Living in our own little bubbles, thinking we have to figure everything out on our own, do everything on our own, buy everything on our own. It is not healthy for us social beings. My happiest living situations are when I am living with very little personal space with a group of amazing, like-minded people.

These situations have included a room with 6 bunkbeds, one shower, one dining hall. A shared room in a house with 16 women, one kitchen. A shared trailer in a trailer circle on a secluded island. And a room in a house titled ‘The Screaming Marlin’ with 6 fantastic outdoorsy people.

One of these six people from the Marlin is on a journey to bring community back through ecovillages.

I will let her explain it:

The passion that Kira has for this cause is unmatched so if you have an extra tenner lying around why not send it her way and help create something good.

Interested in learning more about ecovillages? Check out the GEN site or visit an ecovillage near you.

That ending was very PBS.

In this piece I consider the origins and common destinations of the many plastics that we use and throw away from day to day in our communities. Possible alternatives are discussed wherein that which is labeled as waste is turned into something of lasting value, practicality and aesthetics, in the place of the environmentally costly and resilience leeching usual practice.

I wrote this paper whilst studying with Jonathan Dawson, former president of the Global Ecovillage Network, at the Findhorn Foundation as part of a semester abroad with the Living Routes organization based in Massachusetts.

Download HERE

Ecovillages are communities with vibrant social structures, vastly diverse, yet united in common ecological, economic, social and cultural values and goals. They spring from the good intentions and creativity of citizens, and their willingness to make a difference.

Today GEN contains an innovative alliance between intentional communities (with some of the lowest per capita carbon footprints in the industrialized world) and networks of traditional villages.

Kosha Joubert was born and grew up in South Africa. The system of Apartheid deeply influenced her life’s path – she decided to devote herself to the study and practice of trustful communication and community building in diverse settings. Kosha has been living in intentional communities for the past 20 years and currently serves as President of the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) and Executive Secretary of GEN-Europe.

She co-authored the Ecovillage Design Education Curriculum and co-edited Beyond You and Me – Inspirations and Wisdom for Building Community, Permanent Publications, 2007.

Today, Kosha organizes Ecovillage Design Education courses and trainings on social skills internationally and works as a facilitator and consultant. She has just had a book published in Germany on the Power of Collective Wisdom and is looking forward to translating it into English.

Kosha will be giving a presentation about GEN during the 2012 Gathering hosted by the Findhorn Foundation, on Sunday 13th May at midday in the Upper Community Centre. For more information please contact the co-ordinator of the Gathering christine.lines@findhorn.org

The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) has been around for awhile, in fact you might call it the modern evolution of hippie communes; without all the free sex and drugs. Its purpose is “…to support and encourage the evolution of sustainable settlements across the world, through:
Facilitating the flow and exchange of knowledge about ecovillages and demonstration sites thru:
Website Information sharing & networking forums and webinars;
Promoting partner programs and social actions that reflect GEN’s core values; and
Fostering Global Cooperation/Partnerships (UN Best Practices, EU Phare, EYFA, Ecosoc).” http://gen.ecovillage.org/

When we were building our mountain home, I took a class on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building practices. It was essentially one of the first courses offered about building a sustainable house in the area and I felt out of my depth with architects and builders. Some people had built houses of straw (think thatch) and some had geo-thermal heat. Many sported solar panels and rain barrels. http://www.usgbc.org/

As you know, we grow many of our vegetables in the summer and we live in a town that has grass growing on the roof of the County Office Building. I try and remember my totes for grocery shopping, and pledge to always remember them for Earth Day. I will also spread Michael Mann’s teachings about Climate Change around as much as possible (see blogroll). Knowing where exactly my food comes from was not always on my radar, but I pledge also to be better at this. Rather than doing one thing today or tomorrow, maybe we could commit to one small change for the rest of our lives to help mother earth. Remember Kaizen? We all benefit from a sustainable planet.

Here is the front of our “Not so Big” semi-sustainable house, facing east, away from the mountains. Bob has just mowed on his tractor and Ms Bean is wondering if I have a ball. Thank you to all the bluebirds and woodpeckers for letting us share your home.