Chiel and his sister Ilse from Brabant bought an abandoned hamlet in the north of Spain: El Mortorio. There they build their dream: their own ecological residential community. But how do you start something like that? Omroep Brabant asked someone who has considerable experience in it: Ad Vlems, co -founder of Ecodorp Boekel. His advice: “Start with a small group and make a clear project plan.”
Ad Vlems has been realizing more than twenty years ago that things had to be done differently. In 2008, when he became a father, he decided to work on his dream: a self -sufficient, social and climate -proof residential community. It wasn’t an easy way. For example, there was no sewer, while it was mandatory. Yet the municipality of Boekel found a way out, even though there was no Dutch bank that wanted to put money in the project. A German bank granted the money. And so Ecodorp Boekel was able to start.
How is it now, seventeen years later, goes with Ecodorp Boekel? “Good,” says Vlems. “All 36 homes are occupied.” A food forest of 0.6 hectares with 120 different trees and shrubs supplies residents of fruit and nuts. In addition, both annual and multi -year crops are grown. “If it is completely overgrown, it delivers sixty percent of the food for the residents,” explains Vlems. “If everyone cooperates one day a week, for example in the garden or accounting, then the food is free.”
“We purify our waste water ourselves.”
Water management is also smartly organized. “We have a rainwater storage of ninety cubic meters. With that we flush toilets, the washing machines and we water the gardens. If that is on, then we automatically use drinking water. We purify all our waste water ourselves. We do not have to pay any water treatment costs.” The energy storage system, which was delayed by a bankruptcy, is not yet finished. “Hopefully that will happen this year.”
Although Chiel and Ilse start their eco-village in northern Spain, Vlems comments. “Spain seems like a hot state. I think it will be very difficult, but it is possible in principle. Although I would go north, to Norway or Sweden.” He mentions climate change as a serious risk factor. “This makes it difficult in every country around the Mediterranean Sea. It will soon be extremely hot or extreme floods will be coming.” Yet he understands the choice: “People choose with their feelings. You often choose a holiday country like Spain.”
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Nevertheless, Vlems also sees examples of where things are going well in warmer countries, such as Tamera in Portugal. “There people bought a valley that was very dry,” he says. By digging holes on hilltops and sides, mud flows were caused to ensure that ponds came and hills became more damp. People also released pigs and planted native plants on the moist soil. “Now it’s a water paradise.”
“Start with a small group and make a clear plan.”
The experiential expert also has some practical tips for those who want to set up an eco -village. “Start with a small group, make a clear project plan and use everything you want.” He also advises people to read well and possibly follow a course on communities, building and food, such as Ecovillage Design Education. “That gave me a deep impression of all the possibilities.”
He himself sees the founding of an eco -village as one of the best things he has done in his life. “When I was setting up the Ecodorp for six months, I came across more interesting people than before in my entire life. The need for a self -sufficient ecodorp often comes when you have experienced something. Then you know: it must be different.”
