Columbia EcoVillage; Portland, Oregon

During the October, 2011 ARCSA Convention in Portland, Oregon we had the opportunity to visit local sites with rainwater harvesting installations.  One site I visited was the Columbia EcoVillage.  The site was 3.7 acres and housed approximately 60 people of all ages in their own condominiums.  In addition an original farmhouse on the property served as a common area for shared meals, entertainment, and meetings.  As a member of the community you sign up to serve in different ways for the good of the community, whether cooking meals, tending to the gardens and animals, or maintaining the various systems on the property.  A rainwater harvesting system comprised of 5 tanks with capacity of 24,000 gallons is utilized to irrigate the gardens.  See pictures of the beautiful property and gardens below.  Keep in mind this property is in the NE part of Portland, not out in the middle of a rural area, and the folks there live a sustainable life every day!  In general, I was very interested to see how many people are growing vegetables or raising chickens at their homes in the Portland area.  For more information on the Columbia EcoVillage community click on the following link.  www.columbiaecovillage.org

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