Amazing Variety of Green Living Options: Together on the Land Tour increases in popularity despite wet weather
Franklin County, MA – Twenty-seven intrepid community seekers spent a full Saturday traveling the rainy hills and valleys of rural Franklin County together to explore what it takes to build sustainable and affordable housing in community. Some came to meet new people, others to get ideas for projects back home – but all left with a sense of greater possibilities.
The tour highlighted the fact that there is more than one way to build ecological community. From zero-net energy private homes built in existing neighborhoods, to new communities created on community land trust land – tour goers spoke with residents who explained the pros and cons of their community housing models.
“I enjoyed learning about the different models and options available. I also found the people who lived at the sites to be very knowledgeable and inspiring!” said one attendee.
The Together on the Land Tour began at the local food cooperative, Green Fields Market, with a facilitated discussion led by Lynn Benander of Co-op Power. When she asked people to rank what was most important to them – sustainability, affordability or community – most people ranked them equally. Those present wanted to find a way to balance all three options, not settle for one or another.
After the opening discussion, the participants then traveled in three rented vans to meet homeowners at a cohousing community, a zero energy home, a scattered site low-income housing cooperative, a community land trust property and a protected farm with on site housing. When asked what their favorite part of the tour was one attendee said, “Speaking directly to the people and seeing what they’ve done – they’re inspirational.”
Registrations for the 2010 tour exceeded 2009 registrations by at least 10 people, proving that interest in ecological living is strong. One of the tour organizers, Megan McDonough, speculated on this ongoing interest, “I think the housing bubble has proven to a lot of people that something is seriously broken. The cost of land and houses has been driven by speculative markets for too long. We need to refocus on creating homes that work – for individual budgets, community dynamics and the ecology of the earth.”
To facilitate ongoing discussion, information about tour stops and resources for community building have been posted at www.vclt.org. Adam Grandin of Colrain said he was amazed by the variety of community living options right here in Franklin County, “We would have needed at least another day to visit the other great places that could have been on the tour.” Tour cosponsors hope to plan another tour in 2011 to explore more intentional communities, coops and land trust properties.