permaculture

[Russ Grayson <pacedge@magna.com.au>]

Your example of the 'east coast' ecovillage below reminds me of the 
attempt to set up a cohousing project in Sydney in the mid-1990s. The 
project of Nigel Shepherd, 'Inner Pod' sought land in the city to 
construct a self-build cohousing project along the lines of those in 
Scandanavia. It was an open project - anyone could participate. 
Unfortunately, the search went on too long and the group slowly faded 
away.

The 'west coast' scenario Gaiden describes, in which an ecovillage 
group sets itself up in an 'elitist' manner, is indicative, I believe, 
of the way that mainstream society absorbs what had been fringe 
developments and incorporates them into existing structures. A more 
positive example might be Byron Council's development policy in support 
of scaled-down ecovillages that the Council calls 'ecohamlets'. I 
believe that Australian ecovillage pioneer, Max Lindegger, was 
influential in this.

I know that a case can be mounted for ecovillages to take the form of 
'gated communities' and opinion has been expressed on this listserv 
about that before. As Gaiden states, there is clearly potential for 
ecovillages to become elitist communities affordable only by those with 
high income or inherited wealth. Perhaps this is an argument for the 
retention of NSW's Multiple Occupancy land-sharing legislation that 
permitted the development of the early intentional communities in this 
state. That promised cheaper access to community living.

I think it will be a shame if permaculture takes the 'elitist' road and 
if eco-communities become segregated from their surroundings and 
unachievable to lower-income people. Permaculture then becomes merely a 
technology for the well-off and its 'care for the people' ethic becomes 
relegated to rhetoric and the garbage bin. The east coast development 
sounds like Jalanbah, which is near the village of Nimbin, a 
juxtaposition that opens the potential for constructive economic and 
social exchange once people move beyond their home-building stage.

> Consideration should also be given to 'retrofitting' existing 
> townships, suburbs etc into more sustainable ecovillage formats. I 
> guess this is probably similar to Ted Trainer's notions of integrated 
> 'burbs'.

What works against this in Australian cities at the present time is the 
escalating cost of property, especially in Sydney. This makes cost the 
major barrier to people entering the property market. In search of 
affordable houses, first-home buyers are investing is places as far 
away as Tasmania, where property values are rising accordingly but 
where employment is excessively scarce (it is the only Australian state 
with nett loss of population, which itself weakens the economy of the 
island state and makes living there the prerogerative of those who are 
cashed-up).

Ted's ideas on integrating the suburbs are good but probably 
unachievable, given contemporary attitudes to property and cooperation. 
Cohousing would more than likely be the venue for such ideas on a 
scaled-down model.

> Ecovillage developments are a healthy sign of things to come. But as a 
> means of integration, not segregation. Inclusive, not exclusive.

Once again let me comment the 'Halifax' model of cohousing/ ecovillage 
development as the preferred model for towns and cities. Rather than 
shutting people out behind the 'private property' signs, this 
development, which was planned for the edge of the Adelaide (South 
Australia) CBD built which did not finally go ahead, invited them into 
the ground-level plaza where they supported the small businesses and 
cultural facilities available there. Residents occupied medium density, 
energy and resource-efficient apartments of various sizes above.

Such an arrangement would have integrated the development into the 
economic and social life of the surrounding city, of which it would 
have become a harmonious component.

...Russ Grayson

On Monday, June 30, 2003, at 02:31  AM, Gaden@ziplip.com wrote:
> Re: Russ Grayson's - "The image described is of the fortunate and 
> affluent few in ecovillage-type settlements which were, in reality, 
> walled communities, amid an ocean of the less-affluent living is their 
> dirty, dangerous, decaying environments. The thing with 
> science-fiction writing is that it is free to open up alternative 
> vistas so we can ask whether we want society to move in that 
> direction."
>
> Real life mirroring fiction? An Australian collegue was recently wrote 
> to me contrasting her impressions of two different ecovillage 
> developments currently underway. One on the west coast, the other on 
> the east coast.
>
> The west coast ecovillage seemed to have developed elitist proticols 
> right from the start. Participation of potentially interested 
> individuals was restricted to those who were quite well cashed up to 
> begin with. One or two initial public presentations were held to guage 
> interest in the proposal. All meetings thereafter were closed meetings 
> restricted to those who paid up a significant 'membership' fee. This 
> was before the village site had located or any detailed layout plans 
> developed. Other people who didn't necessarily plan on living there 
> but were willing to provide supportive input and expertise (other than 
> financial) were discouraged. If you didn't have the right bank 
> balance, bye bye.
>
> The east coast development, on the other hand, was setting new 
> standards in community participation and consultation. From early 
> planning stages, priority was given to maximising the integration of 
> the planned ecovillage with the nearby township and an existing 
> ecovillage development. Facilities and layouts were being developed to 
> cater for all groups including older (elder) members. Input of all 
> kinds were being encouraged.
>
> Ecovillage developments are a healthy sign of things to come. But as a 
> means of integration, not segregation. Inclusive, not exclusive. Most 
> developments will draw upon the social resources of surrounding 
> communites. It seems only reasonable that they should both be 
> co-developed in synchronicity.
>
> Consideration should also be given to 'retrofitting' existing 
> townships, suburbs etc into more sustainable ecovillage formats. I 
> guess this is probably similar to Ted Trainer's notions of integrated 
> 'burbs'.
>
> Gaiden
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