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Hi,

What do you guys think about the potential for an ecovillage based on a private island?

For example, http://www.privateislandsonline.com/wee ... island.htm is for sale for ?3 million, it's 684 acres in the Firth of Clyde.

If a trust were formed where say 120 families each invested ?25,000 you'd have the ?3M needed to buy the island. You might allocate 3 acres to each family, leaving 324 acres as common land (probably mainly rocky bits and round the coast with a bit in the center).

There's fishing and it sounds as if the land is quite fertile. The experience the residents would end up with in building eco-homes, alternative energy, permaculture might allow them to run courses and earn money as consultants for other developments.

As it's an island I'd think it would be easier to get planning permission and if things got really bad being isolated from the mainland would be a bonus.

The main problem would be finding 120 people interested enough to invest 25K.

Would something like this work? Has it been tried before?

murpen wrote:Hi,

What do you guys think about the potential for an ecovillage based on a private island?

For example, http://www.privateislandsonline.com/wee ... island.htm is for sale for ?3 million, it's 684 acres in the Firth of Clyde.

That particular island - just about zilch.

Just one question (there are about a dozen others!) . Where are you going to put the water desalination plant for 120 famillies (say 450ish people) and how are you going to power it? Then theres laying in the pipework. Or is the plan to collect rainwater on each of the 3 acre plots (most of which look as if they are going to be steep and rocky) adequate to supply water for a familly and agricultural smallholding? I doubt the current water supply which has to cope at max with a 12 bedroom hotel, 2 cottages and 3 other houses could cope.

Hi Skeptik,

That particular island was only an example to illustrate the idea, as it was the first one I found I'm sure that there are more suitable islands available.

As for water, I would have thought that rooftop rainwater collection (earthship style) would suffice for domestic needs, but I have no idea how much rainfall there is on the island.

Generally speaking, islands seem to be rather poor if they are to rely on their own means only. There are exceptions, like Venice, Malta or some of the channel islands, but they have had social constructs which have envigorated trade with the surrounding world.

murpen wrote:Hi,

What do you guys think about the potential for an ecovillage based on a private island?

Basic problems with small Scottish islands:

Water supply - obviously very little on the example island.
Poor soil - acid and thin. lots of rocks to deal with.
short growing season compared to Southern England.
Heavy westerly winds and exposure to Atlantic storms - no trees except in very sheltered pockets. Difficult to grow anything much except in very sheltered spots.
Miles of Atlantic away from the nearest pub & casualty dept.

Mid Wales or South West England mainland would be a better bet.

Lowish population compared with the South East.
Somewhere with springs or a small river flowing through the property, or a high water table for a traditional well. Rolling hills ideally- for micro-hydro and wind generation - and a good stand of mature forest and/or coppice. Good soils and a sheltered location for housing/smallholding in the valley bottoms.
Generally mild and reliable rainfall compared to East Anglia. Longer growing season than scotland.

murpen wrote: What do you guys think about the potential for an ecovillage based on a private island?

...

Would something like this work? Has it been tried before?

Historically, islands are not very sustainable places. I think you would need a significantly larger island in an optimum location to have any real chance. Might work for David Blaine

A google search for "sustainable island" threw up some interesting links.

Err, what about climate change?

One or two metres of sea level rise, plus one or two metres of storm surge as the winter depressions get stronger... how much land would you have left?

mobbsey wrote:Err, what about climate change?

Oohh, I forgot... there's a nuclear power station near Ayr and the US and British nuclear subs. regularly pass that way.

murpen wrote:What do you guys think about the potential for an ecovillage based on a private island?

The only scottish island I'd possibly consider is Gigha:

http://www.gigha.org.uk/home/moving.php

Bandidoz wrote:The only scottish island I'd possibly consider is Gigha:

Yes, Gigha looks interesting, I had a look at their site the other day.

Thanks for all the replies, maybe not such a good idea after all