Eco-living concerns itself with the intricacies of living life in the visible physical world and within the invisible metaphysical realm that compliments it. The living of such a life demands conscious engagement with the visible and invisible, the seen and unseen aspects of that life – in other words, giving consideration not just to physical reality but also to emotional reality.
So, what’s involved in that?
Well, looking honestly at pretty much everything one does in their quest to stay alive – the shelter one inhabits; the food one eats; the water one drinks; the air one breathes; the clothing one wears; the beliefs and values one holds; the means one uses to move from A to B; etc.. Such a conscious examination of the modern way of life with all its contradictions can be daunting!
Practically speaking, an all encompassing eco-life is difficult to achieve instantly – so introducing significant eco elements into one’s day-to-day life is a good way to begin the process. For example, the introduction of an ‘eco strand’ in one’s life – the planting and harvesting of food crops or the construction of an EconoSpace/Garden ecoShed in ones back garden.
Architecture can play a pivotal role in such conscious eco-living because its make-up mirrors the human make-up – a consequence of the similarity between people and buildings – each having a physical outer form that encloses an invisible interior. This mirroring aspect of people and architecture offers an accessible means of consciously integrating the outer and inner aspects of one’s life by creating, for example, a small eco-building – a living architecture – to provide appropriate context for the living of that life.
At the other end of the spectrum lies the possibility of creating an entire eco-house that could include living and work spaces, food production and storage facilities, off-grid energy generation and storage, natural waste disposal systems, etc.
There are numerous resources available on this website in respect of Sheltermaking & Living Architecture.
ARTICLES These published articles cover a wide range of subjects, are in .pdf format, and can be freely downloaded.
COURSE HANDOUTS These Handouts were developed for numerous LIVE Courses and Workshops delivered over many years of teaching activity. They are in .pdf format and can be freely downloaded. Index of Handout topics
EcoLIVING RESOURCES
Peasant in Paradise – four seasons eco-living
By Alanna Moore, November 2021
ISBN: 978-0-6452854-0-6.
240 B5 240mm by 170mm pages with 294 photos, 130 plant profiles and 52 recipes.
Price: €24, $AUD36, $US30, £22
This new, down to earth, practical book chronicles Alanna’s exploration of temperate zone, eco-friendly living in a ‘normal’ home in rural Ireland and why this is an imperative today. It’s a tool for the times – anyone can do some of the actions required, with inspiration gained from the plant profiles and low carbon recipes, to poetry and a plethora of tasty visuals to bring the rich flavour of the healthy, eco-peasant way into the realm of your own possibilities.
Visit Alanna Moore’s website and find out lots more!
“Moore is a seasoned permaculturist living the dream on a smallholding in Ireland. This is a portal into her year of low cost, eco-living. It covers everything from clothes, how she organises her home, transport, to bathing (love the bath in a glasshouse idea), compost toileting, and growing annuals, perennials, and forest gardening. There are ideas for recipes, ferments, and food preservation and storage. It is obvious that Alanna walks her talk. Much of Alanna’s experimentation can be translated into a more urban setting”. – Maddy Harland, Permaculture Magazine no. 111, Feb. 2022.
RetroSuburbia: The Downshifter’s Guide to a Resilient Future
The latest book from permaculture co-originator, David Holmgren – permaculture design in an urban environment- an extraordinary and magnificently crafted guide on living abundantly in uncertain times. Part manifesto, part manual, this is the book you and I did not realise we were waiting for!
David Holmgren asks “Aren’t we all craving real world ways to make an impact, and make our lives feel significant in the face of the global challenges we face?”
This timely important book creatively and unreservedly helps us realise the prime directive of permaculture – that is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children. It guides us optimistically into what could be very hard times ahead with the permacultural vision that you and I can support all of life and live abundantly and healthily. Using alternating scales, this book seems to cover everything from disaster planning, to retrofitting your home, to caring for your teeth.
Whether you rent or own your home, this is a practical, bottom-up guide for your own personal permaculture revolution whatever your situation. It’s packed full of real life practical solutions for downshifting and eco-retrofitting yourself, your life, your home and your communities. Every time I open the book I glean fascinating insights which once put into practice have already impacted positively on my own life and family. Do not be put off by the Australian references, as we are encouraged to translate the ideas into our own context.