Altair EcoVillage: A Sustainable Solution to the Economics of Aging Through Cohousing

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The economics of aging presents unique challenges for both individuals and communities. With rising costs in senior living, many people face a future where traditional retirement options may be financially unattainable. Cohousing, as explored in The Workshop Facilitator’s Guide: The Economics of Getting Older by Charles Durrett, offers a cost-effective and sustainable solution. By encouraging older adults to share resources, reduce individual expenses, and build a supportive community, this approach shifts the focus from financial independence to shared interdependence, addressing the economic demands of aging while proactively enhancing quality of life.

For initiatives like Altair EcoVillage, cohousing represents a realistic alternative to more costly retirement homes or assisted living facilities. Unlike conventional retirement settings that often come with high fees and impersonal environments, cohousing fosters a genuine sense of community. Through resource pooling and shared amenities, individual costs for housing, utilities, and even healthcare can be significantly reduced. For instance, neighbors in a cohousing environment can assist each other with day-to-day tasks, reducing the need for paid services and empowering residents to maintain their independence longer. Shared resources—such as gardens, tools, maintenance equipment, and transportation—can minimize expenses and reduce the ecological footprint of each resident.

Offering a variety of living arrangements, from private to shared spaces, allows residents to choose options that fit both their budgets and lifestyle preferences. Shared housing, in particular, lowers individual expenses by dividing costs across multiple residents, making this form of senior living accessible to a broader population. Also: It should be noted that Pennsylvania law allows for 20% of homes to be occupied by younger families within a “55+” community. So Altair will encourage and welcome that extent of multi-generational residency.

In a market with escalating housing prices and living expenses, Altair EcoVillage will demonstrate how communitarian solutions can foster ecological, social, economic, and quality-of-life benefits relative to those provided under institutional auspices. Charles Eisenstein, in his article “To Build Community, an Economy of Gifts,” observes that “community is woven from gifts,” highlighting that true community emerges when people embrace interdependence, prioritizing support over monetary transactions. This “circle of the gift” philosophy aligns well with Altair’s vision, meeting shared needs economically and minimizing waste. Building upon this gift-based economy, Altair can create a robust, self-sustaining community where residents contribute to each other's well-being, reducing reliance on costly services.

In his book Sacred Economics (Chapter 22: “Community and the Unquantifiable”), Eisenstein writes: “To be in community is to be in personal, interdependent relationship, and it comes with a price: our illusion of independence, our freedom from obligation. You can’t have it both ways. If you want community ... you will give and receive gifts that you cannot just buy somewhere. You will not be able to easily find another source. You need each other.”

Ultimately, Altair’s vision of a cohousing-based ecovillage represents a departure from traditional retirement models, moving toward interconnected, sustainable living. Altair EcoVillage has the opportunity to shape a future where aging is met with community, environmental consciousness, and shared economic resources, offering seniors an alternative that is financially feasible, socially enriching, and ecologically sound.

Cohousing as a Network of Support and Connection

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Cohousing provides a strong and sustainable way for people to age with dignity and support. As mentioned in the previous blog post (10/21/2024), one of the leading advocates of this idea is Charles Durrett (author of The Senior Cohousing Handbook), who has spent most of his career promoting the advantages of cohousing, especially for seniors. Durrett observes, “One thing to remember is that a cohousing community has residents in a wide range of ages. Not everyone gets old at once. Even senior-only communities have residents in their 50s and 60s and into their 80s and 90s.” This variety of ages and skills creates a lively environment where one person's needs can be met by another's abilities. As residents grow older, they are surrounded by neighbors who are younger or more active. This makes it possible to remain in a community that feels both familiar and connected to their care.

Denise Foley’s article, “Who Will Provide Care for Childless Boomers?” shows a clear picture of this need, especially for many boomers who are aging without immediate family. Foley points out the growing problem of “elder orphans” who don’t have nearby family members to support them. By 2050, estimates suggest that there will be fewer than three family caregivers for each person over 80. This signals a significant caregiving shortfall. For childless seniors, Foley explains that cohousing offers not just companionship, but a crucial layer of mutual aid that helps prevent isolation and improves overall quality of life. She describes seniors who have taken steps to arrange for support in their later years as the most ideal plan, and relocating into community-centered cohousing ensures that they have close neighbors to rely on, both for daily needs and during health crises. However, these solutions may not be enough because many may still face challenges in finding the right support beyond family.

Cohousing, of course, provides much more than just care; it inherently fosters connectedness and mutuality. As mentioned in Revisioning Retirement (Durrett, Study Group 1 Facilitator Guide, page 87), “When asked what contributes most to living a long life, most people believe that having a supportive social network is the key to longevity.” The shared experiences of living, celebrating, and grieving together form bonds that help alleviate feelings of loneliness and depression, which are major risks for seniors. In cohousing, members often take part in collective activities like weekly communal meals and wellness programs, that promote healthy lifestyles and strengthen social ties. The ongoing companionship among neighbors helps create an environment where individuals feel safe to reveal their vulnerabilities and ask for help when needed. Residents remember birthdays and share celebrations. Neighbors feel comfortable reaching out for assistance or lending a hand. It is this steady, ongoing companionship that not only enhances quality of life, but also fosters resilience, an important part of aging well.

Cohousing provides a strong network that enhances mental and emotional well-being, while also offering tangible assistance as needs arise. Cohousers look out for their neighbors, enabling each other to navigate the complexities of aging together. However, it's important to remember that these communities rely on active participation from all members. Although it might require extra effort, the benefits can be significant.

Why Senior Cohousing is the Future of Retirement: A Closer Look at the Altair EcoVillage Model

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Hello! My name is Anthony Moleski, and I’m a senior at Penn State Abington, majoring in Marketing. As part of my journey toward a career in marketing, I’m currently interning with Altair EcoVillage. Through my role, I’ve been learning firsthand about sustainable living and senior cohousing, and I’m excited to share through blogging my insights and what I have learned!

As we progress in age, the choice of where and how to reside becomes increasingly significant. It influences not only our quality of life, but also our overall well-being and longevity. Senior cohousing presents a revolutionary and innovative approach to retirement living, offering a vibrant alternative to conventional options such as nursing homes or the experience of aging in solitude. This model, introduced to North America by architects Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant, encourages independent, enriched living for seniors.

“A community based on proximity offers each individual an opportunity to age near caring peers and in accommodations designed for evolving needs,” says Durrett. “The cohousing model balances community and privacy, providing residents with support, independence, spontaneous social interactions, and many other options that make successful aging much more likely.”

Unlike conventional retirement settings, senior cohousing revolves around shared values of cooperation and mutual support. It encourages the development of close-knit communities where people can provide a safety net of informal care, all while maintaining personal independence. Altair EcoVillage, forming in Kimberton PA, is in the process of designing private living spaces and common areas where residents can come together for shared meals, activities, and conversations. This daily interaction mitigates the loneliness often associated with aging, particularly for those living in isolation or in sterile institutional environments.

What makes senior cohousing particularly compelling is its design. Unlike typical homes, cohousing units are purpose-built with aging in mind. The spaces are accessible and adaptable, allowing residents to comfortably age in place without the need for costly home modifications. This proactive approach to design contrasts sharply with the often-reactive measures taken when seniors remain in homes not designed to accommodate changing mobility or health needs.

The social aspect is equally critical. Like a small village, cohousing fosters spontaneous, everyday interactions that help maintain mental and emotional well-being. Whether it's sharing a cup of coffee in the community dining room or collaborating on a garden project, these frequent interactions create a sense of belonging that is difficult to achieve in more isolated living arrangements.

Additionally, senior cohousing is often more affordable than other retirement options. Communities like Altair EcoVillage are being designed with sustainability in mind (ecological, social, and economic!), offering shared resources such as tools, gardens, and vehicles, which reduce both the environmental impact and personal costs. This model not only provides financial relief but also instills a sense of responsibility toward the environment, a value many residents cherish.

Ultimately, senior cohousing is more than just a place to live, it is a lifestyle choice that promotes independence, connection, and security. Altair EcoVillage will be a community of people who care, collaborate, and thrive together, aging in place with dignity, joy, and a sense of belonging.

For those interested in learning more about this innovative model of retirement living, see www.AltairEcoVillage.org. In the next blog post we’ll look at: 1) Care: Co-care and outside support; and 2) Connection and Co-healing: Staying healthy through community.

Evolution of the Site Plan, Part I

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In December 2023, Altair hired Nave Newell to be our new Land Planner and Landscape Architect.  Having worked with Renew Design for a year or so, we had developed a Sketch Plan of the Site (see below, Renew Site Plan).  In February, we held a members’ Workshop to review the Site Plan and suggest changes.  We had two break-out rooms – one for landscaping, the other for the overall site plan, and all members and consultants had a chance to contribute to both sessions.

Renew Site plan

In March 2024, Nave Newell produced a new Sketch Plan based on our comments (see attached “March 2024 Site.”)  Note that the Dec 2023 Site Plan does not include the necessary rain gardens, and now they show diagrammatically on the March 2024 Site Plan.

Altair EcoVillage Draft Site Plan (3/24)

Here is a list of changes made, keyed into both the Dec 2023 and the March 2024 Site Plans:

  1. We learned that the “active” play court was not permitted with the Zoning Ordinance, so we deleted it.  (There are open level lawns across the street at Kimberton Park, so we did not feel this would be a hardship.)

  2. The Wetlands buffer was not located properly, and therefore we had to reconfigure the Accessory Building and get it out of the buffer.

  3. Because we eliminated the Playing Court, this allowed for the Fire Lane to shift as well, also serving the purpose of getting it out of the wetlands buffer.

  4. We are allowed a 10% area disturbance in what is considered “wetlands buffer” for the entire site.  The Community Garden, however, is “agricultural,” and therefore does not count as a disturbance.  We have a need for a rain garden at the eastern side of the site, so most of the 10% disturbance will be that rain garden.

  5. We pulled the Common House drop-off lane away from the Common House to accommodate more planting beds on the south side and “streamline” the sidewalk configuration.

  6. Since the Pedestrian Walkway needs to accommodate emergency vehicles, we noted that the Dec 2023 Site Plan shows no access to the Walkway, so we widened the walk in front of the Common House.

  7. The Wetlands Buffer is now in the right place.

  8. We felt that Buildings A & B were not as “related” as C & F, D & E were, so we turned Building A 90 degrees.  Now the site feels more community-oriented.

  9. Also, the Pedestrian Walkway does not “fly off” the west, but has a more meaningful direction.

  10. We reworked the Pedestrian Walkway to connect with the Community Garden, Greenhouse, and Accessory Building. 

  11. This allows also for us to bring Buildings D & E closer together. We brought Buildings C & F a little closer together as well.

  12. We took the first two solar carport spots nearest the Common House to house bicycles and increase the parking spots at the west end to keep the parking count the same.

  13. We designated gathering nodes along the Ped Walkway – a gazebo at each end and benches where the four buildings (C, D, E, & F) look out.

  14. Finally, we were able to shift the C, D, E, & F Buildings to the west, closer to the Common House, again creating a more community-oriented layout.

There is no question that all these changes were a big improvement to the Site Plan (as well as making it a more “approvable” one!)  This is a fine example of “Group Process,” consultants and members working together.  Stay tuned for the next installment as we compare our March, 2024 plan with the August, 2024 plan going to the Township for review.

Benefits of Living in Kimberton, PA

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Altair residents will be able to take advantage of the natural, social, and cultural amenities of Kimberton Village, East Pikeland Township, and the surrounding environs.

Kimberton is noted for its walkable-village ambience and its legacy heritage. In regard to the latter: The Kimberton Village Historic District is distinctive enough to be included in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Original buildings that are listed in the National Register include the "Sign of the Bear" tavern (1768), the French Creek Boarding School (1787), and the Chrisman grist mill (1796, now serving as the post office). Additionally, there are a variety of vernacular farmhouses and barns, a grange hall, a former Quaker meetinghouse, and a historic railroad station. The original village was developed around fellowship and social gatherings centered at Chrisman’s Mill Tavern.

Kimberton is located within East Pikeland Township. Environmental consciousness is strong throughout the region. In 2019, the East Pikeland Board of Supervisors approved a resolution that sets a goal of moving the township toward 100% clean and renewable energy within the next several decades. The resolution was created to align with the “Ready for 100” initiative, a national program initiated by the Sierra Club. Drafted by its Environmental Advisory Council, East Pikeland’s resolution is one of many in the area including Phoenixville, Charlestown, Schuylkill, and West Chester.

Phoenixville, immediately next door to Kimberton, has recently blossomed into a notable cultural center. It’s home to the Colonial Theatre (opened in 1903!) which hosts events year-round such as concerts and special movie showings. The Dogwood Festival, featuring amusement rides, food vendors, and the Dogwood Parade, has been celebrated in Phoenixville each May since 1943.

Just five miles from Kimberton is the Valley Forge National Historical Park and the scenic Perkiomen Trail that travels through forests and alongside farms to the site of the Philadelphia Folk Festival, which takes place each August in Salford.

The abundance of culture, commerce, and recreation surrounding the Altair EcoVillage site, as well as the nearby area farms that sell locally at markets and food festivals, altogether are conducive to an especially appealing, sustainable, and healthy lifestyle.

For a slide show of Kimberton places, click this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cWidPDyh_0ju9xTYAHhvRHiMv8iHqm5A/view

Landscape Workshop

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Altair hosted a highly successful Landscape Workshop at Beaver Farm on February 3. In an all-day collaborative session brimming with enthusiasm and expertise, Members, Trailblazers, and support professionals convened to discuss and consider various aspects of landscape architecture appropriate for our 8-acre parcel of land—from the selection of tree species to the intricacies of stormwater management.

During the day issues arose in regard to location of garden areas, pedestrian pathways, orientation of structures, and the integration of public amenities like gazebos and gathering spaces. A suggestion was made to initially plant smaller, more resilient trees for the sake of both cost-effectiveness and long-term viability. And we brainstormed strategies to mitigate deer intrusion in order to preserve sensitive vegetation.

The session exemplified a holistic approach to landscape design, wherein aesthetic appeal, environmental sustainability, and community engagement intersect seamlessly. In striving to assure that Altair will be seen as a beacon of innovation and excellence in site planning and development, by the end of the day we had a sense of “Mission Accomplished”!

Stay tuned for the site plan improvements that resulted from the Workshop in an upcoming Blog.

 Pictured here are Keith Marshall, Land Planner; Joel Bartlett, Project Manager; Tom Halliwell, Stormwater Management consultant

Altair EcoVillage and “The Upcycle”

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Editor’s Note: Darius May, a student at Penn State Abington, is serving as Altair EcoVillage’s intern this semester.

Altair EcoVillage will be a community of people that cares for the environment. The mission, purpose, and values of the group reinforce this. In my geography class, I am reading the book “The Upcycle”. In this book, McDonough and Braungart expand on their ideas of sustainable design and propose a vision for a world where human activity not only minimizes harm to the environment but actively contributes to its regeneration and health.

The key idea of "The Upcycle" is to shift our approach from merely reducing harm (sustainability) to actively creating positive benefits for both people and the planet. It advocates for designing products and systems that are not just less harmful but are regenerative, contributing positively to environmental and social well-being.

The book explores various examples and case studies to illustrate how this approach can be applied across different industries, from architecture and manufacturing to agriculture and energy. It's a manifesto for a more optimistic and proactive approach to environmental stewardship, emphasizing the potential for innovation and creativity to drive positive change.

Altair Ecovillage is taking the idea of Upcycle and putting it into effect. There is a vision for the ecovillage to not only make the space sustainable but take it a step further by making the village work for the environment as well. On Altair’s website under “Our Purpose” is a list of what the ecovillage intends to do. An example of this is to minimize the use of fossil fuels and encourage the use of renewable energy sources. Everything from the designs of the homes, landscape, and community shows that Altair EcoVillage is a great example of upcycling.

Altair News Flash!

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Creating an ecovillage, a sustainable residential community for multiple households, is quite an undertaking! A lot of time and expense is involved. So we members of Altair know that the process has its ebbs and flows in terms of energy and activity. We are always appreciative of the enduring commitments and the financial supports that keep us going, especially during the occasional periods of low-tide! That was our experience in the wake of the pandemic. But we are happy to report that things are ramping up again now. On the agenda, for example, will be renewed marketing efforts, including online info sessions and farmers market tabling.

We’ve recently welcomed both a new investor couple (whose funding contribution will enable us to resume our SALDO application effort) and a new Trailblazer couple having special interests in horticulture and eldercare recreation. Soon we’ll be scheduling a Landscape Design Session with the Professionals and Members. In the meantime, we’ll be hosting a convivial social gathering at the Cidery in Kimberton on the evening of Friday, December 1st. Watch for the announcements!

Rendering of Altair’s future Community

Visiting EcoVillage Ithaca

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Almost 30 members of three different ecovillage projects (the EcoVillage New Jersey Meetup; Rachel Carson EcoVillage (Gibsonia, PA); and our own Altair EcoVillage project) visited the EcoVillage at Ithaca on August 19. The day included a get-to-know-one-another picnic on the patio of EVI's TREE Common House, then a two-hour tour of the premises, and afterward, for some, a group dinner at the world-famous Moosewood Restaurant. Our tour guide was Caitlin Cameron, the director of EVI’s educational wing (called “Thrive”). She was extremely well-versed in the many aspects of sustainability that pertain to ecovillage living.

The EcoVillage at Ithaca was built over the last thirty years on a 175-acre parcel of land just west of Ithaca, NY. It includes four(!) working farms and three cohousing neighborhoods. In regard to the latter, the First Residents Group (“FROG”) cluster of 30 homes was built in 1997. Thirty more units were added in 2006 via the Second Neighborhood Group (“SONG”). And then a third cluster (“TREE” - Third Residential Ecovillage Experience) of 40 units was completed in 2015. Our tour began there.

For the sake of affordability EVI included the construction of three stories of condo-type units above the TREE Common House. They determined that all homes in that neighborhood would be certified as LEED Platinum. Some even conform to the Passivhaus standard. All-electric and solar-endowed, they use 80-90% less energy for heating and hot water than typical homes in the northeast.

By the time the third neighborhood was built, EVI had become especially cognizant of accessibility issues. Every house in TREE has an entrance-way without steps and a layout with bedroom/bathroom amenities on the ground floor.

Our group next walked through the SONG neighborhood. The 30 homes there are built as duplexes to save energy and materials. They were individually customized and so they demonstrate a wide variety of sustainable building techniques. All homes are Energy Star-certified. The large Common House serves as an event venue for organizations from the wider Ithaca area. All three neighborhoods have access to their own community garden, but we noted that SONG’s is particularly impressive.

Our tour was diverted to the periphery of the FROG neighborhood because its central pathway was being paved on the day of our visit. The residents had originally wanted to leave the pathway natural (dirt and stones) but that turned out to hinder mobility, especially in wintertime. Such are the kinds of livability issues that every community has to consider and make decisions about.

FROG was the first cohousing project in the state of New York. All the houses are passive solar, with 14-foot-high windows on the south side and super-insulated walls. They are centrally powered by a 50KW array of solar panels just east of the neighborhood. A special FROG feature is the large community pond where residents swim, kayak, fish, and ice skate during the winter months. Some members of our group who stayed overnight took advantage of the FROG pond facilities on Sunday.

All three neighborhoods have playgrounds for children. With cars parked at the periphery, internal neighborhood areas are quiet and safe. All three of the Common Houses host community meals, concerts, and parties.

With lovely weather, common interests, and some inter-project bonding (and information sharing) many tour participants came away feeling encouraged about the future of the ecovillage movement and hopeful that EVI residents will soon have ecovillage cousins in Pennsylvania!

by Steve Welzer


MODELING A SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOOD

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Ecovillages are small, intentional communities where the residents have chosen to focus on reducing their environmental impact and developing more sustainable lifestyles. They engage in grassroots innovation and can play an important role in the transition to a more sustainable society. However, it is important to consider not just the innovations, but the way those innovations diffuse into, and are adopted by, the larger society. By modeling a high quality of life while achieving a low environmental impact, ecovillages can point the way toward sustainable consumption practices.

For Altair EcoVillage, we plan to address our environmental impact by addressing four areas of activity: home energy use, transportation energy use, food consumption, and waste disposal. At Altair, our homes will be powered with electricity generated by solar panels above the carports. Though we are required by the township ordnance to supply 50% of our own power, we plan to generate enough to meet all of our needs. For reducing transportation energy use, we are currently working on a car sharing program and already have a small fleet of electric vehicles that can be shared by the members. As far as food consumption, we will have a community garden and be able to host meals in our common house. However, as we have three local CSA’s (Community Supported Agricultural gardens) and a well-established whole foods store a block from our site, we can rest assured that any money spent will go to support our local commerce. We plan to establish a robust recycle and compost program. As an ecovillage, our objective is to find a way to maintain a high quality of life while decreasing consumption and environmental impact.

Another way Altair is hoping to be on the cutting edge of sustainable stewardship of the land is to fulfill the requirement in the township ordinance to achieve at least a silver rating from the US Green Building Council for the SITES initiative, which addresses practically all aspects of sustainability from responsible soil management practices to using local labor and materials to build the project. The members of Altair are committed to monitor and maintain the program for ten years.

The Passive House building certification, well beyond the township ordinance, is another measurable effort to reduce significantly the heating and cooling loads for the homes while using non-toxic materials, filtering outside air, and providing the healthiest homes possible. By purchasing factory-built panels, we reduce the construction timeline and assure quality control.

Sustainable consumption (defined as “patterns of consumption that satisfy basic needs”) is required to offer humans the freedom to develop their potential without compromising the Earth’s carrying capacity. Significant changes in consumption patterns are required. Intentional communities provide one resource for investigating alternative habits, ideals, and norms around consumption. These can provide useful strategies for addressing both the conceptual and technical issues.

By modeling a high quality of life while achieving a low environmental impact, Altair EcoVillage can point the way and be an example of sustainable consumption practices.

The Full Significance of “It Takes A Village” is Gradually Becoming Recognized

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It’s encouraging that discussions about care, health, support, and mutual aid are increasingly mentioning cohousing as relevant. In the June issue of The American Prospect, Rhoda Feng has an article titled: “It Takes a Village for Elder Care, Too.”

https://prospect.org/culture/books/2023-05-26-it-takes-a-village-elder-care-kenway-review

Many seniors are aware of recent research that suggests loneliness is at least as damaging to health as tobacco or obesity. As they look for ways to stay socially engaged, having shared living spaces and regular common meals just steps from their own home can make a huge difference. Distinctive features of cohousing make it easier for those with health challenges to stay in place longer. Nearby neighbors can easily pick up groceries. For medical or self-care support, neighbors can join together to hire a single caregiver.

Senior cohousing communities like Altair currently aren’t designed to provide intensive care. But if we create villages that demonstrate the collective advantages of aging-in-place, communitarian solutions might eventually become recognized as superior to, more humane than, assisted living and nursing home institutions. Meanwhile, cohousing residents feel fortunate to be able to benefit from the fostered interdependence and mutual aid that characterizes their modern re-implementation of the age-old supportive local village!

Common House Plans

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Collaborative design sessions were held in June and July 2022, resulting in general agreement about land-site and Common House designs. These have now provided auspicious (and inspiring!) visualization of what our future community will look like. Architects Tom Carnevale and Lauren Eustis facilitated both gatherings along with Land Planner Stephanie Wnuk and stormwater consultant Tom Halliwell, which were held at Beaver Farm a Camphill community near the Kimberton site. Results are shown below.

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Toward a Communitarian Paradigm of Life Satisfaction

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Someone on the national cohousing discussion list recently made the following interesting comment:

I think the trend toward “working at home” is especially important in cohousing since “home” is where everyone else is, too. I love having people at home more. Even though they are very careful to reserve their work time, the vibe is different. It reminds me of the 1950s when children came home for lunch, and there were enough people at home all day that the neighborhood was always alive.

The manifestation of feminism in modern society was, as with so much else, a less-than-satisfactory experience. There was some hope at the beginning of the second wave (circa 1970) that, as the lives of women were transformed toward a better balance between the social and the domestic, the lives of men would be transformed toward being less “the modern male way” (driven, workaholic, competitive, remote, away all the time, institution-oriented).

I grew up during the 1950s and do remember that I liked coming home for lunch. One day a friend would come with me to my house, another day I would go with a friend to their house. And I liked that someone was around when I got home from school.

Then, after 1975, instead of a healthy re-balancing for everyone, the mothers went off to work all day, and we started to hear about the “latch-key kids” phenomenon. The neighborhoods were hollowed out, devoid of life between 9 and 5. Things became even more institution-oriented (fathers out working for some institution of the system, mothers out working for some other institution of the system, children at school and then at daycare).

Our social-change movement had advocated a revamping of work life. Laboring for the institutions of the Leviathan in order to make a living is dreary. The disparaging of “1950s life” had justification when addressing the role rigidities that consigned women to domesticity. But the idea of ameliorating the consignments of both women and men never got very far. The “liberatory” response of having everyone go “the modern male way” was less than enlightened.

Right livelihood should mean working with and for our households, families, and communities directly. Stop the miserable commute to the remote office-within-an-institution. Yes, the economies of scale involved with that productive paradigm give us (some of us) a high material standard of living. But there would be more soul satisfaction in living more simply, downscaling our material aspirations, and working directly to sustain life together in our local communities. Then cohousing would be more than just a residential joy, it would be a whole-life collaboration. A side-benefit is that we could all be liberated from rigidities of role constraints and consignments. The adults could stick around; the children could participate. Working together to provide most of life’s necessities could enhance our sense of interdependence-in-place, could yield direct appreciation from familiar others, and could shift things toward a communitarian paradigm of life satisfaction.

Permaculture at Hundred Fruit Farm

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On Saturday, August 14, a group from Altair had the pleasure of visiting Hundred Fruit Farm in Buckingham, PA to explore the world of Permaculture and start thinking about how to incorporate it into Altair’s landscape design. We were lucky the weather was perfect for being outside and walking around the farm as we discovered all the edible plant possibilities.

Adam Dunsen has spent many years learning about organic farming and permaculture, teaching and managing farms before he and his family founded Hundred Fruit Farm in 2015.  Adam manages the farm and does permaculture landscape design for clients in the mid Atlantic area.  His enthusiasm about permaculture was obvious as he talked about the farm.  

We started with berries.  Adam does a lot of experimenting on the farm to discover the environmental needs for each type of berry so he can recommend the type that will thrive in this area.  He takes into account the type of soil needed, the critters that harm the plant and when they typically arrive, when the fruit is produced in addition to the usual things like sun, water and temperature.  He selects the plants that he feels will grow the best with the least amount of attention.  Irrigation is not needed in the farm area because the plants he has growing were selected because of their draught tolerance.  Even with the hot dry summer this year Adam said they only spent a few hours once during this hot dry summer watering the bushes and that was it.

Next we talked about the fruit and nut trees and Adam explained that the trees that nurseries sell are not necessarily those that grow the best in our area.  He had many suggestions of other types of fruit that will successfully in our environment such as Nanking cherries and  Paw Paws.  I was surprised that he does not always recommend the native varieties - his goal is to find the plants for the environment in which they will be planted. He talked about his experiments with pears and showed us a pear tree with about 12 different varieties of pears that he grafted to the tree!

Next were the nut trees.  In addition to suggestions for the kinds of nuts that grow the best in this area, he also talked about the type of area in the landscape that would be good for the different trees. For example,  we need to consider that the nuts fall off the tree so would we want the nut trees near the street.  We also have to remember that the birds and other critters will want to eat their share of what is growing so we need to be sure there is enough to share.  

A big part of the upkeep of the farm is done by the adorable Olde English (Babydoll) Southdown sheep that eat the grass and provide natural fertilizer.  Just put them in the grassy area that needs mowing and the sheep happily go to work.  They intentionally have the babydoll sheep, not just for the great name but also because they’re small and cannot reach high enough to eat the trees (although they do protect the new trees until the bark hardens ).  They have about 26 sheep taking care of the 10 acre farm.  Per Adam, they should have more sheep for a farm their size so traditional mowing is also needed at times. Unfortunately, they were piled up in the shade snoozing during our visit so we didn’t get a good look at them but Mary scored two big bags of their wool.  They sell the babies but they DO NOT eat the sheep (they’re way too cute to eat).  I’m sure if you see the sheep you’ll agree we need a couple at Altair.

Once we toured the farm area we headed to the landscaped area around the houses and saw their personal edible garden.  I was amazed that there were so many plants in a small area planted with each plant’s needs in mind.  They use wild strawberries as ground cover to help prevent weeds and these areas needed very little maintenance during the summer.  Imagine walking out your back door and picking herbs from the garden to cook and wandering around the community picking berries for a little snack.  

There’s a beautiful vegetable garden behind the main house.  Since the vegetable garden was gently sloped, Adam terraced the area using stones found on the property.  This exhibits a basic permaculture practice - no waste, use everything.  To top it all off they also have a green house, chickens, and they grow mushrooms in a little wooded area. 

Learning about permaculture, seeing the farm and the plants around the houses was very interesting.  I wish I knew about this 20 years ago when was making landscaping decisions for my house.  I’m also glad I know about it now and that we at Altair have a nearby resource to help us make the best landscaping choices for our community. It’s so exciting to think about living in a community surrounded by edible plants that will be shared by the resident humans and wildlife.  To learn more about Permaculture and Hundred Fruit Farm click HERE.

Do you want to live in an ecovillage based on cohousing?

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Cohousing is an innovative residential model where private homes are clustered around shared space. Community members benefit from participatory process (including neighborhood design), common facilities, resident management, and democratic decision-making.

The term ‘ecovillage’ encompasses a wide variety of communities that are committed to the idea of living more lightly (low impact) for the sake of the planet. Many ecovillages in the US use the cohousing residential model.

And since the start of the cohousing movement thirty years ago, participants have become increasingly aware of the environmental issues that humanity is facing, So now just about all cohousing communities have embraced the interrelated ideas of ecological and social sustainability.

Our lifeways must, of course, be sustainable. The alternative implies some kind of crisis or cataclysm. The sharing aspect of cohousing fosters sustainability. The term ‘ecovillage’ embodies it directly:

* ’eco’ for the ecological aspect
* ’village’ for the social aspect

It has been wonderful to see how both the cohousing and the ecovillage movements have been resonating more and more worldwide; and how their visions of sustainability have been melding toward what the United Nations calls “best practices.” Unsurprisingly, articles about eco-living have been popping up in media of all kinds worldwide. Here’s a recent one:

https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/0923/1325000-ecovillages-cloughjordan-findhorn-beddington-bicester-solheimar-sekem-damanhur-sieben-linden/

Reporter Una Ruddock notes that “ecovillages provide socially, ecologically, and economically sound lifestyles.” On that basis we can be proud that our work to establish Altair Ecovillage will help model the vitally-needed pathways toward a future green and socially sane society. Our efforts, along with those of other like-minded trailblazers around the world, will create a legacy that our grandchildren will appreciate. As the article says:

“If we learn from the living laboratories that are ecovillages, we may look to the future with some hope.”

Altair conducts successful design sessions!

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Member charrettes (the French word for collaborative design sessions) held during June and July resulted in general agreement about land-site and Common House designs. These have now provided auspicious (and inspiring!) visualization of what our future community will look like. Architects Tom Carnevale and Lauren Eustis facilitated both gatherings along with Land Planner Stephanie Wnuk and stormwater consultant Tom Halliwell (for the site charrette), which were held at Beaver Farm a Camphill community near the Kimberton site.

On June 25 we got to play with tiny structures! We moved them around until satisfied with the placement of the housing units on a representation of the land. We compared a "neighborhood" layout with a "linear" one with respect to our Pedestrian Walkway. We gave consideration to garden areas, recreation areas, parking areas, etc. Shading provided by trees could be gauged via moveable overhead sun-simulating illumination!

Pictures:

  1. Stephanie Wnuk of Renew Design working with our model

  2. John & Bob helping Dave set up the sun model

  3. Site model looking west down pedestrian walkway

  4. Site model looking east over solar carports

  5. Common House model looking South

  6. Common House model looking over East entrance

  7. Common House charrette at Beaver Farm

  8. Architects Tom Carneval and Lauren Eustis leading the Common House Design workshop

Then on July 16 we began the next charrette with a review of an updated version of the site plan. Project Manager Joel Bartlett asked for and received consensus agreement about it. The rest of the day focused on comparison of alternative Common House draft concept diagrams that Tom and Lauren had prepared. These were based on preferences expressed in recent Common House Circle meetings. Surprisingly, one of our elders showed us how the two concepts might blend together, and with a resounding Yes! Tom and Lauren came back with Concept #3 (see below...)

So now we can say that Altair EcoVillage is tangibly taking shape ... at least on paper, and in 3-D models ... and in our minds and in our hopes.

June 4 Integrative SITES - Part II

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(Continued from last week)

At the Integrative SITES Workshop, Adam Supplee described how the communication process among professionals and stakeholders will be facilitated for the Altair project. It will utilize Google Drive, shared files, and hybrid meetings. Reports and design decisions will be logged throughout for general reference. This will enhance collaboration and also serve to document all that we’ll be accomplishing. The documentation will be submitted to USGBC to obtain our SITES credits. Next on the agenda was an introduction of some of the residential-prospective members of Altair and descriptions of the working teams (circles) they participate in—such as Community Life, the Common House, Hospitality, Electric Vehicles/Energy, Governance, Land/Buildings, Finance/Legal, and Healthy Living, among others. We then reviewed together with the sections of the SITES criteria in regard to performance goals…

  • SITE CONTEXT: SITES specifies a number of prerequisites that must be met. One, for example, requires limiting development on farmland. Our property has not been prime farmland, but to the extent that there has been any agricultural usage of the land at all (recently hay production), we might have to obtain easements in other local agricultural areas.

  • PRE-DESIGN ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING: As mentioned, SITES requires a project to use an integrative design process, i.e., extensive and ongoing collaboration and communication among professionals and stakeholders. In order to get our certification, we’ll have to document such. The recording of our Integrative SITES session will be part of that documentation, as well as reports from the Altair Development Circle. Pre-design site assessment should include things like mapping vegetation and soil protection zones, areas where we can build, areas that must be preserved, surveys of trees on the land, animal habitat, etc.

  • WATER MANAGEMENT: The SITES criteria set very high standards in regard to precipitation and storm water management. The wetlands on our property must be maintained. The balance between pervious and impervious land coverage must be considered.

  • SOIL AND VEGETATION LIFE-CYCLE: The criteria specify plant stewardship, control and management of invasives, optimization of biomass, and using vegetation to minimize building energy use (example: deploying deciduous trees for summer shading). Adam pointed out that a characteristic of our area of Pennsylvania is heavy clay soils, so a soil management plan, shared for consideration among all the professionals, will be critical. We’ll have to be careful to avoid over-compaction. Sara Wuerstle noted that it’s common to analyze the soil composition, and we’ll certainly be doing that—but we’ll do even more: we’ll be analyzing the soil biology—toward proactively developing a soil fertility program. The objective will be to promote systemic health without the need for chemical inputs.

  • MATERIALS SELECTION: SITES emphasizes a prioritization of sustainability criteria—for the buildings, of course, but, additionally, for all aspects of the development. Joel Bartlett observed that it’s not only ecologically advisable, but it also can save us money! So we’ll be reaching out to our manufacturers and suppliers to stress the importance of employing sustainable methodologies. By doing so we can influence them toward embracing a greener orientation in general.

  • HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING: Altair will be promoting healthy practices for the environment and also for the residents of our ecovillage. That means being cognizant of issues like walkability, social interaction, on-site food production, accessibility—and even our relationships with neighbors (for example: minimizing light pollution) and supporting the local economy.

  • CONSTRUCTION: SITES specifies stringent guidelines in regard to sustainable construction practices. We’ll be working with the contractors to limit pollution and soil compaction. In doing so our project will become an educational process for all involved. Sara explained how and why permaculture advises that soil remediation be addressed as soon as possible after construction.

  • OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE: While we do the up-front design work we’ll be needing to keep in mind how we’re going to take care of the site in perpetuity. This will require careful planning for sustainable maintenance, taking into consideration issues such as recycling/composting, smart lighting, integrative pest management, and energy usage. There’s a possibility that the deployment of solar panels on the top of the carports and on the roof of the Common House might be fully adequate to supply all the electricity needs of the ecovillage!

  • EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE MONITORING: In addition to striving for our own best practices, Altair will be proactively reaching out to the broader community. In conjunction with the township, we’ll be fostering sustainability awareness and demonstrating the efficacy of green living. By doing so Altair could become an exemplary case study. Joel noted that our promotion of the KLID ordinance will benefit the whole township and beyond. He related how Rachael Griffith, Sustainability Coordinator with the Chester County Planning Commission, has said she’ll be looking forward to alerting other municipalities about the exemplary KLID and Altair objectives.

  • INNOVATION: It was suggested that Altair’s ambitions in regard to EV (Electric Vehicle) fleet management and an associated car- and ride-sharing programs could become the basis for a new SITES credit criteria. During the Q&A it was mentioned that we’ll be interested in helping the township address both vehicular and pedestrian traffic on Kimberton Road (wanting it to be as pedestrian-friendly as possible).

The morning wrapped up with a discussion of the pending SALDO (Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance) process, a presentation of the prospective site concept, an idea to apply for a PHARE (PA Housing Affordability Fund) grant, and the announcement about the public event, a “Meet and Greet” (plus site tour) on June 19.

Steve Welzer, for Altair EcoVillage

June 4 Integrative SITES Workshop

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Altair EcoVillage, Kimberton, PA

Interest and attendance were high at our June 4 Integrative SITES Workshop. About twenty joined us in-person at the Centennial Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kimberton, PA (including some neighbors from properties adjoining our parcel of land) and another twenty participated via Zoom.

Project Manager Joel Bartlett conveyed that the purpose of the event was to outline how Altair is planning to achieve its goal of meriting a Silver Rating according to the criteria of the US Green Building Council (USGBC)’s Sustainable SITES Initiative. Also, the East Pikeland Township’s KLID (Kimberton Low-Impact Development) ordinance requires a proposed development to host a public meeting.

Landscape Architect Adam Supplee facilitated the event. In his introduction he mentioned that our project will model environmental best practices and likely put Kimberton and East Pikeland Township on the map as leaders in promoting low impact development. And it will be a priority for Altair to be fully integrated into the walkable village of Kimberton.

Obtaining a USGBC Silver Rating involves gaining credits according to sustainability objectives specified by the SITES rating system. The fact that the township’s KLID ordinance has considerable overlap with the SITES criteria is an indication of the exemplary features of the ordinance. Altair is proud of its role in helping to formulate the ordinance; it will be beneficial for the whole township and, if emulated as expected, will be beneficial for the county, state, and beyond.

As the gathering viewed slides of the dimensions and contours of the property, Adam stressed that good design requires a thorough understanding of the site. In fact, comprehensive up-front analysis is a key part of the SITES methodology. Toward that end it will be Altair’s intention to have all the professionals and stakeholders collaborate from the earliest stages of the project. Such an “integrative design process” is a SITES prerequisite.

With that in mind, after giving a brief history of the project, Joel proceeded to introduce a number of the professionals who will be collaborating during design and implementation:

* Architects Tom Carnevale and Lauren Eustis (both LEED Accredited Professionals) emphasized how they strive to include green building practices in all of their projects. Their prior work has included several buildings in the Camphill Villages in Kimberton and Glenmoore. They will be leading our Common House Design workshop in July.

* Jon Jensen, Sustainability Director at MaGrann Associates, described how his firm will be handling the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design. He said a priority will be to make sure the homes are compliant with PHIUS (Passive House Institute, US) standards.

Click to see Stephanie’s Video presentation

* Land Planner Stephanie Wnuk of RENEW Design addressed the gathering via video. She will be coordinating aspects of landscape design, traffic impact, fiscal impact, and surveying. One of her projects will be to map the existing natural aspects of the land re: delineation of wetlands, identification of plant communities and soils, etc. in order to facilitate usage of native plants, deployment of trees, stormwater management, and minimization of erosion. Stephanie will be leading our Site Design Workshop on June 25.

* Tom Halliwell (PE, LEED-AP), a principal at Grist, will be focusing on stormwater issues. Grist specializes in sustainable stormwater management and green infrastructure design.

* Mark Gallagher, a restoration ecologist and vice president of Princeton Hydro, will be providing Altair with bird and wildlife expertise.

* Permaculturist Sara Wuerstle brings to our project a highly integrated understanding of regenerative land development. She has extensive experience with the SITES initiative and has lived in a number of intentional communities. She said, “I am most inspired when people savor the nutritious, delicious, and beautiful food that comes from a healthy ecosystem.”

* Bill Grothmann gave an overview of why Blueprint Robotics (B.R., located in Baltimore) is a leader in the new industry of offsite building systems manufacture. Their state-of-the-art technology enables a production process that conforms to passive-house standards at the highest level. The expectation is that during 2023 Blueprint Robotics will be a sub-contractor of our general contractor, but they are already helping with pre-construction planning. Of interest is that Blueprint will also be producing the units for the Rachel Carson EcoVillage project. The latter, in western PA, is several months ahead of us in regard to the development process, which means that B.R. will be able to bring additional value to Altair based on lessons learned from the Rachel Carson project.

* Dan Donatelli, President and Chief Operating Officer at C. Raymond Davis & Sons, will serve as our construction manager. It will be beneficial to Altair that most of their staff are LEED AP’s and the firm is located in Kimberton, a stone’s throw from our site. Dan said he will be focusing on keeping costs down and on minimizing pollution during the construction process.

To be continued in Part II…

Integrative SITES Workshop

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Goals related to achieving a Silver Rating in the US Green Building Council's SITES Initiative…

We’re happy to share with you handouts from the Integrative SITES Workshop held on June 4, 2022 (click links below. For more information, please contact AltairEcoVillage@gmail.com.