| Ekobius is a new development in the idealogy of the ecologically sustainable intentional community. Our community project involves the perpetual preservation of the unique fragile ecosystems found on the Guiana Shield and establishing forest or nature reserves. The inhabitants of our communities will serve as caretakers or stewards of these primeval ecologies.
The Ekobius communities are based on the development of experimental principles in the ecological integration of human beings into the natural web of life.
We are forming the community as a communal cooperative ecovillage centered around agroforestry, gathering, collecting, and the development of symbiotic organic gardens.
Our premier project is developing remotely located experimental ecology camps or way-stations on the Guiana Shield for international tourists, students, and sponsored visitors conducting eco-biological research, the project is being developed, constructed and staffed by a diverse group of healthy, literate, and well-educated people from around the world.
Among the self-sustaining cooperative activities that are being considered preliminarily are the sustainable harvesting of medicinal plants, seed collecting, extraction of essential oils from botanicals, captive rearing of endangered species for wild release, raising bees that produce medicinal honey, and the production of natural pharmacueticals. These activites will complement sponsored ecotourism students and scientists who come to visit our village camp.
Our effort shall be communal in design, a cooperative or co-op in the eyes of society, a unique zero impact eco-village, a biological eco-reserve, and co-housing project for full and part-time residents. Currently the plan is a large central lodge, communal kitchen, communal bathrooms, a swimming pond, a greenhouse, and 12 duplex dwellings.
The project seeks people interested in developing and working with sustainable eco-tourism, environmental protection, conservation of wildlife, forest management and ecological innovation. We welcome scientists, hippies, nerds, Rastafarians, flower children, indigenous people, and others that have love and appreciation for nature.
The Ekobius communities are based on the development of new experimental principles in the ecological integration of human beings into the natural web of life. Those who come to reside there must be prepared physically and mentally to cope with many challenges.
The Guiana Shield is the most biologically diverse place. It holds nearly 15% of the world’s fresh water, and it is ecologically one of the purest places on earth.
We are forming the community as a communal cooperative ecovillage centered around agroforestry, gathering, collecting, and the development of symbiotic organic gardens. The daily activities include washing clothes, bathing in the river, cooking, eating, and socializing with the other inhabitants.
In general we will live much like ancient native American, Amerindian, and indigenous peoples once did; however we are bringing along our technologies, the collective knowledge of survivalists, indigenous peoples of other nations, and will in time both have electricity and Internet.
Our total land area is approximately 1200 square kilometers or 296,000 acres. Despite all the property we will only occupy about five acres and create agroforest permaculture bases of approximately 15-18 hectares per community. Our occupancy shall be permitted based on our purposes of forest and ecosystem protection, reporting illegal activities, providing ecotourism opportunities, hosting and facilitating scientists involved in university research, and our accord of zero ecological impact within our international pact. Being a cooperative society we qualify for special exemptions and privileges that facilitate our formation under both Venezuelan law and Guyana law.
Travel to and from the community camp sites is difficult, there are no roads and roads will not be developed, however we will be installing zip lines and hiking trails. Potential residents are encouraged to be prepared with suitable equipment for the journey to and from the settlements. Each site involves river travel and a 3-4 day woodland hiking.
For many the solitude, tranquility and the pure nature of the primeval forest will become a spiritual experience in itself. At the Ekobius community though we will also foster the spiritualism of our residents and guests through meditation, yoga, shamanism, ethnogens, Eastern philosophies, and general enlightenment through global education.
Additionally our team of founders are seeking to acquire sponsorships from international organizations and private individuals that can show a practical exchange and use for their development support which will lead
The community will remain in formation throughout 2011 while we charter expeditions, visit, build upon it, and travel to and from the sites.
The main expedition to start building this community will take place in mid january of 2012. Status: In January we'll head into the forest and begin building the community from scratch | Community location is placed at the center of the zip/postal code, city/state, or city/country (not based on street addresses) |
