Your ECOVILLAGE Questions Answered - Ep. 076

Since running the video on the EcoVillage at Ithaca, which you can view here: • 230 People LIVING COMM... , we have gotten a lot of questions in, so we sat down with Liz Walker, the co-founder of the EcoVillage at Ithaca, and a family, to answer more of your queries.
We also highlighted more of the legal questions as well, with fellow resident, Bill Goodman, here: • How to Set up an ECOVI... .
To find out more about the EcoVillage at Ithaca, you can go to their website here: ecovillageitha...
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[@suekuly4723]

I could sit and listen to you two talk all day. I am glad you went back and had another visit 😊

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Glad it was enjoyable for you. Thanks for writing in.

[@waterwomanknits]

Thank you for this information. Despite being an introvert, I hold values of living lightly, being nurtured by nature. I enjoy working hard, know I have a lot to offer others and hope to live in an ecovillage in 5 years. For a decade I dreamed of walking across the US, so am fascinated by Liz Walker's journey.

[@jamiemclaughlin1936]

We appreciate your videos of ecovillage Ithaca so much! We are staying there this summer at an air b&b and can't wait. I really love that you did a video in winter and we could see the community blanketed in snow. Special thanks to the couple who shared part of their story with us!

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Well that will be a delightful experience for you we hope!

[@ms1295]

Hi Jamie! When are you going to be there? I’m also planning to visit for second half of July (maybe longer) and hope to meet you there!

[@aikofujita2420]

Hi from Japan! Dreaming with God about establishing an eco village on Okinawa in the future. Thank you for showing how to do it!

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Keep us posted!

[@King_of_carrot_flowers]

I would like to be part of an ecovillage that is comprised of people that don't want to be part of a traditional community and that don't want to be controlled or control others in any way. I grew up in a small rural community in which I did not belong for reasons beyond my control, and I know that community life is not for me. Still, I community sufficiency and appreciate the need to collaborate toward sustainability goals, not to mention financial benefits of co-purchasing land as well as the safety benefits of living within a community if you need to live in a yurt or something. I'm totally appreciate that some (Very nice and admirable) people want to live in close-knit communities, but I wonder if there are better models for the introverts and anarchists among us.

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Yes, you bring up a lot of good points on the benefits and trade-offs of communal-based living. Keep in mind there are lots of different communities (like this to a certain extent) but that reside on different principles / aims. So there's room for all different types that are just based on the same foundational aspects of 'living within a community'.

[@musical_sanctuary17]

​@@FlockFingerLakesWould I be able to email you, in order to receive more information?

[@musical_sanctuary17]

​@@FlockFingerLakesWould it be possible to email you, in order to receive more information?

[@barbll000]

I’m really impressed that the groups were able to come to consensus in their decision-making. I spent so many years in meetings at work that were a complete waste of time. It’s refreshing to hear of a group of people who make things work. Very impressive.

[@samm8500]

Introversion isn't static - I would imagine there are many people who consider themselves "introverted" among the general public who would feel comfortable and relaxed in an eco-village.

[@ms1295]

Thank you for creating such a detailed interview and asking wonderful questions! Looking forward to visiting this eco village in a couple of weeks!

[@JoannaLouise200]

Fascinating stuff ~ what a lovely lady is Liz Walker!...hope she gets time to put her feet up, as frequently the default scenario for some in her position is always to be 'on duty'. This has answered my question about why the houses were so densely clustered ~ it serves a dual purpose...to maximize land use to 90%, and encourage community/social contact. Personally it's not for me, but I can see its benefits, especially as it nurtures children into becoming well-rounded thoughtful individuals. Also, working & living in close harmony with nature and other species is such a positive ethos for individuals and for world!

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Glad the interview was able to answer your question. Another benefit, that is stated in another video that will come out on the architecture design, is that it actually provides insulation on one side of the home, because most are duplexes and share a wall with their neighbor. This helps with reducing energy usage in the buildings.

[@JoannaLouise200]

@@FlockFingerLakes Thank you Summer. Talking to such helpful, enthusiastic and experienced Eco-Villagers like Liz, I'm guessing you must be developing many ideas & variations for Flock. If I remember correctly you mentioned a little while back that you may incorporate attached greenhouses to future individual houses ~ as Flock grows from the single common house. I LOVE this idea ~ not only that you'll continue to be able to cultivate/nurture/curate a plant collection (maybe also fruit & veg), but benefit from that added insulation, say for a North facing wall.

[@coastlec4508]

the houses are absolutely gorgeous

[@FlockFingerLakes]

They really have a nice "feel" to them upon entering. The light really helps.

[@chindavonesanlath867]

I am a student at Cornell University. I love gardening and am very interested in this community. Can I volunteer?

[@amitbarve136]

Neighboring is important part in eco villages.

[@misterr50]

I am curious about the permitting of the builds and the gray/black water waste system. Is it public water/sewer hook ups? Are they attached to the grid and how is it distributed?

[@emmanuelgarcia6905]

Excellent.

[@Alwaysherethere]

I like this but I'm not sure about this for myself. I'm very introverted.

[@FlockFingerLakes]

And that's OK. It's not for everyone.

[@jahsfamilyweallwegot2948]

What about a single mom of 9? We have no friends or family and I always wanted to live somewhere like this. But I’m not sure what the diversity is I am Native American and African.

[@shamikabrown3076]

Im interested two im a single mother of 4 and African American but would love this.

[@jahsfamilyweallwegot2948]

@@shamikabrown3076 yess

[@botanyboy5454]

This is very interesting for me.

[@ChefEarthenware]

You touched on a good point here. I love the idea of living in an ecovillage, but what puts me off is that they are full of self-congratulating hippies.

[@adhocmom]

How can we apply to live there?

[@riawhetstone3725]

As much as I live an eco-forward lifestyle, I’d have to say my introverted ass can’t live here 😵‍💫

[@ajmentel2453]

as someone else who is introverted, i hate to say that learning cooperation and dealing with ppl is going to be essential to our future as climate change disrupts literally every aspect of the isolated western life as we know it

[@jeffgilmore2943]

One thing I have noticed as an Ecovillage Ithaca resident for the last 14 years is a real seasonal difference. Summers here are very social with people outside walking, working in their gardens, hanging out at the swimming pond afternoons and lots of people sitting outside their homes reading, chatting, having meals with friends, etc. It is rich and busy, and social contact can be easy and spontaneous. But by the end of summer, many of us are glad to transition into a more private and home-centric life. I love the winter nights with the shades drawn and no one here but my wife and children. Or quiet winter days with the sun streaming in those big south windows while I focus on home-based work and leisure. I enjoy seeing neighbors outside walking, skiing or skating on the pond, but am mostly happy to keep in my smaller bubble. And by spring, I’m thrilled to be outside with my friends and neighbors again! I think if it were all one way or the other, it would be a bit hard to take.

[@ajmentel2453]

@@jeffgilmore2943 thanks for sharing your experience!

[@FlockFingerLakes]

@@jeffgilmore2943 nice of you to chime in as a resident Jeff. I'm sure folks are appreciative. When we did our initial video in Fall, folks were asking, "Where are all the residents?" haha. We tried to film at a time when people were working and that we wouldn't catch too many folks on camera because we also want to be respectful of people's privacy. At the end of the day, it IS people's homes and not everyone enjoys being part of a film / documentary. So glad you are able to fill in some of the more social gaps firsthand.

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Haha, and that's OK too. It's not necessarily for everyone. But love showing the different permutations of "living" because it opens up our minds to different possibilities.

[@SHARONSHORTOrchidsandGarden]

Wow!

[@annsosie1515]

Cool beans 😎

[@allonesame6467]

A house that heats and cools itself, collects, distributes and purifies water, and creates it's own energy = EARTHSHIP BIOTECHTURE

[@meladversity]

just needs a lot of space unfortunately.. i dream of an earthship in the future and it is great for individuals but i don't see how it would be a sustainable option for humans as a society.

[@cefcat5733]

You will use any opportunity to visit chickens.🐓🐔🐔🐔🐔😊 That place is a dream come true. Lucky are the people who have been born later and get their piece of history, in which to have the chance to experience life, on the other side of the Industrial Revolution coin. 2033 is a short way off but a long way to go. 😐🐔🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡

[@ramthianthomson601]

Hello again

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Thanks for joining us.

[@georgewhitehouse8630]

❤ Consensus is government veto power to the "nay" sayers ❤

[@_JanetLouise]

💖💙💛💚❤🧡

[@georgekurywczak6766]

Not a fan. No permaculture or food forests. Traditional farming, even though organic, it is not permaculture. That's not ecologically sustainable. Where are the solar energy panels. Where are the solar hot water units? Where are the geothermal systems? Where are the walapini? Where are the stocked pond/lakes? Where are the water management systems for permaculture water use? Where are many more things I might mention about living in harmony with nature? While it is a noble way to live, it is not complete enough to actually be a steward of the ecology. Close homes do not allow the wildlife of all kinds to be among human beings living in harmony. That is why a food forest is far superior. That is why permaculture is far superior. Your gardens are rows, lines. Something that is not how nature does it. So how is that ecological and sustainable? I wish them luck, but it is not very social to exclude some people due to your claim about introverts. Even they, at times, must socialize. Yet that idea in this circumstance, is exclusive and not very diverse.

[@FlockFingerLakes]

It's OK, it's not for everyone, George. What I will say is that they left 90% of the land in the area "wild" or lightly managed, which is part of the reason why they did a dense cluster of homes on only 10% of the land. That's counter to traditional development, which would parcel land over about 90% of the space and only leave around 10% open. So even though three of the four 'formal' farms are organic and/or biodynamic, the remainder of the land was meant to be for nature / wildlife, with only modest trails and natural play areas for kids, for example. The fourth farm is actually leased to Groundswell, which does a program of 1/4-acre plots for upcoming farmers, marginalized peoples, refugees, and BIPOC folks to have a space of land for them to grow. They can practice (and do practice) many different farming techniques, some ancestral and culturally-relevant to them. It's really an interesting program. Something we wanted to highlight, but cannot for the life of us pin them down for an interview. Additionally, there are community gardens and individual gardens, where they practice different methods-some of which are rooted in more permaculture principles. It's a range of different practices across 175 acres. In regards to the solar energy panels-they are there. The oldest is 25 years old. The majority of homes have them, or they have central panels for a few homes. Some folks that I talk to shared that they get about 70% of their energy from their solar panels. We'll be highlighting more of the architectural and energy-based sources in a subsequent video-particularly how it evolved over the different decades of build, as more and more technology became available. Geothermal wasn't really offered as an energy source / solution / option in the 90s when the EcoVillage at Ithaca first established. You see it here and there popping up in different places (we highlighted a ground-source / geothermal greenhouse here on the channel), but we also have been looking into it as an energy option at Flock, but we have been advised against it on numerous occasions, and the upfront investment can be virtually impossible to stomach. It's definitely food for thought, and hopefully this reveals a bit more of the picture there as well. Thanks for your thoughts!

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

I take it you know nothing about the eco village. Go and do some research.