Community
Hidden Lake Village

Sustainable consumption and development begin in our own backyards. The movement back to community is an important step toward sustainability in the western world. When we know our neighbors, feel like we belong, care and are cared for, we are acting locally. Thus, community is the first step in sustainability.

Hidden Lake Village is composed of seven communities. It uses the concept of a village green to promote community within each one. 

Individual and private residences are clustered around a community house and other common areas.  These common areas and the people who live in the community itself give the community a sense of place and its residents a sense of belonging.

Community provides:

Social Interaction and Support: The opportunities for social support within a community are numerous and include gardening, entertainment, community upkeep, dining together, resident's celebrations, and more. A sense of unity within the community provides social support during good times as well as bad times.

A Place to Gather: Birthdays, graduation parties, movie night, fun in the sun, and more can be celebrated with friends and neighbors in the common house and other shared spaces. From a toddler's first slip-n-slide to a resident's wedding reception, community is shared in an ecovillage.

Safety: When all residents know each other, strangers are identified immediately and questioned. This degree of safety for children and adults is only possible with community.

Shared Resources: Community resources afford residents access to more facilities than they would normally have on their own such as community gardens, large play areas for children, shared dining/kitchen facilities, and open spaces. 

Time Savings: Less duplication of effort in the community and even shared chores save time for all residents.

Good Life for Children: In an age where children have few chances to roam freely, the safety of belonging to a community provides an opportunity to just be young and inquisitive while giving children exposure to a variety of adults and learning situations. Parents have more quality time to spend with children.

Accountability: A close-knit community makes us all more accountable to others.