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Forming Formed: 2005 Established: 2006
EcoReality
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, BC,
Canada
(2152 Fulford-Ganges Road)
View from east side of reservoir, Mount Maxwell in the distance.
 EcoReality is developing an ecovillage in the South Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada. This ecovillage will be a model of sustainable development, and will feature public outreach and education as included goals.
We have acquired a 37 acre property next to a 63 acre "community farmland" site, backed by hundreds of acres of public parkland, all the way to the highest peak on the island, and down to the ocean.
The combined public/private property has cleared, productive farmland (currently 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).
Every square foot of the 37+63 acre property is irrigated via a 2 acre pond and two year-round streams via an extensive buried irrigation system. The class-2 soils are in growing zone 8-9. We are beginning a Permaculture design process for the combined 100 acre site.
Two houses with a total of nearly 4,200 sqft of living space have nine bedrooms, four bathrooms, and two kitchens between them, as well as ample room for meetings and home-based businesses. Six members live in these buildings, sharing them with renters, WWOOFers, and visitors.
A garage/studio/workshop of about 1,200 sqft is used as a classroom for Qi Gong, yoga, and public events. The classroom seats 40.
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 are beginning studies to determine the appropriate number of dwelling units, based on both carrying capacity of the land and agricultural labour needs. 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, as well.
Current EcoReality members include an assistant professor of agroecology and two Permaculture instructors, as well as people with skills in natural building, alternative energy systems, videography, finance, counselling, agriculture, information management, massage, education, and much more.
  Status: seeking members
Website: http://www.EcoReality.org
Contact:
Jan Steinman
2152 Fulford-Ganges Rd
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia V8K 1Z7 Canada
Phone: 250-653-2024, 503.407.6726
Email This Community!
Shannon Cowan
2172 Fulford-Ganges Road
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia V8K 1Z7 Canada
Phone: 250-653-4663
Email This Community!
Carol Wagner
2152 Fulford-Ganges Rd
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia V8K 1Z7 Canada
Phone: 250.653.2024, 503.407.6726
Email This Community!
James Cowan
2172 Fulford-Ganges Road
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia V8K 1Z7 Canada
Phone: 250-653-4663
Email This Community!
Links:
EcoReality: EcoReality is developing an ecovillage on 100 acres of public/co-op land in the South Gulf Islands of British Columbia. This ecovillage will be a model of sustainable development, and will feature public outreach and education as included goals.
Vancouver Sun article on EcoReality: Vancouver Sun wrote an article about EcoReality.
Tapestry: Centre for Teaching and Academic Growth (University of British Columbia): This article is about EcoReality co-founder Shannon Cowan, who left an associate professor position at University of British Columbia to help found EcoReality.
Island Tides: A newspaper article about EcoReality's metamorphosis.
Escape From Suburbia: Co-founders Jan Steinman and Carol Wagner are featured in this documentary film by Greg Greene.
Submedia TV: Co-founder Jan Steinman is interviewed at 7:30 into this video blog. (Warning: considerable profanity before the interview.)
Former/Other Names: Salt Spring Ecovillage Education and Development Society (SEEDS)
Last Updated:6/2/2009
 
Visitors Accepted
 (meetings: last Sunday of month, weekly Saturday tours)
Visitor Process: Meetings and work parties published on our website (http://www.EcoReality.org/wiki/Meetings) are generally open to the public. Some meetings listed there request that you contact us first. Internships and WWOOF/work exchangers by on-line application (see http://www.EcoReality.org/wiki/WWOOF_FAQ). Other visits are by appointment only, please.
Affiliations: Yarrow Ecovillage
:: O.U.R ECOVILLAGE
:: Earthaven Ecovillage
::

Network Affiliations:
Ecovillage Network of the Americas
:: GEN - Global Ecovillage Network
:: Fellowship for Intentional Community
:: Northwest Intentional Communities Association
Population
Members(adults and children):
11
Non-member Residents:
5
(variable: 1-6)
Open to new members:
Yes
Government
Decision Making:
By consensus
(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
(Complete financial disclosure to other members, updated annually.)
Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt:
No Answer
(Applicants must demonstrate a history of fiscal responsibility.)
Labor Contribution:
Expected
(30 hours/month residents, 10 hours/month non-resident members.)
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:
100 acres (40.5 hectares)
Land Owned By:
Other
(63 acres in independent land trust, adjoining 37 acres and dwellings owned by the co-op.)
Number of Residences:
2
(plus garage/workshop/classroom)
Cohousing:
Yes
(planned)
Food, etc.
Percentage of Food Grown:
over 50%
(planned)
Share Community Meals:
2-5 times/week
Dietary Choice or Restrictions:
There are some dietary restrictions
(vegetarian and self-butchered meat)
Dietary Practice:
Primarily vegetarian
Alcohol Use:
Used occasionally
Tobacco Use:
Prohibited
(Except religious/medicinal use. Discrete 420 friendly.)
Social Factors
Common Spiritual Practices:
Yes
(vaguely earth-based)
Which Spiritual Traditions(s):
Unitarian Universalist
:: Native American
:: Eastern
:: Paganism/Earth Religions
:: Buddhist
:: Eclectic (integrates pieces from many religions)
Educational Style(s):
Public schooled
:: Private school off the property
:: Home schooling
Cohousing Details
Cohousing Status:
Own Site
(Additional units planned.)
Year Completed:
2008
(purchase date)
Number of Units:
Two shared houses with nine bedrooms, two kitchens, four baths, currently shared by three couples and several farm workers.
Square Feet in Common House:
2700
 
 
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.
Click an image to see it full size.


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