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Ecovillage leading sustainable edge
At first glance, it may not look like the stereotypical community of the future, but O.U.R. Ecovillage seems to be onto something.
The sustainable learning centre not far from Shawnigan Lake is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009 -- a decade of gently integrating human activities with nature, and developing ways to continue to do so in the future. O.U.R. Ecovillage is part of a loose network of more than 300 ecovillages around the world.
A big part of O.U.R. Ecovillage's focus revolves around permaculture: the development of agriculturally productive systems that act similar to natural ecosystems, and the integration of shelter and food and energy production into the landscape. This is accomplished through several means, including natural building with materials such as strawbales and cob (a mixture of clay, sand, straw, water and earth); educational workshops and summer programs; research into the finance, ownership and governance of ecovillages; a garden that includes orchards, greenhouses and raised-bed vegetable gardens; a B&B for eco-minded guests; and the raising of heritage breeds for organic food and poultry production.
The summer of 2008 saw the ecovillagers complete a green roof on the healing sanctuary/climate change demonstration building, a three-year project into which more than 1,000 people put their efforts. The roof provides shelter and temperature control for the structure, and is topped off with vegetation. In some settings, the roof could help provide food for the building's residents. The green roof is just one of many ways in which O.U.R. Ecovillage is leading the way into a more sustainable future for all.
