100 to 200 families living in a new-type settlement, on their own land in harmony with each-other and the earth – being an example of a sustainable community – for South Africa and the World
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This project is intended to create an environmentally sustainable, socially just and spiritually fulfilling human presence on earth. It is the very first draft of a sustainable settlement for 100 to 200 families according to principles outlined in the “Ringing Cedar” books. (http://www.ringingcedars.com) This settlement will also provide a home for AIDS impacted orphans and whole families.
This idea needs input and constructive criticism. Experts on water, energy, waste management, natural architecture etc are needed and a NGO needs to be formed with a board of directors. Please get involved!
This project is intended to be a pioneering and educative project for South Africa and world-wide to resolve the ecological and economical crisis, alleviate poverty and crime and social unrest.
It will be closely monitored by scientists and researchers. Data will be captured via computer by all participants and made available online.
It needs a 300+ha farm with a water source from which the circular waterways and channels can be created. Rainwater will be captured from all roofs and stored underneath each building. A re-forestation program is started in order to create a complete eco-system with open spaces for living houses, accommodation, facilities and crops. Wild life corridors are created and connected to surrounding national parks. Every family receives a land parcel of 1ha as their own family-domain, forever! An initial probation period of 3 years is applied.
Families grow their own food in forest food gardens. Additional crops will be grown in the outer circle in communal effort to supply families in need or for sale. All surplus organic produce can be exchanged or sold to surrounding towns or exported to create monetary income. Fish can be produced in the water bodies (Telapia) but no other animals are bred for food purposes; the aim is to treat animals as friends and helpers and therefore not to kill them for food.
Forms of monetary income creation can be: work in conference centre , accommodation facilities & restaurant, skills trainings centre, school, kindergarten, shops, spa, services. Income derived from accommodation & conference facilities. Production of arts and crafts, solar cookers, toys, clothing (hemp) & accessories, organic heirloom seeds, seedlings, plants, preserves, bakery and other products.
This is a zero-waste community – no rubbish of any kind will be produced, everything gets recycled or re-used. All energy required (electricity, hot water) will be created by clean alternative sources like wind, solar energy, micro hydro power or else.
All cleaning or cosmetics or other house hold products used are strictly bio-degradable.
Transportation in the settlement is strictly emission free – by foot or horse (cart) or via water channels on boats.
Communal cars will be shared between settlers for outings and trips.
Every family will be carefully chosen amongst applicants, according to desire and will and outlook on life, and trained and educated to build their own natural houses, create their gardens, design their family domains, use a computer and record their harvest and products made. Children will learn all age-old natural skills of planting, harvesting, building, medicinal herbs etc, besides modern knowledge (business skills, energy, computers, money, technology).
Over a 5 year period is in envisaged that all domains are taken by South African families of all backgrounds and culture. One idea is that half the families will consist of educated, green-conscious families, which may come from other countries and have read the “Ringing Cedar Books” and have financial means to build their houses and create their domains and infra structure. In exchange for receiving the land for free, they will take on stewardship for a disadvantaged or AIDS impacted family each as their neighbours and help them with education and finances to establish their own family domain. Thus a new culture is created by people with a high consciousness of mutual support, deep respect and appreciation for each-others differences and one-ness.
Regular celebrations of the natural sun cycles and seasons will strengthen the community spirit, create harmony and peace and enable all people to meet and form new relationships as well as serve as education for the children and youth.
It is envisaged that no animal will get killed on community grounds and people will live mainly vegetarian. No alcohol will be sold in the local shops and in general people living in the community are inspired to live an alcohol and drug free life.
The inner circle of the settlement contains areas for:
A: Kindergarten & school – which will enable children to meet and learn together in an experimental and highly inspirational environment.
B: Skills Trainings Centre for youth & adults, small factory and work places, artisans etc – which will enable youth from the community to learn skills for their adult life. It will as well provide training in sustainable crafts and arts plus business and computer skills for youth and adults from surrounding areas, thus providing a very necessary service for the entire region. The products created will be sold in order to create income for the community. The may be small factories to produce hemp products or solar cookers or food preserves etc.
C: Permaculture Trainings & Research Centre, run by a qualified and experienced expert is providing training for community members and serves as a research centre as well, continuously exploring new and better avenues for food production and plant research. Permaculture courses for national and international clients can provide additional income for the community.
D: Information & Organisation Centre, Medical Centre, Market, Shops, Library – shops for food, clothing, hard ware etc, where people can either buy with money or exchange. A fresh food market enables community members to exchange their produce. There will be huts with services that community members offer, like: shoe maker, dress maker, bags, accessories, tools etc, as well as a Medical centre for emergencies that people cannot yet treat themselves. It is envisaged that most members of the community will eventually learn about medical plants and natural remedies and due to high quality nutrition, daily exercise and harmonious lifestyle, there will be hardly any diseases.
E: Conference Centre, Accommodation, Restaurant, Spa – providing room for national and international business and ecological conferences. Natural and eco-friendly but luxurious accommodation invites international tourists and business people, as well as a top-class vegetarian Restaurant and a Spa.
F: Area for school camps & leadership training camps – A space for holiday camps for regional schools and leadership training for disadvantaged youth is envisaged. Children and youth can spend time in nature, learning about plants, animals, permaculture, medicinal herbs, eco-friendly technology, practical skills etc.
G: Public area for sports, gatherings, festivities, marina & community hall
H: Home for Orphans & disabled people, abused and neglected children and other people in need is envisaged, with possibility of long-term family integrations in the community.
The very centre of the settlement consists of an island surrounded by a broad water body which can be used for water sports. On the island stands a stone amphi theatre which can hold at least 1000 people and provides the space for theatre performances, concerts and school plays. It would be great to have one or more “lookout point towers” to overlook the whole settlement. These towers could contain a library, like in the old days.
This project needs funding to purchase the land, creating infra-structure, energy supplies, expert involvement etc. Interested parties please contact Christine on: 044-8821246, 073-3516388 or christine@natural-living.co.za
