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Re-Forming Formed: 2004 Established: 2006
This page last updated:5/12/2013
EcoReality
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia,
Canada
(2152 Fulford-Ganges Road)
EcoReality Co-op from Mount Maxwell, Salt Spring Island, BC Canada
 EcoReality Sustainable Land Use and Education Cooperative is developing an ecovillage in the south Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada. This ecovillage will be a model of sustainable food and energy production and will include public outreach and education as goals.
We have acquired a 43-acre property next to a 61-acre “community farmland” site, backed by a thousand of acres of public parkland, all the way to the highest peak on the island, and down to the ocean.
The property has cleared, productive farmland (mostly in hay), riparian and laucustrine areas, and young forest. The public parkland extends from the highest point on the island (Bruce Peak, at 704 metres), all the way to the ocean at Burgoyne Bay, and up the other side to the second-highest point (Mount Maxwell, at 579 metres).
All of the property is irrigated by a two-acre pond and two year-round streams via an extensive buried irrigation system. The class-2 soils are in growing zones 8 and 9. We have been implementing a Permaculture design for the site.
Two houses with a total of 4,200 sq ft of living space have ten bedrooms, four bathrooms, and two kitchens between them, as well as ample room for meetings and home-based businesses. Three members live in these buildings, sharing them with renters, WWOOFers, and visitors.
A garage/studio/workshop of about 1,200 sq ft is used as a classroom for Permaculture and agriculture classes and public events. The classroom seats 40.
New in 2012 is a 3,550 sqft greenhouse, divided into zones for propagation, nursery, and direct seeding.
We have begun a public education campaign leading to re-zoning that will enable construction of a number of additional dwelling units. Current zoning allows three additional houses and a cottage. We have completed studies that show a larger number of dwelling units are appropriate, based on both carrying capacity of the land and agricultural labour needs, which is the legal requirement for more dwellings. This will be a political process, with at least three government bodies and public hearings involved.
We are seeking additional members who can contribute approximately half the value of a typical North American suburban house to the project. Prospective members with outstanding skills who can contribute less are encouraged to contact us.
  Status: seeking funding members
Contact:
Jan Steinman
2152 Fulford-Ganges Rd
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia V8K 1Z7 Canada
Phone: 250-653-2024, 503.407.6726
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Community location is placed at the center of the zip/postal code, city/state, or city/country (not based on street addresses)
Former/Other Names: Salt Spring Ecovillage Education and Development Society (SEEDS)
This page last updated:5/12/2013
 
Visitors Accepted
 (by appointment, please)
Visitor Process: Check out our visitor information page (http://www.ecoreality.org/wiki/Visitor_information) for the latest information.
Affiliations: Yarrow Ecovillage

Network Affiliations:
Ecovillage Network of the Americas
:: Fellowship for Intentional Community
:: Northwest Intentional Communities Association
:: GEN - Global Ecovillage Network
Statement of Housing Non-discrimination:
No Answer Provided
Population
Members(adults and children):
2
Non-member Residents:
13
Open to new members:
Yes
(need funding members at this time)
Government
Decision Making:
Other
(Consensus as a delegation and ratification mechanism, with a great deal of autonomy given to stewards.)
Identified Leader:
No
Leadership Core Group:
Yes
(Stewards have considerable autonomy, and committees of stewards with similar or overlapping responsibility make many decisions.)
Labor and Money
Financial Style:
Members have independent finances
Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt:
No Answer
(Applicants must demonstrate a history of fiscal responsibility.)
Labor Contribution:
Expected
(30 hours/month.)
Join Fee:
Yes
($1,000 for basic membership, plus an equity investment in land and buildings.)
Regular Fees:
Yes
(Yes, currently $25/month.)
Land and Buildings
Rural
(Walikng/biking distance to small village. Public bus service.)
Area:
43 acres (17.4 hectares)
Land Owned By:
The community
(a BC Cooperative Association)
Number of Residences:
2
(plus garage/workshop/classroom, trailers, and greenhouse)
Cohousing:
Yes
(planned)
Food, etc.
Percentage of Food Grown:
over 50%
(self-feeding on a gross measure)
Share Community Meals:
1 time/week
Dietary Choice or Restrictions:
Diet is up to each individual
(primarily vegetarian)
Dietary Practice:
Primarily vegetarian
Alcohol Use:
Used occasionally
Tobacco Use:
Prohibited
(Except religious/medicinal use. Discrete 420 friendly.)
Social Factors
Common Spiritual Practices:
No Answer
(vaguely earth-based)
Which Spiritual Traditions(s):
Native American
:: Buddhist
:: Paganism/Earth Religions
:: Eastern
:: Unitarian Universalist
:: Eclectic (integrates pieces from many religions)
Educational Style(s):
Home schooling
:: Public schooled
Cohousing Details
Cohousing Status:
Own Site
(Additional units planned.)
Year Completed:
2008
(purchase date)
Number of Units:
Two shared houses with ten bedrooms, two kitchens, four baths.
Square Feet in Common House:
2700
 
 
EcoReality Co-op from Mount Maxwell, Salt Spring Island, BC Canada
View from east side of reservoir, Mount Maxwell in the distance.
Main drive, fruit trees, main house, Mount Sullivan in the distance.
2,700 sqft main house, four bedrooms, office/craft space, community meeting space.
1,500 sqft heritage farmhouse, built 1880, four bedrooms, office, meeting room.
10 acre hayfield, one of 8 cleared fields on the 100 acre combined public/private site.
We regularly host groups in the greater community, such as this meeting of Island Natural Growers, the local organic farming organization.
EcoReality is active in the greater community, such as this presentation of the Salt Spring Island Area Farm Plan.
Some of our newest residents need to grow before they can use the milking stand.
Work party, building a wood shed.
Work party: how many raspberry canes and tools and transplanters can you fit into a Volkswagen?
We are within walk of the Pacific Ocean, and turn bull kelp into impromptu musical instruments on group hikes.
Walking tour map.
New greenhouse.
Starts in greenhouse
Click an image to see it full size.


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About these ads
We happily link to the following organizations, all of whom share our strong commitment to promoting community and a more cooperative world:
Cohousing The Federation of Egalitarian Communities - Communes Coop Community Cooperative Sustainable Intentional North American Students of Cooperation Global Ecovillage Network
Special thanks to the sponsors of our Art of Community Events.
Bryan Bowan Architects California Cohousing NICA Wolf Creek Lodge