Do you want to live in a sustainably built home?

Would you like to joint other like-minded people in an existing or proposed housing project?

If so here's your chance to get the ball rolling. Leave a message if you are either interested in joining a group or know of any groups that are looking for new members.

SETTING UP a COMMUNITY GROUP

Tuesday 27 November 2007, Sedum House, Doncaster
Tutor: Beverley Taylor

This event identifies all the elements needed to set up an environmental or community group, including planning and involvement techniques, legal, finance requirements and communicating with the public. It is aimed at anyone involved in setting up a group, development workers who support groups, and those in similar roles whether paid or voluntary.

For further details or to book a place on the event, call the telephone number below or click on the link http://shop.btcv.org.uk/shop/level3/554/stock/6103

COMMUNITY ARTS – a creative tool for developing communities

Thursday 8 November 2007
Tutor: Mark Riley, Creative~States

Community arts are increasingly and more widely being recognised for their positive impacts on social development within communities. This lively, introductory event will look at what those impacts can be, at what is involved, and at practical ideas and methods for using community arts in regenerating and working with communities. You will also be able to develop an action plan for using community arts in your own work, and find out what is involved and what to expect if you hire a community artist rather than doing it yourself. This event is suitable for any workers or volunteers working with communities.

For further details or to book a place on the event, call the telephone number below or click on the link http://shop.btcv.org.uk/shop/level3/554/stock/6108

For further details, to book a place or to request a full programme of events,
please contact: Jacki or Helen at ETN on 0121 359 2113 or Email ETN@btcv.org.uk

Fees for one day events: voluntary organisations £105 + VAT, local authorities, statutory & other non-voluntary organisations £160 + VAT

Whilst this Forum Topic might bring together people who want to take a leap into living sustainably, it could create a network to include also those who can enable them to do so - are there members of the Ecology BS who are 'green' architects, builders, building trades people and suppliers etc? Or can members recommend any? Perhaps it could grow into a network directory.

My reasons for exploring an eco-housing project are in the last Newsletter so I won't repeat them. I live in the South Pennines (sort of between Manchester and Leeds for anyone far away) and am selling my house to enable me to find a more sustainable solution. New build seems the best way to achieve maximum environmentally conscious living but finding somewhere to build is difficult at a reasonable land cost and without planning problems so I would fall back on renovation if necessary - where no 'change of use' arises or planning permission for it is easier to obtain.

I have some preferences for relocation but am certainly not tied to where I am now; which is at 900 feet up (often in the mist and cloud) and facing north-east into the winter gales. So my search is for a milder climate! A good range of services - family-run shops (organic, wholefood, hardware etc), post office, library, etc. - are important to me and would like to get to them on foot or by bike. However, having worked most of my life in a city region, I'd prefer a more peaceful setting. Probably would feel most comfortable in the Midlands and North but open to exploring a wider area too.

More about me now: have almost stopped paid employment but do quite a bit of voluntary work and so can offer time to any joint project. Am unable to sustain great feats of physical tasks like digging and brick laying and have a little know-how having done some DIY renovation. Am fairly good at organising things; seeking information, contacts, resources etc. and generally 'mucking in'. My main interests have included fell walking, travelling, learning (just about anything over the years) and, of course am a fan of EBS AGMs! Have had dogs and cats but not at present.

I do hope the pool of Ecology members with their common aims will produce enough interest in actually living sustainability principles to form a viable eco-housing project.

Carol Davenport e address: carol@davport.plus.com

Agree entirely with Martin and Helen - I nearly missed the topic as it is hidden in 'environment general' and I was looking out for it! Whilst one can use the Forum to lodging information etc. openly but, once a few people want to take their interest further, there does seem to be a need for joint direct communication.

I suggest we are prepared to put an informative profile of ourselves on the Forum (for better or worse I guess!) and then, as there are not so many of us, let's just include our email addresses like Sarah-Jane. We can then make contact as we wish.

As I started the ball rolling (by being press ganged into contributing the article to our Newsletter), I'd be prepared to be a coordinator if that become necessary.

Meanwhile, I will post another entry with a brief profile and look forward to hearing from someone soon.

Carol Davenport

This site is difficult to identify from the main forum site. Can it be identified more clearly?

Is there a way we can send an e-mail to all groupee members inviting them to consider interest in building sustainable housing with others?

Martin and Helen

I too am interested in joining together with others to live in an ecological housing project. The South is my preferred choice (england or wales).
Feel free to contact me.
Siobhan

Hi

We too are keen to build a house with green sustainable build features and of a modern but modest design. Buidling with others on a plot purchased together and using the same architect to design different homes but using similar green materials would help to make the project affordable.

We would like the location to be Wharfedale/Airedale in West Yorkshire.

Is anyone interested?

Martin & Helen

Hi

I am very interested in joining with other like-minded people in an existing or proposed ecological housing project. My husband and I have been looking for a plot of land on which to build an eco-lodge or home, but it would be easier to join together with others to share the work and the cost. It would also be nice to feel part of an ecologically-minded community. We are flexible as to where we would live. Feel free to contact me at sjheeks@hotmail.com.