| Earth Kind is an ecovillage that is being planned on 17 acres within the old-growth forest. We are two miles south of Tofino, close to the Pacific Ocean on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. A Coho salmon stream is protected on the property.
Since 1988, young people from around the world have camped on the property. I as owner welcomed new friends, accepting everyone who arrived. I simply asked that each person attempt to lessen their personal addictions. I also encouraged my guests to rethink our habit patterns about how we live on this earth, of garbage, food, power, sewage and housing, at best to come into balance, for ethical and survival reasons.
I asked people to be quiet when visiting my place, no swearing, no fighting. To respect each other. Many kind people received a chance to see potential culture from my Tofino view point. Many thanks have i been gifted.
It is time to move the mostly young, neo-tribal culture out on the ocean boat, kayak and canoe building. We hope to continue to offer options to young adults, by securing more land for a permaculture trade school, accessible only by boat, within 20 km of Tofino. Working with First Nations people is also very important.
A development plan care of www.greenplan.ca is in progress to create a cohousing-style ecovillage for about 80 people.
Rezoning is possible to allow for a total of 22 units of housing, cabins, campsites and uses for a bioregional permaculture of sustainability. Retreat center common buildings could allow the resident managers to offer year-round workshops and tours. Visitors are seeking energy and cultural alternatives. We also have begun of an "ewok" canopy treewalk. We hope home construction will begin in 2011.
Prices of membership will probably range from $8 for a news letter and day-trip tour, $20 per campsite and about $100 per cabin use. Management shareholders may join at half the usual Tofino land cost, with $100,000 for a $200 K place and $1 million for the best spot instead of$2 Millions Canadian, or more, per home-site in a healthy corporation.
One million people visit Tofino annually in search of nature, peace and great ocean food. Tofino is surrounded by the beauty of Clayoquot Sound, forest and surf. Our village can be a high profile business showcasing sustainability.
The ecovillage is hoped to be a pedestrian community, with parking separate, including car and boat share. Solar and sustainable tech houses can be built from environmentally sound materials.
Two houses may be built once permits are given that could be staff accommodation. There are carpenters living at my place now who want to help build this winter.
All investments can be secured on the title and receive first option for a home site according to legal agreements.
Only $100K is needed to pay all the bills and provide $30K for a begginer budget and a core of prospective co-owner-managers is needed.
I have considered listing with the real estate at between $2M and $3.5 Milliions to leave Tofino and take the cash energy to another such project.
... but there are many good reasons to stay.
Tofino is a high profile tourist destination with huge educational potential.
The project is being designed by a team of professionals needing to include potential future residents to advance secured loans and help define the principles of the community and it's specific activities.
Tofino in recent years has had only two weeks of freezing winter weather. It is a short walk or bike ride to the Pacific Ocean beaches on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. Food security is best by the ocean. I protected a Coho salmon stream by covenant on the title of my property.
Income from sale of shares in this property will assist ethical options for young adults to learn skills doing eco-forestry, building cabins, making trails to great surf and mountaintops.
Co-managers of Earth Kind may visit these retreats and to enjoy wilder places, more food, and very few people who are more skilled. The website www.earthkind.ca is Earth Kind Developments planned educational ecovillage resort on 17 acres within the old-growth forest of Tofino.
Jack Anderson and team (see www.greenplan.ca) are helping focus a development plan offering 17 to 24 homes in a range of housing styles from very affordable to very expensive, to create a managed ecovillage resort with residential and commercial zoning. We want to show the best sustainable homes.
Tofino’s local government is open to green, onsite sustainable systems. These are expensive to set up, but soon pay the way. The land has rocky hills facing south. Many home sites have an ocean view. Tall homes can fit into the forest on small footprint foundations with living rooms in the forest canopy.
Strata-titled ownership precludes the cost of building a municipal road. Each owner/ family may have a home site with an equal and undivided share of the common lands and an equal vote in our community green development. Management teamwork between strata shareholders will create a sustainable local economy and educational options for visitors.
Let's organize a car share including electric vehicles, tools, and boats. Food security on the coast is ocean-based. Relearning to be cooperative neighbours is a neglected life practice. Today’s culture is unsustainable “tech-No-culture,” causing loss of skills/culture/community as we become more dependent on far-off resources. The abuse of foreign child labourers is a major problem. Delivery of foods by petrochemical transport systems is also unsustainable. We need bioregional permaculture to approach sustainability.
Our "ewok" canopy tree walk has several rope swings. One swing drops into a 20' x 40' net.
On-site systems are essential. What are we capable of creating at this point in history? Please call or email to discuss options. Status: A sole ownership by M. Poole to be shared or sold in 2009. | 
