The Living Manor: Sustainable living and visitors' experiences in a Danish ecovillage

Abstract

Ecovillages are small scale communities, striving for environmental sustainability and social integration. This thesis is based on a fieldwork of three months duration in a Danish ecovillage. The thesis explores their collective efforts of achieving a good quality of life for their residents in an environmentally sustainable manner. Moreover, an objective of this thesis is to describe the ways in which the residents share their values, knowledge and skills with the wider world. Describing the presence of day visitors and volunteers in the community provides an insight into some of these efforts. The thesis argues that the communication of sustainability as it happens in the context of this ecovillage, revolves around facilitating an experience of an alternative way of living. An important potential for volunteers to learn about sustainability is through their direct experience of community life, and practical engagements in organic farming and other endeavours in the community. The thesis provides an insight into the ways in which ecovillages can have relevance beyond their borders, by engaging outsiders in their everyday lives and location specific practices.