As I pack my bags ready to head back to Portugal, I would like to share the full current vision and approach for ecoVillages. It is amazing to see so many people now thinking and planning their own communities worldwide. There are so many approaches to doing this! What lies at the core of ecoVillages is that it is a model that embraces decentralisation in every way. We make sure every aspect of life is as close to home as possible, and under an individual's control!

How It Works

Our primary goal is to facilitate others to build and live in the most sustainable way using earthship biotecture, to provide a lifetime of self sufficiency with almost no ongoing bills and maintenance. Our model begins near Penamacor in Portugal, which currently has a lot of land available at low cost. Our model is decentralised and so homes will be spread out with each person or collective owning their land outright, but are a part of a strong and supportive community.

That support begins with facilitating land purchase, legal hurdles, and of course the build itself. The community will be brought together through the collaboration and events that we will hold for each build. We will also help to facilitate trade and sales between groups, and do what we can to faciliate a healthy and dynamic community in the area.

Those who wish to join the ecoVillage community will be welcomed to join and collaborate on projects and receive support. If at any time people feel their collaboration is not working out, they can leave the community without it having to have other implications on their personal security. Likewise, if the community feel that a member is not acting in accordance with our pillars, we may also choose to not collaborate with those people.

Features of ecoVillages

- self sufficient / off grid / earthships
ecoVillage homes will be able to provide their occupants with a lifetime of power, water, and comfort in any climate, with almost no utility bills or centralised systems in place.

- community / trade & commerce
The ecoVillages community supports cashless trade whenever possible. The less we need to rely on money for our basic needs, the more secure our lives become.

- self ownership / security
Self ownership of your land and property with ALL the rights and privileges of ownership.

- ecoVillage expansion
Once this model has proven to be successful through demonstration, ecoVillage will expand to create new ecoVillages around Portugal and beyond.

This model of eco building removes the obstacles that people face when self building with no experience. Building for the first time is always prone to problems, and we aim to make the entire process as easy, quick and cheap as possible! We are able to dramatically reduce your labour costs by launching workshops and training events around new builds. We will provide building and design plans based on our proven model for free, and guide you through the entire build process from start to finish.

The vision of ecoVillages is divided into three phases:

Phase 1: Proof Of Concept

We will go through the process of a small build, with volunteers and workshops led by myself and other experienced earthship builders. We will teach anyone interested as we build, so that future builds can happen more quickly in the local area. Most of the common questions people ask who are interested to join ecoVillages in Penamacor can be answered once we have built our first small eco-home on our land.

Workshop priority will be given to those with a desire to move to the area and join our ecoVillages project. Once we have finished building our first earthship eco-home we will then know the costs and best approach to building further homes. We will also get our first home through domestic building regulations so that future builds can proceed without the added challenge of meeting codes without precedence.

Instead of trying to make an entire eco-village on one piece of land, we are repopulating an existing area that is ready and waiting for people to come and bring new life to its ageing community. Once we have gotten our first home through the hoops, and forged positive and synergistic relationships with the local people and authorities, we can then make it thrice as easy and quick for the people that follow us. We will have all the connections you need to acquire land and build at very minimal cost, and with true self sufficiency in mind. We will organise volunteers and workshops to get the job done with you, with minimal fuss, confusion and expense!

Phase 2: Replicable model for newcomers

People can buy land in small groups for 1-5 homes for each group around the area of Penamacor. Each plot or micro-village would be responsible for their own affairs, and they may each choose the degree in with they are involved in the community activities. Those people who wish to grow food will be encouraged and supported to grow organic produce for themselves and others.

By having our micro ecoVillages spaced out over several Kilometers we will have room to breath and live our own lives. Things will work just how a normal village might, with some people being more social, and others enjoying their own personal space.

When we all help each other to build, we will forge many strong and long lasting relationships... particularly if we are all neighbours after we have finished building.

Phase 3: Going Global

The final step for ecoVillages is for this whole concept to replicate itself in other locations around the world. We have chosen Portugal to begin this great adventure of self sufficiency, and hope to launch our first workshop this year, we hope by September 2020.

Please visit https://www.ecovillages.io/communitynetwork/ to stay updated with all current and previous news.