The former munitions storehouse of Rijksdomeinen was squatted in 1988 and pretty soon legalized. From the start it was aimed to house the widest possible diversity of creative professions and crafts. It provides work and living spaces close to the lands of Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.
A major creative arts hub. With many events and art installations around the outskirts of the site.
Nimbin is an alternative village/small township born out of the environmental, arts-music and protest scene post the Aquarius Festival in 1973. Often at odds with the local authorities over its tolerance over drugs. Two site links. Australian 'hippy central' in the heart of New South Wales' Rainbow Region.
Closed group – you have to join. Their aim according to site is for: “NOMADS (to provide) an online community for sharing ideas & information on low-budget/moneyless/low-impact ways to live sustainably on the road. If you have any relevant knowledge/experience you would be willing to share or have any relevant questions to enable you to better live in this way, then welcome home!”
Norway is home to the largest and apparently 'best' public hut system in the world. It's a way of life for locals and a novelty for visitors.
The Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) oversees more than 500 cabins spanning the country and situated incrementally throughout the National Parks and other areas of great natural beauty.
There is an annual charge and huts are graded and charged accordingly.
A mix of news and politics. Lots of interesting articles, ranging from squats to eco-villages to sexuality and world issues. At times the alternativism is a bit ‘glossy’.
They run different news streams to different parts of the world.
Lots of podcasts and links.
Innovative plans to turn abandoned cityscapes into vibrant new co-housing communities.
An interesting report focusing on Improvistos architects work in Alfarfar, south of Valencia in Spain.
A hub site for explorations into the worlds of ‘permaculture’ and ‘natural building’ and more. With links to other web resources. Particularly powerful images of women as builders. A nice mix of passion and skills.
They say that their site is: “NuMundo is the story of a group of passionate, young travelers who came together with a purpose: to share first-hand experiences with personal transformation, planetary regeneration, and living in community.”
Link to an article on ‘Natural building is empowering women’ and to the main site.
This is a permaculture village located at Shawnigan Lake, British Colombia in Canada.
They say: “O.U.R. ECOVILLAGE is a sustainable learning community and demonstration site located in the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. We base our work on Permaculture principles and offer learning opportunities for Natural Building, Sustainable Food Production and Leadership.”
Links to their website and to a video.
Old Hall with 40 adults and 10 under 18s, is one of the more established intentional communities in the UK. This intentional community in the East Anglian area of England, has a diversity of people and beliefs, but works on consensus. Environmentalism and woodland skills are at its core. It also has historic links with the Albion Festivals.
Links to their main site and to Reb Stevenson’s video about Old Hall WWOOFers!
Many of the UK’s new Travellers and other hippy spirits from around the globe, elves, pirates and all kinds of alternative types, have long made their homes in the area of Southern Spain around Grenada.
Lots of old clapped out vehicles, people and cave-dwellers. In other words, a mixed bag. Good and bad. Optimistic and sad…
A couple of links to tales from this area. One from Plaid Zebra magazine and one to a Spanish site in English.