Ecovillages are basically a matter of living on the Earth with respect for all beings and natural systems. As such, they are shaping nothing less than a new culture, designed to restore the earth and her people. All the necessary wisdom, knowledge and technology are available to help this dream come true for everybody on this planet. Ecovillages are emerging attempts at realizing our dreams . Perm
aculture
is increasingly being used as a basis for the design of ecovillages, cohousings, neighborhoods and other communities. BIll Mollison, the father of P., defines the concept as follows: “Perma(nent Agri)culture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems, which have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. Permaculture is as much about beneficial design as it is about values and ethics, and making “the decision to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children” – Bill Mollison (1, p. 18). ecovillage is about designing sustainable human settlements. It is a philosophical and practical approach to land use integrating micro climate, functional plants, animals, soil, water management and human needs into intricately connected, highly productive systems… It aims to create systems that will endure not only in the present, but also in the future. The idea is one of cooperation with nature and each other, of caring for the earth and people and presenting an approach to designing environments that have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems, to regenerate damaged land and preserve environments which are still intact. [email protected]
