Ecovillages & cohousing setting a new trend in sustainable living

http://bit.ly/cRYh0W "I took a few days off last week to travel up to Maine to visit old friends, smell the ocean, eat fresh seafood and even fresher blueberries. Along the way, I was introduced to Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage, a work in progress with the intention of becoming 'a model environmentally sustainable, affordable, multi-generational cohousing community.' The site, upon which construction is yet to begin, 'is easily accessible to Belfast, includes land reserved for agricultural use and open space, and is an innovative housing option for rural Maine.'

"Cohousing is a rapidly growing trend, showing up in both rural and urban areas. According to cohousing.org, 'Cohousing is a type of collaborative housing in which residents actively participate in the design and operation of their own neighborhoods. Cohousing residents are consciously committed to living as a community. The physical design encourages both social contact and individual space. Private homes contain all the features of conventional homes, but residents also have access to extensive common facilities such as open space, courtyards, a playground and a common house.' ..."

Categories: sustainability, community, shelter, environment