Lanark Ecovillage Project

Lanark Eco-Village

In our northern climate, a house without a heating system would be considered incomplete.  Within the next couple of decades, a home built without a food supply will be considered incomplete.  The Lanark Eco-Village aims to build a domestic ecosystem capable of providing comfortable dwellings, complete with a nutritious food supply, on a scale where tasks can be shared and social relations maintained, all without the need of vehicular transport.  As we pioneer this settlement pattern, we aim to foster a peaceful and intentional transition to a sustainable society, through experimentation, example and educational programs.

 

Description

The land base is 160 acres in Lanark County, near Lanark Village and the convergence of the Clyde and Mississippi rivers.  Mike Nickerson has joined hands with other eco-villagers to purchase the property; he is a key figure behind the LEV (Lanark Eco-Village) and the Sustainability Project http://www.SustainWellBeing.net.  There is an existing house on the land, as well as a new, well-equipped woodwork shop with a potentially habitable apartment and two large producing gardens, approx. 1200 sq. metres.  The land is rocky and mostly forested, but with viable pockets of soil for food production.  We are also considering other properties close by, preferably with access to the river.

To establish the ecovillage, a key factor will be municipal zoning approval. The property is currently zoned rural, which allows for one residence. We have entered discussions with the municipality of Drummond/North Elmsley to apply for a special zoning exception, with encouraging results so far.  We have received approval for a grant from the Eastern Ontario Community Energy Network to cover the $1250 required for the zoning application, in light of our efforts to utilize and promote renewable energy methods, including conservation. (Among others, we already have a prototype solar food dryer in operation.)  We are working on a site plan proposal to submit to the municipality for the zoning application.

A Multi-StakeHolder Cooperative

We have proposed to establish a multi-stakeholder co-operative which would be the owner of the land, buildings and major equipment (details pending), patterned in part after the O.U.R. Ecovillage on Vancouver Island.  In August we received approval for a grant of $2500 from the Ontario Co-operative Association towards the services of a Co-op Developer.

Governing Council 

At this point we envision four categories of members:

1. Hearthkeeper Stewards
2. Landshare Stewards
3. Provision Stewards
4. Community Stewards

Hearthkeeper Stewards are those who live full-time on the property.  They would have overriding vote in decision-making, presumably through a majority on the Governing Council.  It is proposed that Hearthkeepers would each purchase a share having a value of one-tenth of the current value of the property plus estimated building costs.  Potential Hearthkeeper Stewards who are unable to make the capital investment can contribute on a monthly basis, the amount being calculated on a 10-year amortization of the share price.  Contributions would be non-refundable for the first three years, after which they would become vested. In the case of couples or families, whether they would contribute one share, two shares, or 1 ½ shares is still under discussion.  The details of refundability of capital, labour contribution and sharing of running expenses are not fully worked out and ratified, but we are using the above as a working model for now.

Landshare Stewards are persons who have a foothold on the property; they may stay there part-time, as a second home, share in the use of the land and gardens etc.  They are expected to contribute half of the  amount of a Hearthkeeper Steward.  Landshare Stewards would have priority to become Hearthkeeper Stewards if they so choose.

Provision Stewards are persons who are willing to make a substantial  investment or provide for a substantial endeavor in terms of materials or support  in the ecovillage but do not live there.

Community Stewards would be the current members who do not fit the above categories, currently contributing $60 per year.  In order to become a member in one of the other categories, a person would first be expected to become a Community Steward.

The Four Membership Categories

The four membership categories would be represented on the Governing Council, which would make day-to-day decisions.  Which decisions would be referred to general membership has not yet been defined.

Current Stewards:

Currently two (plus) persons, including Mike, are living on the property and are considered Hearthkeeper Stewards.   Another couple live there from time to time and are contributing as a single Landshare Steward share.  In addition one other couple have contributed approximately the equivalent of 1½ Hearthkeeper shares and could be considered as  Provision Stewards.  Their investment is an interest-free loan, and is considered to be an advance on a future share in the ecovillage.  At this point all the contributions go to the owner of the land, and are applied towards mortgage, taxes, running expenses etc. Our working assumption is that these would be rolled over to the co-op in the purchase.

Approximately twenty further individuals are Community Stewards in good standing.

Current Target:

Our target is to establish the co-operative as owner of the land and buildings by July 31, 2012.

We have drafted bylaws, with most of the required legal details in draft form, modeled after those for organizations with similar goals and situations.  With the help of the Co-op Developer, we are working to establish an Operational Plan and to incorporate the Lanark Eco-Village Co-operative.  Once approved by the membership, the full text of these documents will be placed on this website.

Courtesy Keith Shackleton (derived from LEV Summary.doc)

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