Hart’s Mill
an Ecovillage
in Efland, NC
November 2012
The Vision
Eco-Village Definition
"A human-scale, full-featured settlement in which
human activities are harmlessly integrated into
the natural world in a way that is supportive of
healthy human development, with multiple
centers of initiative, and (which) can successfully
be continued into the indefinite future.“
- Robert Gilman
Land Stewardship
The Vision
 Pedestrian-oriented site plan
 Clustered homes with a shared
common house
 Green building
 Energy efficiency & renewables
 Waste-water recycling and rain water
catchment
Built Environment
The Vision
 Agrarian lifestyle with urban proximity
 Bulk of community’s food produced,
processed and stored sustainably onsite
 Range of housing options and
affordability
 Separate finances (not shared income)
 Multi-generational
Lifestyle
The Vision
 Pilot innovative sustainable living
initiatives
 Provide outreach & training programs
for the public
 Affiliate with educational institutions
and projects
 Explore local currency and barter
systems
Context
The Journey
 NOV 2008: Formed Triangle Intentional Community
Meetup group (TICMG)
 JAN 2009: spun off group to create an intentional
community in the Triangle area
 Met weekly over a period of 2 years to address
both physical & social aspects of the envisioned
community
The Journey
 MAY 2010: formed Carolina Common Well, LLC
(CCW) to serve as development agency
 Also have the Center for Community Alternatives,
(formerly called EcoAccess) a 501(c)3 non-profit
organization
 AUGUST 2010: Alana Ennis approached CCW
with offer to make her inherited 115-acre farm in
Efland available as a site for the community
The Journey
 SEPTEMBER 2010: Began actively recruiting new
members incl. tabling at conferences & festivals
 APRIL 2012: CCW co-sponsored with the
Fellowship for Intentional Community ‘The Future of
Community - Intentional, Cooperative, Sustainable!’
event in Durham
 MAY 2012: Permaculture site survey completed
as basis for site planning
The Journey
 JULY 2012: Approached School of Living
regarding joining their community land trust
 SEPTEMBER 2012: First meeting with Orange
County Planning Department and first community
workday on land
The Land
Location
The Land
Aerial View
The Land
Landscape
The Land
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Excellent soils for agriculture and septic
Large area of gentle south-facing slopes
Bounded on two sides by perennial streams
Pond (approx. 4 acres)
Ample ground water for well
Zoned R-1
Characteristics
Planning
Sketch Plan
Planning
 Conducted permaculture site analysis
 Researching planning & zoning regulations;
meeting with Orange County planners
 Exploring sustainable site development
materials, techniques and approaches
 Developing estimated infrastructure costs
Site Planning
Planning
 Seeking optimum model for purchase, ownership
and development that will ensure perpetual
adherence to sustainable principles & affordability
 Working with local attorney with expertise in
farmland preservation and conservation easements
 Need to ensure that housing discrimination laws
are not violated by membership vetting process
Legal/Financial
Planning
 Submit conceptual site plan to County for review
 Make revisions and submit final plan for approval
 Build basic site infrastructure – roads, utilities
 Close on sale or lease of individual building sites
 Build common house and area walkways, lighting,
foodscaping, etc.
Site Development Process
Community
 Founders envisioned more engagement than
merely sharing a common house and garden
 Separate finances and home ownership (equity)
Residents of the community will be vetted
through a staged membership process with
increasing bilateral commitment and responsibility
Membership
Community
 Exploratory: getting to know one other & exploring the
alignment of our visions
 Associate: participating in our community formation work
with a minimum of commitment
 Engaged: certain you want to join our community and feel
ready to fully commit yourself to the work
 Full: enjoy all rights, privileges & responsibilities
Membership Levels
Community
 Exploratory: open-ended until transitioning to Associate
(self-declaring)
 Associate: minimum 3 months until transitioning to
Engaged
 Engaged: 6 to 12 months until transitioning to Full
 Full: perpetual until exit
Membership Timelines
Visit our website for information on membership:
http://hartsmill.net