Ecovillages

Efforts toward intentional communal living have a long history in the United States and the world. An ecovillage is a specific type of intentional community that is guided by ecologically relevant organizing principles, among other things. The ecovillage movement is largely motivated by a desire to be proactive, rather than reactive. Recognizing the existing and potential problems stemming from current unsustainable practices, ecovillages are intended to help develop and model sensible alternative ways of organizing residential life. Moreover, ecovillage advocates see these communities as offering a higher quality of life than conventional settings in terms of providing a meaningful sense of community and opportunities for genuine involvement. Contrary to the somewhat narrow connotation of the term village, ecovillages exist in rural, urban, and suburban settings. ...