THE FAMILY HOME

What is in a Ecovillage Home?

In the Ecovillage we are planning to build in Ilkusemet, Kajiado, the family home can have up to 4 small additional structures  (staff houses, storage/granary,cabin/den, etc.). Homes are built on upto two acres, and can be divided into four parts.

Like anywhere in the world, your home is your castle. At the Ecovillage, we require that it be an eco-house. What does that look like? You tell us. We have ideas but every owner can bring in their design and have it approved by all.

On of the important aspects we want to see:

• Must use sustainable building techniques, e.g.: earth bags, adobe, earth-ship, cob, etc..
• Must meet the building code set by local government and a part from concrete foundation, contain no more than 10% cement in the external building and zero cement in the internal finish
• Must be as passive energy as possible, by harvesting water, recycling grey water, having solar panels to meet energy needs, optional use of biogas and waste is directed to composting.
• Kitchen gardens must be organic, with no use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers.

At the ecovillage, we want you to think outside of the box. We want you to see your home as a showcase. An example of what is possible. Rather than following the designs we see in Nairobi that do not work with the land, we encourage each member to build something that uses nature as it's guide.

Use sun light to brighten your spaces. Use the wind to cool your homes. Use natural material to keep you warm at night and in the cold seasons.

It is not necessary to bring in all your materials from outside. We challenge owners to use as much building material that is in their environment.as possible.

After all, at the Ecovillage, we are striving to be part of the solution, not the problem.

If you feel the same, join us! We would love more like minded folk in our community!

PARTNERSHIP - MAKE IT HAPPEN

Earlier this year, the Maremma family and Ecovillage Project Kenya decided to collaborate on creating the dream we have held for year.

Located in Ilkusument near Tinga town in Kajiado District, 50 acres of possibilities awaits its potential owners where homes, kitchen gardens, herb gardens, forest and green spaces can be created for generations to come.

The grand plan is organic. It has changed from our original cookie-cut approach to allow for owners the flexibility of creating this project themselves.

We want to first get owners to buy 10 unit shares, an equivalent of 5 acres at Ksh 1M. These being the directors, they will adhere to a required instalment plan to complete the project within a time frame decided by the WHOLE. This time frame can be from 5 years to 10 years.

So imagine this: Each share affords an owner a) 2 acres of land for their home; and their share of land to b) Communal forestry, c) Communal farming and d) Communal common spaces.

SAMPLE PLAN

After buying in, the first phase will have the owners choose to work on the basic needs. What gets done is determined by a collaborated agreement. Each phase will have a paying period that must be stuck to. Here are the possibilities:-

• planning the site design
• inviting vendors for costs
• build a fencing; plant a live fence
• planting trees, bamboo
• build a dam

The following phases will be on building common areas and finally the homes. The possibilities are many. Want to build your retirement home? Want to escape from the city-living and move into a better greener-living? It is possible. There are others like you. Join us! 

THE FUTURE YOU SEE IS THE FUTURE YOU GET!

The EcoVillage Project Kenya is not just another housing development project. It is not just about bricks and mortar, this one has heart!

Including the number of interested potential owners, EcoVillage Project Kenya also has in its team green building architects; energy and sustainable solution managers; permaculturists; financiers; marketers and a writer. Every one of us desires to create the perfect space that balances the needs and wants of the group.

So, maybe it was not surprising to find a number of us taking part in a holistic brainstorming session that would draw out our true direction. A solid foundation is step one. Ecovillages around the world have failed because they did not take the time to ensure that all members were on the same page. 

At first, the approach seemed a little too new-age for some, but by the end of the day, it was clear that the clarity in our intentions would strengthen our vision and have us build a model worth replicating across the country. And as such, in order to build what could be, we had to understand that in order to regain a sense of community from a life of individual living we had to find a common ground of understanding.

So, what kind of life do we want to create for ourselves and our potential owners?

After much deliberation, the above flow chart illustrated the quality of life we desired. A potential owner could experience a space that offered a better world for their children, for example. Or an affordable access to a beautiful retreat that offered peace, tranquillity and a place to connect with nature. For some, the EcoVillage offers a home that provides organic produce and financial sustainability. All of this is possible.

A successful ecovillage is a community that is built on the right foundation at the very start. Having each member aware of the needs of the whole from the start. With that in mind, forward thinking to ten-years had us dreaming up our vision of the EcoVillage.



We concluded our brainstorming session with a little pep in our step. Who would not get excited with all of what is possible. After all, Robert G. Allen once said, "the future you see is the future you get". And this is the EcoVillage Project Kenya's possible future.