eco-villages
Green intentional communities
Eco-villages are intentional communities designed around principles of environmental sustainability.
Residents typically share resources, grow food collectively, use renewable energy, and minimize waste.
The concept emerged in the 1990s as an alternative to conventional suburban development: They moved to an eco-village to reduce their carbon footprint.
Some eco-villages emphasize social sustainability alongside ecological goals.
Shared by a community
- collectiveJointly organized group
- sharedHeld in common
- cooperativeJointly operated enterprise
- cohousingIntentional community with shared amenities
consensus · fellowship · solidarity · collaboration · participation · governance · decision-making · membership
Of the countryside
- acreageAmount of land owned
- homesteadFamily farm and dwelling
- commonsShared community resources
- rewildingRestoring natural ecosystems
biodiversity · reforestation · sanctuary · watershed · wetlands · meadows · woodlands · pastures
Trees integrated with farming
- polycultureMulti-species crop system
- regenerativeAble to renew itself
- mulchingCovering soil protectively
- compostingDecomposing organic matter deliberately
intercropping · vermiculture · market-garden · orchards · swales · perennial · no-till
Without utility connections
- carbon-neutralNet-zero emissions state
- zero-wasteNo garbage produced
- compostingDecomposing organic matter deliberately
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
greywater · cob · strawbale · earthship · insulation · biogas · low-impact · closed-loop
Independence from outside aid
- downshiftingLowering gear or pace
- back-to-the-landMovement toward rural self-sufficiency
- alternativeAnother available choice
- holisticAddressing interconnected wholes
mindful · DIY · handcraft · barter · resilience · wellness · unplugged
communal
Shared by a community
- collectiveJointly organized group
- sharedHeld in common
- cooperativeJointly operated enterprise
cohousing · consensus · fellowship · solidarity · collaboration · participation · governance · decision-making · membership · residents
rural
Of the countryside
rewilding · biodiversity · reforestation · sanctuary · watershed · wetlands · meadows · woodlands · pastures · ponds
agroforestry
Trees integrated with farming
- polycultureMulti-species crop system
- regenerativeAble to renew itself
- mulchingCovering soil protectively
composting · intercropping · vermiculture · market-garden · orchards · swales · perennial · no-till
off-grid
Without utility connections
- carbon-neutralNet-zero emissions state
- zero-wasteNo garbage produced
- compostingDecomposing organic matter deliberately
recycling · greywater · cob · strawbale · earthship · insulation · biogas · low-impact · closed-loop · upcycling
self-sufficiency
Independence from outside aid
- downshiftingLowering gear or pace
- back-to-the-landMovement toward rural self-sufficiency
- alternativeAnother available choice
holistic · mindful · DIY · handcraft · barter · resilience · wellness · unplugged
- Communescommunes, communal living, kibbutz, hippie commune, utopian communities
- planned communitiesplanned towns, subdivision, gated community, new towns, master-planned community
- activismboycotts, activists, activist, advocate, demonstrating
- green practicesrecycling, recycled paper, reusable bags, solar panels, solar power
- cooperativesco-op, credit union, worker co-op, housing co-op, co-ops
- green initiativescarbon capture, carbon offsets, clean energy, emissions reduction, green building
eco-villagesfactory towns
Settlements centered on manufacturing
industrial zones · mining towns · coal mining towns · coal towns
eco-villagessuburban sprawl
Unplanned outward residential development
exurbs · gated communities · bedroom communities · commuter towns · tract housing
village, economy, villages, ecology, villager, ecological, ecosystem, ecologist, ecosystems