So how does one go about joining an eco-community?

[lostinstrangeworld]

There's so much info on the web but it all seems a bit vague.

Anyone else more adept in this than I am?

How does one go about joining one of these eco-communities.....is money always a necessity?


http://www.evnuk.org.uk/

http://www.wwoof.org.uk/

[entrangermercenary]

There's so much info on the web but it all seems a bit vague.

Anyone else more adept in this than I am?

How does one go about joining one of these eco-communities.....is money always a necessity?


http://www.evnuk.org.uk/

http://www.wwoof.org.uk/

Im sure you would not have to stump money up for the info surely its out there somewhere!!To me that stinks of a scam.

Good luck with your search :)

[lostinstrangeworld]

Im sure you would not have to stump money up for the info surely its out there somewhere!!To me that stinks of a scam.

Good luck with your search :)

No, not the info; many cost money to actually join; to pay for facilities, living expenses, etc. My friend thinks it costs between £15,000 and £30,000, but I've recently heard about one that doesn't cost anything to join, so it is worth doing continuous research into.

[rydeon]

No, not the info; many cost money to actually join; to pay for facilities, living expenses, etc. My friend thinks it costs between £15,000 and £30,000, but I've recently heard about one that doesn't cost anything to join, so it is worth doing continuous research into.

If it's an alleged overseas site then the £15 - £30 k sterling is undoubtably a scam.
That's enough money for a fully equipped BOV with enough fuel, food and supplies to tour Europe in for years on end!

The WWOOF site looks good. You have to pay a one-off fee of £20 which unlocks the codes for the directories of where you can stay on an organic settlement.
The only hitch's are that you have to apply in writing to the farm/settlement in advance at least a few weeks in advance.
Also it does not state how much the land-owner will charge you to stay there.
It probably will be free food and lodging if there's work to be done and so on.

Anyone joined WWOOF yet? :)

The other link I'm not so impressed with. Most of the links don't work and it's more to with things that are as yet unbuilt.

However 2 of them leap to the surface. The first one is The Living Green Trust. They need about £100,000 grand funding between 12 people so that's just under £8400 each for a new build project. It's in Shropshire and therefore you won't be sending it to some unknown entity in Africa or elsewhere.

'Small group who have been meeting for four years. They have been running a centre in London for the last three years, and are now planning to set up an ecovillage for up to 12 people in Norfolk, with a focus on home education for children and organic veg production. They are already registered as a Housing Co-op and as a charity, and are hoping to buy some land by the sea in Norfolk very soon. They are looking for more people who may be interested in living in the ecovillage, and they are also looking for investors - they estimate they will need around £100,000 for the project. '

The other one is this place:

Sherwood energy Village.

'An initiative to transform a derelict coal mining site (95 acres) into an eco-village comprising industry, housing, exhibition/convention, leisure and recreation. It will incorporate renewable energies - biomass, solar, PV, and wind turbines. Autonomous housing, self-build housing and eco-demonstrator houses. All buildings built to best practice energy efficiency, already established building super regulations. Site will incorporate an energy trail.

Energy and heat provided by biomass power station. This initiative is now owned by an Industrial and Provident Society for the benefit of the community. This community is in a rural coalfield area - coal was the major employer- now its gone. We are developing a sustainable future for ourselves and our kids. Contact name: Carla Jamison'

Sherwood Energy Village Unit 1 Boughton Pumping Station Brake Lane Boughton Nottinghamshire NG22 9HQ Tel: 01623 860 222 Fax: 01623 863 373 e.mail: sev@netcomuk.co.uk Web: http://www.sherwoodenergyvillage.co.uk

[pandamania]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi__r7ZjY4U&feature=channel_page

[lostinstrangeworld]

I want to build an 'Earthship'.

[entrangermercenary]

No, not the info; many cost money to actually join; to pay for facilities, living expenses, etc. My friend thinks it costs between £15,000 and £30,000, but I've recently heard about one that doesn't cost anything to join, so it is worth doing continuous research into.


Well if you have a few £ to invest buy a few acres of woodland and go live there :) Free range chickens = eggs bees= honey magic mushrooms= a good nite ;)

[lostinstrangeworld]

Well if you have a few £ to invest buy a few acres of woodland and go live there :) Free range chickens = eggs bees= honey magic mushrooms= a good nite ;)

I am definitely interested in doing this at some point in the future, yes.

I have to get saving first though.

[nirvana]

Get together with a few friends etc and just go on to some green land and say your gypsies.
Gypsies are able to live where ever they want for a time. Also certain councils pay you to move on.

Time to take aleaf out of their book.

[lostinstrangeworld]

Get together with a few friends etc and just go on to some green land and say your gypsies.
Gypsies are able to live where ever they want for a time. Also certain councils pay you to move on.

Time to take aleaf out of their book.

I like the idea of being self-sufficient; this would require using land to grow food.

Or is it possible to survive by "foraging" in the forest.....wild mushrooms...chestnuts.....plant roots....?
(Not meat).

[lostinstrangeworld]

If it's an alleged overseas site then the £15 - £30 k sterling is undoubtably a scam.
That's enough money for a fully equipped BOV with enough fuel, food and supplies to tour Europe in for years on end!

The WWOOF site looks good. You have to pay a one-off fee of £20 which unlocks the codes for the directories of where you can stay on an organic settlement.
The only hitch's are that you have to apply in writing to the farm/settlement in advance at least a few weeks in advance.
Also it does not state how much the land-owner will charge you to stay there.
It probably will be free food and lodging if there's work to be done and so on.

Anyone joined WWOOF yet? :)


Hi there. I am thinking of joining wwoof today.

Quote from there site:

How it works

WWOOF UK holds a list of organic farms, gardens and smallholdings, all offering food and accommodation in exchange for practical help on their land. These hosts range from a low impact woodland settlement to a 600 hectare mixed holding with on-site farm shop, cafe and education centre. Hosts do not expect you to know a lot about farming when you arrive, but they do expect you to be willing to learn and able to fit in with their lifestyle.

The list of hosts is available by joining WWOOF UK for a membership fee (£20 single membership, £30 joint). Once you have the list, it is up to you to contact hosts directly to arrange your stay. Your host should discuss what kinds of activities you will be asked to take part in, what accommodation is on offer and also the length of your stay.

WWOOFers do not pay to stay with hosts and hosts do not pay WWOOFers for their help. For more details about how it all works, see our FAQs page.

WWOOF UK is a registered charity.

http://www.wwoof.org.uk/how_it_works