NEW: EcoReality is currently in financial crisis, and is seeking a 1/2 partner in our land and structures. You can live in one of the two houses and use half the land as you wish, or collaboratively farm it with a 50\\\\\\\'s couple living in the other house. For more details, see http://tinyurl.com/EcoReality-funding .
EcoReality is developing an ecovillage in the South Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada.
We have acquired a 43 acre property next to a 61 acre community farmland site, backed by hundreds of acres of public parkland, all the way to the watershed divide. The combined public/private property has cleared, productive farmland (currently in hay), riparian and laucustrine areas, and young forest. The public parkland extends from the highest point on the island (Bruce Peak, at 704 metres), all the way to the ocean at Burgoyne Bay, and up the other side to the second-highest point (Mount Maxwell, at 579 metres).
Every square foot of the 43+60 acre property is irrigated via a 2 acre pond and two year-round streams via an extensive buried irrigation system. The class-2 soils are in growing zone 8-9. We are beginning a Permaculture design process for the combined 100 acre site.
Two houses with a total of nearly 4,200 sqft of living space have nine bedrooms, four bathrooms, and two kitchens between them, as well as ample room for meetings and home-based businesses. Four members will live in these buildings, sharing them with renters or additional members.
A garage/studio/workshop of about 1,200 sqft is used as a farm/craft/education space. We have begun a public education campaign leading to re-zoning that will enable construction of a number of additional dwelling units. Current zoning allows three additional houses and a cottage. We are beginning studies to determine the appropriate number of dwelling units, based on both carrying capacity of the land and agricultural labour needs. This will be a political process, with at least three government bodies and public hearings involved.
We are seeking additional members who can contribute approximately half the value of a typical North American suburban house to the project. Prospective members with outstanding skills who can contribute less are encouraged to contact us, as well.
Current EcoReality members include an assistant professor of agroecology and two Permaculture instructors, as well as skills in natural building, alternative energy systems, videography, finance, information management, massage, education, and much more.
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
-- Ghandi |
user comments [add comment]
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| We\'re now on our new site, with plenty of growth potential. We seem to be past our initial financial hurdles, but still have a balloon payment looming on the horizon. Please schedule a visit! |
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record: ecoreality [edit] |
| setting |
legal structure: cooperative
surroundings: sea / island (50+ acres cleared fields, class 2 soils, growing zone 8-9, 2 acre pond, two streams and associated riparian areas, about 10 acres of young forest. Prominent views of the two highest mountains on the island.)
land ownership: owned by legal entity (cooperative) which members buy into
building ownership: owned by legal entity (cooperative) which members buy into and have long-term leases on
neighbors: neighbors are almost part of the community (East neighbour: 60 acre community farmland, west neighbour: 83 acre organic heritage beef farmer, north neighbour: 65 acre cooperative farm, south neighbour: hundreds of acres of public parkland, from the watershed divide to the ocean)
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| population |
total number of people: 8 (founding adults, children, renters, WWOOFers)
ideal or planned maximum number of people: 50
children (0-10): 2
adults (20-60): 6 (not including children, renters and WWOOFers)
seniors (61 and older): 1
females: 5
males: 3
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| housing |
number of buildings: 3 (includes non-inhabitable workshop)
number of housing units: 2 (two houses totalling 4,200 sqft)
number of bedrooms: 10
house sharing: one house currently empty
roommates: couples share a room (except community bunk room for up to six WWOOFers)
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| sharing |
income sharing: none - all money is private
communal meals: communal eating encouraged, weekly public potluck
communal food: people purchase from community garden at wholesale prices
tools and machinery: most tools and machines are shared (four-level system for sharing: http://www.EcoReality.org/wiki/Resource)
motor vehicles: most vehicles are shared (four-level system for sharing: http://www.EcoReality.org/wiki/Resource)
bicycles: most bicycles are public (four-level system for sharing: http://www.EcoReality.org/wiki/Resource)
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| ethnicity |
ethnic diversity: open to all yet unintentionally not diverse
white / caucasian: majority
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| spirituality |
spiritual diversity: open to all yet unintentionally not diverse (vaguely earth-based neo-pagan, but not formally so)
meditation: some people meditate regularly
paganism / earth religions: some people practice this faith
eclectic (integrates pieces from many religions): some people practice this faith
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| government |
common political theme: Green party leaning
selecting leaders or centrals: Stewards chosen by consensus have considerable authority over certain resources
decision making: done by consensus (formal consensus procedure defined: http://www.EcoReality.org/wiki/Consensus)
rules: a few maxims which decisions and agreements must respect (based on values agreed by consensus, escalating series of consequenses, possibly resulting in expulsion)
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| activism |
party politics: some people
protests and demonstrations: some people
non-violent direct action: some people
cyber-activism: some people (letter writing, active in fighting TILMA and globalization)
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| sustainability |
self-grown food: 20%
organic food (grown+purchased): 80%
self-produced energy: 70% (biodiesel from waste vegetable oil, wood heat from salvage)
energy from renewable sources: 99% (hydro electricity, biodiesel, wood heat)
self-produced fuel: 99% (salvaged wood for heat, biodiesel)
car-free: parking on periphery; little or no driving within site
building material which is salvaged: 50%
waste which ends up being recycled: 99% (compost, slash processed on site; nearly everything else is recycled)
sewage which is treated ecologically: 100% (humanure)
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| income and money |
income generated within: 50%
personal expenses: no money is allocated for personal expenses
savings: savings are encouraged to be put into the community via coop investment shares
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| agriculture / garden |
livestock: chickens, goats, ducks
crops or produce: market garden
fruit trees: apples, pears, filberts
permaculture methods: humanure, berming, sheet-mulching, key-line irrigation, water management, guilds
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| diet preferences |
common diet: no defined common diet (vegetarian mostly)
vegetarian (plant based and non-flesh animal products): 99%
omnivore but only home-grown animal products: 1 (No animals raised specifically for meat. Some members partake of self-butchered meat when an animal has become old.)
whole foods: encouraged / mostly whole foods
coffee and caffeine: limited use (green tea, some coffee)
sugar: limited use
salt: limited use
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| love and sexuality |
polyamory / open relationships: discreet
polyfidelity (group marriage): welcome if long-term, stable, with history
bisexuality: respected and welcome
homesexuality (male): respected and welcome
lesbianism: respected and welcome
heterosexuality: respected and welcome
monogamy: major theme / encouraged (currently the norm)
celibacy: respected and welcome
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| parenting / children |
attachment parenting: open / personal choice (currently dominant)
co-parenting: open / a personal choice
home education: open - a personal choice
breastfeeding: breastfeeding encouraged
home birth: open - a personal choice
cloth diapering: open - a personal choice
corporal punishment: rare and discouraged
childhood vaccines: a personal choice - equally open to all
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| seeking people |
seeking people: yes 50 (seeking investment partner to pay balloon mortgage in Oct 2010)
people with children: welcome
people with disabilities: not at this time, but keep in touch
elderly people: welcome
single parents: welcome
need capital to join: yes ($1,000 membership, $10,000 minimum investment for habitation, $100,000 or more for full building rights)
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| drugs / stimulants |
marijuana: Recreational intoxicants policy: http://www.EcoReality.org/wiki/Recreational_intoxicants
psychedelics: Recreational intoxicants policy: http://www.EcoReality.org/wiki/Recreational_intoxicants
tobacco / nicotin: discouraged, except medicinal/religous use
liquor: Recreational intoxicants policy: http://www.EcoReality.org/wiki/Recreational_intoxicants
wine: Recreational intoxicants policy: http://www.EcoReality.org/wiki/Recreational_intoxicants
beer and cider: Recreational intoxicants policy: http://www.EcoReality.org/wiki/Recreational_intoxicants
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| dress / tidiness |
nudity: limited to certain areas and times (pond is clothing-optional)
tidiness: reasonably tidy
cleanliness: reasonably clean
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| visitors |
visitors without intention to join: welcome (visitors are expected to work, or to pay reasonable room and board fees)
paying visitors: welcome (As of Oct 2009: $15 indoor lodging, $5 tenting, $5 breakfast, $5 lunch, $5 dinner.)
working visitors: welcome (six hours per day expected, every seventh day off)
wwoofers: welcome (six hours per day expected, every seventh day off)
prearrangements: contact a week or more in advance (limited by accomadation space; summer tenting spaces always available)
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| languages |
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english, french, spanish; castilian, vietnamese. |
last updated 2010/03/17
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