Eco~Village Network UK
Eco~Village Network UK
Please check out the website http://www.stewardwood.org
We (Affinity Woodland Workers Coop) have established a small low impact settlement based on permaculture principles that aims to combine woodland conservation management with sustainable living.
Email: affinity@stewardwood.org
Tel: +44 (0)1647 440233
Mobile : +44 (0)7050 674 464
Fax: +44 (0)7050 674 467
Affinity Woodland Workers Co-op
Steward Community Woodland,
Moretonhampstead,
Newton Abbot
Devon TQ13 8SD
16 adults and 10 children living on a 4 acre meadow in 'state-of-the-art' benders. They have been granted planning permission and have been reopening local footpaths, putting in stiles and planting Hazel, Oak, Beech, Ash and fruit trees....
King's Hill, Cockmill Lane, East Pennard, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4
6TR.
Tel: 01749 860660
Email: mhannis@ukonline.co.uk
This smallholding in Little Norton nr. Yeovil, Somerset. was founded in January 1994. On 7th January 1999 it finally recieved 5 years temporary planning consent from South Somerset district council. It is 40 acres of conifer plantation, orchards and gardens, with a community of around 10 adults.
The Bubble had difficulty obtaining planning permission which resulted in their taking the case to the High Court of Appeal. With the purchase of a 1930s steam-powered saw mill the Tinkers are able to produce and sell their own sawn timber. One of the long-term residents, Simon Fairlie, has written a book called Low Impact Development ('small but mighty' according to one reader, and available from the Chapter 7 Website). Simon is the contact for The Land Is Ours Chapter 7 planning group
Contact
Tinker's Bubble, Little Norton, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, TA14 6TE
Tel: 01935 881975
are seeking to either renovate, or build from scratch, a co-housing site of around 25-30 dwellings.clustered round a common house,in which various resources could be shared: a kitchen/ dining area, workshops, office space, laundry facilities, computers, music equipment... whatever the group wants to own and use communally. There will also be a fair amount of green space available for food, fuel, play areas, and wildlife corridors;and the buildings themselves would emphasise green models of water conservation, waste management, small-scale power generation, and so on.
Contact:
37 Swallowfields, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5LB;
Tel: 01803 864934;
Email: laurak@shines.swis.net
Plants For A Future is a resource centre for plants, particularly those which have edible, medicinal or other uses. They practice vegan-organic woodland gardening with emphasis on creating an ecologically sustainable environment. There are two pieces of land, in Devon and Cornwall, where they demonstrate their agricultural principles and carry out research into interesting plants, currently logged in a database of over 70,000.
In 1997 they began the process of setting up what would have been Britains first true Eco-Village at Blagdon Cross, Devon. Almost self sufficient with several thousand species of plants being grown organically. They also have a policy of leaving 50% of the land to native flora and fauna.
PFAF - Ecologically sustainable vegan organic horticulture - a resource and information centre. This project is being developed by among others, Ken Fern, author of a book by the same name. Things are finally developing well at the Blagdon Cross site where much energy is needing to be devoted to fundraising due to a long struggle to aquire planning permission. Fifteen thousand trees have been planted on the 83 acre site which includes 6 acres especially for coppice. Despite tremendous challenges with planning permission and severe weather conditions the core team are still committed to developing the project as a resource for the public. Elaine Avery says: "plants for a future has a really important message, and although it is hard going... it is all worth it." They are now planning workshops and courses and welcome willing volunteers.
If you can help with money, material, skills or time please get in touch.
Contact:
Link to their really good website!
Blagdon Lodge Cross,
Ashwater,
Beawater,
Devon.
EX21 5DF
Tel: 0845 458 4719
Email veganic@gardener.com
A sustainable community is being set up for people who are resident in Cornwall. The focal point of the project is an alternative school, which will involve both children's and adult education. Planned are roundhouses, stone huts, eco-houses, LETS scheme, Co-ops, large playground, organic produce. We are having monthly meetings and newsletters, and are operating by consensus. We will be grant aided in the beginning, and as yet we have no land. Ideas and donations, however small, are always welcome. Top of our needed list are a computer, fax, filing cabinet, a band to do a benefit gig, and of course-land!
Contact: Rosie Holt,
Southill Farm, Perranwell, Goonhavern, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 GPE;
Tel c/o Stevie 01872 553835
Keveral is an organic farm consisting of an eight-bedroomed farmhouse plus
caravans, with farm buildings and 27 acres of land. In 1997 they started
a weekly vegetable box scheme for local people. They run a range of short
courses, including an annual Permaculture Design course in August. The house
is managed by One Community Ltd, a housing co-op, and the farm is managed
by Keveral Farmers Ltd, which is a workers co- op. The members of the community
manage
both co-ops, with decisions made by consensus at weekly meetings. At present,
there are 16 adults and 5 kids living there.
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Check out our Courses Programme on our NEW WEBSITE:
www.keveral.org
Keveral Farm
Looe, Cornwall, PL13 1PA
Tel: 01503 250215 / 250135 (answer phone)
Email: info@keveral.org
Web: www.keveral.org
Mike Fisher bought his land in 1991, and since then has set up a successful box scheme, which gets fresh organic veg to 130 households in the locality every week. Mike has lived on the farm for two years, and for the past year has been joined by two workers who heard about his place through Low Impact News (see Publications). There is a wooden house and a mobile home on site, as well as a bender and caravans for WWOOFers and seasonal workers. When the temporary permission for an agricultural dwelling runs out an application for a straw bale house will be made. Mike has also written a brief guide on obtaining planning permission for Low Impact projects, which is available from us. Mike Fisher, Northdown Orchard, South Litchfield, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG25 3BP. Tel: 01256 771 477
Turner's Field Permaculture focuses especially on social transformation for sustainable living. The project has recently received temporary planning permission for 2 permanent residents to live in ancient wind-powered mobile homes; interestingly, this was granted on the condition that (permaculture) training courses are run there. People who are prepared to do some serious work are welcome to stay for a weekend, but Ann is a busy person and cannot afford to spend much time dealing with enquiries.Contact Ann Morgan, Turner's Field Permaculture, Compton Dundon, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6PT. Tel: 01458 442192.