Modern society is often fast-paced, stressful, and formed around consumption due to the nature of capitalism, the job sector, and modern lifestyles. Among the normality of concrete jungles, there are communities around the world promoting a more simple, sustainable lifestyle: ecovillages. One where nature, social connection, cultural values, and ecological growth are prioritized over modern capitalism.
While they have always existed, the term ecovillage began popping up in the 1990’s. These villages, each consisting of a population of a few hundred, though some can sustain larger populations, offer shelter, inclusiveness, and a safe space for people to practice their views, raise a family, and build a community.
Today, there’s a hierarchy system in place for almost everything. Social classes, politics, privileges, rich and poor, and separation of homes are just some examples of societal structures. Ecovillages aim to skip many constructs and offer a haven of healthy living and appreciation for the finer things in life, like community and teamwork. One may argue that they revolve around a retro model for society, but all that ecovillages do is eliminate the need to be bound to current-age social constructs. The result? Many would tell it to be a happier, more peaceful lifestyle.
The first origin of ecovillages is unclear, but have been globally recognized since 1995. There are reported to be over 10,000 ecovillages around the world today. On average, ecovillages are made up of 50-250 people. Some villages have expanded to house as many as 1,000 members. The future of ecovillages may see greater populations.
There are multiple ecovillages in the United States, including the Dancing Rabbit in Routledge, Missouri, Ithaca Ecovillage in Ithaca, New York, and Kailash Ecovillage in Portland, Oregon. Each one is concentrated on sustainability and explores innovative methods to stay environmentally friendly. Kailash Ecovillage, for example, transformed an old apartment building into a thriving food forest.
An ecovillage located in Dahamur, Italy, is of particular interest. Even though it stays true to the meaning of an ecovillage, the community inside it is divided into different fields of interest. Its people actively research meat production, solar energy synthesis, education, and skills, and even partake in seed saving for a sustainable future. Plus, they’ve got a whopping, built-in molecular biology lab.
For individuals who’d like to get involved with ecovillages, there’s a dedicated website, found here, that can help individuals connect with the villages closest to them. The site is an educational hub for all things related to ecovillages. It takes into account one’s location and basic credentials to find out where they are situated and what ecovillage would appeal to their interests. People can also sign up for their newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest on these communities.
Modern society is often fast-paced, stressful, and formed around consumption due to the nature of capitalism, the job sector, and modern lifestyles. Among the normality of concrete jungles, there are communities around the world promoting a more simple, sustainable lifestyle: ecovillages. One where nature, social connection, cultural values, and ecological growth are prioritized over modern capitalism.
While they have always existed, the term ecovillage began popping up in the 1990’s. These villages, each consisting of a population of a few hundred, though some can sustain larger populations, offer shelter, inclusiveness, and a safe space for people to practice their views, raise a family, and build a community.
Today, there’s a hierarchy system in place for almost everything. Social classes, politics, privileges, rich and poor, and separation of homes are just some examples of societal structures. Ecovillages aim to skip many constructs and offer a haven of healthy living and appreciation for the finer things in life, like community and teamwork. One may argue that they revolve around a retro model for society, but all that ecovillages do is eliminate the need to be bound to current-age social constructs. The result? Many would tell it to be a happier, more peaceful lifestyle.
The first origin of ecovillages is unclear, but have been globally recognized since 1995. There are reported to be over 10,000 ecovillages around the world today. On average, ecovillages are made up of 50-250 people. Some villages have expanded to house as many as 1,000 members. The future of ecovillages may see greater populations.
There are multiple ecovillages in the United States, including the Dancing Rabbit in Routledge, Missouri, Ithaca Ecovillage in Ithaca, New York, and Kailash Ecovillage in Portland, Oregon. Each one is concentrated on sustainability and explores innovative methods to stay environmentally friendly. Kailash Ecovillage, for example, transformed an old apartment building into a thriving food forest.
An ecovillage located in Dahamur, Italy, is of particular interest. Even though it stays true to the meaning of an ecovillage, the community inside it is divided into different fields of interest. Its people actively research meat production, solar energy synthesis, education, and skills, and even partake in seed saving for a sustainable future. Plus, they’ve got a whopping, built-in molecular biology lab.
For individuals who’d like to get involved with ecovillages, there’s a dedicated website, found here, that can help individuals connect with the villages closest to them. The site is an educational hub for all things related to ecovillages. It takes into account one’s location and basic credentials to find out where they are situated and what ecovillage would appeal to their interests. People can also sign up for their newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest on these communities.
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