Sustainable Communities. What makes a community sustainable?
I am throwing this one open as it is not a one size fits all. We have "eco-villages" all around the globe, I have been involved with a few, most focus almost exclusively on environmental issues. Upsize it a bit to the larger village or small town and economic considerations certainly are considered. I would like to concentrate on the social side of sustainability on this thread.
Equity.
In an ideal community, one that you would consider as sustainable, equitable, how would things be?
Identity is a big factor determining how people fit into their community. Individual, collective and cultural identity. I will leave the cultural identity out at this point as it is less relevant given we all live in the same culture, ie the industrial culture.
I would like you to consider yourself, who you are and what you need/want in your community. Think about how you would "fit" in your ideal community, your role, what you would do for it, what it would do for you. Perhaps consider the following:
Identity
Humans need a sense of belonging and to be accepted by peers, a sense of collective identity. Within society an individual needs to be treated and to see himself as a means to an end and also as an end in his own right.
Just as individuals satisfy needs of society, society must satisfy the needs of the individual. It is when the norms and institutions cease to satisfy the individuals identity needs that he feels alienated and is convinced that the institutions are imposed on him.
Humans also need a sense of individual self. One has to know and accept who one is. The individual's identity consists of the totality of his biological and affective needs, his personality traits and personal interests, his experiences, values, beliefs and goals and his relationships with others.
Collective and individual identity are equally important. Just as lack of collective identity results in alienation, if the personal level of identity were all that mattered, egoism would take precedence over all else leading to both the breaking of mutual faith and the inability to undertake collective tasks.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.This is a big idea on our island. We have what's known as land trust projects. The last one was the most evolved (there have been 5). Some 2 dozen homes were planned near our village. Each house went for $150K and was 800 Sq feet (either 1 large or 2 small bedrooms). Each house was built with a set amount of owner sweat equity. Many of us volunteered to donate to owners who could not get the time required (work duties). The houses used straw bales on the North side and were heavily insulated. They had solar water heating panels on the roofs and a long solar panel set-up was along the S. boundary (chicken wire was installed under the panels for those who wanted chickens). The main room was facing south and had high ceilings. Ducted heat pumps were installed in each house and local cobbing was used even in the showers. Water from the rain gutters were sent to a large concrete cistern to be used for watering gardens of which each house had. A seed bank was established. Water and sewage was from a central well and septic. There are more smaller things as well.
We have a wide wealth distribution on the island. 45% of the homes are 2nd and third homes and there are very wealthy (Paul Allen has a compound on the south part) and even homeless. Most are concerned with their footprint and some of the wealthier ones want to give back. One couple rents out their main house and live in the guest house (which is not shabby). They donate money back to the community. Another, new couple have built a barn like structure and will have a commercial kitchen to be used by the community. They have a mud room complete with shower and bath for people who use the land (20 acres). They will live in an apartment upstairs until their modest house is built and then rent the apartment as affordable housing).
I fit in here and consider this community about as equitable and sustainable as one could possibly get.
JackPedigo
Level 9
Feb 23, 2018
1
That is absolutely fantastic, something to aim for, and very rare in times like this. We try here, we get great ideas, a lot of selflessness in pockets, then greed seems to become contagious.
I have just had a look at some photos from around your island, what a beautiful place. I love your final comment about fitting in, I find that is very important and the lack of such is probably behind many of the social issues we experience. No doubt you will get some interesting questions about how things have been done. I have one if you don't mind, where did the idea/impetus come from for these projects? Are heir key individuals driving them or an overall community mind set?
@Rugglesby The initial land trust project was long before I got here. The islands and this one especially was a major food/fruit producer. Ours is the flattest (but not flat) of all the islands and especially amenable to farming along with fishing. After the Grand Coulee dam was built most of the state became irrigated (the 2nd most irrigated state next to CA) so a lot of people left. I guess in the 60's people started coming back and doing anything to make a living. We are the first island in the ferry route and the location of the village and size makes it easier to be accessible. Things started to snowball (which it is still doing) and this one island became a magnet for people with energy and passions. We are perhaps the top spot in the whole state for activism, volunteering and a desire to preserve our life support system and beauty. We just got voted the #1 Leave no trace county in the country and it was driven by the BLM and citizens of Lopez.
[lopezclt.org]
@JackPedigo thanks for the link, am about to look though it. I love the "sense of place" your community has.
@JackPedigo just had a look through the site and have contacted them re their manual. very impressive indeed.
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