Renew Iowa: Abundance Ecovillage

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7862118

Renew Iowa: Abundance Ecovillage

Updated: Feb 12, 2008 11:54 PM

February 12, 2008 -- There's a small community in Southeast Iowa you won't find on any map. The people are living in a way some might assume is impossible. But the small village near Fairfield has been turning possibility into reality since 2002.

It's a unique community nestled atop 15 acres in the Iowa countryside. You won't see cars driving up and down any main street, but you will see several small homes surrounded by solar panels and a wind turbine on the horizon.

Lonnie Gamble, an electrical engineer by background, co-founded Abundance Ecovillage. He says, "If your plumber or electrician says it's not possible, point here and say that it is."

Gamble started the project after several people approached him about how to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, "Their beer is cold, their showers are hot, but we do it with one-tenth of the energy a conventional home would use."

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[gateley]

1. Wow - that's exciting! I'd love to live there! -- thanks. Recommend!

[Tashca]

2. Thank you for posting this.

Fairfield is only about 25 miles from where I grew up. It is the home of Maharishi University.
I am doubtful that the University has anything to do with the village....but it has had an influence on the area. I know the University has sunk a vast amount of money into Organic Ag. There seems to be a movement in this area for sustainability and seeing this doesn't surprise me.
I am impressed by what these people have done with their village. I hope this continues to grow and expand into other areas. It will be nice to have a resource so close.

I lived in an eco-village for a short time. It was in the mountains close to the Appalachian trail. It was an experience I would trade for nothing....and I learned much in my time there. Things you need to experience and can hardly learn from a book. I'll never forget it.....