EcoVillage at Ithaca: Pioneering a Sustainable Culture

by Liz Walker

The compelling story of an internationally recognized example of sustainable development. In a world filled with stories of environmental devastation and social dysfunction, EcoVillage at Ithaca is a refreshing and hopeful look at a modern-day village that is taking an integrated approach to addressing these problems. This book tells the story of life at EcoVillage at Ithaca, an internationally recognized example of sustainable development. It transports the reader into the midst of a vibrant community that includes co-housing neighborhoods, small-scale organic farming, land preservation, green building, energy alternatives and hands-on education. By integrating proven social and environmental alternatives into a living model, EcoVillage at Ithaca provides a rare glimpse into one possible―and positive―future for the planet. EcoVillage at Ithaca delves into the heart of the lived experience at this innovative community. It provides a warm, personal and reflective look at what it is like to create a sustainable culture. The book tells in-depth stories about an integrated way of At the same time, as one chapter states, “This is not Utopia,” and the struggles and conflicts inherent in any community endeavor are not glossed over. Human scale, accessible and inspiring, the example of EcoVillage at Ithaca will help readers imagine fresh alternatives to “life as usual.” It will appeal to all who are hungry to learn about successful working models of a more sustainable approach to living with each other and the earth. Liz Walker co-founded and has directed EcoVillage at Ithaca since its inception in 1991 and has lived there with her family since the first buildings were completed. She has worked on all aspects of the community’s development and has written and lectured widely on the topic.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Sustainability

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Image Friendly Version

Building the first Ecovillage in America took grit. The work required behind real world Solarpunk would send most of us screaming!!!

The book is a history of the village and a memoir. I think her upbringing as a Quaker with siblings helped. As an only child… well, that’s usually all the explanation anyone needs.

[Susan Baumgartner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't find the manner in which the author presented the story of this place as helpful as I think it could have been. At the beginning, I was more interested in learning about how her common law husband dumped her and how she "got something better". The idea of people living more closely to others and being more grounded to their food sources, etc is all very interesting and should be explored more in the coming years.

[Arda Alkkåskøgen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeni İnsan Yayınevi'nin ekoloji kitaplığı serisi pek çok farklı açıdan pek çok farklı ''ders'' çıkarmak için sonsuz bir kaynak. Bu özverili çalışma için kendilerine ne kadar teşekkür edilse az kalacağını düşünüyorum.

Ekoköy Ithaca, ekoköy yaşamı için rehber kitap olmaktan çok bir kişisel ve toplumsal dönüşüm hikayesi. Bireysel gelişimin topluluk yaşamında yarattığı etkiyi, kolay yoldan veya zorluk çekerek, ama nihayetinde muhakkak olumlu bir biçimde idrak edebilmenin mümkünlüğünü böyle ağdasız, abartısız bir deneyimi okuyarak öğrenmek büyük bir keyifti.

Orhan Tuncay'a da bu güzel çeviri ile kitabı dilimize kazandırdığı için teşekkür ediyorum kendi adıma.

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent narrative of life at EcoVillage Ithaca, and about ecovillage living in general.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Answered a lot of questions about the village.

[Ricky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this book while staying in Frog's Way, the B&B at EcoVillage. I'm definitely glad I read it, since it gave me a lot more background on the project. I dropped facts for Joanna constantly. EcoVillage is a wonderful project - co-housing, pedestrian neighborhood, community gardens, community meals, composting, etc. On the other hand, it's also aimed at middle/upper-class people, thereby compromising radical vision and affordability. The author, Liz Walker, is the co-founder and director of EcoVillage, and she is definitely aware of these compromises, though she definitely thinks they're for the best. I'm not fully sold on her personality and history. The book is 100% from her perspective. So...I'm just not a huge fan of hers. Ok that's all!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am happy to have learned about Ecovillage at Ithaca, it was one ecovillage I wanted to eventually learn more about.

I generally read these books because I have an interest in living in an ecovillage one day. This book didn't particularly help me in terms of ideas as it is a more mainstream ecovillage (still using city water and energy, etc). However it's interesting to see how they market sustainability to the average US citizen, which is completely their intent. They seem to be doing a great job of getting the word out, and easing people into sustainability work.

I also liked her honesty in regards to their pitfalls.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good look at this Ecovillage model as told by one of the original organizers of the group. Interesting ideas about eco-living, what they'd like to implement, what has been a challenge. Rec if you are into this stuff.

[Özgür Yıldırım · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doğaya ve doğal yaşamaya özlem duyanlar için ekoköyler çok çekici bir konudur.
Ancak bu kadar güzel ve başarılı bir işin anlatımını hiç beğenmedim. Gerek kurgu, gerek anlatım ve gerekse çevirisi kitabı biraz zor okuttu açıkçası.