Suderbyn in Sweden: A dynamic mobilization of youth and advocacy

Ecovillages Green building Permaculture Vegetarianism MD 27 July 2018 0 Comments

Suderbyn in Sweden: A dynamic mobilization of youth and advocacy

Suderbyn is an ecovillage located in Sweden on the island of Gotland, in the heart of the Baltic Sea. For 10 years, the community has attracted a lot of young people from around the world to learn and experience permaculture, eco-construction and renewable energy.

Co-founded by Robert Hall, a political observer, Suderbyn is at the center of various projects.

Daily actions of the community for reducing their ecological impact are amplified by organizations like Ecolise, one of the most influential networks in Europe succeeding NGOs acting to make recognize climate change and the positive impact of community actions such as ecovillages.

Very dynamic, the community counts permanently between 15 and 40 members and rests on two main organizations: an association which manages the educational part and the international relations as well as a cooperative for the daily needs of the inhabitants.

Experiencing life in autonomy

Suderbyn aspires to become a school to learn sustainable living through permaculture including local seasonal food, zero waste and circular economy.

Originally, I had imagined that Swedish families come to live here. But it is rather young people who have come. The fact that a maximum of things are common and not private, this is not suitable for older generations. So we focus on educational actions – Robert Hall, co-founder of Suderbyn

The community is currently focusing on Closed Loop, a project that aims to develop a prototype of a circular system for food and energy production, applicable everywhere: even in cold and biologically sensitive areas.

This system uses the principles of circular economy where nothing is lost, everything is re-used.

Food surpluses are recycled by aeroponics – an above-ground cultivation method – and by a biogas digester – transforming waste into fertilizer or energy that can be used to power cars.

A manual explaining how to duplicate this approach will be available soon.

Many educational contents are already available, on site and on the web.

A life with low ecological impact

On a daily basis, the community seeks to reduce its environmental impact by all means. For example, special attention is paid to waste recycling: everything is recycled or reused.

The creation of renewable energies with solar panels, wind turbines as well as a local and seasonal food supply is also a developed axis.

To avoid polluting drinking water, Suderbyn uses only 100% natural products.

A coalition of networks to support sustainable communities

In parallel with community life, Suderbyn is the base of Ecolise, a coalition of national and international networks for sustainable communities. It acts at the political level to make the innovative solutions of ecovillages and other ecological and solidarity transition movements heard.

Every year, some 50 members meet to measure environmental policy issues and see how European Community actions can contribute to them.

To promote these actions, Ecolise co-founded the European Day of Sustainable Communities, to celebrate now every 22nd of September. To follow on social networks: #EDaySC2018 #MySustainableCommunity

Suderbyn in pictures