When was the last time you saw your neighbour? When was the last time you interacted with them for more than a cursory “Good morning!” or some small talk while you got your mail? When was the last time you spent time with one or more of your neighbours just for the sake of seeing each other?
In many places in this day and age, community is fast becoming a dying breed. In the suburbs and cities, people live in close proximity for years without learning more about their neighbours than their names, and a phone number to call when that d*mn dog is digging through your garbage again. But as our society faces a time of monumental transitions and large-scale change, more and more people are starting to turn toward local action and community strengthening as the best medium through which to enact global change. This mentality bypasses the constant insecurity we all struggle with from the knowledge of our own insignificance. After all, what can one family or individual do, really, against the rising tides of global warming, peak oil, and imperialistic globalisation? The community-building initiative has an answer to that question: whatever you want to do!
By re-connecting with the people closest to you (literally) you can make a difference. Really! People all over the world are realising the potential for global change through local action through the establishment of eco-villages. An eco-village is a small intentional community comprised of people who want to make changes in their lives, to minimise their carbon footprint and work for greater sustainability. There are some thousands of established eco-villages around the world.
But you don’t have to be revolutionary-minded, an activist, or willing to go without showering for a week to start something like this. In many ways, the most powerful force in the eco-village movement is regular people like you or me. With a little time and effort, you can transform your own neighbourhood, no matter where you live, into a thriving community using just a few techniques.
1. Take steps to get to know the people you live around. Have conversations when you run into each other. Learn about your neighbours. Invite them for tea or coffee. Host or organise a dinner party for multiple families from your neighbourhood. The better you know your neighbours, the easier it is to build a cohesive community.
2. In addition to the preliminary getting-to-know-you work, a great way to foster community spirit is to have regular community events. For example, perhaps there’s a concert in your town every week. Start an initiative to get neighbours together to attend that concert, if people are interested and free. Or organise a community potluck once or twice a month, or even once a week if there’s interest. Even traveling together to the local recycling center every month can bring you closer together and promote cooperation. The community that recycles together… Well, you know the rest.
3. Share! How often have you found yourself purchasing an item (leaf blower, electric drill, accordion, what have you) that you know you will only use once or twice a year? Minimise your consumption as a community by buying community tools, or just borrowing things from neighbours and lending them things in return. And tools aren’t the only things you can share. Try setting up a way for neighbours to ask for rides or offer them into town, to stores, or neighbouring towns. Not only does carpooling reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption, it is also a great way to get to know your neighbours and strengthen bonds. Beyond that, don’t be afraid to share of yourself! Music, poetry, or any other talent you may have will most likely be highly appreciated by neighbours at community events, and you just might learn about some of their own hidden talents along the way!
Every community is different, and it’s more than likely that some of these activities will work better for yours, and some may be harder. As you go along, you’ll likely discover new techniques for building your homemade eco-village as well. But regardless of individual variations, every community is important, and never doubt that you are too! As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citisens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
More information about what established eco-villages do and where they are can be found on the official website of the Global Ecovillage Network – Check it out!
Jenifer Morgan-Davie