Village Design Institute & Sustainable Bellingham

proudly present –

An Evening with Brandy

Zoning for Sustainable Community Design:

Multiple Mixed-use on 5 Acres

Friday ~ January 27th  ~  7-10pm

at Bellingham CoHousing

2611 Donovan **

“COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET....”

How Ecovillages Might be Considered Mainstream (where community meets regulatory reform!)

Brandy Gallagher-MacPherson, Executive Director of OUR ECOVILLAGE of Vancouver Island, BC CANADA, brings an innovative and unique discussion on the real life example of how one Ecovillage was created from within all regulatory processes.  This amazing example of a "full featured human settlement" was not created out of the sight of regulatory processes, but rather dared to partner with the regulatory powers that be!  Brandy will describe the three stages used in this groundbreaking process: 1) the creation of a brand new re- zoning project that allowed for a "Sustainable Land Management Design" (a park, an organic farm, an education facility, and an eco-residential housing cluster); 2) establishing a working relationship with building inspectors and engineers on 'natural building' (cob, strawbale, light clay, etc) compliance with building codes; and 3) getting approval for alternative Waste Water Treatment through the Health Act, which is now a national research project on FOG (Finance, Ownership and Governance for Landshare Projects).  These landmarks have created unprecedented opportunities and an amazing contribution to all other live/work communities in Canada and even the US.

Please join us for an evening of sharing the history, design and development of this wonderful example, then join in for the slideshow and group discussion!

For more information Contact

VDI: 927-2224

** Please Note: Limited Parking! Carpool, Bike or Transit. Overflow Parking at Food Pavilion, corner of Old Fairhaven Parkway and 30th Street. Thanks for your attention.