by Dianne Risdon

After returning home from Rutledge, MO, the first thing my sister asked when she called was “Well, is it a cult?” I laughed out loud and said “No, Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is not a cult.” It is many things, but it is not a cult.

Imagine a place where everyone greets you with warmth and attention; a place where the children run freely throughout the village, playing games, and chasing each other without any parents hovering over them, yet plenty of adults available if needed. A place where everyone knows all of the children by name and where they live. A place where you see people stopped along a path engaged in conversation, working in their gardens, and building their homes. Imagine that.

Now, close your eyes and imagine a place where the cars are parked outside the village and everyone gets around on foot or bicycle. Listen to the absence of vehicles. No engine sounds, no car doors slamming, and no honking horns. Now, if you happen to be in the common courtyard area, close to the charming and lovely Milkweed Mercantile Bed and Breakfast, you may hear the occasional vehicle traveling down the road in front of the village. Unless the co-op tractor is being used for a project. And honestly, who doesn’t get a little kick out of seeing or even riding on a tractor? Pretty cool place.

The folks living at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, who, by the way, refer to themselves as “Rabbits,” have a set of ecological covenants they follow. One is that members will not keep individually-owned, motorized vehicles on the property. There is a vehicle co-op to meet the needs of travel with an emphasis on ride-sharing to minimize the use of petroleum products. It is a very efficient way to cut down on unnecessary motorized-vehicle use and still get your needs met. Yes, it takes a bit of planning and a bit of cooperation, but hey, you have friends to keep you company along the way.

There are a lot of interesting ways that Rabbits conserve resources. They collect rainwater from their rooftops and generate electricity with solar panels and wind turbines. Washing machines are energy-efficient, water-saving models. Clothes are hung out on a clothesline to dry.  Just think of the clotheslines as a solar dryer. And in warm weather, the popular swimming pond can wash your cares (and dirt) away.

Kitchen co-ops are a way that small groups of people share a kitchen, eat meals together, and take turns cooking. Each co-op varies in pricing structure, food choices, and the number of meals included. For some, the idea of only having to cook once or twice a week has great appeal. It is a great way to enjoy a family meal even if the others at the table aren’t part of your family. Except, they are family. I got the impression during my two-week visit that overall, Rabbits felt and behaved much more like a family than a collection of people who happen to live in close proximity.

The members of Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage have spent an enormous amount of time hammering out the details of their ecological covenants and they have committees that meet regularly.  Communication is highly valued and they work diligently at ensuring that people effectively communicate their wants, needs, concerns, annoyances, and challenges, etc. in a manner based on non-violent communication. They also have a conflict resolution team. It takes practice, but there are members who are gifted at guiding people through the challenges that may present themselves in an unexpected way.

This way of living, that is, cooperative living, is not as simple as it may sound. Let’s be honest, many modern neighborhoods are designed in a way that encourages isolation. You know, get in your car, go to work, come home, pull into your garage, and never even see your neighbor. You buy stuff just for your use, you eat alone or with your nuclear family, and you have little or no interaction with your neighbors. Well, that does not happen at Dancing Rabbit. When someone is building a house, all of your neighbors know about it. They know the general design and placement and they will most likely share their knowledge, experience, and even labor when you are building it. If you have a problem or a question along the way, just ask; it is highly probable that someone can help.

Thursday-night pizza at the Milkweed Mercantile is lots of fun. You place your order and while you wait, you can enjoy a drink from the bar and sit on the screened-in porch where there will always be someone around to strike up a conversation. Any other night of the week you can grab a beer, cocktail, or whatever beverage of choice, but Thursday nights bring your pizza appetite. You will not be disappointed.

I finally got to meet some people that I follow on YouTube and others that I had read about in the weekly blog. People are always more interesting in person.

You know, I could go on and on about my experience at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, but I won’t, because it will be a different and unique experience for every single person. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live a more sustainable life; these Rabbits are living that life. But, you don’t have to take my word for it. You can experience it yourself by attending a visitor session or a workshop or even an open house tour if you just happen to be in northeast Missouri.

Thank you to everyone at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage and especially to those who gave so generously of their time and knowledge during the many walks, talks, and workshops. You will always hold a special place in my heart.

---

Dianne spent the majority of her early life in sunny southern California, but she has also lived in the mountains of the eastern Sierra Nevada, the central coast of California, and northern California where she raised sheep, goats, and a couple of llamas. She also lived in a small village south of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, returning to southern California to help care for her granddaughters for a while, and she currently lives in Silver City, New Mexico. Dianne's two adult children refer to her as a nomad; her granddaughters simply call her "Nana". 

 

---

There are still two more Sustainable Living Visitor Program sessions happening in 2018! Come experience the beauty of cooperative and sustainable living for yourself by clicking here to find out more and apply now!
 

---

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is an intentional community and nonprofit outside Rutledge, in northeast Missouri, focused on demonstrating sustainable living possibilities. Find out more about us by visiting our website, reading our blog, or emailing us.