Directory of Eco-villages in Europe - Kennedy Bibliothek

Hertha
Hertha ECOmmunity is situated in Jutland, near Aarhus in the little
village of Herskind. It consists of about 50 inhabitants + 13 developmentally
retarded young people. The first people moved in in 1995. We
have a goal of a sustainable settlement for about 200 people.
We have developed a main concept which we call reverse integration
i.e. the „normal people" integrate with the handicapped instead of the
other way around. In this way the retarded young benefit from the
normal life of people having their rhythm, and the „normal" benefit
from the resources (the spontaneity, the heart and the openness) of the
retarded, something often missing in a ..normal" adult world.
The other main concept is that we believe that if this (and any) settlement
is to be sustainable, it needs to build not only on „technical" ecology,
but on a social ecology. Out of the „social" the „technical" ecology
rises. Thus we work consciously on creating a humane society, which
has often a reserve of strength. If this strength is used to „lift" a group
of weak citizens, they will find themselves in a more equal life situation,
beneficial and necessary for both the „weak" and the „strong". In
this way the „normal" integrate with the handicapped.
We have a high degree of ecology in the buildings of the area and our
55 acres of agriculture are grown biodynamically. The workshops for
31
Denmark
Herskind
existing
eco-village