Mission

Develop a solar powered community designed around natural principles of living in harmony with the environment. Allow people to choose a way of living which improves the natural world now and for future generations.

Principles

• Supply of all energy needs from renewable natural solar sources.
• Promote a healthy lifestyle through the use of organically grown foods, natural materials and a natural method of waste management and recycling.
• Maximize efficient use of energy, water and soil.
• Optimize the restorative use of natural renewable resources.
• Develop environmental responsibility educational programs.
• Provide facilities to develop systems that allow these objectives to be achieved affordably.
• Live close to nature physically and spiritually.
• Promote the concept of Living Solutions, and raise public awareness.
• Deal with the social issues that cause environmental problems through ecological design education.
• "In our every deliberation, we should consider the impact on the next seven generations."
• Effectively integrate natural and human communities.
• Design with nature such that wastes are used as food for other natural processes.

Objectives

• Clearly demonstrate the benefits of Living Solutions.
• Provide a simple plan that enables people to achieve a natural lifestyle through solar village's worldwide.
• Educate through hands-on experience.
• Provide facilities to develop educational programs.

Goals

1. Reduced long-term cost of living with a restorative effect on the environment.

• power
• heating/cooling
• food
• transportation

2. Healthy living environment, natural materials, non-toxic, long lasting and recyclable. This will also provide a long-term reduction in health costs and long-term cost savings on materials.

3. Efficient re-use of rainwater, gray water, and waste water for all water and waste water processing. The cost of water supply will be eliminated along with wastewater processing costs.

4. Composting of all organic waste including sewage in order to prevent the destruction of precious water and soil resources and to prevent water contamination. Eliminate costly sewage system infrastructure, long-term maintenance, and destruction of natural water and soil systems.

5. Reuse of natural renewable local materials for building and living. Reduce cost of goods and transportation.

• firewood for occasional heating
• local wood for post & beam construction
• straw bales for insulation

6. Naturalization of the yard and gardens. Reduce requirements for water and reduce time required to maintain. Local varieties of vegetation will help to maintain local wildlife.

7. Local organically grown food available with re-useable packaging. Improved health, reduced waste and improved air, water and soil quality through the elimination of pesticides and fossil fuel based fertilizers.

8. Use of solar/wind/small hydro powered electric vehicles and support for fuel cell public transit vehicles. Locally available necessities to reduce transportation requirements.

9. Fostering of community for support of shared infrastructure, community center, sports facilities for improved fitness/health, festivals, weekly markets for the local exchange of goods.

10. Local parks for natural areas to hike in, picnic, and play. A place for the exploration of the natural environment and the fostering of kinship with nature.

Site

Find a property about 45 minutes from Toronto around highway 10 and highway 9, near Orangeville. The property should be between 10 and 200 acres for growth and expansion, and to accommodate different purposes. The commercial/retail facilities should be near the highway and provide extensive shielding for the rest of the property.

A significant feature should be built, emphasized, to attract attention from the many travelers, welcoming them, encouraging them to enter this "solar" oasis. Creating a large windmill that has a "sun" on the blades that appears as the speed of the propellers increases. The windmill should be open for public viewing, showing the large-scale mechanics and provide a high point from which to view the Solar Village.

People looking to be inspired, looking to understand, wanting to do something about the environmental problems all around them, looking for a better way of living, of finding meaning in life, should find a place where they can learn, study, contemplate and be inspired.

Restoration of the natural vegetation and extensive naturalized park, walkways, nature trail and inspiring landscaping will be a dominant feature everywhere and fundamental to creating an oasis throughout the property. Naturalization and restoration of the natural habitat will be the largest part of the restoration process. Naturalized areas and important ecological features will be maintained or restored. The commercial, agricultural and housing design should be as dense as possible in order to maintain as much naturalized area as possible. Naturalized parks for recreation should be near the village. Extensive natural forest should be restored.

Commerce

Features of the main commercial center should include a retail center for all of the best healthy living, environmentally friendly products retailers, the Natural Life Network studio, a coffee shop, an environmentally friendly car/truck/transport center, and a demonstration home. A restaurant should serve food grown locally with organic techniques. A food store should provide the widest variety of organically grown fresh foods, bulk foods, all with the most natural and healthy ingredients. As much of the produce should be provided in or near the village.

Inspiration

As a constantly evolving part of the Solar Village that will attract people initially and keep them coming back to find out more an effective ever evolving exhibit will show and demonstrate real examples of working solutions. All of the best examples from around the world will be displayed, modeled, demonstrated and presented. For some ideas, like housing, specific and detailed plans will be available for a nominal fee. The "Living Solutions" book will be a detailed reference to all of the information in the exhibits. Both the exhibits and the book will be updated and upgraded annually. Regular festivals to mark the seasons, "Earth Day", and other important dates (Solstices) will be celebrated with special events, speakers, presentations and special guests.

Kids

A kids play center that teaches solar power principles, lets them touch the natural growing world of food, that lets them explore the science of ecology and much more.

Waste

Waste processing facilities should be front and center, a "Living Machine" should process all sewage waste and be open for viewing and admiration as well as gray water use. All these facilities should be powered by passive solar, PV and wind power as well as any other naturally available power sources. All naturally available features should be maximized.

Education

The property will also provide space for the development of an EnviroCentre educational facility that provides year round courses, hands on training, and test labs for the study of ecology, sustainable living and solar energy.

Housing

Initially develop 3-5 concept houses that demonstrate workable solutions to solar living. Eventually a small village housing development will be tied into the commercial center for people who want to live the future of environmental living. These houses, condos, town homes will be built to maximize the principles of Living Solutions and the Natural Life Network.

Bed and Breakfast and Small Hotel

Small B&B houses will provide facilities that allow people to come and try the lifestyle with all the solar living conveniences. The hotel will provide a larger scale facility that demonstrates the potential for hotels, hostels, apartments, condos and other large building facilities and how they can be solar powered and serviced by living machines and rain water.

Conferences

For those that want to try out solar living a small hotel or B & B will be available as well as a small conference center facility.

Finance

In order to develop EnviroCentre shares will be offered directly to the public through the Internet. An EnviroCentre Mutual Fund will also be established in order to provide an investment vehicle that supports the principles of EnivroCentre through investments with management profits directed towards funding the development of EnviroCentre and the Natural Life Network.

Agriculture

Since agriculture plays such and important part in this area and in the world environmental movement the display and use of organic agriculture techniques will be shown, used and taught. Use and conservation of rainwater, gray water and natural fertilizers as well as perma-culture techniques.

Task Force

In order to develop this vision the best, brightest, most creative and knowledgeable team will be assembled and meet regularly to ensure the highest possible quality, creativity and delivery are maintained. Also, get others who have built "Healthy" homes and environmental business to provide support.