#Australia #ecovillage #permaculture #nature #over50blogger @boneAndsilver
I was really ready for Day 7: to walk the actual land of the proposed site, and for it all to finish. I needed a break- to do loads of washing, reply to a bunch of boring emails, re-connect with the status of ’17’s homework, and sit quietly by myself, not speaking or listening for several hours at a time ASAP.
We met beneath a giant fig tree, grateful for the shade on a hot summer’s day. I know a bit about trees, and assumed this was an ancient one 150+ years old who’d somehow survived Australia’s love affair with mass tree-clearing, but turns out to be only about 70! Unbelievable- that’s how rich the volcanic soil is- both basalt red, and peaty black. Bodes well for the proposed Permaculture gardens…
We walked some of the land, which was an old dairy farm, so full of grass paddocks and weedy Camphor Laurel trees; a re-forestation plan would be paramount. But from one vantage point on the North side, you could see the ocean, and thus amazing sunrises/moonrises.
Sea views! #Australia #ecovillage #permaculture #nature #over50blogger @boneAndsilver
Unfortunately, you could also hear the freeway noise, which gets louder/softer depending on the wind direction. Thick tree planting could help, but it’s also the price you pay for being close to the coast (the favourite holiday destination of most Australians). Something to think about though…
The whole site has been mapped by a ‘Geomancer‘, to gain an understanding of laylines and energy patterns, including the use of several Radionics Towers/Earth Pipes (I’d never heard of either of these things, as I’m not an avid alternative gardener- have you? Quite fascinating.)
We looked at experimental mud bricks and poured earth walls, which our homes could be built from, some of which came from the land we were standing on. ‘Hempcrete‘ is also a proposed building material, and as I stood there in the hot sun, I realised with certainty that I have zero interest in making mud bricks or building my own home. If I was 30 years younger, yes, maybe. But all I really want to do is read and write all day, so it was good to find this clarity. I guess the idea is that as a community, we all do what we’re good at, so I could prepare delicious meals to feed the young healthy folk who were building my house…
The South side of the land was softer somehow, and I felt much more drawn to living on that side of the hill; it also has a spring, and a remnant of original rainforest vegetation, albeit surrounded by more weedy cow paddocks.
Proposed #Australia #ecovillage #permaculture #nature #over50blogger @boneAndsilver
But the enormity of the transformative task facing us did daunt me, so it was a good thing we broke for lunch and I could re-fuel myself.
#Australia #ecovillage #permaculture #nature #over50blogger @boneAndsilver
Then we did Speed Dating. Yes, you read that correctly. Previous participants of the first Eco Village intensive arrived, who’d committed to the next level of community building by meeting once a fortnight to learn and practise Dynamic Governance/Sociocracy and Conflict Resolution/NVC, so we spent 9 minutes clustered in trios to learn about each other. Many of those previous participants were over 65, so nodded their heads in agreement when I articulated that I’d realised I didn’t want to actually build a house; there are SO many questions/issues/challenges to be dealt with as this Eco Village proposal unfolds, and equivalent contributions of labour is just one of them.
We closed the Intensive with a Visioning exercise: standing in a big circle, we all took one tiny step forwards as we imagined it was a step one year into the future. Then another step, for another year- were the first roads being excavated, and garden beds dug? Five years with the next step- were clusters of houses already built, with the Community Hall and Kitchens already servicing us? Twenty years with the next step: how tall were the new generation of fig trees we’d planted? How many new babies had been born? Had we buried some of our elders? Final step: 100 years. We would all almost certainly have passed on, but what legacy had we left behind, for healthy living with the Earth?
#Australia #ecovillage #permaculture #nature #over50blogger @boneAndsilver
It’s been a fascinating experience, and thank you for sharing it with me, dearest Readers. As my disclaimer, all these observations, opinions, and reportings are my own, and I have excluded activities for confidentiality or brevity. I have no idea if I’m ever going to live on the Eco Village, but I’ve certainly done a good investigation. I drove away feeling both exhausted and exhilarated, as well as curious about the next instalment; I am considering joining the ‘Future residents working group’, meeting fortnightly, to see how I keep engaging…
Any observations or suggestions from the outside?
In gratitude for my blessed life in Australia, where community living can be just one of many positive options available to an ageing woman, G xO
PS: Day One (Eco Village Design & values), Day Two (Non-Violent Communication/NVC), Day Three (Dynamic Governance/Sociocracy), Day Four (Permaculture/Deep Ecology), Day Five (alternative Economics), and Day Six (Conflict Resolution/Deep Ecology) conveniently linked here for you xx
bone&silver 
Such an amazing experience!
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Thanks Alexis- I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it sure was a unique adventure & information experience 🙏🏼
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I’m glad there is a lot of consideration of many things, including the leylines/geomancy/feng shui type of harmony with the land. And yes, noise from the rest of the world can feel intrustive, but trees and bushes and being indoors can help with that. Good luck with the ongoing group, and I hope it all becaomes clear to those who want to do something with it–and to those who don’t!
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Beautifully summed up Donnalee, thanks for reading along 😊
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Great reflection and pictures as always G! Do you put your pictures on Instagram? I searched for the @boneAndsilver that you have under that pictures here and nothing comes up!
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Some of them are on Insta- thanks for letting me know re the link T- that is my Twitter link- on Insta I’m g_bone_and_silver (I think!!) ❤
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Oooo I’ll look for it haha
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“But all I really want to do is read and write all day, so it was good to find this clarity. I guess the idea is that as a community, we all do what we’re good at, so I could prepare delicious meals to feed the young healthy folk who were building my house…”
From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs.
That isn’t communism, it’s common sense.
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Thanks Matt, I agree, and I love how you picked that out : )
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Well, it resonated with me… 🙂
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A few decades ago I would’ve been in like Flynn with something like this … with a few caveats, of course … but now, not so much. The few I did pay attention to back then (80’s and 90’s) either imploded, due to personality clashes, or collapsed due to lack of finances and/or financial accountability, or died a slow death when the ‘founders’ moved on, (either physically to another geographical location, or stepped back from their ‘leadership’ roles) and the next generation, if there was one, had a different vision.
These days, I would want much more control over who I shared my life with and how that ‘sharing evolved.
Apart from the stuff you’ve already talked about, was there anything about financial accountability, skills as currency, etc, legal stuff?
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Very very good points Widds, and one of the facilitators did talk a lot about the history of communities collapsing and why, including exactly all the reasons you mentioned. That’s one reason they want everyone who aspires to be a resident to have done this intensive, so we have a shared vision.
Transparency is also one of their aims; all the minutes from all the meetings are available, and the lawyer who talked to us was clear(-ish) about the legal structures… but it is all still just a concept at the moment because the local council has not given planning approval. I didn’t want to go too deep into the legalities of it, and bore too many readers who weren’t that excited by it… and you’re right: one of the questions I’ve come away with is “How much of my precious time do I want to share with all these people, especially as some of them I already find a little annoying- ‘ONE MINUTE’ of sharing time means ONE MINUTE, PEOPLE”. To be continued I guess…
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I love your clear and honest voice.
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Thanks Jean, that’s a lovely compliment, and thank you for reading, G
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Thanks so much for sharing this! It looks so beautiful there! The Intensive was *intensive*! Likely, life there would proceed at a more sustainable pace! 🙂
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You’re welcome Cathy, and I’m glad you found it interesting 👍🏼😊
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Wow, Gabrielle – thanks for this! And congratulations for finishing this 7 day intensive. What an amazing accomplishment. Fig tree is gorgeous 🙂 I’m glad you got clear that you don’t want to build houses, maybe they’ll appreciate you making greens drinks he he. Anyway, sending so much Light and love. That last process of going forward in time must have been powerful.
Have a wonderful REST and regeneration, Gabrielle. Take good care of yourself,
Debbie
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Thanks Debbie- lounged around today doing not much, & made a lovely blueberry, banana, coconut water & hemp seed smoothie- I imagine you’d have loved it! Very purple and creamy 😊😀
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It has been fascinating to read about your experience with the Eco Village intensive. I know I’m far too much of an introvert to ever live in a community like that, but I can certainly see its value. But what I appreciate most is your honesty in how you write about your reaction to it. I think that gives your readers a clear idea of what the experience has been about. Thanks!
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Oh that’s lovely to hear Ann, thank you. Yes, I must admit my inner Introvert was getting a bit worried… and wondering if there were any houses being built in a quiet corner away from everyone 😘
I appreciate your comment very much, G
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Thanks for the wrap up. I like the idea of reading and writing all day. Oh and eating prepared healthy foods. Not prepared by me. Ha
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Sounds like Paradise right? 😘
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