20 Years in 20 Days: A Book to Help YOU Choose a Sustainable Future

by cohousingworks on September 14, 2011

in Marketing / Outreach, Other, Cohousing, Social

Day 16 of 20

Liz Walker, one of the co-founders of EVI, has published two books reflecting on the last twenty years.  The second one, Choosing a Sustainable Future: Ideas and Inspiration from Ithaca, NY is precisely that – a practical and interesting book designed to inspire and support.  Both of Liz’s books give thorough detail on the successes and struggles of forming an ecovillage, enough depth that others can truly learn from this community.  Here are some reviews from her first book, EcoVillage at Ithaca: Pioneering a Sustainable Culture.

Here is some of the wonderful things folks had to say about her book:

Liz Walker’s “EcoVillage at Ithaca” is an achingly beautiful and finely told account of a group of people – part of a larger movement – living as modern pioneers of a sustainable future. Walker and her dozens of companions are ordinary people called to an extraordinary adventure in our hyper-individualistic consumer culture – to trust one another, to cooperate, to work together, to make a “career” of living itself. I hope this book inspires you to be more neighborly at the very least and perhaps to join the growing network of people living lightly and intentionally so that there might be many tomorrows.  

Vicki Robin, co-author of Your Money or Your Life and co-founder of “Conversation Cafes

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The folks at EcoVillage have learned more than a little about creating an Earth-friendly community. Today, an ever-growing number of people are coming to the conclusion that our society is on a collision course with madness; they long for a way of life less alienating and more natural than the prevailing direction of our culture, but do not know where to turn. In EcoVillage at Ithaca, Liz Walker speaks of the struggles as well as the joys of building such a community. I finished this book with a greatly renewed sense of hope and trust in humanity’s ability to live with one another and the Earth.

John Robbins, author of Diet For a New America and The Food Revolution

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Liz Walker’s “EcoVillage at Ithaca” is a great contribution to the sustainability movement. Her personal, engaging account is an invaluable documenting of the process of creating one of the most successful alternative communities: EcoVillage at Ithaca. Liz Walker is honest about the frustrations and conflicts as well as about the joys of this social experiment. The lessons she has learned, and the example of sustainable, supportive living, are vital for anyone contemplating undertaking such a project. Thank you, Liz!
 - Starhawk, author of The Spiral Dance, The Fifth Sacred Thing, Webs of Power
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Those of us lucky enough to live in Ithaca have seen for ourselves how EcoVillage inspires the larger community of which we are part. Now, with Liz Walker’s good book, everyone can witness the transformative power of this “incubator of a new culture.” Reading “EcoVillage at Ithaca” is like reading a letter from an old friend. It is full of confession, news, advice, hindsight, insight and hope.
Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D, author of Living Downstream

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I had the good luck to stay at EcoVillage at Ithaca in its early days, and can still remember the heady sense of optimism, community, and verve. This fine book captures all that, and will serve as an invaluable tool for anyone with such subversive thoughts in the back of their own mind. 

Bill McKibben, Founder, 350.org, author, educator, environmentalist

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Liz Walker’s fascinating and touching story of EcoVillage at Ithaca shows how two single mothers without financial means initiated and led the building of a model for a sustainable society. In the process, they not only reduced their ecological footprint by 40 percent, but also created community, trust and love among the participants. All future ecovillage projects will stand on the shoulders of their experiences. This is a place into which I would like to reincarnate as a child in a future lifetime. Ecovillagers are the true freedom fighters of our generation. 

 - Hildur Jackson, ecovillage designer, cofounder of Gaia Trust and the Global Ecovillage Network

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This thoughtful, candid look at a successful ecovillage, by one of its cofounders is a must-read for anyone seriously interested in starting his or her own ecovillage or intentional community.   - Diana Leafe Christian, author of Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities

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This post is part of a 20 day special series about the EcoVillage at Ithaca, leading up to their 20th anniversary event on September 17th.  Visit their website, www.ecovillageithaca.org, to learn more!

Posted by Rebecca on September 14th, 2011 – Day 16 of 20

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