EcoVillage at Ithaca, a member of the Ecovillage Network of the Americas, is comprised of an intentional community and a non-profit organization. The goal is to explore and model innovative approaches to ecological and social sustainability. They creating a unique village which includes cohousing neighborhoods, organic agriculture, an education center, and natural areas, preserving and restoring over 80% of the land as green space. The residential component of EcoVillage will be comprised of 3-4 tightly clustered cohousing neighborhoods surrounding a shared commons.

"Cohousing" is a form of housing development which originated in Denmark in the late 1960s. Cohousing residents manage their neighborhood by consensus, and own common property, such as land and a Common House, where meals can be shared.

The 175 acre site of farm fields, wetlands, and woods overlooks the City of Ithaca to the east and borders Coy Glen Nature Preserve to the west. Currently, 55 acres are permanently preserved through a conservation easement managed by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. Less than 2 miles from Ithaca's downtown and served by the TCAT bus system, EcoVillage aspires to integrate the best aspects of urban and rural living.

Article & Picture © EcoVilliage at Ithaca

The Los Angeles Eco-Village is a two block neighborhood in densely populated central Los Angeles within which an intentional community of 35 neighbors work with one another, other neighbors and the city to demonstrate the processes for creating a sustainable and regenerative community. Eco- Villagers intend to show that lower impact living patterns can result in a higher quality of life. We work at integrating the social, economic and ecological systems of the neighborhood for long term health. CRSP, the Cooperative Resources & Services Project, is the 21 year old nonprofit community development organization.

Article © The Orion Society

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