Where are we at March 2010:

Pursuing our ambition of building a community of people able to live a sustainable life, producing no waste and no carbon emissions, we have been working on the ecovillage project, as well as developing our educational programme.

In the last year the ecovillage group have:

• Received grant funding from Awards for All for a development worker/project coordinator – 1 day per week for 14 months
  
• Received grant funding from the Pumphouse Trust for a development worker 1 day per week.
  
• The legal structures working group has researched various legal structures and shortlisted our options. We have written a detailed document about the legal structures available to community groups such as ours. This has been highly commended by other organisations such as Lammas, please click here to view (http://www.bodhi-eco-project.org.uk/Docs/IPSSummaryBodhiRev2.2.20090224.pdf)
  
• Met regularly on the internet and in person
  
• Had regular volunteer day events, including two at the Earthship and one learning to build a straw bale structure. For pictures see our picture gallery Strawbale200907
  
• The Site Search Working Group has met regularly and extended and deepened connections with various local authorities in Scotland. Negotiations are advanced on one site in Fife and one in Glasgow, and we are still looking for a third option in Clackmannanshire.

In addition, Bodhi Eco-project has in the last 12 months:

• Led two highly successful “Work that Reconnects facilitators training courses both in Scotland and England.”
  
• Led successful “Introduction to Permaculture” workshops with Lusi Alderslowe and Glen Williams
• Organised and run a popular series of workshops on compassionate communication and conflict resolution, led skilfully by Claralyn Nunamaker.
  
• Led a successful series of workshops on Reconnecting to our Ecological Selves led by Larry Butler and colleagues.
  
• Ratnadevi and Claralynn are developing an exciting and novel synthesis of NVC (Compassionate Communication) and mindfulness
  
• Held two visioning days to clarify the ongoing role of Bodhi.

In the last 18 months we have:

• Formed a partnership with Sustainable Communities Initiative (SCI), please see their website (www.sci-scotland.org.uk)
  
• Secured funding for land purchase
  
• Formed a core residents group to take forward the work, including 7 adults and 3 children.

Looking ahead, to exciting times:

As we, together with SCI, draw closer to buying land on which to build a centre of sustainable living we invite you to join us learning how to build an earthship, a straw bale house, or construct a wind turbine. Our plans for the site include 12 eco-houses, a bunkhouse, eco-shop and café, and a community and education centre. Please click here if you would like to support us.

As we draw closer to buying land on which to build an ecovillage (12 eco-houses, an eco-bunkhouse and a community and education centre), we draw closer to inviting you to join us learning how to build an earthship, a straw bale house, or construct a wind turbine. Please click here if you would like to support us.

Meanwhile we will continue to organise events at which we welcome Bodhi members old, new and prospective, see our events page (http://www.bodhi-eco-project.org.uk/events.html) for more details. We look forward to seeing you at one soon.