Table of Contents/No. 91. Summer 1996

DEPARTMENTS

Letters
Publishers Note
Directory Update
Calendar
Classifieds
Reach

FEATURE FOCUS

Ecovillages

From the Guest Editor

Lois Arkin: I wake up to the sounds of ducks and chickens.

Sustainability and Sustainable Communities, or, "What is an Ecovillage Anyway?"

A variety of descriptions for identifying truly sustainable development. Compiled by Lois Arkin.

A Training Center for Ecovillagers

Albert Bates  describes how permaculture activists sustainably retrofitted and shared their knowledge with others at The Farm's Ecovillage Training Center in Tennessee.

Setting Up an Ecovillage Where You Are

Olaf Egeberg  relates how he and his neighbors are sustainably transforming their neighborhood in Takoma Park, Maryland.

The Global Eco-Village Network (GEN): Encouraging Model Ecovillages Worldwide

International businessman and philanthropist Ross Jackson  describes the evolution of this innovative worldwide network, and tells how to link up with its regional networks.

EcoVillage at Ithaca: Model for Mainstream Development?

Liz Walker, cofounder of EcoVillage at Ithaca, on the history and challenges of this ground-breaking community, with sound advice for ecovillage builders.

The Green Kibbutz Group

Jan Martin Bang  describes the campaign to invite Israeli communes to become more ecologically responsible and provide leadership for a healthier planet.

What We Can Learn from African Villagers: Lessons from the Third International EcoCities Conference

Joan Bokaer, Liz Walker, and Richard Register, American organizers of the Third International EcoCities Conference in Yoff, Senegal, share highlights of the conference and what they learned from inhabitants of this sustainable fishing village. Scott Sherman, interviewer.

"A Time to Build Up"

Excerpts from There is a Season. Author Joan Chittister   offers inspiration for "rebuilders"--people committed to visionary change.

Our Life at Lebensgarten

Social and spiritual aspects of this renowned German ecovillage, with Lebensgarten resident Declan Kennedy.

Site Planning Findhorn's "Field of Dreams"

Richard Register  and John Talbott  explore automobile vs. pedestrian design, traditional villages as models, and other aspects of Findhorn's planned ecovillage.

"Until We Can Engage the Power of the Market ... "

Guy Dauncey  offers workable suggestions for encouraging economic sustainability in ecovillage projects. Interviewed by Lynn Elizabeth.

Planning and Zoning for Ecovillages--Encouraging News

Rachel Freifelder, Gina Baker, and Steve Lafer  share their research and recommendations about local zoning, planning, and building codes.

Ecovillage Resources

Where to learn more. Lois Arkin.

COLUMNS

PERIPATETIC COMMUNITARIAN--"Eco" Process

Geoph Kozeny observes that for long-term social sustainability, "eco" communities--rich in technological skills--need strong decision-making and conflict-resolution skills, too.

FELLOWSHIP NEWS--Regional Networking at Fellowship Board Meeting

Dan Questenberry  reports on record attendance and the great success of the fall '95 FIC board meeting in Willits, California.

FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH--What If A Communitarian Were Running for President?

Would communitarian candidates see national issues differently than mainstream politicians? Researchers Mike Cummings  and Harv Bishop   speculate how.

MY TURN--Proposed "Bill of Rights for Communities": Throwing Out the Baby with the Bath Water?

While religious scholar Thomas Robbins  feels ambivalent about the proposed "Bill of Rights for Communities," he suggests we don't  intervene in groups' efforts to recruit and convert.

COHOUSING REPORT--Site Planning in Community

Rob Sandelin  relates what cohousers have learned about how a community's layout affects its social interactions.

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES--A Visit to New Covenant Fellowship Community

A profile of the voluntarily simple, politically active lifestyle of a spirited Ohio community. David Janzen.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN POLITICS--A New Type of Community (Where It's Needed Most)

Corinne McLaughlin  outlines the community-derived values and goals of the new Center for Visionary Leadership in Washington, D.C.

CHILDREN IN COMMUNITY--Child-Adult Friendships, Part II

Daniel Greenberg's  research findings on the pleasures and challenges of friendship in community with other people's children.

FEDERATION UPDATE--How Clean is "Clean"?

A humorous look at the "growth experience" inherent in the wildly different ways communitarians define cleanliness. Alex McGee.

Life on the Electronic Frontier: The Fellowship's Online Journey

What the FIC is up to on the Web--and how you can join in. Michael McIntyre

REVIEWS

Ellie Sommer reviews Sustainable Cities, Futures By Design, A Primer on Sustainable Building, and Cooperative Housing Compendium. Scott Sherman reviews Ecological Design.

COMMUNITIES MAGAZINE SPECIAL

Recipe for a "Tribal Synergistic Ecovillage"

Craig Green's   vision for how communities can become laboratories for developing "the alchemy of the heart."

COMMUNITIES MAGAZINE FICTION

Bods

Community can emerge in the weirdest of circumstances. Science fiction by Sylvia Nickels.

Feedback

CREDITS

EDITOR
Diana Leafe Christian

GUEST EDITORS
Lois Arkin
(Los Angeles Eco-Village)
Lynne Elizabeth
(Earthword Journal)

REACH ADS
Patricia Greene
(Renaissance Community)

DIRECTORY UPDATE
Geoph Kozeny
(Community Catalyst Project)

DESIGN and PRODUCTION
Lansing Scott
(SeaChange Media Co-op)

COVER DESIGN
Paul DeLapa

PROOFREADING
Ellen Jablow

ILLUSTRATIONS 
Billie Miracle   
(WomanShare)
John August Swanson
Michael Kluckner

CARTOONS
Jonathan Roth
(Twin Oaks)

PHOTOS
Albert Bates   
Susan Felter
Liz Walker

BUSINESS MANAGER
Laird Sandhill
(Sandhill Farm)
 
DATABASE MANAGEMENT
Velma Kahn
(Abundant Dawn)

CIRCULATION MANAGER
Valerie Renwick
(Twin Oaks)
 
EDITORIAL REVIEW BOARD
Betty Didcoct (TIES)
Geoph Kozeny 
(Community Catalyst Project)
Laird Sandhill 
(Sandhill Farm)

ERRATA 
Jason Minturn (Acorn Community) was a contributing photographer to our
Spring `96 issue, "Diversity, Homogeneity in Community."
The quote by Thich Nhat Hahn on the back cover of our Spring `95 issue,
"Nurturing Our Potential," was used with permission from Inquiring 
Mind journal.


COMMUNITIES (ISSN 0199-9346) is published quarterly by Fellowship for   
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Copyright 1996 by Fellowship for Intentional Community. All rights
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Movement groups may reprint with permission. Please direct inquiries to
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