immediately surrounds us. I feel strongly about this because I want to make an impact where the problem lives--in the cities. I want to help people realize a better way of living. And I also don't think we need to keep eating up chunks of rural land for our own purposes if we can help it. If we can find ways to utilize the space within cities and towns in a more sustainable and communal permaculture way, we might just find that what lies beyond the cities can become wild again. Though I think maybe rural ecovillages work for some people and I get that. I hope you find what works best for you and your situation. :)

[@jcomden]

Agreed! Fixing the problem under our feet :)

[@garyfowler5585]

Thank you for your honesty and transparency. Some might have turned it into a big "whine," but you didn't (no surprise!)... I did notice, however, a big sigh at about 13:25-- which I chose to note as more of that balanced honesty and transparency. Good job, as always. I'm wondering about the "house next door" thing, too, though renters or even family could become complex if their standards, styles, etc. turned out not to be compatible. As to the toxic person in any one of those models you mention: A drama-addicted or power-addicted person might be permanently toxic: in a sense, maybe unable to even help themselves and (sad to say) unable to ever change. Even if you agree or concede on their current noisiest issue or crisis, they will then focus on another, because that is their need. Don't mean to be cynical about that, but that's what I've seen in all sorts of groups and communities for most of my 71 years. Gee... guess I don't have a perfect solution...

[@CiaofCleburne]

I realize your video was filmed a year ago, but if I may… I have 17 acres in rural Missouri that is old forest. It took four (sometimes 6) people to clear enough trees for two one-room tiny homes. Here, a person can rent-to-own these tiny houses. I am trying to clear trails and expand more. I want to forge a community here. (We’re right off the highway between Kansas City and Branson, MO, so tourism and agriculture) I do NOT have deep pockets. In fact, I cannot even afford the cost of putting in a well, so I’m teaching myself water catchment. We do have electricity but want to learn solar. Do you have ANY advice for me? 95% of the time, I am the only human here. Any advice is greatly appreciated. ❤

[@skylerhoffman4662]

thank you for helping to build community

[@Isaac-p7z]

@CiaofCleburne blessings from PNW I'm sure you're hip too Permaculture and the principals? Water is key for life so swells for example you can build on nearly flat landscape and shovel..ect ect as I was born n raised in an unintentional community (Genesis) 80s-90s then kind of started one on my timber land 2010ish one lesson learned a leader is a must also people will not get along drama will happen that said im off grid now (life long nomad) and it would not only get projects going n done (the to do list) just gets longer , sharing life building vision community is most important... Later

[@annemcintyre9620]

The idea of living in a food forest while someone else does the work is actually working for some permaculturists. There is a guy who farms where there used to be susburban lawns. The home owners get to feel like their helping and live in a food forest and the permaculturist gets to harvest and sell the produce. This also begins to convert these areas into sustainable communities.

[@hangwithjay]

Yeah I was thinking, if there are wealthy older people who lack energy, and younger energetic people who don't have much money, equally interested in living in an eco-village, I see an opportunity there for fair exchange of energy. There are probably dozens of ways of going about it but there's certainly potential. Easier said than done I'm sure, though. Thanks for this informative video!

[@michellecoleman9849]

​@@hangwithjaythe only way i see this happening, in regards to what we're hearing, is if the people living in those kinds of communities open up space for those who work the land. The sorts of people who can't afford $400,000 and $800,000 homes. The help has, historically, been kept hidden in an attempt to maintain a certain appearance and appeal. Classism is just as real in these communities, it seems.

[@innerstrg1]

I love your idea of building smaller ecovillage in your neighborhoods. I am in.

[@jdsfrisco]

I'm aware of several successful eco-villages, but they weren't created by commercial developers or as a consensus collaboration built from scratch by like-minded partners. Instead, the most effective model is for one determined person to buy ordinary existing properties (typically modest imperfect properties in less expensive under-appreciated neighborhoods - purchasing one property at a time as scarce funds permit) rent them for cash flow, and incentivize the tenants to participate in gardening, bike culture, energy transitions, etc. Once the plan is fully operational the renters can then be invited to become owners at a below market price. Embrace the imperfect capitalism we're stuck with and make it work. I did this myself so I know it's possible.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

That assumes someone has millions of dollars to spend on purchasing rentals. And there are all kinds of issues with being a landlord. And many would argue that model is not actually in ecovillage because the members don’t get a by in with the decision making, the landlord does until it is converted over which may take a long long time if ever. I actually spoke to two people who currently live or have lived in ecovillages that are 100% rentals. They are full of issues too. I think it takes a very special set of circumstances to be able to slowly buy up rentals and then let the renters buy them to form a community. I think it’s absolutely a possible solution and I’ve seen folks do it for cohousing especially in CA. But it takes a lot of moving pieces coming together and a tremendous amount of capital in a market where developers buy up property far faster than individuals can compete in a “slowly buy it up” model. I think it is also important to think about the potential for gentrification and when the folks say using less expensive neighborhoods they are often really saying gentrifying non-white neighborhoods. And we should be careful about what we’re doing when we do that. I know that moving into more affordable neighborhoods has been a plan that many ecovillage models have used in order to afford the property but I wonder at what expense?

[@workshopvillage]

This is extremely helpful information. Excellent work on all of the research and interviewing you did. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@thebloomfairie]

I really enjoyed this talk. I appreciate your thoughts, research, and ethical standpoint.

[@greenwitchnutrition7860]

I have always had it in my head that my husband and I would find a house located on several acres, where my parents and his parents (and maybe even our siblings) could build their own tiny homes on it and help with the gardens/food forest in retirement (or whatever other hobbies they choose). This is definitely my plan as we move forward, but we are having a hard time finding a property with adequate land for this (not to mention the current state of the housing market!). I do like the idea of having a communal set-up where each household has their own tiny home and everyone shares a single kitchen/dining room for congregate meals. Hopefully we can accomplish this in the future, it would certainly be a huge cultural shift for us.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

the Center for Intentional Community has some good resources on the legal ramifications when you try to set up a cohousing model. LOTS of codes don't allow for multiple dwellings on a farm property, or are hostile to cohousing. The liability issues of the property owner are huge. And the rights of renters/folks who occupy dwellings on your property can be an issue, especially if they are a poor fit/toxic, you may not be able to oust them. It's good to go into it with eyes open: I see why so many cohousing/ecovillages use the condo association model to protect themselves and the land and their property values. It does make it much more complex and more expensive, though. But this is America, so...safeguarding yourself from legal and financial nightmares is crucial.

[@greenwitchnutrition7860]

@@ParkrosePermaculture thank you for that information! I do believe the zoning code would be an issue for having multiple tiny homes on a single property, which is a shame in my opinion. And you are absolutely right about having toxic tenants or family members living on your property, I am unfortunately familiar with the struggles of trying to help out a sibling only to have it backfire on my family!

[@noraniali2093]

Tqsm for sharing your thoughts. Now it got me thinking about my mother n my PIL. My husband n I are moving to a piece of land by d end of d year. Perhaps we could build them tiny houses... So everyone is close by for us to keep an eye but @ d same time they have their own life n privacy..

[@kristinraabe6887]

Angela thank you for this one. I just love your communication skills! My parents started an eco village in the late 70s. Ripped us up from Florida and moved to the mountains of TN. I was 10 with two little brothers which grew to 5 girls and 3 boys over the next 7 yrs. There were 6 other families that lived on the 280acres my dad financed. They Divided the mountainous part on the back of the property in 5 acre lots and the front was pasture and farm land. We had several barns and two houses on site upon arrival. One family brought a bus to live in. One built a house. We farmed corn and tobacco and strawberries. Mom and the women did the garden areas dad and other men did the fields and equipment stuff. Everyone had kids. I had chores just like everyone else. Chickens my horse and pigs was my job before school. I remember once a week making lots of bread and pregnant ladies canning. Alot of canning. Anyway, it lasted 7 years and we moved. Not sure exactly why. I was 17 and furious we were leaving. Fast forward I'm now 50. I bought 20 acres 7 yrs ago in the same town and I'm trying this ecovillage myself. I have the best memories from my "hippie community" days. Im hoping to achieve it one day with the thought of my grandchildren growing up here. It is hard doing it on my own, but I have some skilled friends and I've given up on how long it takes. The fruit trees are going on 4yrs now and my first Crack at a garden last year did pretty good. Im getting a geodesic dome greenhouse in a few weeks and concentrating on food production and not so much the main house build. So don't let people discourage you. You keep visualization of it and it will manifest. Good skill with placing your Dad somewhere he is comfortable. I send you and your family much love and light, peace and joy!🌈❤️🌎✌️

[@Snappypantsdance]

Kristin Raabe- if you see this comment, I’d like to get in touch with you. I’m 47, moving teenagers from FL to TN this week to start an eco village for my family. I would love to find out where you will be and just maybe be able to work together a bit maybe, if only on ideas:) message me back here?

[@kristinraabe6887]

@@Snappypantsdance HI Denise. I'm in Mountain City. Upper east corner of TN. Good skill moving with teenagers. Lol. They are never happy about anything anyway. Lol. I'm not on social media. This is as social as I get. 😆 I do have messenger. If you want to send a message that way.

[@1Lightdancer]

Good luck to you, Kristin!! I love your vision My daughter's your age, and we lived in town, (Oregon) and she and her brother went to open school .... we gardened at my inlaws, and they did the harvesting and canning (my former hubby's family had 4 houses on about 11 acres, bisected by a road and creek - the natural foods market in town began as a buying club (70s) with deliveries to my in-laws' Back porch, then natural foods co-op ... We still shop at that store, and my former hubbie lives in the house he grew up in, one sister lives next door to him!

[@marclussier223]

Thank you Angela for this information! I am interested in this and I am on the opposite coast in southern New England. All the same barriers you are finding out there. Trying to talk my family into relocating somewhere we can pool our resources and buy some affordable land, and put something together that includes extended family and others as well. Its a nice dream, not sure if we can turn it into a reality. Good luck with your efforts, and keep us updated! Again thank you so much for putting in the time and speaking about it!

[@chantalteawikstrom7294]

Loved this video and you bring up a lot of really great issues with PNW, equity, diversity, housing, etc. I'm a WOC that has been really interested in co-housing models and have also seen in my research that the current co-housing projects are really unsustainable. I'm still daydreaming about co-housing or living in community though and will probably never stop. I've been doing a lot of research on tiny house communities in Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas and Multnomah Counties too and haven't had any luck. I hope our local policies will begin to open up for alternative living methods.

[@KatBurnsKASHKA]

Ooh I am so glad you mentioned the colonialism aspect of 'why not go do it in ____". I've always felt weird about those 'expat' (aka white) villages... I have a friend that bought a large house in Toronto with 6 other folks. They have a good system going and live communally, and all own the house and get equity etc. It's an interesting model!

[@ceruleanblue2161]

That's NOT what colonialism is. Communities of foreigners can live in beneficial relationship with land and other people. No exploitation necessary

[@magesalmanac6424]

Yeah but it’s rare. Don’t buy land that should otherwise be available for the indigenous people to use.

[@sjsmith9637]

I've been really frustrated at my own attempts at forming any community like this. There are so many external factors driving people away from this lifestyle. I think it's a statistical game of people who will survive the barrage of things in modern life driving people into living more conventionally. I do think there's a huge place for growth in creating co-ops that do group canning and harvesting work on whatever plots of land people have found to grow food on. I think this would be great for new people and it would be easy for renters to get involved.

[@tmzumba]

Man Angela. You’re speaking to the exact same issues I’ve had in creating my community. But I’m still very open to divine guidance playing a role in helping me create what I want.

[@tmzumba]

I’m in the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s expensive here.

[@JaneStanton]

Thank you for sharing your research with us. I love the idea of a small scale Eco village.

[@brianh5844]

This is a great video, thank you. I've been considering getting a cohousing rental going in my community that integrates people from all sorts of different backgrounds and provides a sliding rent scale. The only way this is feasible, of course, is if you get people with more class privilege to participate and they are down to pay above-rate for the meaning and fulfillment of being a part of the solution and healing their relationship to humanity. For that reason, it's very important that instead of looking down upon people who might not be using their privilege well, or are perpetuating harmful historical cycles like colonialism, we focus on the positive aspects of transformation. There's more joy, meaning, and love there. Perpetuating the cycle is tempting because of the human capacity for craving and attachment, but we can see those as afflictions rather than something to feel disapproving of. I empathize with your frustration and your disapproving sighs when talking about colonialism or inequitable arrangements are familiar to me. I sigh like that sometimes, too. We have to start with validating our distress and being gentle towards ourselves. I'm certainly not saying we should judge ourselves for being judgmental! It can be really hurtful to feel like fellow humans are taking an easy route that perpetuates harm while you're spending time and effort trying to minimize it. Anger is understandable, but we need to take care of the sadness or hurt beneath it. In doing so, we're more likely to communicate effectively, rather than from a place of reactivity, with the people engaged in these harmful practices. Otherwise, we end up frustrated and angry, which is not the energy we need to help those people improve and attract attention to our (just) cause. The loving, ethical choice is always the most joyful and leads to the least suffering. When we struggle to make those choices or see that struggle in others, it's a sign of a lack of understanding. I struggle with this a lot myself. I'm trying to work through how we can transform feelings of judgment and anger, increasing our capacity for joy and magnetism as voices for loving, ethical action. I offer my current thinking in the hopes that someone going through this, whether the creator or a viewer, can benefit.

[@lyrebird9749]

Really great overview, and thanks so much for advising people against eco-village colonialism.

[@middleway1885]

Om Ah Houm Thanks for all this priceless info! Thanks again, and here's some good vibes for you and your loved ones... May the adventure continue to be Blissful at all moments...

[@IntoTheMystery13]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@barbararussell897]

I really appreciate your clarity and intergrity.

[@juliaisprobablyalreadytaken]

I’m curious what parts of an eco village could be replicated in the neighborhoods we already have. Like, using the resources we already have, what slow small changes could we enact to shift the model that everyone is already participating in towards the direction of where it could go? My neighborhood (mill park) has a lot of gardeners and I think we could all benefit from someone organizing a seed library. (Perhaps I will)

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Yes!! I think this is where I’m heading, as well!!

[@janxious]

@@ParkrosePermaculture relatedly have you read the retrosuburbia book?

[@Charlie-im9iv]

I'm new to Portland/the Mill Park neighborhood and I would love to donate seeds to the library if you start one!

[@1Lightdancer]

Thank you, Angela! Have you talked to anyone from the Ithica ecovillage community in upstate NY? I loved seeing a documentary on them. Begun in 90s, with the goal of keeping 80% of the land undeveloped, and incorporating as many environmental gators as possible. I'm in McMinnville, and and my daughter and her hubby are going to build me a granny flat in their back yard (they have 2 lots, and our city is also allowing more ADUs), and I'm beginning to work on that garden with my grandson ... Sigh - as you say, developers are able to pay big $$$, and here, lots of former rentals in Mac are now air B&B.... In the early to mid 90s,I lived and worked at Breitenbush Hot Springs which was in its early phase as a worker owned co-op. I bought in the next year, ($500 in 1992) and enjoyed many aspects of community living (and as you say, of course there were down sides as well!) Being in the mountains, we had a short growing season, I did claim a couple of beds in the community garden, and had some great shared-house experiences. I loved that we all had =wages and off grid utilities/ housing/ insurance, staff discounts on amenities ordered and 24 hour acceses to the springs as part of compensation package. Communication, communication, communication! I'm 72, we lived in Corvallis from 72-82 (involved in the food co-op,a small private upgraded elementary school, birthing movement) then moved to McMinnville, where my (now former) hubby's family had 4 houses on ~ 11 acres - their own little community! He still lives in his family home, I sis next door.

[@scrumptiousjdp]

Did you look into Ithaca, NY ecovillage? They hired farmers who want to farm and members can join the CSA or not. They can join the community garden and reap the benefits, or not. They can even plant things outside their front door, or not.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

They are the whole reason I wanted to form an ecovillage. I spoke to someone who used to live there and I read Ithaca’s e-book. They seem to be the most successful model out there and are real about their issues, including the high cost of buy-in and being mostly white.

[@chateau.melancholia]

This was a really thoughtful video I loved it ❤

[@rafaelellis-rech6950]

Really great video! As I have been researching and visiting eco villages I have seen a lot of the issues you speak about. Thanks so much for summarizing all these things so well! I am trying to work with developers to to great a cluster development model the utilizes the rental stratagem and single family residences to balance a portfolio. This will be a for profit venture and I have come to believe in the USA for profit eco villages are the best way to go! We will essentially be combining the young people in affordable rentals that are willing to do the physical work with the older more wealthy generation in single family homes for purchase and who will help fund the project!

[@SamanthaMadison197]

Thank you for this video, very thought-provoking. I appreciate your focus on equity and inclusion.

[@creatinghanley]

Thank you for making this video!!❤ I too want to start an eco village…

[@imperfectlypermaculture]

I lived in an intentional community for a few months in my early 20s. It was an interesting experience, and I saw ways that it could have been good, but overall it wasn't great for me. A lot of what you shared in this video resonated with me--both the problems and the continued yearning for something better.

[@peregrin1969]

Hello there. I live in NE Portland. I've had much experience working and living and existing with intentional communities. I've created cooperative businesses, lived with many people, conflict management strategies like NVC, decion making strategies like sociocracy, and all the rest. But one day I finally had to take a break and create my own thing. I created a bit of a small community as you mentioned. Utilizing inside the house for two separate households. And a tiny house in the driveway. The neighbor's plot is a huge garden area which I maintain and remove blackberries in exchange for the use of their land to grow things. It's a win-win. They don't like yard work, and I don't like loud machines maintaining the space next to me. I make a beautiful space for them and us, though I'm not much of a grower. So the learning curve is high. And the owners of the land don't have to worry about maintaining the invading blackberries and I get a place to experiment with soil nutrition, food growing, and fruit trees. I teach natural building in an Eco village near Eugene. And I make yurts too. There are some small houses around me that are rentals which abutt my property and the garden property. I hear murmurs that maybe an adjacent house may go up for sale some point. And I have only the 2 rental units as well. Both occupied at the moment. But things can change, and probably will. Right down the street there are assisted living places that have always seemed interesting to me as a resource. And there are several co-housing starts around here in the Cully neighborhood as well, and more being built all the time. If ever there was a group like a Meetup group started centered around this kind of discussion I would be up for that. Include me if you know of something. It has to be local for me to attend. Good luck out there whoever amd wherever you are.

[@shervin6711]

I wonder if some sort of " hybrid" model would work. In the NE they are combining people with disabilities/autism with low income..perhaps a grant/s that could combine with this vision. We had a new area built, that had buisness below living areas..to help pay for upkeep. Only time will tell if it works.

[@tmzumba]

Yes, Angela! You can do it right around your own home. You’ve already done so much where you are. You can do it! I have a lot of faith in your vision.

[@enatp6448]

I've been wondering recently whether trying to create more community within existing neighborhoods may bring some of the cohousing benefits and in terms of affordable housing maybe more lane and carriage tiny homes on individual properties.

[@oliverburke]

This was very helpful to hear!

[@erinadwell620]

Found your video because we are eager to find or help build some sort of eco-oriented co-operative that’s welcoming of existing families - cause we need to raise kiddos in community! I send you love and well wishes for good outcomes! Perhaps one some day soon we can combine our research and efforts ❤️

[@gtromble]

Super helpful video, Angela. Thanks for doing all that research and thoughtfully processing it. It's sobering to see how the dominant economic system can so easily box out, or more specifically price out, diverse participatory community models. We need people to be able to form real working, functioning eco-villages - not the kind that can make a developer rich and be afforded only by people who already have money. Eco-villages need to be accessible to people of all ages who can contribute through their work and creativity and, along with the rest of the community, obtain a yield. The problem of access to land is, sadly, getting worse rather than better. Of course the current system is working great for those who have money and property, as everyone else is forced into taking a job (or more than one) to scratch together the money to rent the roof over their head at ever-increasing rates, an efficient method of extraction from the poor to the wealthy that is self-reinforcing. There are signs that this system isn't going to last forever, so perhaps the future will bring more possibilities. Your idea of looking at smaller solutions in your neighborhood sounds promising.

[@pedromiguel9202]

Great insights.

[@CarissaWyles]

This was a very informative video! I dabbled into looking into co-housing as a renter on the west coast, and as you said the places I found were either full or you had to buy in, no rentals. I think if the opportunity arises where you can buy a neighbors home and keep your mature permaculture paradise that'd be ideal, but obviously that's out of your hands and up to the Universe. I imagine moving your dad into assisted living is an emotionally taxing proccess. Sending love your way 🙏

[@brucewayne7422]

A brilliant exposition

[@kellieviola]

This is so helpful! I want to start an eco-village of trail angels for the PCT. At first, I assumed I would have it east of Portland, near Corbett, where there is good access to both the trail and Portland. But there isn't anything available now. So, I stumbled on some properties in Northern California that are affordable and near the trail, but really remote. I was wondering if that would be a dealbreaker for me. But your point about people not wanting to work could be solved by having a remote location that requires a sacrifice to commit to. 🙏

[@queeniez1970]

Rad video, thank you! I really appreciate your comments on not being colonizers in other countries. It's totally against human social permaculture to take advantage of the buying power of US dollars.

[@irenechiang1153]

You are the right person I am looking for. I came from Mass. I wanted to have a farm there and with other people to share with me. I came to Washington State and looked around for just 2 weeks. Washington State is a beautiful place. I like the mountains, rivers and oceans. I talked to my real estate to find a place to me for the year to find a place for me. When I talked to her, I mentioned about EcoValley. I am 60+ old, very strong, exercise every other day. I came to US, about 40 years ago. I didn't make any flowers or vegetables by myself until recently. I will build my house or with friends (such as cob or other things) too. M

[@amandasims3711]

Sounds like an Amazing plan you have. 8 hope it's working out for you. I have recently been looking for land in Washington because it has everything I need. I have been wanting for 9nyrs now to start my own eco village..The land is Beautiful there.

[@EastxWestFarms]

Thanks for the information. We bought 20acres of land in central Texas with the idea of building an ecovillage in the future. If you are willing to move, you may have better options in terms of the land price.

[@KendallKD]

Have you looked at the resources available through the Foundation for Intentional Communities website? I did a virtual tour a couple months ago and one of the featured communities was in Canada, where they built their community by buying housing close together. Sorry I don’t remember the name, but it could give you some inspiration. Thanks for this video!

[@jamesdewane1642]

It sounds like you can be a great mentor right where you are! I hope you can pick up properties near you.

[@MonoiLuv]

Everything you've said here has resonated with me. Thank you for sharing your research findings

[@dbbdeb2327]

Great thoughts and processing. Keep growing.

[@LinniuesLinens]

Thank you so much for this discussion. It's really tempting to idealize ecovillages, but there are definitely some reasons they aren't as common as we might like. Being from the Midwest US, I wonder if starting up an ecovillage in a less expensive, less "desirable" city might be worthwhile, especially cities that are actively trying to revitalize their downtown communities (I'm thinking specifically St. Louis, but I'm sure there are other cities doing the same.) I like your neighborhood eco-community ideas and hope to do a similar thing with my extended family in the future. Almost, an anti-HOA! 😅

[@jwsc9578]

Good luck, hope you succeed😊

[@Alex_romero333]

Thank you for sharing your research! This is a wonderful resource. I wonder if your neighbors would want to be part of an eco village… 👀

[@RieCherie]

❤ thank you! would love to hear the assisted living comparison!

[@bunnybaker2289]

I’m thinking of creating an ecovillage with a CLT structure in Oregon in the near future. It originally began as a desire to live Nextdoor to my friends and family and to have a homestead. I’m now interested in sustainability and inviting new people to a potential village. I’m considering doing this plan in a less populated area, maybe east Oregon, and hopefully develop an area that can be mixed use and self-funding through events and the like. I’m 25, willing to save up for this dream, and willing to put work into this as well. I also have a legion of close-knit friends who are interested in the same dream.

[@Pangaea83]

I would like to hear more about community land trusts. I am aware of Proud Ground but the opportunities are few and far between

[@zevrahceroom7724]

Thank you for this! I too am very idealistic and romantic when it comes to eco villages but it is a real challenge. I am in Alabama and there none here so I hope to be the first. Being both black and gay I want every kind of person to know that intentional living is for everyone!

[@actionsamba5623]

This video has saved us hours of research. Thank you. Now we know we only need to focus on cohousing, not eco village. After we realized we can not afford very many cohousing and we have very little chance of getting into one of the established ones, we thought we should consider adding eco villages as our options just to increase our chances of getting in. Bad idea for some one who are not taken care of garden daily. We are also interested in multi- generation one, but when we attended a few cohousing open house sessions, we have noticed that they are all listed as multi- generation, but among three, only one cohousing has just one family who has small children. The reason possibly, as you said, be the high price tag of their condo’s.

[@joannaward6537]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. It is not something to idealize for sure because it is personalities that you live with that makes the difference. I've had it in mind to do a twist on co-housing for elders because of the need for community as you get older but like you I find the land cost prohibitive and the personalities but I am picking my way at finding a way because regardless of the negatives I will find a way for the few it will impact greatly.

[@dfhepner]

This reminds me of the groups in the 60’s. Also the Hutterites or Amish. Why not start a modified version where you creat a group of families in your local area that share resources. One may specialize in building things where an other in growing, cooking or other trade. Get to know your neighbors and see where it might go.

[@jcomden]

I really love this idea! because it goes in the direction of emotional and interpersonal investment as co-housing without a lot of capital investment.

[@Jason-Skywalker]

Can you make a video explaining how you think we could solve these issues?

[@michaelamaestas4950]

I moved to the EAST BLAIR HOUSING CO-OP in Eugene OR , in 1996 . I stayed only for 3 years . I rented there . 2 blocks of 9 buildings that have 22 units .

[@federicaalbarello6197]

talk to Rob Greenfield, he knows all ecovillages and projects in USA as you described

[@micamaik503]

Thanks for recording this! I resonate. I have a simmilar harvest of experiences aboit the challenges faced by ecovillages, here in Argentina and latinamerica in general... I am sure there's models that can work and ensure diversity and inclusion, i've been working into that idea for a couple of years.. Flexibility is a key component in my opinion, nowadays for a model that can work. We are all diferent. Diversity implies that, not all we want or can mantain food harvesting; some are good into making ferments and preserving food, others are good with carpentry and so on, and some work for the outside and earn money and prefer to collaborate with money which is so necesary too.. So, an hybrid model would work wonders i think.. I know it may sound complex to implement but, but i trust we can find it within a collaborative paradigm... Thanks again!

[@bj97301]

Good info.

[@mystlkitchengarden]

I would recommend that you make no decisions until you become a grandma. What your family needs from you and you want will probably change. It did for us. Due to covid my husband started babysitting my grand daughter. We are helping to raise our grand child vs. just showing up for life events. It is a good way to build resilience in a child. Not getting along with one adult, well maybe I can talk to this other adult. Because our family had many health crises when we were a young family, my son was raised this way out of necessity. I am very thankful to everyone for helping us get through it all.

[@kerrywynn1949]

I have been thinking along the same lines with my property in Australia. Have you considered Detroit? 🦋

[@Jttw2131]

Sounds really challenging, expensive and stressful to live in and maintain an ecovillage. Have you looked up celastrina rebecka? She's starting one in the alps. She and her friend are constructing all the houses themselves.

[@parry3231]

I know that this is not a question that you are expecting...I am looking for a organic shampoo that is recommended by a person who has nice hair and is very aware of what is toxic and what is healthy for use. Please let me know what you use. Thanks!

[@michaelamaestas4950]

I agree with you 100% , yes, I hear all these stories .

[@this-abledtheextravertedhe5299]

Very thoughtful 🤔 😁

[@DasP-q7k]

I can see this working quite well in the rust belt region, not saying you should move, but for people who watch this and don't mind the east.

[@sarahhilton8747]

So anyone moving from a wealthier country to a poorer country is automatically a colonist? 🤔 I’m struggling with little community and basically minimum wage pay and trying to get by, and going to a more affordable country definitely seems appealing in some ways. Why should me leaving from a country that is hard for me to survive in and moving to one more accessible to me a bad thing?

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

What are you doing to the people in that country you are driving up prices for them, using their land and extracting their labor. Moving somewhere because it is cheaper for you than your own country is absolutely colonialist in most instances.

[@bst8095]

Our family of 5 from Asia will like to explore the possibility of participating into the development, design, construction, operation and maintenance of such like minded ecovillage anywhere in the world

[@permiebird937]

This goes along with my observations of the developer designed cohousing developments near my home. Its mostly white boomer empty nesters and a few financially well heeled GenX. The familes with young kids often don't seem to last very long in these developments. They look like high end retirement villages for new retirees. 1-2 units a year will go up for sale, and they run about $750,000 and up.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Yes, I think many of these communities are aging rapidly and have no infrastructure for elder care or meeting the needs of the property AND meeting the needs of an aging population. Retirement communities/assisted living are set up for the particular needs of elders, and these ecovillages were not set up like that, but as the 55+ folks who initially had the capital to buy in are now 65-70 or older, they're realizing those needs are creeping up and they aren't equipped for them - especially in communities that are not age diverse.

[@catharinephoto]

Your scarf is so beautiful

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Thank you! It was knitting from odds and endless from other projects!

[@ascendingreality]

Hi from Sweden! Thanks for a good video that pretty much sums up my perspective as well. Firstly I think the situation with eko villages and co housing is quite similar here in Sweden as you described it. Difference is that property can be much cheaper but not in the south of Sweden where I live and want to live. I have always lived in alternative housings. Twelve years in a eco village where we started from scratch and built quite a big place. Unfortunately it turned “dark” because of a manipulative and sociopathic leader. So that was a scaring experience. But my dream didn’t die because of that. Today we live in a small house in the countryside with a tiny house for my mom and a micro living for a third person. And of course with a permaculture garden. Besides that we also have a farm estate where we have a small co housing community with four persons. We choose not to live there. It’s a 15 car ride away. Maybe years have changed me but I have the exact same experience as you said about living together with others. We have also visited and studied other Swedish eco villages. So my and my husbands next dream is a small country estate where we live and where we rent some plots for tiny houses or maybe build some cottages. And we choose who will live there with great care. I think I have had my drama in my life and really just want a nice place to share with liked minded people. I hope you will find a way to your dreams as well. And if you ever visit Sweden you are so welcome to visit. We have a website but it’s in Swedish but you can at least see the property we have now. www.allegardenhjarnarp.se

[@musical_sanctuary17]

Hi 👋, I am from Ontario, Canada. I am interested in possibly visiting your eco village in Sweden. Is it possible to exchange emails so that I may share some questions with you regarding the lifestyle inside of an eco village/how they typically function, etc.?

[@jamiebaker6516]

Did you ever wind up talking to the eco villages in NY State? Seems like they have a bunch including one that's an apartment building. It's my dream to raise my kids in a community like this but it would also mean living pretty far away from a major city. I can't imagine giving up city culture like museums and theater.

[@zianitori1565]

i liked the point about communication skills being really important to develop because they're essential to cohabitation. rarely do i find that people actually have opposing interests when they're living together, it all comes down to ego anxiety and miscommunication. i find it hard to find people that i can actually trust to make a good faith effort to develop those communication skills

[@zianitori1565]

small add on, in some sense you can argue that purchasing land in the us is still a form of colonialism in the same way that moving to a country where land and cost of living is cheaper is as you're driving the enforcement of property rights to the exclusion of other locals in either case. both states (all states for that matter) are founded on land stolen from indigenous people as well. despite not being one for ethics personally, i would think that the ethical question that should be considered more than whether or not something is colonialist or not is whether you're acting as a force of regeneration and inclusion as much as you can be while keeping the system functional or if you're a force of exclusion and consumption wielding your money like a cudgel.

[@victoriajohnson3034]

Think we have to be patient in the pnw. Homesteading and permaculture is still going against the grain at this point. I am noticing it appearing more visibly with current life situations, but code enforcement and community perception now has to catch up.

[@Cristina-hj4ir]

What is wrong in paying for labour, I am sure a lot of people would be happy to earn money working in the garden or am I wrong?

[@ravenlake9873]

Assisted living there is "affordable"? My father-in-law's room in Upstate NY is $4000 a month. In what universe is that affordable?

[@mitchellbrown9713]

Wow! Your video goes in so many different directions so fast it is difficult for me to rant on one item! In regards to location, proximity to a centra business district increases land prices, would you consider Eastern Oregon? In regards to issues with residents who want the spoils from a garden but don’t want the work, whew I could go all dogmatic political rant, but let’s slim it down to a sentence. You have hit the bullseye. Everyone criticizes my garden, (the weeds are too high, the wrong plants are planted) until harvest time when everyone loves posing in pictures with harvested goods. I have a house in a suburb of San Francisco and I started renting out bedrooms to make ends meet. I urge you to become a landlord in some small way. Perhaps by renting a large house and sub-letting to tenants. It is an EYE OPENING experience. Good luck. Would the neighbors whose homes border yours allow you to garden in their back yards for a portion of the harvest?

[@skylerhoffman4662]

where in sf, i live in the mission

[@mitchellbrown9713]

@@skylerhoffman4662I own a home in Concord. I have seventeen fruit and nut trees in the front and back yards. I rent out rooms on in my house. I would like to rent to someone who is willing to grow plants in the yard, but I haven’t found anyone who is interested. Do you have a garden?

[@skylerhoffman4662]

@@mitchellbrown9713 no garden but sounds fun

[@tmzumba]

Very appropriate. 😂❤️

[@TheShopobie]

It seems at this point that any urban area, unless you are quite well off, 500k +++, having to set up in a more rural location or even region ie Midwest, is the only way to do it. Unless real estate badly crashes, which I don't think it will, at least btwn PDX-Seattle, I think ppl with lessor resources have been priced out of this kind of eco-village/cohousing model.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

that is definitely what it feels like, and that's such a shame. Eco-villages that are only accessible to white wealthy older Americans are NOT ecological nor sustainable. The PNW has a desperate need for housing, and Americans have a desperate need for sustainability experiments and human connection. It shouldn't require moving (not possible for most folks) to access a model like this.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

While I agree with you it can be more affordable, the reality is lots of people need to live in urban spaces and they should have a right to access more sustainable ways of living.

[@StaticTeaz]

There are still cheap houses and land in Pittsburgh (and elsewhere in PA).

[@barbararussell897]

would you like to do a cohousing with me, outside of Arcata and Blue Lake, down here, in humboldt?

[@zachferdinand6633]

I thought Portlandia was canceled?

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Portlandia was never real for the vast majority of us.

[@yvesbugel2483]

I'm working on it and i think i will offer a place to live for free to people with skills and knowledge i don't have. A place where you can work and trade knowledge and skills. Then for a permanent stay, ill give a piece of the property for work, to keep growing and let them build whatever eco building they want.

[@victoriajohnson3034]

Buying large and renting sounds like a great option with the least amount of resistance.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Yes I think that when working with the codes and risks, the rental model works well out here. But also, it takes tremendous capital to buy an apartment complex, etc so it still sets up the classism issue where the landlord is wealthy and the renters fund his land ownership but build no equity. It’s imperfect, no matter how you tackle it.

[@hanknyc]

Idealism should be balanced with practicality.

[@HavaWM]

I’m only partially through your video but I had to stop and say that as you were outlining who buys into these ecovillages (white, older, rich) I had alarm bells going off in my head. That’s not exactly the people I’d be targeting if I were trying to find a bunch of people who wanted to go outside and get sweaty and dirty every weekend, working hard under a hot sun. So when you got to the part where sure enough, this was an issue for these ecovillages, I just had to shake my head. Of course that was going to be a problem. Anyone looking at those demographics should’ve been able to see that coming a mile away. I’ve worked with the wealthy. Anyone who has would agree - that’s a big #duh right there. Okay, back to watching the video…

[@jamesswanson7213]

Video starts @ 4:32

[@tgardenchicken1780]

Great information, thank you for sharing. I learned lots from this. Best wishes on the changes that are happening for your family.

[@prajnaseek]

There is an answer to cost/price barriers - do it in Latin America or the broader Global South, where you can buy land for $10,000. But that requires an exodus and relocation, of course. See also, my podcast, The Collapse Of The West: Exodus And The Global Tectonic Shift.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

I don't want to go play colonizer in central America or developing nations.

[@amandasims3711]

You definitely Have your opinion, which you sre entitled to, but I really feel like you have Taken what little info yoi came across and formed your opinions around that. It seems that maybe you haven't been doing your research as long as Many of us have. I have been looking into this Eco community living for nearly 9 yrs. I have not come across the notion that " older white people aren't going to want to work., Nor have i assumed that know one is going to want life in a joint community setting. I have come across People who all want to work towards a common goal. ( They were carefully screened) also I dont understand why you think its going to be thousands of your money to make this dream come true. There are many ways to get money.also there is plenty of land that isnt out of reach.. I really feel like you need to get out of your box, broaden your opinions and the assumptions that sound like you are already nearly done with your idea.... that's my opinion..

[@elevatedgrubgardens118]

Dancing Rabbit is the first one I ever came across

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

I spoke with a former member of Dancing Rabbit! They seem to do many things really well, including being FAR more affordable than PNW models, and having very lax building codes in the Midwest that let them experiment with sustainable design in ways we can't where I am. Their main issue seems to be attracting members to build the community bc it is in rural Missouri.

[@elevatedgrubgardens118]

@@ParkrosePermaculture they are awesome I still get their premises daily newsletter with all kinds of eco village tips,and yes they are one of the best because you can do more there than most places because of codes,The Carolinas have one and Colorado had one called hemp nation where they build homes from hemp,I bought my own raw land in Maine,no deed restrictions, you can fully live how you want here

[@fancyfree8228]

I would go to dancing rabbit in a heartbeat if it weren’t located in Missouri.

[@garrett1123]

you're a fuckin hero lady

[@enrightridge]

You might want to look at my book, "Creating an Urban Ecovillage, a model for revitalizing our cities". It might be helpful.

[@ThomasinaQuilts]

Look at the FLOCK Fingerlakes channel. They are in my county. Ithaca is home to Cornell university and has many of the same elitist issues you are running into in Oortland. I have family in Portland and lived in Eugene for my Masters. I wanted to stay, but the writing was on the wall even in 1998 - the Californian invasion skewing everything. Good luck to you!

[@PlantBasedBelize]

Intentional communities in developing countries are beneficial to these areas. These communities don't drive up real estate costs as they aren't developers looking to turn a profit. They're humans seeking a simpler, sustainable and beneficial life. Typically these communities help drive the economy in the areas they're in and help the locals of these areas. Our community in Belize fed 1500 families in need during the lockdowns. We work with the locals, trade, assist, integrate and help inspire organic growing methods. These are not the colonizers you should be concerned with. Unlike the developers you would be teaming up with in Oregon whom are actually driving up real estate prices on stolen native land.