What is an Ecovillage?

Ecovillages or ecological villages are the sustainable settlements where people live in harmony with nature. Ecovillages are generally established by individuals who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. These settlements represent an autonomous, collective and environmentally compatible lifestyle. In this article, we have compiled the definition, history and benefits of ecovillages for you!

Definition of an Ecovillage

One of the most widely used definitions of ecovillage was provided in 1991 by Robert Gilman, an author and a thinker who carries out research on sustainability. Gilman defined ecovillages as: “Ecovillage is a human-scale, full-featured settlement, in which human activities are harmlessly integrated into the natural world, in a way that is supportive of healthy human development and can be successfully continued into the indefinite future.”

In other words, ecovillages are communities that build a sustainable lifestyle by taking into account social, economic and ecological factors. So, how do they do it? An ecovillage adopts an environmentally friendly lifestyle by minimizing the adverse impacts of human activities on the environment, using renewable energy resources and growing their own food. Ecovillages can be small or medium sized. Ecovillages generally consists of 50 to 250 people, while they can also accommodate more than 1,000 people.

Ecovillage residents produce together, act collectively, share resources and work together to establish a sustainable community. There are many ecovillages around the world. Although these ecovillages differ from each other, the shared idea is to build a 'sustainable' life. Most of the ecovillages in the world are engaged in the Global Ecovillage Network, i.e., GEN. So, is there any ecovillage in Turkey? Yes, there is! Click to get more information about ecovillages in Turkey!

History of Ecovillages

As we have already mentioned above, Robert Gilman helped the concept be developed in the early ‘90s with his research, articles and speeches on the subject. In 1995, the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) was established with the mission to support ecovillages around the world.
The first ecovillage was built in 1996 in Ithaca, United States, by the environmental activist Joan Bokaer.

Today, the Global Ecovillage Network reaches out to around 10,000 communities on all continents. Although there is no one way nor a single definition of being an ecovillage, there are three core practices shared by all these communities: being rooted in local participatory processes, actively restoring and regenerating their social and natural environments and integrating all dimensions (social, cultural, economic and ecological) of sustainability.

Eliminating the adverse impacts of human activities on the environment is obviously the reason behind the rise of ecovillages. On the other hand, it is possible to interpret the rise of ecovillages through individualization and isolation of people in growing cities. The longing for a life style based on solidarity and collective effort should not be ignored.

What Ecovillages Are Not?

GEN underlines that an ecovillage is an ongoing process, not an outcome. They argue that each ecovillage is a living and learning center for a regenerative future, a place of continuous exploration. Moreover,

• Ecovillages are not designed by outside developers, architects or experts, but by communities themselves.
• Communities do not need to call themselves an ‘Ecovillage’ in order to be recognized by GEN.
• Ecovillages do not focus solely on ecology, even though many ecovillages start with a strong focus on the ecological dimension. They also ensure the protection of environment and cultural heritage.
• It is important for ecovillages to cover different dimensions of sustainability (social, cultural, economic and ecological, etc.), as well.

Life in Ecovillage in Brief

• Each individual living in an ecovillage contributes to the community and production. Everyone has a responsibility in line with their capacity, skills and preferences.
• Energy requirements are provided by natural resources such as solar panels and wind turbines.
• Vinegar or natural ingredients are used instead of chemical-containing cleaning materials.
• Electronic devices such as refrigerators are not found in every house, they are shared.
• Transportation in an ecovillage is wither on foot or by bicycle.
• Natural raw materials are used during the construction works in ecovillages.
• Organic waste is used as fertilizer or biofuel is generated from organic waste.

Ecovillages sound like a utopia, don't they? However, when do some research, we come across various problems. Before saying, 'Let’s gather some friends and build an ecovillage', we suggest you check the following details first!

Difficulties in Ecovillages

Discussing the ecovillages, we should take into account an important factor: the 'human factor'. Many ecovillage attempts end in failure. Why? Because although they initially come together with good intentions, people may have different opinions as time passes. Many issues such as decision-making method, distribution of responsibilities, management, membership process may cause problems. For example, will there be new members? How will these members be integrated? How will the rules of the ecovillage be determined? Will sanctions be imposed on those who do not abide by these rules? What will happen to members who do not contribute enough to the common responsibilities? How and to what extent will individuals who own a house in ecovillage but do not live full-time participate in decision-making processes?

Although the 'community' aspect of ecovillages stands out, it should not be forgotten that every community is composed of individuals. Common areas and items in common use may cause problems. Furthermore, note that costs such as heating and cooling can be high, as ecovillages are built with natural (and often 'ineffective') materials.

Due to all the aforementioned reasons, establishing a 'successful' ecovillage requires hard work. It becomes very important to determine the design, management, procedures and rules of the ecovillage in advance. Moreover, the vision and mission shall also be determined, and the distribution of works shall be considered in advance. It becomes inevitable to assess all dimensions, from the design of a sustainable permaculture to leaving membership, for an ecovillage to be successful.

Economy of Ecovillages

Successfully designed and managed eco-settlements begin to yield 'surplus products' a few years after they are established. These products from the field can be sold and become a source of income. Similarly, animal products (eggs, milk, etc.) and fertilizers can be a source of income. Natural care products made from herbs can be processed and put up for sale. Vegetables grown in the settlement can be turned into value-added products, for example, red paper paste can be made from red hot peppers.

Ecovillage residents can be encouraged to share their know-how and experiences by organizing trainings, charity sales, festivals, camps and workshops. Guesthouses and recreational areas can be designed for eco-tourism for those who would like to spend time in nature. Moreover, successful ecovillages can assist other ecovillages by providing them consultancy and in design.

All these economic activities can facilitate ecovillages to have an extra source of income for the livelihood and development of their residents. The income generated can be used for the expansion of the ecovillage and the required financing for different projects within the settlement.

What are the Benefits of Ecovillages?

Ecovillages contribute a lot to economic, social, ecological and cultural sustainability. Some of these contributions can be listed as follows:

• Fair use of natural resources: Ecovillages are built with natural materials such as mud, wood and straw and set an example of sustainable settlement models that are compatible with the environment. They obtain energy from natural energy resources such as wind and sun; hence, they use clean energy systems.
• By avoiding chemicals, they minimize environmental pollution. They do not use pesticides or cleaning materials that contain chemicals.
• They prove that a different lifestyle is possible with their understanding of sustainability based on collaboration and collective effort.
• They pursue harmony and equality in the community through participatory decision-making processes.
• They contribute to sustainable development.

Why are Ecovillages Important?

We have outlined the definition, history, economy, difficulties and benefits of ecovillages in our article.

In line with the information compiled, ecovillages can be considered an alternative to the complexity of our modern lives or settlements to prove that a sustainable life is possible. In the meantime, ecovillages are concrete proof that a handful of determined people can make a big difference! This is one of the major contributions of ecovillages to sustainability; they prove us that a 'different' life is also possible. Nevertheless, note that, if you have a dream of building an ecovillage together with your family and friends, there are things to keep in mind: design and planning.