Here are six key elements that
distinguish a Village:
1. PERIMETER
- Land is owned by the community
- Has a geographic boundary
- Has a calculated capacity
- Everyone in the village is looked after
2. WALKABILITY
- Community is not designed around cars
- No wide roads for cars are within the village
- Safer for children and everyone
- Villagers can access (rent or borrow) cars at the perimeter
- Access to what villagers need is within walking distance
- Electric personal vehicles or carts are available for those with limited mobility
3. FOOD
- Food for villagers is grown or produced within the village with the intention of exploring ways to become food self-sufficient
- The village aims to grow more food than the village requires, to sell or share with neighboring communities
- The need for food transport is removed or reduced
- New technologies for food production are used
- Agriculture includes all season indoor & vertical gardening, permaculture, aquaponics
4. ENERGY
- The village generates its own electricity, heating & cooling, and water sources
- Solar, wind, geothermal, water movement and other innovative renewable energy sources are used
- Insulation and conservation is emphasized
5. SELF-GOVERNANCE
- There is a self-governing process that includes input from all residents
- A proven model for solving problems is practiced and implemented
6. WORK (ECONOMIC SYSTEM)
- Local investment is used to fund business development
- Workers’ Self Directed Enterprises (WSDE’s) are created by villagers to serve the village and the surrounding community
- Village businesses generate income for villagers and for village maintenance and improvement
- The use of money for exchange within the village eventually becomes unnecessary