Creating An Urban Ecovillage
Simpler, Slower & Smaller: Sustainability For People & The Planet
By Cecile Andrews
Copyright © 2004. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted here by permission.
Last week I met with a group of people in the Phinney Neighborhood Association in Seattle. They run a neighborhood center that's done incredible things for years. It's where I did some of the early Simplicity workshops and some of the first simplicity circles met there. I was meeting with them because I have a new idea that I'm incredibly excited about. And I'm writing now because I want your help, as readers of The Simple Living Newsletter.
I want you to help me imagine what an urban ecovillage might be like. The concept of the ecovillage is a global one, with thousands of ecovillages around the world. The most extensive website is the Global Ecovillage Network at gen.ecovillage.org.
This web site tells us that, "ecovillages are urban or rural communities of people, who strive to integrate a supportive social environment with a low-impact way of life. To achieve this, they integrate various aspects of ecological design, permaculture, ecological building, green production, alternative energy, community building practices, and much more."
I like this definition, but I don't think it stresses the phrase "a supportive social environment" enough. We tend to think of sustainability mainly in terms of how we treat the environment, but if we really want to save the planet, we need to start thinking more about how people can have more sustainable lives themselves. Why? Because when our lifestyles push us to our emotional and physical limits -- as they do -- we ignore the needs of the Earth. If we want sustainability for the planet, we're going to have to create more sustainability for the people.
Yes, I want people to have a lower impact on the planet, but I've discovered that if we want people to live differently, we have to introduce them to a more fulfilling way of life then they have at present -- lives that center around working and shopping and rushing. Research shows that in the quest for happiness, people who focus on the material aspects of life, like money, stuff, and status, have lower scores on happiness profiles. It's not surprising that for the last forty years, happiness in this country has been on the decline and depression has grown tenfold.
The key ingredient that we're lacking in this culture is human closeness. Without close, supportive connections to others, there is no happiness and so we turn to consumerism and competition to fill our emptiness. We must find ways to build this human connectedness in order to have people feel connected to the Earth. It appears that unless we can learn to care for our own species -- other human beings -- we don't care for other species -- the rest of life.
The Phinney Ecovillage would focus on people beginning to use their time for the things that we have neglected -- time for community, for friends, for personal development, and also for saving the planet. The underlying structure would be a quarterly community meeting and sub groups of "village circles" that would meet to work on "sustainable challenges:"
- a greener lifestyle,
- a healthier lifestyle,
- a more community oriented lifestyle, and
- a more vital inner life.
Activities such as walking groups, gardening groups, or discussion groups could be formed.
So I'd like some ideas from you. I'd like advice and new visions of working through our neighborhoods to build sustainability for both people and the planet. What I want to do is develop some models that others can use in their neighborhoods. So, please, get in touch with me!
I've listed below the kinds of "challenges" I want people to work on, but after that, I'm not sure where to go. So, read on, and if you can, get in touch with me at cecile@simplicitycircles.com. Or call me at 206-783-1152.
Stronger Community Life
Increase shopping in local stores
Eat out in local restaurants
Build more social life with neighbors: potlucks, video nights, scrabble nights
A Greener Life
Reduce the use of the car
Reduce shopping
Use compact fluorescent bulbs
No toxic fertilizers
A Healthier Life
Eight hours of sleep at night
Eat Organic a certain number of meals per week
Eat less beef and more vegetables
Walk certain amount of time per week
Stronger Inner/Creativity/Educational Life
More Reflection
More involvement in nature
More involvement in the art
About The Author
Cecile is the author of The Circle of Simplicity, a founding member of the Phinney EcoVillage (www.phinneyecovillage.net) and directs The Simplicity Circles Project for Seeds of Simplicity.
E-Mail: cecile@simplicitycircles.com
Web Site: The Circle Of Simplicity
