GENOA - Local Communities and Eco-villages

We are three families starting a rural cohousing community in New Zealand, on a very pretty 145-acre block half an hour's drive out of Auckland. The name is Turanga Farm. We own the land, there are three families at this stage, and we are planning for 12 units. We will farm organically, using the permaculture model, we have a draft constitution, our internal roading is almost complete. We are undertaking planting of native & timber trees & orchards, fencing, and learning to farm cattle & sheep!

Postal address:
3 Thompson Rd,
Panmure, Auckland 1006,
New Zealand
Ph.(09) 527-3140

Hi there! We are on the East Coast of Queensland in Australia just out of a city called Bundaberg http://www.sunzine.net/bundaberg/.

If you are in OZ call us on 07-41572850, 07-41531303 outside Oz put +61 7 in front of the numbers.

We are looking for folks who are keen to live together in a community. We have 360 acres of common land, some agricultural land in there too. We have over 100 people living on the Park at present (May 2001). We have a lot of children. It is a neat place for them to grow up. The cost of a lot is around AUS$30,000.

Please take a look at our web site. We keep it updated with pictures and goings on regularly.

Kindest Regards
Grant Davies
3 Kookaburra Park Eco-Village
M/S 368, Gin Gin, Qld. 4671, Australia

Fundamentally, Eco-village and communities are about tackling global problems at the level of our living arrangements. Many of us look about the world today and muse that there has got to be a better way. Being against things isn't enough. Starting from ideas such as peace, cooperation and sustainability, creative solutions are sought to seemingly intractable problems around us.

These are the kinds of community dealt with by this website. They are usually distinguished from 'intentional communities' which have tended to have a religious or other focus and significant degrees of shared economy. Eco-Village and cohousing tends to be more autonomous financially and personally, with individuality, diversity and tolerance of difference essential to their success.

Dear Permaculture enthusiasts,
Goolawah Rural Land Sharing Cooperative is looking for members to make up the 80 shareholders we want for our co-op. We have 65 members so far.

Goolawah is 1640 acres of beautiful land 4 km from the coast near Crescent Head, NSW. There are 200 acres of cleared land which we are going to use for our residential sites,keeping our bush and wetlands intact. A share is $7000 which gives you a vote in the collective and rights to a residential site. We are planning individual sites, zones for hamlets and community areas now. Permaculture enthusiasm is very strong as are interests in bush regeneration, surfing,music and the arts. At a recent meeting on January the 5th, we finalised our site design for the property. I have found this an enjoyable collective to be part of and there is a growing good feeling of fellowship and common endeavour.

If you want to find out more about the collective our web site is:
http://www.goolawah.org

Fryers Forest is a rural eco-village in central Victoria consisting of 11 residential titles (1 acre each) clustered within 300 acres of common native forest. Holmgren Design Services manages both the sale of the residential lots and the sale of timber from the sustainable forestry on the 300 acres of common forest for the developer of the eco-village, Fryers Forest Research and Development.

With most residential lots now sold, a new community is evolving on the foundations laid by the developer (Fryers Forest Research and Development ). The planning of the subdivision, infrastructure of roads, water supply and services as well as the community rules and guidelines have been established using permaculture principles. Two of the 11 residential lots are available for purchase.

Silkwood Park is an operating eco-village and centre for alternative healing
and the arts situated in Nelson, on the Tasman Bay coast of the South Island, New Zealand. As well as a focus on sustainable organic farming, integrated health and living in community, 15,000 trees have been planted to date as part of an ongoing project re-establishing the area's native bush.

For information on Silkwood Park write to:
Jane Ensor
Silkwood Park
Westdale Rd
RD1 Richmond
Nelson
New Zealand

Construction is well advanced on New Zealand’s first sustainable Eco-Neighbourhood project, incorporating the principles of Cohousing and Permaculture. Located in Waitakere City Auckland New Zealand, this innovative non-profit development combines beautiful Rammed Earth walls, eco-technologies, healthy non-toxic materials and neighbours who care! Stage 2 homes are available for sale.

ANAHATA is the name of a new ecologically-oriented cooperative intentional community in Aotearoa / New Zealand.

ANAHATA in ancient Sanskrit denotes the mid-point energy centre, the central 'chakra' of the evolving -- as yet incomplete -- incarnate being in-process-of-becoming fully 'human'. It is often referred to as the 'Heart Chakra' -- the centre of balance, growth and 'development' through empathy, loving and compassion.

The basic commitment of members of ANAHATA is to live authentically and responsibly, in harmony with one another and with all of our natural environment : we aim toward personal growth, social responsibility to and accountability for our relationships with one another and the community at large, practicing ecological awareness and a way of life that is sustainable for the present and future generations.

We strive for the unity of purpose and fellowship that will provide strength and cohesion for the whole, while fostering a diversity of spiritual paths that will provide for variety, colour, and personal freedom of choice for the individual.

We are open to communications with -- and will arrange visits for -- mature, committed 'pioneer' community-building types who are keen to get involved 'at the ground level' to set the foundation and ethos for a new intentional community in Aotearoa / New Zealand. Our 'ecological' objective -- mandated by the highest court in the country and entrenched in the Deed of the restructured 'NZ Communities Growth Trust' -- is to work toward establishing a respectful, harmonious, 'sustainable' way of life, and - within our means - to provide a refuge (sanctuary, retreat and healing place) for people in need.

We are at the northern boundary of metropolitan Auckland (now one of the biggest 'growth' areas in this country - in the old traditional form of 'development' !) -- on 30 acres in a rather 'private' valley among increasing urbanization, among beautiful native bush and natural surroundings, with lots of physical 'infrastructure' in place -- including a variety of accommodations, laundry, showers and 'ablutions' complex, a large 'preschool'/kindergarten facility, arts and crafts workshop buildings, gardens to be upgraded and developed among a citrus gove, the 'Glade' (a meadow surrounded by creeks and native bush) for ceremonies and rituals, a very large swimming pool for toddlers as well as expert swimmers, a hot-tub, two tennis courts (in need of some repair), tuis, fantails, bellbirds and woodpigeons -- as well as 'imported' sparrows and possums that we will somehow have to keep in check or ask to leave ...........

There are now some dozen "over 25's", plus 5 children and 4 young people involved to begin this new (ad)venture -- and we'll need quite a few more to keep the place going. The land is held in trust -- which means no individual private 'property' - i.e. portion of 'land' - can be purchased here at this time. However that also means that prospective members do not need to provide any 'capital' contribution to join us.

People can apply to come - first as visitors, then as longer-term residents and 'prospective members' if they wish. They need to be able to provide four basic things: a financial contribution - at the present time a weekly 'board rate' of between NZ$120-$170 [US$50-$75]; a community work contribution - about 7 hours per week, including attendance at community meetings; a 'positive' emotional contribution - meaning a willingness to 'engage' productively - happily, tearfully, joyfully, as well as angrily - with other community members, and agree to constructive conflict-resolution when difficulties arise; and a committment to take part in developing and upholding the structure and processes of the evolving community.

Pioneer community-building types -- particularly those who can bring or help start new 'businesses' on the property -- are especially needed, and welcomed, at this start-up time. You can be part of the pioneering team that will set the tone, ethos and 'flavour' of ANAHATA !

PO Box 258
Albany Village
Auckland
Aotearoa / NZ

TEL +64 9 415 9468
FAX + 64 9 415 8471

Round the Bend Conservation Co-op on the outskirts of suburban Melbourne would like to hear from people interested in joining or finding out more.

On 326 acres of native bushland, members aim to have as little impact on local flora and fauna as possible. The soil is poor and rainfall low, so self sufficiency is out of the question. Most residents cultivate kitchen gardens over transpiration beds making use of septic tank effluent to provide nutrients and moisture. We rely on water collected from roofs for domestic use.

Except in the designated kitchen garden and inside one meter around dwellings only indigenous plants are grown. No non native animals are allowed.

Est. over 25 years ago the co-op has sites for 32 houses, 19 already built on. Our regulations have been adopted by the wider community in the 20 year old Environmental Living Zone which covers 100s of households in the Christmas Hills/Kangaroo Ground area.

Also interested in links with co-ops with similar aims or who understand and support our special role in creating a self sustaining and environmentally sound planet.

Ecovillage Resident Shareholders.
Coromandel, New Zealand

Valley Farm Ecovillage is a 400 acre property in the southern Coromandel Ranges, New Zealand. We are at the early stages of developing this valley into an ecovillage aiming for a resident population of around 12 households.

A shareholder will have assistance in building, access to building materials, a share in the co-operatively run on-site cottage industries and a range of employment options on-site, as part of their shareholding. The valley is 120 acres pasture, flat to gentle rolling and hilly, and 280 acres of well established bush, blending into Dept of Conservation forest on 3 sides. Good sized stream runs through property with smaller streams feeding into it.

Tel: +64 7 862 4866,
email: future@ecovillage.co.nz

Very private pristine desert land is currently available on a caretaker, work exchange for rent basis, fifteen miles west of Tucson, Arizona. We are interested in someone who can live in a RV or build a self-sustaining, livable structure, until amenities are installed - 2-3 months. The land is currently in development stage and available for people, who are interested in energy-efficient homes, straw-bale construction, organic gardening, and the creation of an intentional healing community. If you are interested, please call 1-800-971-6066, or email at yeshajesai@hotmail.com

1) Model a new suburban housing and employment strategy by having a block of Commonwealth land assigned to Caretakers participants.

2) Establish a career for Caretakers participants working with this Commonwealth land.

3) Increase both security and independence through the public service of being a Caretaker.

6) Promote successful aspects of our lifestyle as innovative responses to global needs.

Land access
The "ground work" for a sustainable future.

PROBLEMS OF LAND ACCESS
There is a limited amount of land, and it is generally sold to the highest bidder. This is pushing land and rents beyond the reach of many. Those without money still have a right of access to land, as they have a right to life. Even middle class Australians are feeling the squeeze.

LAND ACCESS FOR ALL
To enshrine the opportunity of land access for all, and to ensure social and environmental balance, we must hold adequate amounts of land in permanent safe keeping for people.

In Australia this principle is reflected through what we know as Commonwealth land. It has long been accepted that an appropriate use of Commonwealth land is for public housing.

Caretakers propose to add an element to this land use which would transform it from welfare to a new form of sustainable productivity.

LIFESTYLE
We see a 'sustainable lifestyle' as a way of life that provides for our needs - food, shelter, community - while respecting the earth and the rights of other people, other species and future generations. It is everyone's right to be able to live this way.

Basic to this idea of sustainability is that the resources needed for a sustainable lifestyle be within everybody's reach.

The Caretakers Project
To create this opportunity, Caretakers will generate public support for a partnership between the government and any unemployed people who would like to join us in making a sustainable lifestyle their job. As a community group, Caretakers will employ and develop government land, materials and on site Outreach training by TAFE.

Building shelter, growing food, and developing and promoting sustainable suburban community would be a respectable and secure work option.

With many basic needs met from working with each other and the land, Caretakers would be able to progressively let go of that part of our welfare payment which provides for these basics.

We propose to show how a right of access to land can replace dependence with a natural inter dependence, replace welfare with benefits to participants and the broader community.

HOW IT WILL WORK
1. Housing: First 6mths, 40%
Once on the land we will spend this period building a share house. Instead of paying rent, we offset government costs for building materials and training with our work on building, maintainence and public outreach. This allows a 40% reduction in welfare payments.

2. Gardens: 6 - 12mths, 25%
In this period, through sustainable farming, Caretakers will establish suburban food gardens. We will aim to maximise local productivity rather than achieve self sufficiency. At twelve months, welfare will reduce by another 25%. This will not lower our living standard as the reduction will be off-set by our food production.

3. A career in public service:
Beyond 12mths, the last 35%
We will run tours, festivals and work-shops, sharing experiences in sustainable building, gardening, communal living etc.. Such voluntary community work will earn us the remaining 35% payment, and increase skills for those wanting paid employment.

SECURITY
Taxpayer investment is "as safe as houses" because the land remains Commonwealth, and a part of the project’s work is in building and maintenance of public housing.

Project agreements with government would give us similar lifetime security to Dept. of Housing residents.

As a housing and employment strategy Caretakers is cost effective, adding to the common wealth.

Our deepest security will come from our ability to achieve popularity in the broader community through the project’s benefits.

BENEFITS
The on-going work of the project will offer economic and social benefits to the broader community.

Economic benefits come directly from the practical work of the project:
- cost savings on building and maintenance of public housing;
- a suburban model for more efficient use of resources, reducing consumption and daily living costs;
- reducing welfare expenditure;
- re-skilling for secure employment in a new form of economic growth.

Social benefits come from the very nature of the project and include:
- fostering of "community" values;
- cultural development ;
- the many implications which worthwhile employment has for social health and well-being.

We promote access to land as a human right, within the understanding that we are its caretakers.