Lyra Engel

Biography

Creating an ecovillage is a grassroots way to respond to the crisis of global warming and other human impacts on the planet that are out of balance. It is a big step away from hopelessness toward empowerment and change. In addition  to building net-zero energy houses and lowering our carbon footprint with collective efforts that maximize our sustainability goals, I am also interested in the social aspects of ecovillage living – the sense of cooperation toward common goals, the commitment to nonviolent communication and consensus and “right relationship” –  all of it produces such a stimulating environment for personal growth and community “glue”. I like the way we get to meet so many different parts of ourselves with each other. People have the opportunity in an intentional neighborhood, like the one we are creating, to foster deep connections – with a community commitment to “working it out” when challenges come up.

Things I love: gardens with beds of flowers, veggies and herbs all growing kind of wild and happy together; woodland paths and time to enjoy the beauty of Nature; swimming in the ocean; singing and writing songs; dinner parties and music parties; time with my beautiful daughters and granddaughter. I would like to learn more about beekeeping, solar ovens, food preservation and natural building (we have talked about creating an Odonata sanctuary together, possibly using cob construction).