| 1> | | | | major supporters, with an award of $35,000 |
| An exploration of the intertwining of sustainability | | | | going to the climate change building for the solar, |
| and co-operation in a new form of community, | | | | bio-diesel, rainwater collection, and radiant heating |
| with an emphasis on the environmental aspect of | | | | systems. |
| sustainability - through the dynamic community | | | | One of the most striking aspects of the |
| known as OUR Ecovillage. | | | | Cowichan Ecovillage is how much it resembles a |
| Co-operation and sustainability are two | | | | traditional farm yet it is a concrete alternative to |
| philosophies which complement each other, | | | | industrialized farming. They teach permaculture |
| allowing decisions to be made by a diverse group | | | | courses, involving and educating the community |
| with many ideas, while caring for social, economic, | | | | and interested people in ways to grow food |
| and environmental livelihoods. O.U.R. Ecovillage is | | | | sustainably. Gardening at O.U.R. Ecovillage is |
| a prosperous intentional community in the | | | | taken very seriously, no pesticides are used, and |
| Cowichan Valley, and an example of the | | | | their goal is to be self sufficient, eating only what |
| intertwining of these two philosophies with an | | | | they produce on the property. The Ecovillage |
| emphasis on the environmental aspect of | | | | also consults with the local First Nations groups to |
| sustainability. | | | | discover valuable local information about seasons, |
| The Global Ecovillage Network describes an | | | | flora and fauna. |
| ecovillage as urban or rural communities of | | | | The decisions made at O.U.R. Ecovillage are |
| people, who strive to integrate a supportive social | | | | made by consensus among the creation |
| environment with a low-impact way of life. | | | | team, with no one having the rights to veto |
| This was exactly the idea that Brandy | | | | another person’s opinion. The creation |
| MacPherson and others had in mind during the | | | | team functions like a board of directors. Along the |
| 1990s as they began the work of founding the | | | | lines of the co-op model, capital has limited value, |
| ecovillage. After much musing and conversation | | | | with no majority shareholder controlling the |
| at their Victoria co-op house about a small-scale | | | | process. Currently, the land is under private |
| agricultural environmental community, they | | | | ownership with the non-profit arm of O.U.R. |
| decided to walk their talk. The inception of O.U.R. | | | | Community Association taking on the lease for |
| (One United Resource) Ecovillage occurred in | | | | one dollar per year. Lately the creation team has |
| 1999, when they purchased twenty-five acres of | | | | been planning how the new owners group - |
| land in the Cowichan Valley. | | | | people moving permanently into the Ecovillage - |
| The first year was spent learning about | | | | will manage; they are developing the Finance, |
| the land before altering it. Extensive soil testing | | | | Ownership and Governance Options project |
| was done to find the best places for organic | | | | (FOG). |
| agriculture, as well as species mapping, to find out | | | | In the next three-year plan, the focus is going to |
| what kind of wildlife lived where. Wind and sun | | | | be on developing housing that is innovative, |
| patterns were monitored, so as to locate and | | | | ecological, and oriented toward low income, |
| face buildings in the best directions. | | | | seniors and assisted living. Through the FOG |
| Part of being a co-operative project includes | | | | project, many different options for how the new |
| taking everyone’s point of view as | | | | housing and whole Ecovillage are going to be |
| seriously as the next. Rather than just escaping | | | | managed and owned were presented and |
| into the wilderness and doing their thing without | | | | considered. Since our society’s legal and |
| having to deal with regulatory boards and the local | | | | financial systems favour individual ownership and |
| community plan, they have chosen to work very | | | | use of land, there are major difficulties for an |
| closely with the Cowichan Valley Regional | | | | Ecovillage to overcome when deciding on which |
| District. | | | | model to base FOG. They have since decided on |
| In May of 2003 they constructed a climate | | | | the co-operative model, and created O.U.R. Land |
| change building, known also as the Healing | | | | and Housing Co-operative. It is still under |
| Sanctuary, as an example of how co-operation | | | | development, but the framework is now being |
| and environmental sustainability can worked | | | | finalized. |
| together. In creating the building a | | | | |
| community visioning process was held to | | | | The vision behind O.U.R. Ecovillage is one of living |
| involve a range of stakeholders. The | | | | sustainably socially, economically, and |
| neighbours were consulted and the municipality | | | | environmentally. Utilizing co-operative models of |
| was involved at every step of the way. Building | | | | planning and development, and soon a |
| materials were even donated by a range of | | | | co-operative model of ownership and governance, |
| companies. | | | | community and the environment can have a very |
| The Ecovillage gets financial support from many | | | | clear place within the co-operative framework. |
| places, but Van City Credit Union is one of their | | | | |