Vision of a Community

Imagine a highly diverse community with people of all ages, races, occupations, social and economic backgrounds, skills and abilities sharing the common purpose of living in harmony with nature on a shared parcel of land in rural Maine. Approximately 100 parcels of 2.5 acres each dot a landscape of woodlands, fields, lakes and streams. Small individual homes of diverse construction are powered by a combination of renewable energies; surrounded by gardens, orchards and ponds. The village includes common land that all residents freely enjoy. Living Earth Ecovillage offers privacy as well as a vibrant community life to young and old from all walks of life.

The goal is to create a community that thrives permanently by creating sustainable connections between the soil, water, and all the plants, insects, and animals using permaculture techniques. To this end, all families learn and apply the working principles of permaculture to foster infinite returns from the beneficial web of connections that is established. Living Earth Ecovillage will demonstrate the strength of people living and working together in a manner that ushers in a new age of cooperation while creating a beautiful, sustainable and comfortable lifestyle. The community shares a commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Permaculture: A design system for creating sustainable human environments that uses ecology as a basis for organizing systems of food production, housing, technology, economics and community; a regenerative "toolkit" for living sustainably that benefits life in all its forms. Permaculture works with, rather that against, nature; with protracted, thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless action; with looking at systems in all their functions rather than asking for only one yield.

Background

The initial model for Living Earth Ecovillage was developed in 1996 in Russia and is subsequentdly being implemented in over 350 communities currently operating or in varying stages of development throughout Russia, Australia and Europe. Maine is one of the first villages to be implemented in the United States. Others being formed are in Colorado, Arizona, California and Canada.

Project Description

Living Earth Ecovillage’s permaculture domains will maximize the land’s agricultural productivity by micromanaging small farm/garden plots to produce high quality organic produce and food products. The planned 100 households will follow guidelines for small green buildings, energy and water efficiency, soil and water system protection, wildlife corridors and organic farming methods that provide for maximum plant, microbial, and animal diversity.

Site Description

The following criteria guide the search for an appropriate parcel of land:

• Minimum 400 acres of preferably level or very gentle slopes for living domains.
• Abundant water (underground, surface and precipitation).
• Elevation above 300 ft to insure longer-term safety.
• Within two hour drive of a city with airport facilities.
• A progressive forward-thinking town that is favorably disposed to the project.
• Safe distance from any major environmental hazard.
• Inherently beautiful property with good soil and conditions for growing.

There is an abundance of land in Maine for sale that fits the criteria and it is a buyer’s market. Living Earth Ecovillage expects to purchase 400+ acres of land by Fall, 2009 and be ready for initial occupancy by Spring, 2010.

Land Use

It is one of Living Earth Ecovillage’ highest priorities to maximize the efficiency and improve the quality of water and soil resources. The Keyline method may be used to create a vast network of ponds, catch basins, swales, and irrigation ditches to increase water retention in the soil, which will result in an extensive amount of intensively productive farmland. A network of small ponds will be created to provide additional habitat for wildlife as well as opportunities for aquaculture. Forest gardens and orchards will further reduce the community’s carbon footprint.

Australian university studies show that, through natural soil treatment, as much as 57 tons of carbon per 2.5 acre can be absorbed from the atmosphere every 18 months. If all tillable farmland were worked this way, global air quality could return to pre-industrial-age levels within 18 months without changing the current pollution rate. What is more, up to 6 inches of rich humus would be produced in the same timeframe.

Dwellings

Living Earth Ecovillage will also demonstrate a wide variety of green building and energy efficiency techniques. At a maximum of 2,000 square feet each, individual family dwellings will be kept small to make the best use of the land and minimize energy consumption. Some of the land set aside for common use may be allocated for energy production.

Water catchment systems will minimize the dependency on groundwater. Composting toilets will create fertilizer for orchards. The use of biodegradable soaps will allow gray water to be used directly on gardens. The need for wasteful septic systems will hopefully be eliminated.

Culture

A community culture that highly values family, neighbors, and nature is fundamental to Living Earth Ecovillage. We are committed to creating an infinitely sustainable community, economy, ecology, and ethic that foster love, peace, and justice. Children will benefit from an educational environment in which they share and receive knowledge about the natural world, language, vital skills, and creative crafts.

Benefit to the Local Community

Living Earth Ecovillage expects to have a profound and positive influence in restoring balance to the natural environment through it’s aforestation, watershed, soil-building, and wildlife habitat projects. The village is expected to become a model and a learning center of regional significance.

Some communal land will be used for commercial purposes and possibly include: a farmers’ market, restaurant, health center, publishing house, workshops on community, personal, and spiritual well-being, learning center for local schoolchildren, art gallery, meeting place, and an amphitheater. Our host community and county can expect to derive many benefits as our village grows and matures. Living Earth Ecovillage will give back services, add tax revenues, and increase eco-tourism, thereby promoting the economic prosperity of surrounding areas.