Natural, social and economic examinations of ecovillages focusing on a certain example

Abstract

Nowadays mankind has to cope with the fact that we will sooner or later run out of our resources. As a possible farming and living alternative the concept of forming ecovillages may arise as establishing a smaller community being sustainable from social, natural and economic aspects, where the population has similar social, ecological and spiritual views. In our study we wish to introduce the situation and characteristics of an already existing ecovillage reflecting an alternative developing example to communities of similar situations. The ecologicalenvironmental, social and economic conditions of Gömörszőlős, the major blocking factors in operation and possible developing tendencies of ecovillages will be detailed. Local products of good quality, relaxed, natural environment may motivate someone to become an inhabitant of an ecovillage. The most important motivating factor, however, is the environmental friendly way of thinking. The biggest problems include strict legal regulation and lack of local jobs, difficulties to get financial subsidies, aging population of decreasing number. The most important objective in an ecovillage and in other communities is the fact that the inhabitants should have the willingness of environmental consciousness in every-day life, of using ecological equipment as these constitute the essence of ecovillages