The Environmental Impact of Sieben Linden Ecovillage

Andrea Bocco, Martina Gerace, Susanna Pollini

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9780429626913
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Geography
• Index: Geography

The Open Access version of this book, available at https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9780367145644, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

Environmental impact assessment is widely taught and researched, but rarely covers both lifestyle and building construction in a town or neighbourhood. This book provides a broad assessment of the environmental impact of the ecovillage Sieben Linden in Germany.

The ecovillage was founded in 1997 and has a population of over one hundred people. This book shows how raising the awareness of individuals and adopting a consistent way of community living can be environmentally friendly. This applies both to everyday practices and the way the houses in the ecovillage are built. The tools used to measure the impact are Ecological Footprint and Carbon Footprint methodologies, making use of indicators such as Primary Energy Intensity and Global Warming Potential. Despite the difficulties encountered by using standardised methodologies, these research tools provide an overall assessment and have allowed comparisons with selected, similar cases and general values from statistic sources.

This book will be of great use to professionals and scholars in the fields of environmental impact assessment, particularly at the town/district/city level, and of city and ecovillage management. It will particularly appeal to those engaged in a Sustainable Development Goal #11 perspective, as well as environmental policy makers at the local level.

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Sieben Linden ecovillage

Martina Gerace and Susanna Pollini

Sieben Linden Ecovillage is a settlement established in 1997 in the municipality of Beetzendorf in the Altmark, Saxony-Anhalt (Germany). Its aim is to represent a “model of socio-ecological settlement for climate and resource conscious lifestyles and regional development” (Kunze 2016:5). The community’s vision and goals are set out in a series of guiding principles, to which new members must adhere and which affect all aspects of life (Kunze 2016:1). Special emphasis is placed on self-sufficiency (especially in food and energy fields), environmental protection and conscious use of natural resources. Sieben Linden is a liberal-minded and hospitable village; it welcomes people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds and age groups, with and without disabilities (Sieben Linden (a)). Sieben Linden is an active member of the GEN¹ and has engaged in an increasing number of cooperative activities and educational programs.

1.1 History

The information used to compile the following section was mainly obtained from Kunze (2016) and Stanellé (2017).

The idea of a self-sufficient ecological village in Germany originated in 1980, during the anti-nuclear resistance in Gorleben. There, an experimental village was built (the “Hüttendorf” of the “Freien Republik Wendland”) that lasted for only thirty-three days; however, it was inspirational for many people (Andreas 2012a).

In 1989, Jörg Sommer, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Heidelberg, delineated the essential aspects of a self-sufficient village for 300 people; this was the birth of the concept at the base of Sieben Linden. Sommer spoke of this ideal village as an alternative to the capitalist model:

For other groups, self-sufficiency is a possibility for withdrawing from society; we, on the other hand, are pursuing the goal of developing an alternative to the existing industrial and consumer society and therefore to have effects that carry over into society.

(Sommer as quoted in Andreas 2012b:136)

At the time, the main focus was on economic self-sufficiency; however, by 1992 the model idea had expanded to include social and ecological dimensions:

The model character of the planned village consists of the comprehensive attempt to integrate all spheres of life (home life, work, provision, free time) as part of an ecological circular economy.

(Sommer as quoted in Andreas 2012b:137)

It was an idealistic conception that could not be realised in its purity, but was nevertheless very motivating for many. By 1993, Sommer had left the initiative and the focus of the group shifted to a less radical idea of self-sufficiency (Andreas 2012b).

In 1993 the “Ecovillage housing cooperative” was founded (then renamed “Settlement cooperative” in 1999 and subsequently “Housing cooperative” – see Chapter 1.2); this represented the beginning of the planning phase of the ecovillage. In this phase the guidelines for community living, including spatial planning and development, community organisation as well as ethical aspects, were developed.

In the same year the newly established cooperative bought a “project centre” in Groß Chüden, at that time part of the Chüden municipality and now incorporated in the city of Salzwedel, the capital of the Altmark district. In September a first group of fifteen adult and children pioneers moved there to set up the project and experience communal living at first hand.

In 1996, when the ecovillage had not yet been established, the project team was awarded the “TAT-Orte-Preis” by the German Federal Foundation for the Environment (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, DBU for short). The competition rewarded exemplary cultural, ecological, economic and social solutions for underdeveloped regions in East Germany. The jury expressed hope that society at large would benefit from this project: “The exceptional degree of engagement (…) which stimulates the region and other environmental education initiatives deserves to be acknowledged. In light of its exemplary nature and its transferability, the proposal is officially awarded and honored” (quoted in Andreas 2012b:137). The ecovillage was awarded again in 2002, for the successful realization of the ecovillage at the Sieben Linden site.

In 1997 the location where to establish the ecovillage was found: the Cooperative bought a farm (consisting of an old building connected to the electrical grid and twenty hectares of forest and agricultural land) near the rural village of Poppau, close to a railway line. The site was selected according to some criteria including, among others, existing infrastructure, access to public transport and affordability of land. In June 1997, even before the approval of the development plan for the area, the pioneers’ group moved there, living in trailers.

The land was examined for one year between 1997 and 1998 by an urban-ist and a permaculture designer. A global planning process started on the site, based on the methods and the three basic principles of permaculture – care for the earth, care for people, fair share (Holmgren 2002). The initial plan identified residential, public, commercial and natural areas; these definitions have always been intended quite loosely, though.²

In 1998 the local municipality approved the development plan for a new rural settlement for 300 people, earmarking a buildable area out of agricultural land; given the extraordinary circumstance, the red-green government of Saxony-Anhalt approved this exception to the law on land use. Moreover, the German law forbids living in trailers; however, the Sieben Linden community obtained the permission to host a maximum of fifty-six trailers, used as temporary housing, until the whole settlement would be completed.

The old farmhouse was then refurbished according to ecological architecture principles, and became the first community building of the Ecovillage: the so-called Regiohaus (see Chapter 1.6.7). This building hosted, and still hosts, the main services such as toilets for people living in the trailers, a community kitchen, a dining room, some offices, a children’s room, a guest room and a library.

Since 1999 additional infrastructure was established, such as paths, wells, electricity and telephone lines, reed beds, a pond, open-air amphitheatre and windbreaks. Moreover, a five-hectare piece of overexploited agricultural land was gradually transformed into a valuable vegetable garden.

In 2000 the first residential buildings were built (Nordhaus and Südhaus), which were occupied in November 2000 by twenty people. The growth phase which had just started is still ongoing: many people began to join the community and to move into newly built ecological houses; many subprojects arose, enriching the community’s activities. A farm in Poppau was also rented in 1998, which served as a transitional area for those interested in the ecovillage project (which now belongs to an autonomous community closely linked to Sieben Linden).

Since 2010 the educational activities in the ecovillage have been expanding more and more. Educational programs, workshops and seminars attract people from all over Germany; for this reason, in 2013 the Regiohaus was extended with the construction of the Sonneneck, to accommodate guest-rooms, toilets, seminar rooms and a reception.

The ecovillage is constantly growing: in 2017 there were eleven multi-family houses, about fifty trailers, the service centre cum seminar space, an organic food shop, an information point, a meditation house, a food storage space, a sauna, several outdoor kitchens and toilets, as well as a carpentry workshop and a horse stable (see Chapter 1.6). A new building is planned opposite to the Regiohaus, with additional bedrooms for guests and spaces for seminars and workshops.

1.2 Organisations in the ecovillage

Sieben Linden is organised in associations and cooperatives. Their aim is to improve the material condition of their members through self-help (Stanellé 2017:29), providing services and also jobs, and managing specific realms of the village’s life. This is in accord with the principles of self-sufficiency of the community.

Two cooperatives formally own the ecovillage and manage its finances:

• The Settlement cooperative (Siedlungsgenossenschaft Ökodorf e.G. – in short, SiGe) is the most important organisational unit in the ecovillage. SiGe is the owner of the land and the infrastructure; it decides on all matters that affect the ecovillage and is responsible for managing the economic capital of the community. Joining the cooperative involves obligations towards the community and gives access to all services reserved to residents (under payment of a small fee to cover daily operating costs: see Chapter 1.3). (Kunze 2016:3, Strünke in Stanellé 2017:26)
• The Housing cooperative (Wohnungsgenossenschaft Sieben Linden e.G. – in short, WoGe) is the owner of all buildings. The private property of real estate is not allowed within Sieben Linden; in this way the risk of speculation or acquisition by non-members is avoided and the pursuit of community principles is ensured. WoGe is responsible for the construction and financing of new buildings: when a group of residents decides to build a new house, each individual contributes with a share of money and of working hours; the missing capital is provided by the cooperative. This share will be covered over time through the rent, paid by residents to WoGe. (Kunze 2016:3, Lakas in Stanellé 2017:30)

Another fundamental institution is the Friends of the Ecovillage association (Freundeskreis Ökodorf e.V.). This is a non-profit organisation, open to both residents and non-resident people. It is responsible for public relations, educational programs, cooperation programs, as well as assistance to the youth, the elderly and the disabled. Non-resident members can support eco-village activities with donations and enjoy some advantages (e.g. discounts on seminar and accommodation fees) (Sieben Linden (b)).

Other activities are managed by further associations and groups; among others, the Naturwaren Sieben Linden e.V. supplies its members as well as the guests with natural products such as food, cosmetics and garments (Sieben Linden (c)).

Since its foundation, the ecovillage was organised in sub-communities, called “neighbourhoods” (Nachbarschaften), each with their own conceptual approach and way of life. This structure derived from the idea that groups of residents who share the same values can decide to plan, organise and build a space where to live collectively, pursuing their ideals; in fact, the ecovillage was designed to accommodate the needs of a wide variety of people, assuming a growth of up to 300 residents (Campe in Stanellé 2017:108).

Groups occupy a whole spectrum of approaches to communal living: the radical Club99 group shared the economy and many more intimate things; other groups have more conventional cooperative arrangements; one group came together simply for the practical reason of sharing childcare (World Habitat Awards). People are able to move between the different neighbourhoods if they find themselves more attracted by a different interest group.

The size of a neighbourhood may vary from a minimum of three adults to twenty people. It is not expected that individuals or single families build their own house; in fact, the ecovillage is not just an ecological settlement where everyone could avoid each other if necessary, but a community where they make decisions together and cultivate a sense of community.

New members are integrated into the community through a training path. It consists of a two-week seminar, followed by a one-year trial stay; this allows future residents to directly experience living in the ecovillage and integrate with the community. After the trial period all residents decide about taking the new members into the community (two-thirds of the residents need to approve) (Sieben Linden (d)).

1.3 Work and economy

The information used to compile this section was mainly obtained from Strünke (in Stanellé 2017) and Sieben Linden website (Sieben Linden (e)).

Sieben Linden mainly stands on its residents’ extensive labour, both voluntary and paid. Part of the maintenance and expansion activities are performed on a voluntary base: each resident provides regular household services (one to four hours per week, depending on the use of the common areas) and working hours in teams.

Several jobs have been created on-site, many of which are meant to provide services to the community as a whole or the community members as individuals, and therefore substantiate a wholly formalised “circular economy.” Currently more than fifty memb...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• List of figures
• List of tables
• Acknowledgements
• List of abbreviations
• Introduction
• 1 Sieben Linden ecovillage
• 2 The environmental impact of the Sieben Linden lifestyle
• 3 The environmental impact of the Sieben Linden buildings
• 4 Comparing daily impact and construction impact
• 5 Final remarks, recommendations and perspectives
• Index