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A Personal Reflection of an Asian’s Journey to the European Ecovillage Gathering 2023

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The ecovillage concept has been so attractive in the past 15 years, although I was unfamiliar with the term back then. I have visited a few ecovillages in Thailand and abroad and I have talked to a number of people living in them or wanted to create one. They have similar characteristics of being located in rural settings, entailing non-chemical agriculture or food production components, practicing and offering some kind of practical courses, having some elements of spirituality, and residents of different ages and backgrounds living together either permanently or temporarily. I wanted to create or live in a small co-farming community somewhere in the world. Forming a community with the right people to live with, who you can call family beyond blood connection, is not an easy task.

My plan to visit Europe this year corresponded with the European Ecovillage gathering dates. I had a great opportunity to get a ticket to attend the GEN European gathering in Germany through GENOA. As one of a few Asians representatives who were there amongst 800 other participants from around Europe and elsewhere. It was an exciting chance to meet folks who are actually living in an ecovillage and are like-minded.

On the day of arrival, an Israeli woman and I got a lift from a German non-binary person living in a campervan that was about four hours away from the venue. Our conversation during the road trip allowed us to get to know each other more. We shared our deep thoughts, including the topics of activism, trauma, healing, meditation, and life goals. We arrived at the Nature Community in Schoensee around 6 p.m. We parted at the main entrance where each of us went to the registration desk that corresponded to the accommodation type we booked. An introvert like me on a budget reserved a tent a month ago. I love camping and know I need my own space and privacy during the full energetic 4-day gathering.

During the registration, a woman searched for my name on her laptop and asked for proof of payment. What? Was that really the first thing they wanted to see? Don’t they have it on the database? I showed them the confirmation email anyway. The next thing I knew, no single tents were available for me! Really? My mood quickly changed from excitement to disappointment, confusion, and anger. How could this happen here in Germany? I was trying to calm myself down when the woman told me that the dinner (all organic and vegan!) was now being served and suggested that I eat first while they were trying to locate a place for me to sleep.

I dropped my backpack at a random spot with no idea where to put my head on that cold night. I tried to swallow my dinner and my own anger. Finally, the organizer put me in the only available option, a dormitory where I shared the space with other 30+ people. Excuse me, how will I have any privacy for the rest of the time? Participants who booked a hotel room had no problem getting their room. People who drove were prepared to sleep in their car or van. Locals who brought their own tent got their stuff sorted easily. I traveled all the way from another continent, booked a tent as a tiny private space, and had none. 🙁

The opening ceremony happened that night at 8 p.m. I came a bit late as I was sorting out the sleeping arrangement issue with a troubled mind. A lot of strangers of all ages with smiles and warmth gathered in the same space, coming together for similar causes and hopes and dreams at the Heart of Ecovillage (the stage). Impressive! My mood changed, again for the better. We paid silent gratitude to the North, east, south, west, sky, and earth. We made a group of random 7-8 people as our home group that we meet every afternoon after lunch for a good 45 minutes to share our days. I felt grateful to be able to stand there with the crowd, opening my heart to the experiences to come with zero expectations, despite the worries of having an emotional breakdown. I had a deep sleep in the dormitory the first night.

The first day’s theme was “Coming from Gratitude” starting with a speech from Vivian Dittmar which was so powerful and inspiring. She talked about the five dimensions of prosperity, and moving forward or doing things according to our inner calling, even though it is in the opposite direction to the mainstream. Aren’t we all doing it here? That is powerful to think about, isn’t it? That morning I also attended a workshop titled “Exploring and Integrating Radical Self-Love” led by Maja Takatomi. It was basically a guided meditation digging deep into our physical and mental selves. Near the end of the session, I found myself talking to my own younger self. “Trust the universe. Everything will be alright. Don’t be afraid of the future”. I told Maja how grateful I was to meet her.

The afternoon sharing with the home group helped me know a few members more deeply, and later we exchanged contacts. We shared our thoughts and feelings, in this space each day without being judged. I felt free to talk about whatever was in my head and heart both good and bad. People were surprised that I really liked the food there as the menus were almost the same every day. I told them I could taste the real flavors of the food and my digestion was working so perfectly. During the sharing, some paid full attention by listening deeply, while a few seemed not to be present from time to time.

It is strange to think what life brings us at different times with different energies we have for the moment. This time, I only felt a connection with a few people and we shared certain interests. With the large crowd out there, I did not even know how to start a conversation. People seemed to be occupied, self-indulgent, expressive or ran after something. I did not feel any deep connection to anyone else apart from those few in the home group. It was overwhelming.

Later the same afternoon, more than 20 ecovillages around Europe and elsewhere set up tables and displayed their posters and materials showing activities. So many tall people gathered around each table, which prevented me from seeing anything because everyone towered over me. I managed to squeeze in and talk to some ecovillage representatives. To my surprise, although they lived in the same village with approximately a hundred inhabitants, they did not know everyone who lived there. People seemed to be focusing on Europe and were not very interested in things happening outside their continent. On some level this is understandable as a European gathering, but also, disappointing.

After dinner, I joined the Cacao Ceremony out of curiosity to learn about how it would be different than the tea ceremony. I skipped the Ecstatic Dance Journey which was the later part of the session. I noticed that some could not wait to get into the ecstatic movement, while the majority were still sitting appreciating the sip of cacao drink while waiting for the shaman’s next direction. I felt there would be too much energy, so I left the room where more than a hundred people were about to start the escalation.

The Nature Community had a wellness center opening from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily, which I enjoyed very much, especially in the sauna area. I took a daily shower there instead of using open-air (cold only) showers located at different spots in the public areas throughout the main venue. I have to admit that, although I have had some experiences at naked saunas or nudist beaches in Europe, the mixed open-air showers without a changing room where people walked by and could definitely see your bare body parts, gave me a big culture shock.

The themes of the next 3 days were connected to Joanna Macy’s “Work that Reconnects” which are “Honoring our Pain for the World”, “Seeing with New Eyes”, and “Going Forth”. There were sharing circles, talks, panel discussions, dances, and performances on and around the stage according to each day’s theme. My mood swung a lot from the hopeful first day to the dull second day of embracing the pain. Then we got new hopes on the third day with a talk by Christian Felber about the Economy for the Common Goods, to the more concrete ideas and planning for the future that was discussed on the last day of the gathering.

There were more than 10 parallel workshops happening at the same time in the mornings and evenings. Many workshops had limited space or capacity. It is a shame that some could take only 20-30 people while the whole gathering represented 800+ of us. People talked about FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), but I am rather on the side of JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). On two evenings I took a long walk to the town, enjoying beautiful flowers in front of each house, the nearby forest, and the natural swimming pool. I needed my lone time away from the crowd. I needed those walks.

One workshop I attended, facilitated by Krisztina Barany, set up a continuing communication channel through a WhatsApp group. We talked about closing the gap between urban lifestyle and ecovillage values and practices. Many people see themselves in a bridging role, including myself, as they have been visiting and experiencing several ecovillages while still living in the city. We talked about how to connect the two opposites. We also discussed whether it is necessary to move out of the city when you can actually implement the ecovillage values and practices in the inner city itself, with the support of local authority bodies. When we see ourselves as change agents, more of us together can move big barriers. I expected we continue the discussion online.

From the first day and every day thereafter, I had reflections about what and how I wanted to do about my life. The gathering has helped me realize that I cannot actually live anywhere in the world. I prefer living in a familiar environment where I know how things work, where I know how plants and vegetables I eat grow, and where I know how people would react if I did something outside the social norm. I am no longer hesitant to contact friends who I want to live with and plan our future together. I aim for only 5-6 members who co-create the co-farming-living-learning space together. Living a meaningful life can be like a lucid dream. We have control of the decisions we make every moment, but not the outcome. I decided to love myself, pursue my dream, and benefit to others. The unique journey through this experiential gathering has unlocked my unclear path in a way I have never expected. I am thankful for the opportunity to be born as a human, made it this far, and surrounded by good friends. Special thank you goes to Jane Rasbash who encouraged me to attend the gathering, Thao Ngo (Kin) who facilitated the possibility of connecting with GENOA, and Wongsanit Ashram supported half of the registration fee.

Note that the inspiring Vivian does not live in an ecovillage anymore and is the founder of the non-profit Be the Change Foundation. Some ecovillagers do not produce enough food for themselves nor earn enough income to sustain their lives. They choose to live on monthly government support (which I am irritated with the idea of using other taxpayers’ money to live their dream). Lastly, more than half of the participants drove their fossil-fueled car or campervan from all over Europe to the event. Where is the take-give balance in life and who is it to judge, really?

About the Author

Wansiri Rongrongmuang (Topsi)

Topsi is an environmental activist and spiritual seeker, passionate about promoting inner peace and sustainability. As the coordinator for the Eco-Temple project of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, she works to spread awareness about the environmental crisis and promote eco-friendly practices within her community. She believes that achieving inner peace and living in harmony with the environment are closely intertwined, and strives to live her life in a way that reflects this belief.

Ecovillage Construction Workshop in QiFengShan Ecovillage

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In response to global climate change and the challenges posed by economic downturns, Qifengshan Natural Farming Ecovillage in Wuchang City, Heilongjiang, China, partnered with Qiandao Lake Natural Agro-Ecovillage to jointly organize the inaugural China Ecovillage Construction Workshop from August 1st to August 7th, 2023 (with an additional day added due to heavy rain blocking the road). Despite facing extreme climate conditions, such as floods that disrupted networks, water supply, electricity, and transportation, over 20 participants from across the country immersed themselves in a 7-day study within the metaphorical Noah’s Ark, gaining a deep appreciation for the historical mission of ecovillages.

The workshop welcomed Professor Qiu Yiru, a renowned Permaculture Certified Teacher from Tzu Chi University in Taiwan, to share his expertise. Additionally, Mr. He Jianzeng from Gengdu University addressed key issues in the implementation of ecovillage construction. By integrating the wisdom of Chinese ancestors, including the ideas of natural harmony and the unity of heaven and man found in Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, along with practical experiences from domestic and international ecovillages, the aim was to create ecovillages that embody distinct Chinese characteristics and wisdom.

The workshop sought to redefine Chinese ecovillages by systematically constructing ecovillage life communities across four dimensions: culture, community, ecology, and economy. This endeavor aimed to contribute to rural revitalization by harnessing the wisdom of our ancestors and creating international ecovillages that harmoniously coexist with all living beings, resembling paradises in each village. Moreover, the workshop aimed to align with international ecovillage standards and serve as a model of sustainable development for ecovillages and communities.

An ecovillage is not necessarily a traditional “village,” but it is definitely a “community” that embodies a complete sense of shared destiny. Simply put, an ecovillage (community) is like a vibrant organism where people live together as equals, respecting and embracing one another, and making decisions collectively. Everyone is a steward of the village, contributing their unique talents while working towards common goals. The guiding principles of unity with nature and following natural laws shape the pursuit of sustainable development, meeting the basic needs of life in an ecologically harmonious manner. Challenges and imperfections may still arise, but people collaborate to face them and co-create a better home.

Course Content:

1. How to plan and layout an ecovillage to achieve comprehensive integration of landscapes, forests, farmland, roads, and housing, while prioritizing energy conservation and carbon reduction?

2. How does an ecovillage operate economically in a sustainable manner?

3. Effective methods for treating and recycling ecological toilets, domestic wastewater, and waste from livestock and poultry farming.

4. Soil improvement techniques that reduce non-point source pollution from pesticides and fertilizers.

5. Making the most of local resources to transform green landscapes into prosperous economic assets.

6. Harmonizing natural architecture with human needs to create sustainable and livable habitats suitable for local ecosystems.

Tomatoes and Creating the Meaning of Community

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“The tomatoes are ripening. Let’s celebrate with friends!” This is the key idea behind the first “YouGood Tomato Festival”.

From June 22nd to 23rd, 2023, the YouGood Ecological Community, located on the outskirts of Shanghai, hosted the “Tomato Festival,” with over 300 people attending. The plan was to celebrate the diverse rewards nature has given to the community, to introduce the new village community partners of YouGood, and to engage participants in interactive workshops. Everything “emerged” naturally in the unique rhythm of YouGood during the festival.

A small-scale farmer，Miss Zhou, sells her farm’s fruits and vegetables at the market.
The small farmer’s market is set up as part of the festival

The festival calls on both new villagers and indigenous people, as well as participants, to bring their own chairs. The resting area in the fields shows a variety of interesting states: vegetable baskets from the farm, tree stumps from the surroundings, outdoor chairs, picnic mats, long benches from villagers’ homes, wooden pallets, straw mats, French garden chairs and etc.

Using rice bran and collected rainwater to clean cutlery 
Everyone uses their own cutlery and enjoys a joyful dinner in the field

Our skilled community partner, Tiantian, who is good at carpentry, spent 1.5 days using reclaimed steel bars from a villager’s demolished house and discarded building slabs salvaged from the garbage dump, to build the stage for the outdoor music concert and small farmer’s market display. Volunteer Yi Yi used a needle to sew old canvas onto the market display, creating a natural and rustic sunshade. Community partner Cheng Cheng utilized old burlap to create simple tomato navigation signs for the community.

Doris’s poetry recitation
The audience enjoys the music at the sunset

The performers at the evening field concert are all neighbors and friends from the village, while the audience is filled with friends who came from nearby urban areas, and also villagers and local residents.

Wei Hai’s original singing and guitar playing
Sun setting during the festival

Everyone sits in the glow of the sunset, listening to the melodies of the hulusi, poetry recitations, shakuhachi, and rock music coming from the fields. The two hosts, from Northeast China and Singapore, interact with everyone on the ridge of the field. All of these erase the boundaries of people. Everyone’s breathing and smiles truly come from the depths of their hearts.

navigation signs drew my community partner Chengcheng
The preparation team puts up hand-drawn, rustic navigation signs along the village.

The tomatoes at YouGood Farm originated from four old varieties of natural genetic tomato seeds shared by fellow farmers 6 years ago. They are Big Yellow (suitable for soup and raw consumption), Big Red (stir-fried), Flower Ball (raw with sandy flesh), and West Rice Pudding (raw with a refreshing and sweet taste). Since then, the community has been saving seeds every year, selecting these native and robust seeds that have not been exposed to pesticides or chemical fertilizers, allowing the inherent flavors of tomatoes to be passed down.

Community partner Xiao Cui’s tomato seed saving workshop
Heirloom tomatoes of YouGood Farm

In just two days, the 350 kilograms of tomatoes were scattered throughout the community and transformed into our food, artwork, gifts, work tools, and seeds. They became an entity that was reimagined and recognized by hundreds of onlookers.

Cui and the volunteers, San San, sorting the seeds after the Tomato Seed Saving Workshop
“Tomato Reproduction” Art Installation by Lv Yanni and Cy

During the Tomato Festival, some people exclaimed, “Are these tomatoes fake?” while others were surprised, “I didn’t know tomatoes have more than one color!” Following this, these friends experienced how tomatoes are bred and learned about the process of creating diversity in our workshop. They then enjoyed a meal made using tomatoes and praised it as having the “taste of childhood”, evoking happy memories of eating sweet tomato soup with family during summer when they were children. Everyone took home these tomatoes from the market. The understanding of tomatoes underwent a reshaping process.

We witnessed how tomatoes can evoke people’s memories and create a connection with the land
Friends participated in the saving tomato seed workshop
Community partner Tiantian’s tomato and bamboo tube rice workshop
Community partner Joyce’s kombucha workshop

The possibility of gathering people together and reconnecting with their local roots.

The Tomato Festival brought together long-lost companions. It was not just a community gathering for neighbors, but also a collective visit for friends from outside the community. The children in the community were no longer just classmates or neighbors, but also working partners representing our community. Partner Ducks roamed in the fields, partner geese walked in the distance, and the white egret and the cattle egret stay in the field. In the community, we have many working partners.

The eggs from chickens, ducks, and geese were labeled as “partners’ eggs” and priced for sale at the market. The visitors couldn’t resist taking pictures of them.

Some friends started their journey from the center of Shanghai in the early morning, around 6 a.m. They rode their homemade bamboo bicycles and traveled over 60 kilometers. Finally, in the afternoon, they arrived at the event venue.

On the second day of the Tomato Festival, it started raining right before the end of the event. Participants calmly took out their umbrellas and put on their raincoats. They continued to leisurely enjoy their dinner in the fields. Many friends even happily went for second and third servings in the rain, exclaiming, “It’s so delicious!”

Eight elementary school children, dressed in raincoats, stood on a makeshift stage made of wooden pallets and performed a flute ensemble. Quietly and orderly, they played the rehearsed piece they had been practicing for a long time. Despite the drizzling rain, everyone continued to laugh, clap, and cheer.

Elementary school children flute ensemble
Shanghai-style hot wave of wellness workshop

The “Shanghai-style Hot Wave of Wellness” workshop in the village turned Hai Tao (cofounder of YouGood Farm)’s home into a haven for wellness. Activities such as making a traditional sachet for the Dragon Boat Festival, creating mosquito repellent, cooking rice in bamboo tubes, and handcrafting Margherita pizzas were all greatly loved by the children. The coffee grounds mushroom cultivation workshop sparked the fascination of young people as they discussed de-anthropocentrism. The flower and plant game of transforming old dyed fabrics created a quaint and timeless outdoor experience, while He Xuan’s impromptu dancing at the end of the rice fields made participants feel the freedom of movement.

On the first evening of the Tomato Festival, organized by the Earth Hour Film Bureau, a highly anticipated documentary called “Planet Local” was screened. The translator of the film, and our old friends Doris and Ruiqi, were invited to join us for a post-screening discussion.

The film addresses the impact of the globalization of markets on small-scale, diverse agricultural farming practices, which were originally considered “small but beautiful.” It highlights a series of staggering facts: large-scale mechanized harvesting and processing result in the wastage of nearly one-third of the global food supply; small-scale, diversified farms are over five times more productive than industrialized monoculture farms; and small farms currently safeguard 95% of the world’s agricultural biodiversity.

The film addresses the impact of the globalization of markets on small-scale, diverse agricultural farming practices, which were originally considered “small but beautiful.” It highlights a series of staggering facts: large-scale mechanized harvesting and processing result in the wastage of nearly one-third of the global food supply; small-scale, diversified farms are over five times more productive than industrialized monoculture farms; and small farms currently safeguard 95% of the world’s agricultural biodiversity.

The next morning, a Small Farmer Talk was held, where small-scale farmers from the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai areas gathered together to share their current situations, discuss the challenges they face, and exchange ideas on the path ahead.

The Tomato Festival aims to celebrate the diversity of tomatoes and explore localized solutions from the perspectives of food, art, and land. We will continuously invite small-scale farmers to join us in exploring how they can voice out while facing global issues such as climate crisis (agriculture being the most impacted sector) and biodiversity loss. We will discuss whether small-scale farmers can sustainably continue their production while maintaining their way of life and how they can effectively raise their voices.

The “Planet Local ” also resonates with our response: transitioning from globalization to localism is an effective solution and the greatest possibility for exploring sustainability. Increasingly, young people around the world are returning to the land, engaging in ecological education, promoting natural farming methods, and establishing ecological communities. With a focus on their responsibility towards the environment and land, they engage in production and consumption practices that prioritize sustainability.

At YouGood Farm, we practice natural farming methods and permaculture. The ongoing revolution of localization is experiencing such changes: we appreciate the gifts of nature while acknowledging the pain brought about by globalization. Returning to ancient lands, we embark on a new transformation – individuals with courage and strength are leading the revolution of localization.

Experiencing rice planting at the Tomato Festival

Returning to our roots means reconnecting through emotions and shared understanding between people and the environment. We celebrate abundance and diversity, cherishing the objects that coexist in our corner of the world. Through this, we gradually establish a symbiotic relationship with the land using a slow and low-consumption approach. The fields, ducks, plants, and birds become integral parts of our lives, and our perception of ourselves as individuals begins to change.

As the ecological architect Lawrence Halpri said, “I want to participate in absolutely real events, join people and the environment so that life can thrive as a whole.” Tomatoes have achieved our symbiosis this time.

Community partner Ashley shared her feeling about living in the countryside and among community friends, which also concludes our thoughts towards the festival and our community. “In the city, it seems like we have always been chasing an “eternal summer,” an everlasting youth. But in the countryside, we have always been celebrating the process of getting older, rediscovering ourselves and our lives through ancient traditions, discarded objects, and the interweaving of pain and joy that exists within life. In doing so, we uncover a greater capacity for love, giving, and creativity than we never thought possible, and this power of love can extend beyond our own lives, taking the form of community and spreading through the way we live.”

Text: Chengcheng, Ashley

Photography: Li Gaoshan, Qi, Chengcheng, Jasmine

Tomato Art Installation Design: Lv Yanni, Cy

Original Article in Chinese

Ecovillage Resilience Project: Checking-in with BEDS

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The Resilience Project is a project carried out by the Global Ecovillage Network to gain insights into how ecovillages and their current practices might look under the scenario of a 2.5+ degree change in global temperature. What are the strengths, and weaknesses of ecovillages, what needs to be replaced and adapted, and what ecovillages should look like in 2040 are some of the questions that are explored together in this process. The project started in October 2022 where they have gone through a process of sensing, systems scoping, and diving deep into thresholds and potential concerns. Now they are moving to the third phase of forming visions and pathways.

One of the community collaborators from GENOA is the Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS). They are a non-profit organization focused on community-based development that is committed to maintaining ecological balance and harmony between humans and nature. In 2015, they worked with the local community at Dacope to establish an ecovillage. They have been actively working with local communities in the Sundarbans Coastal Region that are vulnerable to climate change in applying regenerative practices through different outreach programs.

We invited them to share about their experience being a part of the project by asking several questions. Here are their responses:

What have been some realizations (or AHA moments) in the learning journey of the project?

Ecovillage Resilience is such a platform where we got the chance to learn about ecovillages all over the world. It’s a platform where we communicate with each other, and share our ecovillage-related facts, problems, and the solutions also. From the journey of the project, at first, our connection was made with all the eco-villages, and from the workshops and different tasks, we focused on several untold aspects of our ecovillage and the workshops with the community has become like education programs where we act as a media to share the voice of the ecovillage community members globally. 

What tools and pieces of information from the project that you think deserves to be shared with the whole network and how?

From the project, we learned about various tools and shared the tools with our community. Our community has also participated in different workshops. The people in our community have found the system-sensing activity more interesting and innovative. Because when they take part in any type of group work, they use to have a presentation or guideline to perform the group work and after that, they are engaged in finding the result. System sensing activity gave people the chance to explore well-known places in a different way and observe the beauty, happiness, problems, and issues in a relaxing mind. This activity also helps to refresh one’s mind as well as give a deep thought on the surroundings issue.

How was the community activities that you did in the project went for your community? Any interesting implications, findings, or experiences you have?

At first, when we started the activities, it was quite difficult to hold the concentration of the community people for this long time and get their input. With the series of workshops, the knowledge of the community people has been enhanced. The community people only knew about climate change and its vulnerability. When we introduced the problem tree (a problem mapping exercise) with the people in the community, they were very much active in the activity and new different problems have been found which were not properly addressed before. All the activities were quite interesting and different from each other to conduct at the community level. There was also excitement when the final output of the workshop was prepared.

Through the series of workshops, the community in Sundarbans has properly learned about the effect of climate change and how they will be affected by it. The climate tipping point was a totally new term for them and now they are thinking about what will happen 20 years later. The workshops and the knowledge of the workshops help to change their point of view and it has created a broader sense of thinking. I think those activities have built their capacity to take decisions by themselves and also portray the importance of togetherness, and cooperative work to build a better future.

What are the things your community is looking forward to as this project continues?

Through the series of workshops, the community people have perfectly learned about their submerged future due to the effect of climate change. It’s an appeal from the vulnerable community of Sundarbans coastal region to do something for them so that they can cope with the upcoming effects of climate change. We are already trying to raise funds for the local community through different fundraising platforms. We wish this project will continue and in the next phase of the project, we will be able to work for the betterment of this vulnerable community.

Living in Anthropocene: Ethnographical Study of an Eco-Community in Rural Hong Kong

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Kootyin Chow lives in Nam Chung community, an eco-community in the northeastern part of Hong Kong. For her master’s studies, she did an ethnographic study in her community exploring the notion of sustainability using a multi-species perspective including villagers, plants, and animals.

Aerial view of Nam Chung Community

In the excerpt below, drawn from Kootyin’s recently finished thesis on the eco-community project, Kootyin writes about her encounter with a wild boar who accidentally broke into the territories of house-kept dogs in the village and got killed in this pig-dogging incident, and how this allowed her to reflect on her relationship with the animals, plants and other more-than-human beings in the neighborhood.

Loud roaring noises from my neighbour’s pack of twenty-five dogs woke me up on a late summer morning in Nam Chung. I scurried downstairs and went outdoors to see what was happening. On a grassy pitch outside my neighbours’ house, a small female wild boar was caught in a scuffle with four dogs; they launched themselves at the boar and bit its hind legs, whilst the rest of the dogs barked incessantly with excitement. The boar – not much bigger than an ordinary mongrel dog – was already badly hurt with open cuts all over its body and bleeding heavily when I got to the scene. This intruder had left the forests to find food around the village and was desperately caught in the fight. Gasping, whining, charging in all directions in an attempt to escape, the boar couldn’t outcompete the dogs. It was completely at the dogs’ mercy.

Wild boars around Nam Chung

As this happened, Al –who worked for my neighbour’s family – rushed out with a pickaxe. Surrounded by dogs, the boar could only run around in circles. Al grabbed every chance he could to approach the boar and struck heavy blows on its head with the pickaxe. With each blow, the boar whimpered; its squeals provoked the dogs to strike and attack even more. The boar collapsed finally with one last hit on the head; Al pressed his pickaxe against the boar’s head as it lay on the ground panting. Catching his breath, Al did not spare a moment and skilfully tied up the boar’s hoofs. It was then dragged across the grass pitch and the concrete floor of the front yard then tied down and settled on the kennel floor at the back of the house. The dogs followed, leaping enthusiastically, taking advantage of the now badly injured boar, still trying to attack it. Al shouted and the dogs backed off.

The boar was a young female barely one-year-old, Al said to me while deftly tying the ropes. ‘It is really unfortunate, yet it benefits the whole family, including the dogs!’ Upon saying this, Al went away; I continued to stand there and stare at the pig. I reached out to stroke its legs; its bristles were sharp and rough. There were more grunts from the boar: it was still alive, but it had stopped struggling. I knew the boar would soon become food for the family.

Thesis Abstract

Living in this Anthropocene, deepening ecological crises and associated political, social, cultural and economic problems are manifest across the globe. In the face of a doomed world, various forms of community-based, bottom-up social-ecological experiments emerge as a response to present-time environmental challenges. One of these attempts is the building of ecovillages (or eco-communities) as experimental sites for environmental regeneration and sustainable transitions.

Through an ethnographic study of an emerging eco-community in Hong Kong’s north-eastern New Territories, this thesis explores what sustainability entails within the context of this community and its many implications. Based on participant observation, in-depth interviews and oral history, I explore the perspectives of different co-inhabitants – including indigenous and non-indigenous villagers, as well as plants and animals – and seek to understand how they interact and coalesce to inform us of a complex understanding of sustainability. For members of this eco-community, sustainability is situated in their everyday practices – it continuously comes into being through their engagement with the environment and their entanglements with other humans and the more-than-human.

This study provides a glimpse into the process of creation of an ecovillage in the Hong Kong context, albeit it is still in its incipient stage. More importantly, I hope that these multispecies stories will remind us of the inherent responsibility of humans for the continued survival of the Earth and provide us with an alternative paradigm of how we can live with/in/beyond these Anthropocene times.

If you’d like to know more about this eco-community project in Hong Kong or read more of her writing, please contact Kootyin at kootyinchow@gmail.com.

Kootyin Chow. Nam Chung Community, Hong Kong

Kootyin Chow lives and works in an eco-community in Nam Chung, a small Hakka village located in Hong Kong’s far northeast New Territories neighbouring Shenzhen, China. Kootyin is involved in the PEACE (Partnership for Eco-Agriculture and Conservation of Earth) project in Nam Chung, Hong Kong. She’s currently a Mphil student in the Chinese University of Hong Kong anthropology department. She does gardening, cooking, stream walking, wild swimming and spotting insects all the time.

Planting Seeds of Hope in Qiandao Ecovillage

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From August 1st to August 15th 2022, a permaculture design certification course took place at Qiandao Lake Ecovillage which is located in the southwest of the Thousand Island (Qiandao) Lake Zhejiang Province, China. 44 Participants from different areas of China spent 15 days together learning permaculture principles. We worked in groups to design group projects and gained hands-on experiences making compost piles, natural buildings, and gardens. 

2022 PDC Participants at Qiandao Ecovillage

Qiandao Lake Ecovillage was founded in April 2014. In September 2013, Venerable Master Konghai was invited by the local county magistrate to serve as the consultant for a government-led project which intended to establish a learning center for traditional Chinese Culture. Master Konghai held deep care for the planet and asked the magistrate to consider making an ecovillage on Qiandao Lake. The local government responded swiftly in a few days and provided convenience for him to visit several possible locations. After evaluating all the places, Master Konghai decided to set a piece of land in a valley. The place was beautiful and quite secluded. 20 years ago, local villagers migrated out of nearby villages to cooperate with the government’s plan for building the Xin’anjiang Reservoir. Therefore, land here had been returned to nature for 20 years before a group of 20 young people came as pioneers for an ecovillage.

At first, there was no architecture except for a thatched shed which later became the ecovillage’s tool hut. 20 young ecovillagers lived in the shed which leaked rain on rainy days. They started growing food and created initial infrastructures for an ecovillage. The local government played a vital role in making electricity accessible, followed by an 800,000 yuan (approximately 112,000 USD) investment helping to build the road connecting the ecovillage to its nearby village.

“When you have a truly selfless intention to benefit the whole world, benevolent forces will synchronize together to support you”

Master Konghai
Dining hall structure with banana circle in front

Nowadays, around 25 regular residents dwell at Qiandao Lake Ecovillage. They carry out courses and workshops for making ecovillages, learning principles about the Tao, and practicing a lifestyle that is centered on spiritual growth. The place had been transforming its residents and visitors, incubating Earth Seeds that create eco projects all over the country. Core courses that took central place for residents and visitors included Mysteries of Dao De Jing Revealed, No Boundary: Eastern and Western Approaches to Personal Growth, and Theory and Practices for Building Ecovillages. Such shared learnings brought all villagers together and provided them with resources for solving disagreements in their community.

Ecologically, Qiandao village had been practicing natural farming since its beginning. Experienced teachers of natural farming and permaculture were invited periodically to give courses. The village has also been storing rainwater, practicing a zero-waste lifestyle, using a banana circle to process grey water, and maintaining their composting toilets. In recent years, natural buildings have also become a key feature and strength. Several small self-circulating systems which consist of natural buildings, rainwater collectors, gardens, and animals had been created by residents near the ecovillage’s center region. The team is now planning an outdoor classroom for children’s education.

Qiandao Ecovillage plants seeds of hope by making itself an example of living in harmony with nature, which is the teaching of both permaculture and the Tao. We wish it to keep flourishing and transform more visitors who are nourished by this land. There’s no time like now that the planet urges us to observe its laws and come into alignment with the principles of Heaven and the Earth.

About the Author

Yuting Yin, University of California Davis

Yuting is a Ph.D. student of anthropology at the University of California Davis. She is an ecovillage researcher and focuses on studying ecovillages in China. She has studied mental health and organized support groups for people who struggle with eating disorders. Her interest in mind-body well-being leads her to explore ecovillages since 2016. After two years of living in a cooperative living community in Davis, California. Currently, her research journey is taking her to deepen her roots in her native cultural tradition and tap into the power of practicing what is learned along the way.

Story of the TUI Community Being – An Invitation for Resilience

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This article was written by Robina McCurdy from TUI Community, Aotearoa – New Zealand

Tui is a 35-resident community in the Golden Bay bioregion of the South Island of Aotearoa/New Zealand.  It is situated in a relatively remote rural area, adjoining the Abel Tasman National Park.  The land is owned by a Charitable Trust, administered by the Trustees who have gone through the steps of becoming a resident, then Prospective Member, then a full member of the Trust.  This is a caretaking stewardship role of the land, its resources, and people the who occupy it. Trustees do not own land or shares but have the ‘Right to Occupy’ in perpetuity.  Members design, build and own their own houses.  Tui Community is the main project of the Trust.  The first of eight objectives of our Trust Deed, states:

‘To promote education within New Zealand on the role and function of sustainable communities, by establishing a living, working example of an intentional community that combines the essential principles of spiritual awareness, earthcare, connection with nature and appropriate lifestyle, where residents and visitors can participate in a variety of educational and spiritual practices’.

trust deed of tui trust

Our community’s broad mission statement is:  ‘As a community, we are seeking wholeness in relationship with ourselves, each other, and the planet.’  In many ways, Tui is a social experiment.  We are dedicated to personal growth and supporting the wellbeing of others, and we have a learned lot of tools to do this, the most current being ‘Possibility Management’.  We create our culture from ancient, contemporary and original practices, trying out ways that feel right and endorse ‘earth-based spirituality’.  We review and change our systems as they no longer seem to serve us.  We all contribute our labour voluntarily to an ‘energy input system’ as well as working bees, that run the practicalities of the place.  We have a successful community business that employs more than half of the community.  Tui features a community house, craft workshop, farm machinery sheds, members’ houses, communal orchard, vegetable gardens, farm, Tui Balms co-operative business, and the Outdoor Events Field (hired to the public as well as Tui members, as a venue for educational and cultural events). 

Tui Annual Apple Harvest

At Tui we have four kinds of meetings:  Trust Board meeting, Heartshare (both monthly), Community meeting (fortnightly), and a Tuki (stands for Tui Community Integration), which happens 3 – 4 times per year over a weekend. 

The Tuki is essential to our community’s wellbeing. It’s a retreat when we gather together to address a vital theme that has been emerging through our meetings, which is either too contentious, ongoingly emotionally charged and philosophically deep. A Tuki typically facilitates a paradigm shift within the community, with a resultant change in policy and/or operating systems. Dates are scheduled around a year in advance so that everyone can prioritise attending, and we hire an external cook and childcare person to enable all residents to be fully present.  

The main part of our Tuki format and process is modeled on the Heartshare culture of all indigenous peoples. This is deep listening to each other, giving full attention to the one holding the talking stick/stone/object, who is speaking from his/her heart space and belly feelings in relation to the theme’s issues and aspirations. In this way, underlying unspoken emotions and feelings can be expressed, and spaciousness for accessing spiritual wisdom opens up. Through this, a clear collective forward direction emerges. Our Tuki generally has two parts:  the first day being various exercises building connection with each other, with a Heartshare for most of the day. The second day is in the style of stocktaking, analysis, and strategic planning arising out of the Heartshare, so that we complete the Tuki with tangible action held by small groups.

‘Creating a Structure’ Activity at Tuki

‘Growing Resilience from Where We Are’ was the theme of our last Tuki – addressing resilience physically, socially, economically, and environmentally. Early in Day 2, we did a ‘Fishbowl’ process to draw out the informational facts and statistics our residents knew about the state of the world, so we could build up a collective knowledge pool and bring urgency into the room. Then in pairs, we shared these questions:  What do you see?  What do you feel?  What do you hope for?  What do you want to do?

Following this, we brainstormed the vulnerability of our community in the context of global events, trends, and crises (eg climate catastrophe, unreliability and scarcity of supplies, financial collapse) and how we could buffer ourselves to the best of our abilities.  We looked at the proneness of our land areas close to sea level, the slips of some hilly areas, flooding potential, earthquake impact, geographical remoteness, and the challenges to growing sufficient food. We did an inventory of resources and people skills so we collectively knew what we had to draw on as well as what the gaps were. We divided into ‘hubs’ to come up with mitigating strategies, forward planning, and accountable action steps. 

We punctuated these serious topics with a fun outdoor activity that engendered cooperation as well as challenging teams to use minimal resources to create something functional and aesthetic within a minimal timeframe. Each of the randomly selected three groups was given the same equipment – 12 long bamboo pieces, a bucket, a rope, some decorations, etc. Then there was a ‘show and tell’ with lots of laughter, and we voted on which was the most interesting and the most functional and why. At Tui, we find it most beneficial when a diversity of captivating processes are used to engage and sustain group energy, especially when dealing with serious topics needing resolve. 

Co-creating the “Tui Being”

On the first day of this Tuki we used a new creative process devised by Aralyn and Inna, to look deeply into our group characteristics and psyche, making visible our brilliance, blocks, and functionality. This was entitled: ‘Where we are Now – Mapping of the Tui Being’. It took the form of brainstorming, onto a huge paper in the center of the room, on which was drawn the outline of a person, with their body parts, including their internal organs. Each person had several little papers to write what qualities were represented by the parts of the anatomy they chose, then stood up to verbally name that, sticking down their paper on that place. The question was: “What are the vital parts of our Tui being? What is collectively alive?” 

Next came the topic: ‘Myself in the Now & beyond’ as part of/in relation to the Tui Being.’ This was facilitated in the form of contemplative questions, shared together in pairs  Each person needed to consider these questions: Where do I put my energy – emotionally, mentally, energetically, physically? Consciously and unconsciously? How do I feel in Tui? What am I angry about? Scared about? Sad about? Glad about? What energizes me at Tui when I involve myself?  Given the state of the world, how might I want to evolve my place in Tui from here? Where do I want to put my energy consciously? 

This primed everyone for a deep heartsharing as a whole group, on the topic: ‘Myself in the Now & Growing Resilience beyond’.  Each individual picked up three stones and placed them on the qualities that had been identified, based on what they could relate to most strongly.  As they placed each of their stones down, people spoke to this, with the group listening attentively.   

We know that sharing feelings in an open transparent provides a connected foundation for daily living together, managing the land, undertaking new projects, and braving the crises our world is facing and will face even more severely in the future. 

About the Author and Community

Robina McCurdy, Aotearoa – New Zealand

Robina is co founder/resident/trustee of Tui Land Trust and its 37 year old Tui Community, founder of the Institute for Earthcare Education Aotearoa, and SEED (Schools Environmental Education & Development). She is also a graduate of GEN’s ‘Training of Trainers’ course, and an ongoing keen participant in GENOA’s on-line education and networking platforms. Globally, for the past 30 years, she has been engaged in permaculture education and community development in various forms – including social permaculture, mentoring new ecovillage initiatives, squatter settlement re-development and strengthening community culture within existing organizations. She has produced a range of community resilience resources focusing on participatory processes for decision-making and collective action Her strongest passion is the application of Permaculture at the Bioregional scale, which she has trained hundreds of community leaders in, through Earthcare’s ‘Localising Food Project’.

Tui Community, Aotearoa – New Zealand

Tui Community is located in Wainui Bay, Golden Bay, in the North-West of the South Island of Aotearoa. Original members established Tui in 1984 after purchasing 50 hectares of farmland on the edge of the Abel Tasman National Park. Their aim was to create an intentional community. Over the years, our community, people, and processes have evolved – and we are open to you finding out more about us by visiting our website.

Implementing Ecovillage Principles in the Sundarban Coastal Community, Bangladesh

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This is a story of the flagship mangrove ecosystem conservation and climate change adaptation in the Sundarbans coastal region of Bangladesh. It is a story of humans living in harmony with nature, meeting their needs of drinking water, energy, and other livelihood needs through integrated native and organic farming, various nature-based enterprises, mangrove restoration, climate information service, environmental education, and ecotourism.

Bangladesh is a very small country with an area of 147,570 square kilometers with an exaggerated population (of 160 million). The Sundarbans coastal region of Bangladesh is a disaster-prone area and on the frontline facing the impacts of global climate change. The Sundarbans region is a UNESCO declared Natural World Heritage as well as a RAMSAR wetland site. It is also known as the largest single mangrove forest in the world. The Sundarbans mangrove flagship ecosystem is safeguarding and providing livelihood support for the 3.5 million climate-vulnerable coastal people of Bangladesh. Hence, if this ecosystem is disrupted by climate impacts, the people living in its surrounding would lose their source of drinking water, crops, livestock, farming land, and in general, their source of livelihood.

Ecovillage declaration day

Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) has been trying to promote ecological balance and create harmony between humans and nature by implementing the eco-village concept in the Sundarbans coastal region of Bangladesh. It aims to solve the major complex social and environmental problems such as poverty, drinking water, electricity, cooking fuel, riverbank erosion, education, natural resources management, woman empowerment, etc. there. Applying the Eco Village concept is the best way to solve complex social and environmental problems as it aims to create a life system where local people could live without harming the ecosystem. In Sundarbans, the Eco Village concept is divided into three components which included Green Housing, Green Education, and Green Business. Through our initiatives; people are getting safe drinking water from local and modern technology services such as re-excavating ponds, establishing solar-based pond sand and filter system as well as Reverse Osmosis (RO) with Water ATM. Distributing improved cooking stoves and solar lamps, solar home systems, generators, batteries, and established solar stations are contributing reduce the amount of fuel and carbon emissions. 

Local students planting mangroves

Planting mangroves and social trees help to stabilize the environment in addition to providing safety to the villagers. Motivated students and villagers are using their increased knowledge of the environment and ecosystem in their day-to-day life. We can already see that by ensuring proper natural resource management, the supported honey collector families are earning 10 times more for their natural honey business. Coastal marginal families are improving their livelihood by doing agro farming activities – a farming system that integrates both plants and livestock together. Supported Sundarbans marginal families are generating income by making, processing, packaging, and selling the products using available raw materials from the agriculture, fishing, and forestry sectors. Community-based eco-tourism activities also contribute to promoting livelihoods of the forest-dependent communities, and the local culture as well as reducing the pressure on Sundarbans forest resources.

All of the implemented activities of BEDS are focused on solving regional social, economic, and environmental problems. Around 15,000 coastal families are now free from the scarcity of safe drinking water because of our drinking water service and this contributes to achieving SDG-06 (Water security). Our livelihood supporting activities (honey business, environmentally friendly agriculture, and fishing, eco-tourism, Agro Farming, production and sales of goods from agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sectors, sewing activities, mangrove nursery establishment, crab fattening, etc.) are contributing to sustainable livelihoods for local people and assisting to achieve SDG-10 (jobs and livelihoods). The kerosene purchasing cost of coastal communities has been reduced and students can read at night as 3,000 coastal families are now using renewable energy for their lighting purposes; which definitely contributes to achieving SDG-07 (Renewable energy). BEDS has always focused on engaging multi-stakeholders for the proper execution of project activities and ensuring the sustainability of the activities which contributes to achieving SDG-17 (partnership).

For transforming the coastal communities, we have created a brand by naming the BANOJIBI for marketing the Eco village products. BANOJIBI is a Bengali Word and the meaning of the BAJOJIBI is forest dwellers. So, the Banojibi owns by the Sundarbans resource harvesters and coastal marginal farmers.

Bangladesh Environment and Development Society

The Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) is a community-based non-profit, non-government, and development organization committed to maintaining ecological balance and creating harmony between humans and nature. BEDS was established for solving complex environmental and social problems in Bangladesh such as the adverse impacts of global warming, unsustainable use of natural resources, drinking water crisis, Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem and biodiversity destruction, increasing uses of dirty energy, gender inequity, and human rights violation, etc. BEDS has completed more than 50 projects and received a number of prestigious awards including the Energy Globe National Award in  2018; the Divisional Environmental Award in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015. In addition, one of the BEDS implemented projects “Eco Village in Bangladesh” has been selected to be showcased at Expo 2020 Dubai’s Global Best Practice Program. Find out more about BEDS on their website.

Two Women’s Journey to Intentional Community

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Hi from Scilla and Sharyn. We are deep friends.  We are also members of Narara Ecovillage in New South Wales, Australia. Our ecovillage website, https://nararaecovillage.com is a mine of information – so go dig! We met 7 years ago when the ecovillage site had been purchased but no building of new homes had begun. Scilla and her partner were in transit towards a shared life, leaving their separate homes in Tasmania and Sydney while Sharyn was in the process of selling her beautiful home of 25 years in order to live at Narara.

Both energetic, socially committed and somewhat rebellious ‘Maga’ women in our rich Autumn stage of life, we found much in common, despite birth places literally ‘poles apart’: Scilla was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and Sharyn grew up in the heart of Sydney. We both chose paths quite early in life that deviated from the norms expected by our families, we both lived in an ‘intentional community’ with our young children and we both found our greatest personal and professional satisfaction in the spheres of inner growth, conflict resolution, and therapeutic support.   

Sharyn was one of the ‘pioneer’ members of Narara. Inspired by the determination of Lyndall Parris, Narara Ecovillage founder, she joined around 20 other visionary contributors pooling resources to buy this glorious valley property. Narara Ecovillage Cooperative is now the steward of 170 acres nestled between the deep peace of Strickland State Forest and the suburb of Narara. Intercity rail links give us easy access to both Sydney and Newcastle.

Narara Ecovillage was legally constituted as a trading Cooperative with all memberships holding an equal shareholding. Membership is a prerequisite to buying a plot of land and building a house at the ecovillage. The commitment and courage of the early members to the vision of building an inspiring, sustainable ‘demonstration’ ecovillage was remarkable and Sharyn was a critical catalyst in the manifestation of this dream. 

Sharyn designed and built her ‘hippy’ home of 17 years living in a community in the northern New South Wales rainforest. After many years of more suburban life, Narara gave her the opportunity to revel in the design and construction of her beautiful natural build home.  Drawing on her talents as a painter, aspiring glass artist, budding sculptor, and accomplished clothing creator she offered specialist builders and artisans the scope to demonstrate their skilled craftsmanship in working with natural and recycled materials of all kinds.

Laying down the ‘social foundations of community is arguably more important than the physical infrastructure and Sharyn stepped early on into the role of community catalyst by setting up the Wellbeing Circle and facilitating monthly Members Meeting for many years. She enriched early policies and procedures with insight from her decades of training and practice in mediation, conflict resolution, and crisis counseling as well as her own inner work. When talking to prospective members of the ecovillage, she cheerfully affirms that ‘living in community is the toughest personal development course you’ll ever take’! She knows this from personal experience!

Scilla came across ‘intentional communities’ while studying in California in the ’70s on a scholarship from her Scottish university. The trauma of war veterans she met in classes, the courage of social changemakers, and the commitment of environmental activists defending our fragile planet Earth as well as disillusionment with the economic and social consequences of actions by the dominant Global North helped to plant seeds for her life of ‘active pacifism’. Her areas of work included practice and policy in child protection and juvenile justice, teaching, disability support, journalism, and an ongoing reverence for the healing power in the space between people and horses.

While Sharyn’s earlier ‘community’ (and her mothering) experiences were set in the remote rainforest of Eastern Australia, Scilla found herself the parent of two small boys living in a large shared property with a volatile group of young people living as long-term WWOOFers in a 19th century English country house under renovation. This was a fascinating and tough introduction to stepping outside the norm of Western family homes and taught her a great deal about what was wonderful as well as what does not work in a community. In particular, the unilateral power held by a founder/leader can spell disaster when the going gets tough.

Having encountered Quaker communities in her earlier overseas exchange experience, a year of traveling with 2 small children a decade later connected her with the worldwide intentional peace-building community’ of Servas https://www.servas.org.au.  This strengthened Scilla’s commitment to conscious ethics-based community building and moving to live in Tasmania in the late 1980s presented the opportunity to explore place-based intentional community once again.

She became involved in at least eight aspiring or emergent ecovillage projects in that time … most failed to materialize due to legal, planning, or finance impediments or did not meet her needs and expectations at the time. Factors that deterred her included insufficient clarity around a shared vision, remote physical location, lack of inclusive decision-making, damaging inequity in resources, or incompatibility of personalities in key leadership roles.

However, this time in Tasmania also introduced Scilla to inspiring organizations and catalysts to creating healthy sustainable communities – be they for purpose or place-based. These included GEN, Pachamama Alliance, Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Conflict Resolution Network (CRN), Alternatives to Violence (AVP), and Permaculture, including a focus on Social Permaculture.  A powerful and enduring sense of community formed around her rural property where she offered equine-assisted growth and learning experiences.

Meeting one another, with tapestries of life weaving in so many similar threads, felt like a ’knitting together’ at a soul level.  We laugh a lot and cried a fair bit too!  While occasionally treasuring silence – especially in forest walks, we have shared many rowdy dinners and countless discussions as co-leaders of our Community Circle.  We enthusiastically deepen our practice of Sociocracy and are currently exploring the application of the Prosocial ‘lens’ to strengthen collaboration in our community and honestly accompany people interested in considering membership on their ‘Journey to Joining’ Narara Ecovillage.  

We feel blessed to be here and grateful for our capacity to continue to grow and learn. Above all, we are enlivened by the opportunity offered by this ecovillage – and the international movement it is part of – to contribute to shaping a peaceable world for our grandchildren’s grandchildren and all Life. 

You can find more information about Narara Ecovillage on their website here.

About the Authors

Sharyn Wilson. Narara Ecovillage, Australia

Sharyn is a pioneer member of Narara Ecovillage. Born in Sydney, she has led an adventurous and creative life. She built her home in the rainforest of northern New South Wales, raised her son, and lived with self-sufficiency and personal growth as her intentions. She has pursued a lifelong journey of learning and practicing conflict resolution, mediation, and personal development as well as art, travel, and a commitment to the community. Returning to the North Shore area of Sydney she found and later re-designed her beautiful Avalon home while continuing to help others through crisis counseling work. Drawn back to the quest for a more intentional community, she attended a gathering at the critical decision-making point in the purchase of Narara and said YES in no uncertain terms by joining the early investors. She has been at the heart of the Community Circle, is a member of the ecovillage Steering Circle, and facilitated the monthly Members’ Meetings throughout the early years, and is deeply committed to the practice of Sociocracy (and now the introduction of Prosocial) at Narara Ecovillage. 

Scilla Sayer. Narara Ecovillage, Australia

Scilla was born in Scotland and grew up with a deep sense of commitment to place-based community.  She discovered ‘intentional community’ while on an overseas scholarship year at the University of California in the early 1970’s. Scilla found work as an editor and art correspondent in London before moving to join a small community in Norfolk. Life circumstances and a need to escape Thatcherism in the UK led to a radical life shift in the 1980s.  She and her husband traveled for a year with 2 small children and moved to Tasmania. Her lifelong connection with horses and deep appreciation for the transformative power of the relationship between them and humans led her to explore equine-assisted therapy. She trained in New Zealand, the USA, UK, and Australia, establishing ‘Chiron Horse Programs’ in Tasmania. This flourished for nearly 20 years. All this time she was involved with a number of ecovillage development projects before she felt the draw to Narara Ecovillage. Now living there full-time and deeply involved with supporting social sustainability, she balances this intensity with meeting a growing interest from ecovillagers and others who wish to explore the magic and the learning that exists ‘in the space between people and horses’. You can reach her at scilla.sayer@gmail.com.

Building Communities and Surviving Together – an Exchange Gathering by GEN Japan

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GEN-Japan held the Second Exchange Gathering Online from March 5th to 6th. Unexpectedly, one week after the beginning of the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, it highlighted the meaning of community building and the importance of unwavering cooperation, as well as networking among these communities. In this online event, about 20 communities and initiatives joined. Each speaker and community strongly announced it to the public and as a result, more than 200  participants participated in the gathering. Through the event, we were able to clearly understand the difference between a world that “tries to move people through violence and violent acts” and a world that understands and cooperates with each other through dialogue and we shall move towards the latter.

One audience member sent us her impression after the event;” I was encouraged by the fact that younger people are starting various initiatives.”Since last year, exchanges and cooperation among the participating eco-villages have begun, and at the same time, young people from urban areas are touring the eco-villages and such a population has been gradually increasing. They are beginning to experience a new way of life while there. On the other hand, there is a movement to learn from each other about the efforts of how they keep building ecovillages.

Tetora Tanizaki, representative of WorldShift Japan, an advisory board of GEN-Japan, suggested that we need to clearly show the innovative way of living in harmony to the public. This year GEN-Japan is having a Gaia Youth Education in March and April as well as GEN-Japan EDE course in April. We are trying to steadily promote the creation of a harmonious society through eco-villages.