Last Summer I had the opportunity to visit the Eco-Village in LA, to see what it's like to practice more sustainable ways of living, while having a lesser negative impact on the environment. In the third installment of Lessons from LA, the people who work and live at the LA Eco-Village show how even in an urban setting, there are ways to live closer to the earth and in better harmony with the people and environment around you.


"An ecovillage is a human scale neighborhood where people know their neighbors and care about them. People can live close to where they work and play and have access to other essential services without use of automobiles. Together, neighbors try to minimize waste and pollution of all kinds. Residents and friends work together to create a healthy community socially, physically and economically.

Urban ecovillages work with surrounding neighborhoods and the city at large to bring a whole systems perspective to urban planning and community development activities. The L.A. Eco-Village Demonstration is part of an international network of sustainable neighborhood groups which seek to model healthier ways of living based on environmental sustainability and social and economic justice." (ecovillage.org)

Some core Values of the LA ecoivillage are

- Celebrate & include joy in all our endeavors

- Take responsibility for each other & the planet through local environmental & social action.

- Learn from nature & live ecologically.

- Build a dynamic community through diversity & cooperation

- Inspire compassionate, nurturing, & respectful relationships

- Create balanced opportunities for individual participation & collective steward

- Engage our neighbors and broader communities in mutual dialog to learn, teach and act

you can find out more at ecovillage.org