Michigan Ecovillages and Intentional Communities Tour

In an effort to promote eco-friendly living, Community Energy Solutions LLC is touring the state, inviting those curious about low-impact lifestyles to explore existing and planned ecovillages and intentional communities. According to Community Energy Solutions founder Tom Stanton, an ecovillage is a community that includes “one or more practices for local agriculture and food production, land-use protections for valuable natural habitats and building practices to help residents lower utility bills and use local renewable energy where practical.”

“A major premise for this project,” Stanton said, “is that all Michigan communities want to learn about sustainable and restorative projects. Ecovillages and intentional communities already use many well-proven solutions that are poised for implementation in all communities.” 

The tour will hit the Lansing area on Monday, beginning with visits to a local co-housing neighborhood, a community composting project and an urban agriculture project. Afterward, Ingham County Drain Commissioner Pat Lindemann will join the group for a tour of the Montgomery Drain Project, with an opportunity for participants to visit a second project built to prevent stormwater overflows on their own. After an hour-long lunch with representatives from Lansing’s Sustainability Office, the group will head to Michigan State University to see its eco-friendly facilities, including a large-scale anaerobic digester, a brand-new experimental dairy farm and the STEM Building, made from sustainable mass timber. A dinner will cap the event.

The tour is free, apart from meals. For more information or to RSVP, visit communityenergysolutions.info/events.