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Permalink Reply by Global EcoVillage Admin on November 13, 2011 at 8:44pm

Greetings and thank you for writing.  The Global EcoVillage Network (GEN) is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity governed by a board of directors who determine the direction and agenda for their platform and projects.  The Federation for Intentional Communities falls under the same restricting governance and neither organizations have a functional platform that serves as a central hub where members can actually:

• Connect with each other directly
• Post blog articles
• Engage in forum discussions
• Upload videos/photos
• Post events
• and initiate/promote their own projects/programs. 

,,,Also neither organizations have the resources to manage and administrate such a platform. 

Through private partnership the Global EcoVillage & Sustainable Community Network is being sponsored, funded, managed, and administrated outside of non-profit governance which means it is member controlled and evolved through member contributed content.  The Wiki on FIC's website is outdated and lacks a personal connection feeling to it.  We wanted to have an online community with a vibrant human presence.  

 "A New We 2012' is an initiative that provides a framework and agenda for the evolution of the EcoVillage Model through the forming of alliances that can come together on a platform that allows free flowing and spontaneous cooperative efforts. 

For example we are going to be sharing a great deal about the precedent that was set by the Lammas EcoVillage in Wales when they successfully received planning approval for their community - many people who have been a part of the movement still are unaware of Lammas' success and the implications of having criteria and protocols established and approved in the UK.  The "Low Impact Sustainable Development' designation placed upon new building codes and zoning in developed countries are now available to be exported from the UK and imported into local governments.  

In most developed countries it has been the biggest road block in getting the EcoVillage model off the drafting table and into reality - the legal building codes and land use zoning have proved to be insurmountable obstacles.  The Global EcoVillage & Sustainable Community Network will be a place where the sharing of that kind of information and the building upon it so that concerted forward actions can be made without having to wait for a monthly board meeting and hopeful board approval just to post an article. 

Another major difference is that members will be able to join, support, and learn about communities more directly.  Today the founder and director of Living Routes joined and we were able to communicate a message to him directly about how we want to be able to feature the work of Living Routes because it will help developing EcoVillages discover how the building of their community is an educational event and they can partner with Living Routes to learn how to set up educational workshops etc.  It is really all about easy access to each other and access to all the wonderful projects that are evolving on a platform that is fear free and free...no one is solicited for donations and no one is charged membership. 

We hope this helps to clarify and we appreciate you writing us - could we have your permission to post your question and this reply on the communities FAQ?  We are sure many other people will be asking the same question.

We look forward to seeing you in the community!

Thank you

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Permalink Reply by colleen whalen on November 13, 2011 at 10:31pm

I joined because I'm all for global peacemaking.  The part that seems a bit frustrating for me is that unless you live off the mainstream path and are already living in an Intentional Community - then you really don't qualify for membership.  Not all of us have the luxury of moving to the country to a Yoga ashram Intentional Community - or an organic farm in a rural area and leaving normative culture.  In my city, there is Cooperative Housing condo building - but you have to have a lot of cash flow to buy into the condo.  In Folsom, California there are folks trying to create a brand new co-housing development, but again, you have to be in the financial position of being a homeowner.  Where I live, "starter houses" in a decent middle class neighborhood start at $500,000 and upward.  For many working class folks this is not feasible.

 

I'd like to see discussions in this forum for RENTERS - with moderate income in the $15,000 to $40,000 annual income range being able to create rental housing - pooling our resources together to create URBAN intentional communiites.  I am certified in Permaculture - in Davis, California - Village Homes" was a great permaculture housing development.  The value of these homes increased threefold and there is a big wating list!

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Permalink Reply by Global EcoVillage Admin on November 13, 2011 at 10:58pm

Hi Colleen

It would be great if you started an Urban EcoVillage group to advance this idea.  There are quite a few different experiments going on here in the US - Enright Ridge Urban EcoVillage in Cincinnati, OH is one and the Alchemical Nursery Project in Syracuse NY (Fiscal Sponsor of Green Fire Foundation) is an organization established to promote urban EcoVillages.  We would be happy to help you build your group in anyway we can!

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