What is an Ecovillage?
Photo by James Lee
“Mothering should not be done in isolation, it takes a village - an ecovillage.”
Alberta’s Homeplace seeks to reclaim what has been stolen, to restore what’s been broken, and to remember what’s been forgotten for the lives of Black & Indigenous single mothers & their children through building an ecovillage. Why an ecovillage? Ecovillage as a response to address the issues of environmental injustice, climate change that disproportionately impacts communities of color, and the structural barriers that make it hard for single mothers to access and own land. Alberta’s Homeplace believes an ecovillage is a holistic response that addresses the social, ecological, spiritual, and economic needs of Black and Indigenous single mothers and their children. Alberta’s Homeplace considers an ecovillage as a philosophy, way of being, and as a physical place/infrastructure.
What is an ecovillage?
According to the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), an ecovillage “is a community that employs local participatory procedures to holistically integrate ecological, economic, social, and cultural elements of sustainability to regenerate social and natural ecosystems. An ecovillage is a traditional or intentional community that strives to be more socially, culturally, economically, and environmentally sustainable.” Alberta’s Homeplace believes an ecovillage is a viable, alternative solution to the destructive and necropolitical system. Ecovillage, as a place to restore life and rediscover healthy and harmonious relation to self, community, and Earth.
To strive for such a sustainable future, the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) believes that an ecovillage is rooted in the following principles:
Social: “Ecovillagers tend to actively work to build trust, collaboration and openness between people, and to make sure they feel empowered, seen and heard.”
Culture: “Ecovillages aim to build or regenerate diverse cultures that support people to empower and care for each other, their communities and the planet.”
Ecology: “Ecovillages aim to access food, shelter, water and energy in ways that respect the cycles of nature.”
Economy: “Ecovillages aim to build economic practices and systems that contribute to sharing of resources, mutual support, and strong local economies and networks that serve the needs of local people and ecosystems.”
Integral Design: “In GEN, the integral design approach to design and regeneration is paired with a strong focus on collaboration and participation.” -The Ecovillage Map of Regeneration.”
Ecovillage as way of being/philosophy:
Alberta’s Homeplace views the natural world as kin, as our village. We invite eco-conscious & eco-curious Black & Indigenous single mothers who desire to repair their relationship with the land, incorporate more bonding time with children in nature, and be in community to come join us. Alberta’s Homeplace strives to reconnect with indigenous ways of stewarding the land, mothering our children, and being in interdependent relationships. We believe in mothering as a way of being guided by the wisdom of the earth and the cycles of nature. Alberta’s Homeplace seeks to remember our spiritual connection with the Earth and sacred ways of knowing as mothers to care for ourselves, our children, and the land.
Resources on What is an ecovillage?
What is Necropolitics? The Political Calculation of Life and Death