What if we all lived in the gift economy?
by Andrew McLean (3 minute read) Our 'collective stewardship' model was already too radical for most Australians. But we wanted to push...
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- Oct 19
- 3 min
Why do we design for the nuclear family?
3 minute read by Andrew McLean Mum, Dad, two kids and a dog in the suburbs behind a white picket fence is the picture that Disney, media...
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- Sep 20
- 2 min
Carbon Neutral - We did it; you can too!
By Andrew McLean At our recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), Eco Villages Australia agreed to retrospectively go Carbon Neutral. We have...
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- Aug 17
- 2 min
Creating community "in your own image"
By Andrew McLean As Australians digest the bewildering news that our former Prime Minister secretly installed himself into five...
99 views1 comment
- Mar 16
- 3 min
The Radical Nature of Empathy
Ever since I was a child I have held a deep compassion. I felt very sad if kids at school were bullied. I could never imagine trying to...
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- Feb 22
- 5 min
Choose your challenge - Community or suburbia.
Many people are attracted to community as a utopian dream. We were accused of that ourselves at first (as a negative), but we encourage...
397 views1 comment
- Jan 19
- 3 min
Compost toilets: the practical meets the philosophical
by Claire Ogden What's in a toilet? Well, apart from human excrement and some sawdust, a whole metaphor of sustainability. When we think...
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- Jul 19, 2021
- 3 min
Personal Growth in Community with 'Nonviolent Communication' (NVC)
I first heard about 'Nonviolent Communication' (NVC) years ago from someone who had found it to be a truly profound tool for connecting...
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- Feb 17, 2021
- 4 min
What is it like to live in an Intentional Community?
Intentional communities are already experimenting with solutions for many of society's problems. We started Maleny Eco Village in 2019...
765 views1 comment
- Oct 13, 2020
- 5 min
How much do people contribute in community living?
Contribution is one of the things that people worry about most in intentional communities and eco villages. Anyone who has lived in...
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- Apr 26, 2020
- 3 min
Jumping sideways; what post-COVID future will you choose?
Eco communities are about jumping sideways. Still being 'in the world', but not buying into the shallowness of consumerism, the immediacy...
1,090 views1 comment
- Mar 14, 2020
- 1 min
Eco Village Resident Profile: Mischa Hassmann
What's your favourite thing about living at the Maleny Eco Village? Mischa: I like living outside for most of the day and having friendly...
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- Nov 12, 2019
- 4 min
We have plenty of housing, yet we still are bulldozing koala habitat.
There are 4-14 million spare rooms in Australia in any given night. It depends on who's counting. Most don't count the first spare room...
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- Oct 15, 2019
- 5 min
Why Eco Villages are Important for our Future
Article by Claire Ogden, first published in 'Eco Village Voice' (produced by Michael Ney) I’ve just celebrated my 31st birthday. I have a...
272 views0 comments
- Jul 1, 2019
- 3 min
The Global Ecovillage Network
Last year Andrew and Claire attended a regional gathering of the Global Ecovillage Network at Currumbin Ecovillage. This year, the...
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- Apr 29, 2019
- 1 min
April Eco Village Update
Our last email announced that Eco Villages Australia has purchased a beautiful block just a short walk from the town centre of Maleny....
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- Apr 10, 2019
- 2 min
A Trip to Peace Valley Australian Bush Retreat
Last week, Claire travelled out west to the Koreelah National Park where the Peace Valley Australian Bush Retreat is located just over...
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- Mar 26, 2019
- 2 min
Eco Village Site Confirmed: Property Purchased!
On the 25th of March 2019, Eco Villages Australia purchased the first eco village site in Maleny, a lovely town with a green heart on the...
1,657 views4 comments
- Mar 26, 2019
- 1 min
March Eco Village News - Property Purchased in Maleny!
We successfully purchased a beautiful 3.48 acre property in the heart of Maleny at an auction yesterday! This means that the first EVA...
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- Mar 17, 2019
- 4 min
Could A Gift Economy Eco Village Work?
Last night, Eco Villages Australia held an event at Turnstyle Community Hub in Brisbane that sparked some great conversations around...
77 views1 comment
- Mar 1, 2019
- 2 min
Tasman Ecovillage and Hobart Co-housing Models
Andrew and Claire visited Tasmania to research models of eco village living and co-housing in February 2019 and were inspired by the...
1,382 views0 comments
- Jan 31, 2019
- 1 min
Eco Villages and Intentional Communities Event: Pathways to Communal Living
On the 9th of February 2019, Eco Villages Australia will host an information and networking session for those wishing to live in eco...
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- Jan 22, 2019
- 1 min
January Eco Village Update
1) Land ownership: We have become increasingly passionate about our model of collective ownership. Read about an alternative to renting...
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- Jan 16, 2019
- 3 min
Are there alternatives to buying or renting property?
In Australia, home ownership has been put on a pedestal as a marker of success yet there are many people who are looking for a different...
573 views0 comments
- Jan 12, 2019
- 2 min
What is an Eco Village?
There are about as many definitions of eco village or 'ecovillage' as there are eco villages. Some developers have hijacked the name to...
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- Dec 24, 2018
- 1 min
Eco Village December Update
As Christmas approaches and the year draws to a close, we want to say a huge thanks to everyone for coming on the eco village...
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- Dec 11, 2018
- 2 min
Conflict Resolution Process for Eco Villages Australia
Conflict is part of life. It is inevitable and helps us learn. We needn’t be afraid of conflict when we have the tools to find a...
361 views0 comments
- Dec 1, 2018
- 1 min
Tiny Houses
Tiny houses have exploded into the public consciousness, however planning laws rarely allow them, especially in clusters. Tiny houses are...
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- Nov 27, 2018
- 2 min
Global Ecovillage Network Conference at Currumbin Ecovillage
On the weekend of the 24th and 25th of November, the first Global Ecovillage Network Australia regional gathering was held in Queensland...
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- Nov 23, 2018
- 2 min
November Eco Village Update
We will make a decision on a property to purchase for the eco village in the very near future. If you want to change your life, we can't...
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- Oct 24, 2018
- 1 min
A Possible Site for the First South East Queensland Eco Village
We have found a property at Cooloolabin that we think might just work for a wonderful first eco village. If you are keen on the Sunshine...
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- Oct 24, 2018
- 1 min
October Eco Village Update
We've been busy behind the scenes. Updates are: Non-profit. The new non-profit company 'Eco Villages Australia' has been registered. We...
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- Oct 24, 2018
- 1 min
How to live a healthy and happy life
Many people search far and wide for the answer to the question, "how can I live a long and healthy life?". Low stress, enough sleep and...
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- Oct 18, 2018
- 1 min
Embracing Low-carbon Lifestyles
Minimalism Excessive consumerism is morally, socially and ecologically bankrupt as more and more people are realising. Minimalists know...
571 views0 comments
- Oct 14, 2018
- 1 min
Affordable Housing
Eco Villages Australia communities aims to provide affordable, rented housing (not to be confused with 'assisted housing'). This is...
635 views0 comments
- Sep 21, 2018
- 1 min
Eco Villages Australia is Go!
Eco Villages Australia is the new face of what started as Brisbane North Eco Village. Andrew was originally looking for land to purchase...
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