Philippa Murray Philippa Murray

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Run For Cover... A Look at Shelter Co-housing and Eco-villages Frans Sayers - Main Street take charge of many aspects of life, from the water and food consumed and the waste stream created, to the ability to better benefit from technology. Advances in areas such as universal design, passive solar construction, in-house gardening and communal facilities (such as education, daycare, and spiritual enrichment), are all positive advantages. Universal design, and the use of local resources and labour, make co-housing and eco-villages a viable alternative to the plethora of big-box, single-family developments that eat up so much land and choke landfills with waste. Survival depends on practical skills and inclusive solutions. franssayers@gmail.com Co-housing is the intentional regrouping of shelter resources, purpose, families and businesses, in such a way as to create a harmonious and sustainable community on a manageable scale. With so much valuable farm and wild land being turned into non-arable land by development and resource depletion, we search for a healthy sustainable balance. Co-housing is simply one option for what works best in the context of the present. The longhouse of the Iroquois, and the groupings of homes and activities found around rivers and safe harbours, illustrate our need to be close to one another and the things we do. Re-thinking existing urban and suburban areas leaves more land free for sustainable food production, and as natural undisturbed habitat for wildlife and controlled human interaction. Location is not limited to an urban or a rural environment. All settings chosen must manage the environmental impact of such an intrusion. In regions, such as the Laurentians, the allowable buildable area does not necessarily correspond to the actual lot size. The topography and protected watercourses render some areas unbuildable. This makes the option of co-housing a viable alternative. Crucial issues are water, waste management and the proximity to wildlife, as well as the long-term effects of development. Wildlife corridors and our impact, with noise and light and other intrusive activities, are issues that need our special attention. Setting aside nature reserves, in conjunction with soft development, is one way to create harmony with the natural world. We don’t need to manage wildlife as much as we need to better manage ourselves and be responsible for our actions. Co-housing can be one building housing many and sharing resources, or a group of buildings configured in such a way as to maximize the sharing potential of the individual participants. This serves to diminish the overall footprint of the combined community and facilitates a more harmonious social environment, opposed to the sum of all the same efforts, made individually, as in the more common housing developments. Municipalities benefit, because the infrastructures incorporated in a co-housing facility make it less expensive to supply the municipal services, as the footprint of the whole is in reality, quite small. The legal components of such arrangements also lead groups to further examine their motives and practices, to better reach acceptable conclusions and clarity. The “Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation” has published a guide outlining the legal rights and obligations involved in co-housing arrangements in Québec. For those with special needs, the co-housing option allows all concerned to pool resources and achieve goals, which would have hitherto been out of reach. Buildings can be tailored to meet very special criteria. A good example would be an intentional community, whose goal is to provide a healthy, engaged and positive environment, for those who have environmental sensitivities of varying degrees and natures. The co-housing approach simply brings all the necessary elements together, in a seamless and affordable manner. The healthy materials embodied in the construction and how they are used also enhance the quality of life for all involved. For those doing the actual construction, and those who will ultimately be living there, the health benefits and the environmental/ ecological advantages are many. Such a community can thus responsibly 24 May 2013 Our 32nd year - Notre 32e année Thank you to our generous sponsors! Merci à nos commanditaires généreux!
2013 ColleC tion Swimsuits: charmline z Maryan Mehlhorn z lidea opera z Sunflair Rachel Papo z Diva Fine lingerie: lejaby z chantelle Passionnata z Simone Perele z aubade Casual clothing New locatioN: 301, rue Principale, Saint Sauveur, open 7 days a week: Mon - Fri 10 am - 6 pm, Sat 10 am - 5 pm, Sun 11am - 5 pm www.auclairdelalune.ca 450 227-5156 Boutique Au Clair de la lune - April 2013 Main Street Ad Stoves • fireplaces • gas • wood • pellets • ethanol • chimneys • mantels • BBQ electric fireplace parts • accessories • OUTDOOR FIREPLACES and much more... $ PORTABLE GRILLS FREE assembly when you present this ad $ from GRILL OF THE GOURMET GRILL COVER FREE BUY A NAPOLEON GRILL BEFORE SEPT 1, 2013 AND GET A FREE GRILL COVER $ $ $ from PATIO FLAME *Details in store WE HAVE GRILLS FOR EVERY BUDGET! Monday to Friday: 9 am to 5:30 pm Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm • Sunday: 11 am to 4 pm Partner: Foyer Decor May 2013 Main Street Ad • • May 2013 25
Page 1: MAY 2013 • VOLUME 13 NO. 4 14,000
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Page 11 and 12: News From Sainte Agathe Jessica Mil
Page 13 and 14: TechSpot More Adventures with Compu
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Page 20 and 21: Reflections The Drone Age Steve Bre
Page 22 and 23: COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD May 2013 R
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Philippa Murray Philippa Murray

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