A “spiritual community” where members talk to their vegetables and make homes out of whisky barrels might sound a little far-out, dude. Surely this “commune” called the Findhorn Foundation, which was started by a couple of hippies in the ’60s could not cater to the modern people of the 21st century.
But the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland’s Highlands does just that—and more. Now reaching 400 members in and around the actual park grounds, the Foundation is home to people of all ages, nationalities and religious beliefs.
History of the Findhorn Foundation
The Foundation, which is now also an education centre and UN-backed ecovillage, had humble beginnings in a trailer park in northeast Scotland on the Moray Firth. Three adults and three children came to the village near Forres in 1962 and comfortably settled in a caravan. There were no intentions of creating the massive community it is today, but the garden they grew as a means of feeding the family flourished. News of 40 lb cabbages growing out of the sandy soil spread and people came to the park to see what the secret was.
The secret was, of course, working with nature— something the Foundation is doing more and more as it focuses on sustainable living and not only nurturing one’s soul but the environment as well.
The community gardens together, eats delicious vegetarian meals together, dances together and meditates together. Sounds a little flaky, maybe, but it is anything but.
As the times have changed, intelligent, environmentally conscious residents are turning the space into an ecovillage.
What is an Ecovillage?
As Karen Svensson writes in the book Ecovillage Living: Restoring the Earth and Her People, “Ecovillages embody a way of living. They are grounded in the deep understanding that all things and all creatures are interconnected, and that our thoughts and actions have an impact on our environment.”
Think permaculture, organically grown food, natural building, renewable energy and all things green.
The ecovillage in Findhorn is by no means the only of its kind in existence. They are thriving all over the world: Australia, Germany, Canada, South Africa and Sri Lanka, for example.
Highlights of Findhorn’s Ecovillage
- The Living Machine, built in 1995 was the first sewage treatment facility of its kind in Europe. The community’s sewage and grey water run through a series of plant and bacteria-filled tanks that break down the waste without the use of chemicals.
- The barrel cluster: one of the most fascinating, eye-catching areas of the park, where beautiful homes are made of recycled whisky barrels.
- There are 55 ecologically-benign buildings on the property, one of which is a straw bale house.
- They use their own LETS (Local Exchange Trading System) much like those found on Canada’s Salt Spring Island.
- As the website boasts, “The Findhorn Foundation Ecovillage Project has received Best Practice designation from the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat).”
- The village’s ecological footprint is half the national (UK) average. The community has less of an impact on the environment than any other intentional community in the world.
Visiting Findhorn
There are many reasons to visit the Findhorn Foundation. Whether you want to just check things out for yourself or take part in community activities like working in the Cullerne Gardens or meditating in the Sanctuary, you can register as a short-term guest. For those who want a more intense experience, they can sign up for “Experience Week,” which does not come cheap but promises to be life changing. People may also want to visit for the workshops and university credited courses that run throughout the year.
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