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August 6, 2025 51 mins

In this episode, host Zola interviews Zahra Lightway about her tour of eco villages across Australia, India, and Europe.

The conversation explore what made the ecovillages she visited successful, mainly a robust governance system, income-earning programmes and opportunities, a shared worldview (values and beliefs), and mission-driven activities.

They cover sociocracy as a governance model, the difference between eco estates and eco villages, and innovative financial models like Les Pas Sages for start-up ecovillages, and the significance of a well-structured internal economic system.

The episode concludes with a conversation about the future of ecovillages.

 

Related links:

https://www.commonground.net.nz/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahralightway/

 

Global EcoVillage Network (GEN)

Main Website: https://ecovillage.org/ Global Ecovillage Network

Additional regional sites:

 

Gaia Education

Main Website: https://www.gaiaeducation.org/ Sustainable Education Courses | Gaia Education - Transforming Communities

 

Foundation for Intentional Community

Main Website: https://www.ic.org/ Foundation for Intentional Community

 

EcoVillage Tours

Main Website: https://www.ecovillagetours.com/ Ecovillage Tours | Visit Intentional Communities around the world — Ecovillage Tours

 

Time stamps:

04:18 Zahra's Eco Village Exploration Tour

06:12 Insights and Best Practices from Eco Villages

19:33 Economic Models and Sustainability in Eco Villages

25:29 Challenges and Solutions in Eco Villages

43:52 Learning Opportunities and Resources

47:35 Conclusion and Contact Information

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