Vision to reality. Ecovillage explained
Legal Structure
Infrustructure
Community Involvement
Shared resources
We will have shared resources such as land, tools, garden areas, a community playground and greenspace, and trash/recycling services. If the desire for bigger shared resources exists, we can envision an outdoor community kitchen that can be used for big meals, canning, preserving etc., a community building or yurt, a community truck for hauling larger need items, a charge port for electric vehicles, a natural swimming area, and even solar panels to supplement our community energy usage.
We can create this community in so many ways. It can be set up as a condo association, a HOA style, or even a co-op ownership structure. A condo association can oversee community held structures, land, and community resources. An HOA can charge fees that cover land cost, insurance, and a set up amount for improvements and repairs to all community resources. Co-ops held in the state of Missouri require a minimum of six people, and all community resources will be held equally and billed equally through the bank. Other structural requirements can be discussed once more community meetings are held and ideas can be brainstormed with a group mind. Our options are still out there.
Most housing is building with rigid rules such as mandatory setbacks, minimum house size, minimum lot size etc., which get in the way of allowing for diverse housing opportunities for all, drive up prices, and create excess resource waste. I'd like to challenge that. With a single wide road running thorough the center and a turnaround spot, we can create a way to drive to your door to drop off groceries, children, grandma, or even access for emergency vehicles, while eliminating through traffic and keeping the road safe for children, pedestrians, and bicycles. If we keep parking for all vehicles to the entrance of the community, we can reduce our housing footprint and bring back the people-based community that was found in villages of old.
I believe in the strength of community and its potential to contribute to environmental causes. Through education of the public, community involvement in environmental and social causes, and encouraging better development practices to local authorities, we can drive wider change than to just the community itself for a more sustainable future. No mandatory hours of time or involvement will be required for these efforts, but those within the community with the urge for larger change can create a bigger voice together.
Housing Styles
Eco friendly housing can look different based on everyone's ability, resources, and socio-economic status. I would like to keep our options open for each individual with the focus on energy efficincy, sustainabliity, and non toxic materials. That can look like an apartment complex, duplexes, cottage homes, tiny homes, biodomes, cob homes (consider the temperature sways in the area for this one), compressed earth homes, earth bermed structures, strawbale homes, earthbag homes, and sunken homes. We can set up the community so it looks cohesive based on housing structure and size.
Non toxic housing?
Non toxic housing would include more natural materials, painting with zero VOC materials, and lessoning our introduction of forever chemicals. We can also discourage the use of endocrine disruptors within the community through education programs. Making use of natural pest control and companion gardening will keep pesticides and poisons out of our community.
About Us
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Ghandi
Mid Missouri Ecovillage is committed to making a difference in eco-living and sustainability. Join us in our endeavor to protect and preserve the environment for future generations. Making the biggest change, starts in the home, so let's create a community together.
For any inquiries, opportunities for involvement, or to learn more about the progress, feel free to reach out to us. Together, we can work towards a greener, more sustainable future.