|
“Future Living” – Visit to
Coed Hills ‘low-impact’ community |
|
Creating
Sustainable Communitites |
|
|
|
|||
|
Envision a community gathering in beautiful land of people
sharing an intention for simply living and co-creating natural sustainable
lives where ever we are. As we completed
a ceremony, this Equinox weekend, to inaugurate a Circle of Hearts Earth
Medicine Wheel we felt connected through our hearts and minds to countless
people around the world all sharing a growing commitment and a sense of a
real new consciousness emerging. Humanity
is moving forward. Despite the pains
of peoples and nations in crisis across the globe we are aware that the
awakening of human kind is bringing through a truly universal sense of our
togetherness and oneness and a desire to lead natural and practical
lives. For this to happen people are
realising that we are perhaps meant to live in more cooperative groups and
communities as we once did in clans and tribes. But at the same time we are remembering our interwoven
relationship with all kingdoms, our planet and her brothers and sisters, the
distant galaxies and constellations – indeed we are realising they are in us
and merely the means of expressing the One Life. If
you joined with us at Coed Hills, or some other part of our world, then we
would like to share these thoughts and good feelings with you. Attached are some photos of our Equinox
event. For me it felt like we are
stepping onto a bridge carrying the seeds of new ways of living along with
the gifts and skills we can all share together to create the futures we
believe in. Coed
Hills is a low impact community near the Severn Estuary in Wales. It is inspiring to meet folks who are
combining art and community living on acres of wooded land. Apparently the grandfather of Rawleigh’s mum
(whose family owns the land) was Baden Powell who founded the Scout
movement. In his day their moto “be
prepared” meant learning practical survival skills and self-reliance and were
he alive and with us I am convinced he would dub the new low-impact communities
the survival models of future
living. If you get a chance to visit
Coed Hills, near Cowbridge on the A48, you may see how such things are
progressing. |
Our Focus – Land
for Living in Portugal
A
previous workshop on “future living – creating sustainable community in
Portugal” brought around a dozen people together at Coed Hills over the
Equinox weekend; our theme or focus being to look at examples of land
available for co-owning and sharing and to get to know each other a little
more. As it turned out others came
forward to express very similar goals, for low-impact livinghere in Wales and
across the waters. It
really is as if people cannot tolerate anything less than living our full
potential now and we all sense that love, spiritual law, togetherness,
alongside the practical arts of growing food, using renewable energies,
building our own homes and shelter and so forth are the ways to be. We
looked at a good example of land now available: 40 hectares of undulating
countryside right next to St.Clara lake, one of the largest reservoirs in
Portugal. The earth is good and can
support almost year round abundant growing.
But summer heat can be too hot for some but good if you have nomadic
tendencies or a life to continue here.
Water is plentiful with two wells at present and a massive water table
due to the lake. There is good access
and mains electricity available and abundant solar for renewable. A nearby hamlet has basic provisions and
the town of St.Clara is less than 10km away.
Cortes Brique nearby is an area populated by a well settled tribe of
germans, quite a few from the eastern side and all into practical simple
living not tourism or blood sausages! Planning
provides for up to 8 x 1002m built dwellings, plus a further 8002m
of workshop (non-residential) building space. Besides which low-impact dwellings such as Yurts, Tipis and
Benders can be used without the need for planning. Provided things are done respectively building is hassle-free,
and all traditional ways (Rammed earth, cob, timber) are possible. Cont/. Page 1 of 3 |
||
|
There are 26 hectares under existing Gov. grant funding for Cork Trees which can bring in an income from the grant of about 10k Euros /year for the first 20 years. After 20 years this reduces to about 150 Euros/heactare. There are NO Eucalyptus trees! Buying land in Portugal involves paying a deposit, obtaining a contract which is effectively a promissory note and then arranging to meet the owners, sometimes a large family all of whom have to sign the transfer. Later one obtains a Cardinetta or ownerhip certificate from the local Council. Conveyancing doesn’t exist as it is done in the UK. It’s really as uncomplicated as buying a vehicle albeit a rather expensive one. The
cost of the land is (Euro) 288,250 which is just under £200,000 and works out at just under £5,000 per Hectare (2.5 Acres). Living
can be hard in Portugal, but Alentejo uniquely offers a refuge from EEC
globalism (Portugal is in a backwater politically and economically) and the
tradition of subsistence living of the local population goes on amidst a
relatively primitive but unspoilt and fertile land – ideal for those who
choose to be the newly emerging peasantry. How We can Buy
and Own the Land
Whilst
respecting these early days in sharing our genuine interests for the future,
obtaining such land gives us an amazing choice. Individually we will know whether it is right or if another
choice is the way to go. People are
planning various trips to Portugal this winter and next Spring to see for
themselves what this land is really like and what other land may be
available. Jenny
and I both feel that being part of a group with a common intention has to
come before owning land. Respecting
our differences and being responsible for our individual actions is a basis
for moving into relationship with others with more social dynamic and
cohesion than just being an individual can offer. We feel that we are ready to be a part of such a group. But no one of us can buy such land
outright. We have to do it
cooperatively. And there are several
couples who can just afford/want about one hectare. |
So
the following is suggested: Up to 4 couples or units buy the majority of the land in common ownership to hold the land in trust for the community as a whole. This secures the land by or before next Spring after which time it will likely be sold anyway. Others
who want to buy in can do so by purchasing lots of one hectare per share from
the land trust, which the initial purchasers would form. I suspect that such a trust in Portuguese
law is an Association of members with democratic rights like a cooperative
trust is in the UK. Selling
of land shares would be back to the community, or to people who want to buy
in. For
those with logically assertive minds, this suggests that there is ~ v space for a community of 8
to 10 families or units, v self-building of eco-homes
or living in low-impact structures, v sharing of common land for
growing food, and crops (hemp, cork, fruit) v Workshop spaces and
community facilities. So What’s Next?
If
our commitment persists and we are willing to take our choices in similar
directions let’s first go and see what the land is like. If you are willing to co-buy the land then
please contact Jenny + Jonathan. We
can offer or help with accommodation if you want to come and stay or
visit. We are offering a group week next March to look at what Future Living really means for those who would like to join with us. Cont/. Page 2 of 3. |
Who We Are –
first impressions
Not
everyone made Coed Hills. You may
wish to add to these impressions (as just our own) … Jenny
and Jonathan own a plot in the valley of Totenique, Alentejo where they will
be living this winter. They also have
a mobile home Office/accom. on the Isle of Wight where they make a
sustainable living from renewable energy.
Jenny is a Permaculture designer and is studying Ayvedic
Medicine. Jonathan is studying
herbalism. Rob
and Naomi are both Youth workers based in Wrexham and Bristol. Rob is teacher training. They are planning to visit PT next Spring. Pete
and Fiona have sold their home and are living in mobile accom. Both are trained Homeopaths and will be
touring through S.Europe this Winter. Lizi
is a trained Permaculture Designer living in her truck that runs on
Biodiesel. Zoe
is based in Dorset and works as a Care worker and Aromatherpist. Hazel
and partner live on the road with a group who want to buy and share land. Jake
+ family are a Tipi maker and artist with three home-educated children. They are looking for land to settle and
care for the future. Janet
Penhaligan and partner Simon live in Cornwall. She is an Aromatherapist and Reiki Healer and both are touring
Portugal at the time of writing. |
∞ A free CD of Portuguese Music is available on request ∞