Off-Grid Eco-Village!

Before you read on, check out this little 30 second video: This video is a commercial that really hits the nail on the proverbial head, when it comes to the sickness of keeping-up-w/the-Joneses! Now, If this is you, then the Ecovillage idea is not for you; But I doubt this is you, otherwise, you would not be here now! Still, it's my favorite commercial and I wanted to weed out any pretenders up front! (hit the play button, lower left; if it does not play right the first time, it will the second time: That's youtube for ya!).

Thanks in advance for visiting, really; and for being a good sport! I wanted this to be more than just a page to read, that's why I included some video, as well as some other web pages; to add content and flare to my otherwise boring web mastering! I am Paul Anderson, an Author/Writer, a Carpenter by trade, and a (retired-from) General Contractor, with design-eyes for Ecovillage and off-grid living. I began web-researching Intentional Communities in the late 90's to try to pull something together, but have been discouraged by what I found, or did not find. What I found were/are as expensive (and as expansive) as building a home in a sub-division, or purchasing a condo; I'm a Contractor, so I know all this in financial detail! I looked at many Communities, and the rules, laws and expectations are sometimes extensive; the ideals they're centered upon will cause more problems in the long haul, because people, cultures, and economies, change over time. Central therefore, must be that which does not change: Stewardship; protecting Earth by lowering our ecological footprint; Sanity; living at peace by not wanting a mass of resources or outgrowing Home via unsustainable paradigms; and the need to grow ones own organic foods! That's why I decided to attempt this myself, and why I selected the term Eco-Village. Call it what you will; after all, the Amish do not label their communities, they just live there! But they do have it going on; if the economy fails or if "the system" fails us all, the Amish will go on anyway; they have no mortgages, no personal debt, they grow much of their own food/livestock, make their own clothes, sheets and quilts; build their own homes and buildings. They're not fully independent now, but if push comes to shove, they'd still survive with only a little lifestyle change. They survived the first Great Depression with only minor adjustments, since they are so self-reliant. The Amish live simple lives; they have separate incomes, gardens and homes, but they do share, so that no one goes without; so that there is no clear economic superiority (they do not play the economic game). They succeed because they're all family; blood-relatives who also share a common faith. Total income sharing could be problematic (the common purse idea), and besides, it's up to each person to decide whom to share with, and when (or not).

I do hope that you will watch this next video; its 20 minutes long but it is critically important: It will move you; it will suprise you; I hope that you will even share it with others as well! This Ecovillage is all about understanding true sustainability, and not just the fad of "going green"! So I please ask that you kick back and watch it too, and if the message "clicks" within you, then you will want to proceed-on in this website. Just click on the Story of Stuff, and a new tab or window will open over top of this one, and then just click play. When it's over, close the window and you will still be here! Continue to the NEXT PAGE!