INSPIRING STORIES FROM ECOVILLAGES EXPERIENCES WITH ECOLOGICAL This book presents a selection of inspiring stories about solutions for TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES ecological living, told by the inhabitants of ecovillages around the Baltic Sea region. The stories present solutions to issues concerning planning, construction, energy solutions, waste and waste water management, composting and recycling, food production, and transport and com- muting. We hope to provide inspiration to readers already familiar with ecovillages and anyone willing to learn more about a variety of ecologi- cal living solutions. INSPIRING STORIES FROM ECOVILLAGES: EXPERIENCES WITH ECOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES AND TECHNOLOGIES ECOLOGICAL WITH EXPERIENCES ECOVILLAGES: FROM STORIES INSPIRING INSPIRING STORIES FROM ECOVILLAGES: EXPERIENCES WITH ECOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES INSPIRING stories from ecovillages: Experiences WITH ecological technologies AND practices Editors: Ansa Palojärvi, Jarkko Pyysiäinen and Mia Saloranta Language editor: Craig Meulen Drawings (if not indicated otherwise): Steven Porter Book is available in English, Swedish, Finnish, Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish. A free sample copy can be obtained from website www.balticecovillages.eu. ISBN 978-609-8080-74-2 Printed in Lithuania 2013 Part-financed by the European Union (ERDF) 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ....................................................................................................................................... 5 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................ 6 The quest for more sustainable ways of living ........................................................................ 6 Sustainable solutions from the ecovillages in the Baltic Sea region ....................................... 6 Reader’s guide to the manual: Get inspired! .......................................................................... 7 DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ECOVILLAGES .......................................................................................... 8 Finland .................................................................................................................................... 8 Kangasala Communal Village ............................................................................................ 8 Keuruu Ecovillage .............................................................................................................. 8 Vihti Ecovillage .................................................................................................................. 9 Germany ................................................................................................................................. 9 ZEGG (Zentrum für experimentelle Gesellschafts-Gestaltung) Community ...................... 9 Latvia .................................................................................................................................... 10 Camphill Village Rozkalni ................................................................................................. 10 Ecovillage “Dziesmas” (Songs) ......................................................................................... 10 Ecovillage Zakis un Citi Zveri ............................................................................................ 11 Jaunpiebalga eco community .......................................................................................... 11 Lithuania ............................................................................................................................... 12 Ecovillage close to Vepriai ............................................................................................... 12 Ecovillage Šventasodis ..................................................................................................... 12 Voskonys eco-settlement ................................................................................................ 13 Poland ................................................................................................................................... 13 Ecovillage “L.A.S.” – Local Alternative Society ................................................................. 13 Russia .................................................................................................................................... 14 Big Stone ecovillage ........................................................................................................ 14 Ecovillage Grishino .......................................................................................................... 14 Nevoecoville ecovillage ................................................................................................... 15 Sweden ................................................................................................................................. 15 Charlottendal farm and ecovillage .................................................................................. 15 Kampetorp Ecovillage ...................................................................................................... 16 Suderbyn Permaculture Ecovillage .................................................................................. 16 PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE ECOVILLAGE AREA ................................................................. 17 ”Sketch and Match” – a spatial planning method used for ecovillage and eco-area planning .......................................................................................................... 18 Planning an ecovillage according to permaculture principles .............................................. 20 BUILDING ................................................................................................................................... 24 Straw houses ......................................................................................................................... 25 Rotunda outbuilding made of straw bales ............................................................................ 29 Dome houses – example of the benefits of a dome shape ................................................... 31 Clay flooring .......................................................................................................................... 32 Green moss roof ................................................................................................................... 35 Traditional natural paint ....................................................................................................... 37 Retrofitting technology: foam glass perimeter insulation and cellulose fibres for walls and roof ........................................................................................................ 39 Utilization of recycled building materials .............................................................................. 41 Garden solar shower ............................................................................................................. 43 Finnish sauna ........................................................................................................................ 45 3 ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR HOUSEHOLDS AND SETTLEMENTS ................................................... 47 A heat-storing low-emission fireplace system ...................................................................... 47 Life without electricity .......................................................................................................... 51 Solar power off grid electricity system ................................................................................. 53 Producing and selling solar power to the grid ...................................................................... 55 Energy efficient heating of warm water and houses and electricity from renewable resources .................................................................................................... 57 WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................. 60 Reed-bed wastewater purification system for an ecovillage ................................................ 61 Natural biological waste water purification system for one household ................................ 64 Constructed wetland and flowforms for sewage treatment ................................................. 66 DRY TOILETS ............................................................................................................................... 69 Dry toilets indoors – a common system in the village .......................................................... 69 Biochar urinal ........................................................................................................................ 73 COMPOSTING, RECYCLING, CONSUMING ECOLOGICALLY ........................................................ 75 Healthy soil restoration ......................................................................................................... 75 Production of humus with vermicompost ............................................................................ 78 Effective Micro-organisms (EM) – microbiological products for a sustainable lifestyle ........ 81 Waste sorting, material recycling and the ‘exchange room’ ................................................. 82 Natural eco-friendly detergent: lye made from ash.............................................................