Sustainable Communities Interview - Andra Ivanus

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Please categorize your ecological lifestyle into a category:

What is the name of the household/neighborhood/community/NGO you are a part of?

  1. ecological camp - kászonszék eco village
  2. green house, cob srl
  3. aurora
  4. rainbow valley
  5. strambeni permaculture

What is the date when the group was founded?

  1. 2010
  2. 2004 green house
  3. 2011
  4. 2012

What is the number of members in the group?

  1. 4
  2. 1
  3. 4
  4. 2
  5. 1

What is the age of the youngest and what is the age of the oldest member of the group?

  1. 2 years - 33 years
  2. 60 years
  3. 27-40
  4. 30 or 31
  5. 25

What type of environment is the group located in?

What is the approximate size of the property? (in m2 or ha)

  1. 0.5 ha = 5000 m²
  2. 0.5 hectares
  3. 3 hectares
  4. 1 hectare
  5. 3300 square meters

How far is the group’s property from the nearest locality or city? (in km)

  1. at the edge of the village 0 km, about 3 km from the center of the commune
  2. 2 km
  3. 25 km
  4. time 50km. commune 7km
  5. 31 km

In what geographical area is the property located?

How much of the energy consumed is produced by you and how much comes from the national distribution network?

  1. 100% electricity from the grid
  2. casa-verde is not connected to the national grid.
  3. all electricity consumption is supported by the national grid.
  4. 100% own production
  5. 100% distribution network

Which of these technologies are used by you?

In what percentage do you fit when it comes to self-sustainability and own production?

I will show you a series of opposing concepts. Please tell me where you think you fit. 1 is minimum, 6 is maximum

What level of education do you have? Last school attended and field if applicable.

  1. university - architecture
  2. polytechnic institute of timișoara - faculty of architecture
  3. high school + baccalaureate diploma
  4. faculty of foreign languages and faculty of law
  5. lyceum

What is the average monthly income of the group and where does the earned money come from?

  1. approximately 2200 lei/month from self-employment income + child-raising allowance
  2. ecological constructions, design, training 500 euros/month
  3. 300 lei. handmade products
  4. 1000 ron – product sales, consulting, courses

What is your religious orientation?

  1. free - individual - christian
  2. -
  3. none
  4. without religion or indoctrination.
  5. i haven't decided.

What kind of governance is applied in the group?

How are roles distributed within the group?

  1. as between a woman and a man in a marriage, family the man: chopping wood, earning money, working with bees the woman: cooking, household chores, with children, in the garden
  2. through cooperation and fairness
  3. role of husband and wife.
  4. it does not apply, it is about a single person

Are there educational programs for group members, volunteers, or other interested parties? What do they consist of?

  1. sometimes the garden and the house are presented to visitors, friends.
  2. natural construction seminars: a more human architecture with respect for nature
  3. diverse training sessions on social, educational topics, and types of agriculture
  4. no.
  5. permaculture courses

Do you conduct religious activities in the group? If yes, in what form?

How was this group created?

  1. as a result of an individual idea, an attempt to create a community through collaboration with the locals.
  2. the variable group was created based on interest in natural constructions
  3. with love
  4. through love.
  5. from the desire to test the viability of sustainable living

What motivation did you have to join or create this group?

  1. to transform the locality into a sustainable, ecological one, following the examples of eco-villages from around the world.
  2. desire to reconnect with nature
  3. a better life
  4. freedom.
  5. the desire to test the viability of sustainable living

What do you think is emphasized the most in your group?

How do you believe your group helps and supports social innovation and social change, and what effects does it have on the outside?

  1. by presenting an example of a healthy, ecological, natural, traditional lifestyle.
  2. changing the mentality towards earth constructions, care for nature, creative recycling, healthy living in harmony with nature.
  3. through our way of life, we each are a drop of color in an already gray world. the people we have the opportunity to meet are curious about our way of life, and we share our ideas and various projects in which they are also invited. we take care of the environment, and thus everyone benefits.
  4. with hope and faith that one can live differently.
  5. functioning as an inspirational model, through the courses and consultancy provided

Please rate from 1 - the lowest (failure), to 5 - the highest (success) the various activities and projects taking place in the group.

Briefly describe what the successes and failures listed above consisted of.

  1. the difference in thinking between the initiators and the locals led to a lack of direct collaboration and the loss of initial motivation.
  2. earth constructions (adobe, cob, straw bales) have shattered prejudices related to their association with poverty and backwardness, generated lasting friendships among people of different ages and backgrounds, offer an alternative to conventional (unhealthy) buildings, and can be built without a lifetime debt to the bank. a cob house is a comforting home that has absorbed your energy; the satisfaction of living in a house made by you cannot be equaled. being made from local and natural materials, the environmental impact is minimal, and the house is merely a layer in the ecosystem.
  3. the greatest achievement is the reunion with nature. we do not consider that we have any failure.

What have been the most successful projects undertaken by your group? What did they consist of? Did they have a direct impact on society?

  1. an ecological garden, using permaculture and biodynamic methods, with surprising results compared to the neighbors. unfortunately, the neighbors did not grasp the idea and did not collaborate in adopting the presented solutions.
  2. building the cob house casa-verde, the summer kitchen with a bread oven and sleeping area, the children's house, cob wall, they changed the locals' mindset regarding traditional building materials.
  3. our story that continues to inspire others through our blog.

What would you change in your group?

  1. first of all, the location, as well as the people around! we are looking for individuals and/or families who are open to the initial idea, collaborating for a common success.
  2. i would like not to be alone anymore :)
  3. nothing. what is desired will come at the right time.
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