Resilience Through Community-Connections and Neighbourliness
Robin Allison, founder of Earth Song Eco Neighborhood, has dedicated her work to teaching and demonstrating how communities can be sustainable and supportive place to live.
In the recent conversation on the Homefullness Show we discussed the pivotal role ecovillages and intentional communities play in fostering resilience and sustainability.
Check out the Homefullness Show on your preferred podcast app or go to this webpage: https://www.commonground.net.nz/show
Our Planetary & Local Responsibility
As awareness grows about the fragility and interconnectedness of our planet, it's evident that survival requires cooperative living. Communities like eco villages serve as critical hubs where people can work together, learn from each other, and be part of a more extensive collective.
Earthsong EcoNeighbourhood
Earthsong EcoNeighbourhood, a co-housing community in Rānui West Auckland, embodies this vision of sustainability and shared living. With 32 homes spread over 1.2 hectares, the neighbourhood is a testament to permaculture ethics, social sustainability, and eco-building. Residents have the autonomy of owning their homes while sharing common facilities, promoting a richer, interconnected way of life.
Resiliency Workshops for the Public
Robin emphasizes that true resilience operates on multiple levels: personal, community, and global. Through participating in a Resiliency research project with the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), Earthsong has actively explored what resilience means and where improvements can be made.
Robin and the Earthsong Educational Trust aim to extend their influence by launching a short film and offering workshops to any interested groups to encourage wider community engagement. These initiatives aim to spark discussions on resilience and collective preparedness in facing future challenges.
Empowerment Through Self-Governance
One of Earthsong's greatest offerings is their experience in self-governance. Years of practice in collective decision-making have equipped them with unique skills that are vital for building resilience. These systems not only benefit their community but offer models for others to emulate, fostering greater agency and cooperation in society.
See Earthsong’s Neighbourliness in Action
Earth Song exemplifies this through educational tours and seminars, inviting people to witness and learn from their successes in creating sustainable communities.
Place-Making Professionals & Councils are Important Role Players
Looking forward, Robin envisions cities composed of interconnected, thriving co-housing neighborhoods. The professional involvement of built environment experts in creating and supporting such initiatives is crucial.
Resources
For more information on Earth Song Eco Neighbourhood and to connect with Robin Allison, visit their websites.
https://robinallison.co.nz/. https://www.earthsong.org.nz/
To get a copy of the Designing Greater Connection with Your Neighbours—a 7 day challenge, download the 2-page guide:
Zola is offering a number of services to support councils, housing organisations and professionals, and leaders and groups aspiring to create an innovative housing projects.
Beyond housing, she offers services to those wishing to add more connection and harmony to their workplaces, teams and groups--finding and deepening the common ground amongst all members to work and live better together.
Check out the Working Together page to see services and book an exploratory meeting with Zola:
Advisory, Consulting, Facilitation and Speaking services for team and groups (related to housing and team-building)
Connection Labs (playful, interactive workshops) which include communication that increases connection and understand, teambuilding that increases cooperation and effective work flows, somatic activities to increase body wisdom, and Playback Theatre as a playful way to increase empathy and social cohesion.
Women Revolutionising Housing network: supporting women curious about and leading innovative housing ideas and projects.
Residential Property Development for Community-Focused Housing, a curated course for lay-leaders and professionals
Join the Homefullness Patreon Community to support the podcast and Zola's work building a movement for housing systems change
