Enriched Earth Ecovillage

Mission: To build an inspirational Educational Eco Village in Northern Ireland on the principals of sustainable living.

To lead, demonstrate and spread environmental innovation.

To promote community development for social change.

To develop a practical renewal of traditional culture and heritage for the times we live in and for the times to come.

From www.ic.org/directory/the-cauldron-community/:

Enriched Earth Ecovillage is an exciting project aspiring to create a pioneering and educational Ecovillage in Northern Ireland. For residents, guests, the local community, nationally and internationally we seek to become an inspiring example of best practice in sustainable living. We are registered as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company and intend to run series of cooperatives and other social enterprises within this legal framework.

Our Vision

A co-housing scheme, incorporating a community centre, shared facilities and social areas
Eco-education facilities and activities
Renewable energy technologies
Community allotments
Facilities and support for small business enterprises
Community festivals and events
Facilities for visitors and eco-tourists

Our Values

Exemplify best practice for sustainable living
Promote social inclusion and integration
Promote culture and heritage
Seek ecological, social and economic sustainability
Lead, demonstrate and spread environmental innovation
Promote community development for social change and peace and reconciliation
Provide for life long learning
Devise and adopt appropriate legal structures so as to facilitate and co-ordinate the development of the overall enterprise.

Enriched Earth Ecovillage shall be a place of learning; harmony, transformation, prosperity and a place where each individual shall be sovereign over themselves while working in concert with their community colleagues through shared values and vision.

Low Impact Co-Housing

We are founding members of Co-Housing NI and aim to build a series of low impact, sustainable houses. We wish these to blend into the land, with a grass roof and also to be ornate through the inclusion of indigenous style artwork. We intend to build using Hempcrete as having excellent thermal mass. These houses shall serve as homes for residents and also as guesthouses for responsible and sustainable eco-tourism of the site. We shall also have a camping and glamping area for guests and tourists and hostel accommodation.

Community Hub

We will have a Community Hub for workshops on sustainable living such as agroecology, for community meetings, for celebrating traditional seasonal festivals e.g. Lughnasa, for hosting an annual Early Gaelic Harp festival, a Poetry Festival, Community Theatre and a wide range of cultural enrichment and cross-community activities such as set dancing and yoga classes. The Community Centre will have an adjacent cafe and shop to sell local and organic produce and regional arts and crafts. This will be a place of genuine social and cultural integration, were all are made welcome regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or physical ability. True traditional hospitality shall be part of our legend! We will have a community library and also a natural outdoor amphitheatre.

Eco Education Interactive Adventure Trail

The area around the centre will be made into an outdoor Eco Education Area in the design of a labyrinth all presented in a very imaginative, fun and interactive way. The core themes of the very successful Green Flag Eco-Schools Program (with which we are in the process of piloting formal afffliation) will be referenced for example the topic of Litter will be explored via ‘The Island of the Legendary Litter Monster.’ It will be designed as an enjoyable place of education for all ages from nursery school to OAP and a great, healthy, enriching and rewarding family experience. We intend for this Eco Education area to become in itself one of the ‘must-see’ visitor attractions in Northern Ireland.

Economic Benefits

It is envisaged that this exciting initiative will not only serve to enrich the lives of its residents and guests but will also be a boon to the local economy and community through its cultural program, unique small business enterprises and through attracting the ever-growing eco-tourism market sector.

One of our primary case studies is Findhorn Ecovillage in Scotland, which brings in an incredible £2,500,000 in annual revenue, also Sólheimar Ecovillage in Iceland which is extremely prosperous and hosts 35,000 guests per year. We also have case studied the Eden project which has brought in an over £1 Billion to the local Cornwall economy. We are a not-for-profit Social Enterprise but we do intend of have our Ecovillage as a place of prosperity in all ways.

Synergised Social Enterprises

We also seek to promote traditional crafts such as blacksmithing, pottery, soap making and willow weaving through a series of interlinked small business enterprises. We will also have a music recording studio and a multi-media suite.
Forest Gardening and Renewable Energy
We shall grow our own ‘forest garden’ food, keep free-range livestock and aim to power the site through passive solar heating of homes and renewable energy sources such as solar panels, wind and water turbines.

Wild Outdoor Spa Area

The site will also feature a wildlife and meditation pond, a natural swimming pool, an outdoor sauna, outdoor hot-tubs, a sensory garden, a wildflower meadow and an herb garden.to facilitate health in mind, body and spirit of residents, guests and the wider local community.

We Need You!

We need people who seek to be residents and also we need seed-investors in this cutting-edge social and rural development project. We are also exploring and open to a variety of available public aid and funding options and will run a crowdfunding campaign.

Are you someone who wishes to be part of a vibrant, ecological community cooperative? Are you an ethical investor who can see the potential for growth in this ever more relevant market-sector? Are you a public servant with a duty to ensure the welfare of your nation and local area? Then please do not hesitate to get in touch! Every ingredient is essential in optimizing the potential of this potent enterprise of ecological inspiration!

Let’s learn to enrich the earth together as we move into an era of actually dealing with Climate Change as one of the greatest threats to our species and other environmental and social problems via this cutting edge and sustainable model of good practice. Our children and our children’s children deserve NI to have an Educational Ecovillage and it is not too soon… not too late.

Be part of the solution…

Yours in service to All

John-Paul Patton

(Founder and Director)

Enriched Earth Ecovillage CIC no. NI636983

A service of the Data Commons Co-op. The project has been supported by Equal Exchange, the Cooperative Charitable Trust, the USDA, and many others - thank you! Tech volunteers over the years include: Benjamin Bradley with support from GAIA Host. Ben Mauer with support from Quilted. Paul Fitzpatrick. Ronin Tech Collective, Brattleboro Tech Collective, Sligo Computer Services. Jason Lemieux. Default map tiles courtesy of MapQuest. Default map data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA.