How can it benefit you ? 

The starting point is to first determine whether you are in fact an established or an aspiring ecovillage.  This will provide guidance as to the approach that should be utilised. The next phase is to understand, to a reasonable level of detail, some of the key principles and objectives of the ecovillage. Any enterprise and economic model must fully support the underlying philosophy behind why the ecovillage was created.  From here it is important to determine exactly what is the economic and enterprise position of an ecovillage. 

Is it in fact viable and sustainable?  Or is the economic aspect of the ecovillage unsustainable? What evidence is there to provide indications to these questions?  From this point it will then be possible to determine the areas that require attention and in fact how to evolve the strategy and a plan to move the ecovillage economics model to a place that better suits the needs of the people and the community.

Some of the key strategies involved are based on looking at the skills and in fact the passions of the potential or existing residents within the community as a source of economic and enterprise development.  It is imperative that for any economic initiative there is complete engagement of the people that will have ownership of this model further down the track. 

Ecovillage economics outlines a process for engaging the community and people within the evolution of the model, as well as ensuring that it is indeed an organic process due to the very nature of the way in which community's evolve and change over time.  So it not about defining specific activities, functions, services etc it is more about looking at the philosophy, the structures, the relationships, and the processes which enable a complete and diverse range of enterprises to function side-by-side, and in fact. to support each other to produce the best possible outcome.  Through this process we will have more dynamic and vibrant community in ecovillages across the world.

What knowledge and skills will be gained?

• The mechanics of raising funds for an ecovillage project

• Developing a key “value-exchange” strategy for funding

• Information regarding appropriate corporate structures

• How to develop a process which enables you to decide the cash flow

• Step by step process for engaging people within an ecovillage project

• Creating an approach that provides high flexibility with the lowest risk

• Understanding the importance of community engagement in ecovillage economics

• How to avoid common economic pitfalls within communities and ecovillages

• Understanding when things need to happen in order to succeed

• How to carry out an assessment of what “social capital” exists

• How to develop a people-centered economic development strategy

• How peoples passions can be converted into successful enterprises

• Why collaborative efforts produce better outcomes for individuals as well as the community

• Leveraging of the minimization of economic leakage as a kick off strategy

• Understanding the concept of enterprise synergy and how this multiplies economic activity

• Where to locate funds for cultivating enterprise

• Leveraging off community and ecovillage assets

• The connection between social and economic sustainability