Ecovillage At Ithac Pioneering A Sustainable Culture

Adding the proposed changes will make it easier for EVI to grow and reach more people of varying socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds. Extending the focus group will promote sustainability on a broader level that can appeal to more individuals; Hence this will bolster the reception of these ideas. Allowing room to explore and grow leaves room for new voices to bring their innovations to the table as well.
Walker notes that communication and conflict are two of the greatest issues that have threatened peace in the community. (EcoVillage At Ithaca: Pioneering a Sustainable Culture) Governing through consensus, the community tries to listen to everyone’s opinions through an open discussion. They discuss objections and solutions and try to

Due to the location advantages, they have reduced their car usage and resort to carpooling, car sharing, public transportation, or walking when they must travel. EVI is estimated to save $716,000 in gasoline costs in three decades, not even factoring the environmental benefits. (EcoVillage At Ithaca: Pioneering a Sustainable Culture) A good balance between sharing and private ownership allows for less waste and environmental impact. (Sol) In her book, Walker continues to explain all of the sustainable habits integrated into the EcoVillage, including the internal economy, land use, habitat restoration, water conservation, food production utilizing local sources and their farmland, recycling, permaculture, and environmentally conscious designed building. (EcoVillage At Ithaca: Pioneering a Sustainable

EVI has partnered up with Ithaca College in order to make this a reality. Students visited the EcoVillage and attended classes there, monitored and recorded metrics from their experiences, and they were required to follow two of three concentrations or tracks. One track focused on “analysis of the eco-footprint of a local neighborhood (either in the city of Ithaca or an EcoVillage neighborhood) using field research and ecological footprint software developed by Mathis Wackernagel” (Allen-Gil, 396). Another “involved participation in community and campus discussions of sustainability that were organized in connection with the Sustainable Tompkins (ST) Initiative” (Allen-Gil, 396). The final track “involved the development of [two] demonstration projects on sustainability” (Allen-Gil, 396). The hands-on experience and purpose in this partnership provided an interactive solution to the disconnect and allowed students to learn in a new manner while implementing changes at Ithaca College and in their daily lives. EVI currently is implementing more outreach programs, like pilot programs that allow students to live at EVI while undergoing a unique learning experience. The current pilot allows students to live at EVI for eight weeks and channel their passions for sustainability and