Mannawood Community Land Trust
Wallan, Victoria, Australia
- Updated on: Jun 17, 2023 (about 1 year ago)
- Created on: Apr 27, 2009 (almost 16 years ago)
Mission Statement
We inspire and connect people globally to live in sustainable harmony with nature and each other
Community Description
Mannawood is a sustainable community that subscribes to the Earth Charter and adheres to the principles and standards set up by The Global Foundation of Sustainable Communities.
It is located 90min outside of Melbourne's CBD north between the Goulbourn and the Yarra Valley, where the community is curently acquiring a large and beautiful piece of farm land. 50% of the land is dedicated to nature and 40% to build Victorias largest permaculture/organic farm. The remaining 10% are dedicated to the village and its employment & leisure infrastructure.
The community is created with the intention of balancing all 4 pillars of sustainability - environmental, social, economic and spiritual - equally. It values indigenous wisdom, heritage, tradition, cultural & religious diversity and invites people from all walks of life to participate.
The goverance model is of sociocratic nature & is value-based to foster respect and tolerance.
All assets of the community, its land, farm and business cooperatives are held by the community through a Community Land Trust, which ensures affordable living (incl. housing, food, water, power and education) for ever.
The village is created, designed and developed in cooperation with the wider community, building strong links between both.
The community is resource-independent by providing its own energy, water, food & workforce. In addition, its community features, healthy environment, organic farm, arts, crafts & innovation precinct, local enterprise & business cooperatives will provide each family with employment.
Various regular farm market days, community events, celebrations & exhibitions will also attract the wider community and others to visit regularly.
Other features: Zero Emmission Community Carbon negative locally sourced, recyclable, renewable, natural building materials resource efficiency (passive solar) construction & material simplicity waste-free community, choosing indefinite resources-cycles/loops avoids energy, soil, air, noise and light pollution Green Globe 21 Certification for all aspects own IT & Telecom service supplier walkable, car-free village host of community features eg community kitchen, laundry, theatre, etc community services for all ages </div>
- Status: Re-Forming
- Started Planning: 2015
- Started Living Together: 2025
- Visitors Accepted: Yes
- Open to New Members: Yes
- Please read the details in Membership below before contacting this community.Send Message
- Contact Name: Frank Hermesdorf
This Community Is Re-Forming
Previously known as Bunjil Community - we lost our property in Glenburn, because the owner sold it before our long term settlement was due and hence we are buying a new one now. Once this new property is settled, we'll invite all previous and newly interested parties for a "Founders Meeting". Feel free to register your interest in this event.
Location
About
- Type(s):
- Ecovillage (organized around ecology and sustainability)
- Cohousing (individual homes within group property)
- Programs & Activities:
- Transition Town (post-petroleum and off-grid communities.)
- School, Educational Institute or Experience
- Ethical Business, Investment Group, or Alternative Currency
- WWOOF'ing, Guest Farming
- Festivals, Conferences, Events
- Location: Rural
Housing
- Status: We do not have land
- Area: 500 acres
- Planned Number of Residences: 300
- Planned Residence Types:
- Single-family homes
- Multi-family homes
- Room(s) in a house or building
- Lots to build on
- Housing Provided:
- Purchase
- Rental
- Work-exchange
- Land Owned By: Community controlled land trust
- Additional Comments: This is an estimate. We are planning for more (7 generations), but the ultimate size will be decided by the community itself. The model is based on community connection through sustainable lifestyle of which co-housing is one of many options realised. Land not purchased yet.
Membership
- Adult Members: 625
- Child Members: 225
- Non-Member Residents: 95
- Percent Women: 50%
- Percent Men: 50%
- Visitors Accepted: Yes
- Visitor Process: The community is generally open for visitors, but because we are just forming you cannot visit the site itself. Please send a message to info@createcommunities.org and we will inform you once we are open.
- Open to New Members: Yes
- Membership Process: The community is currently developed as a pilot project by The Global Foundation for Sustainable Communities and the Global Standards described by GIDIFA (specialised UN agency). We soon will send out invitations to become a founding-member. Please send email to info@createcommunities.org in order to register your interest.
- Additional Comments: Spirituality, culture and traditions are core values. Therefore the community intends providing various opportunities to its members to practise and experience those values together. We are not affiliated with any religious group or tradition and all activities are voluntarily. Steiner Education (K-12) provided
Government
- Decision Making: Sociocracy
- Identified Leader: No
- Leadership Core Group: No
- Additional Comments: We have community entities managed by elected community members, leadership comes natural through passion, skills and commitment. We have a core group that lead us through the forming stage, but they will pass on all responsibilities to the community once we reach planning and implementation stage, while staying on board as ordenairy community members. The suggested governance model is based on sociocracy, but this may change depending on what kind of constitution the founding members wish to adopt.
Economics
- Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: No
- Shared Income: None
- Open to Members with Existing Debt: Yes
- Additional Comments: While each family is independent, the community assets are held in a non-profit Community Land Trust which will pay common outgoings/expenses. Once formed, the community decides about any joining fee (which might be contributed in money or labour). Any additional labour contribution is welcomed, but voluntarily.
Sustainability Practices
- Energy Infrastructure: We are totally off grid.
- Current Renewable Energy Generation: 100%
- Energy Sources:
- Solar
- Wind
- Biomass
- Helio Converter (Waste to Energy)
- Planned Renewable Energy Generation: 100%
- Current Food Produced: From 50-75%
- Planned Food Produced: 100%
- Food Produced Locally: 100%
Lifestyle
- Common Facilities:
- Common House
- Garden(s)
- Greenhouse(s)
- Vehicle Share
- Library
- Workshop
- Outbuilding(s)
- Swimming pond or pool
- Outdoor Kitchen
- Large Scale Kitchen
- Tractor & Farm Equipment
- Stage or Auditorium
- Swingsets & play areas
- Recreational vehicles
- Gym or sports area
- Internet
- Internet Available: Yes, community provides it
- Internet Fast?: Yes, exceptionally.
- Cellphone Service: Not good for most people.
- Shared Meals: 2-5 times per week
- Dietary Practices:
- Omnivorous (plants and animals)
- Paleo (no grains, dairy, processed foods, or legumes)
- Local
- Organic (no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers)
- GMO Free (only non-genetically modified organisms)
- Raw or Mostly Raw
- Kosher
- Halal
- Dairy-Free
- Gluten-Free
- Dietary Choice or Restrictions: No - people may eat however they wish.
- Special Diets OK: Yes
- Alcohol Use: Yes, used occasionally.
- Tobacco Use: No, this community does not permit tobacco use.
- Additional Diet Comments: We have our own biodynamic farm and we are very health-conscious. That does not mean that we prescribe a specific diet. We have our own winery & brewery and as such there will be moderate alcohol consumption. It is totally up to each community member how often he/she uses the community kitchen and gatherings. Sharing and cooking food often results in great relationships and fun.
- Common Spiritual Practice(s):
- Ecumenical (accepts all religions or spiritual practices)
- Eclectic (integrates multiple religious or spiritual beliefs)
- Spiritual Practice Expected?: No
- Education Style(s):
- Home Schooling
- Private Schooling at the Community
- Expected Healthcare Practices: We encourage a holistic lifestyle that prevents diseases, which naturally attracts more alternative, complimentary and eastern healthcare practitioners into our community, but we do not prescribe any of such practices.
- Healthcare Options: Community Plan
- Additional Comments: We believe that community is not achieved through rules and regulations, but by providing an environment that allows and encourages people to connect on multiple levels. As such we aim to create our own community culture, traditions and celebrations that will foster and deepen such connections.
Cohousing
Additional Comments
The location is just outside of Melbourne in an rural area, the village itself can be compared to an European style village
Community Network or Organization Affiliations
The Global Foundation for Sustainable Communities; The Inspired Earth Foundation
Community Affiliations
Mannawood Community Land Trust
Fair Housing Laws
This community acknowledges that their listing does not include any potential violations of the Fair Housing Law, or that they do not provide housing. For any questions about this topic please see our Content Policies and contact FIC with any questions or concerns: directory@ic.org.
Keywords
eco community, intentional community