The Human Community
This element examines the relationship between self, culture, human organizations and a community's sustainability.
Self
We will explore how to transform pain and frustration about environmental issues into positive, effective, and compassionate action. We will see how community living often provides a reflection for how we choose to live in the world. We intend to create a space that is open and welcoming to a diversity of philosophical and spiritual beliefs concerning our relationship with self, earth, and community.
Social Sustainability
In this portion, we will look at non-violent communication, conflict resolution, and other approaches to building sustainable relationships in community. We will also discuss larger social issues that affect sustainability, such as the effects of consumerism and alternatives, such as voluntary simplicity.
Social Organization
This element will include an overview of history and organization of intentional communities and ecovillages. We will discuss how to start a community, ownership, organizational structure, community economics, employment, fundraising, and legal issues. Examining various decision making processes, from hierarchical models to consensus, we will discuss general theory as well as our own experiences with different systems.