Physical design matters, but the social structures of an ecovillage are equally important. We look at how communities create belonging, resolve conflict, and make decisions together. An ecovillage is not just a physical place. It is a community, and communities are...
Water management is one of the most important design challenges for any ecovillage. We look at the strategies and systems that keep communities hydrated and their landscapes healthy. In Australia, water is never something you can take for granted. Climate variability,...
Off-grid living has a romantic image, but the reality involves serious planning, real infrastructure, and ongoing management. We separate the fantasy from the facts. Few phrases conjure up more romantic images than ‘off the grid’. It suggests freedom from...
Something about the Northern Rivers draws people who want to live differently. We explore the region’s history, its ecology, and what makes it such fertile ground for community experiments. The Northern Rivers region of New South Wales sits in one of...
Permaculture is more than a gardening method. It is a design philosophy that can be applied to everything from backyards to whole communities. Here is what you need to know. The word permaculture was coined by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970s....
Cooperatives are one of the world’s oldest and most successful business models, yet most people know little about how they actually function. Here is a clear overview. When people hear the word cooperative they usually think of a store that sells organic food or...
