Page 4 - C.A.L.L. #21 - Spring 2003

New Environmental Organisation based
From Solbyn, Sweden
at Redfield Hello Shlomo

The environment has always been quite important to Solbyn (sun village) was one of the first eco-villages in Sweden, and I would guess
most Redfield members. We produce a lot of organic amongst the earlier ones globally. It was built in 1987 after a ten year process led by a
food; we recycle or compost a large proportion of bunch of middle-aged vegetarians (a rare and persecuted breed in early 80s Sweden!).
The actual construction process took place at a time when building prices were very high
our waste; we plant trees and use wood for heating; so unfortunately many of the eco features of the village were rationalised away, although
we use eco-paints; we use energy-saving light bulbs the final result was still pretty radical for that time.
and plugs, solar hot water, compost toilets, straw-
bale buildings, and even a little worm compost bin The result is 52 homes that you’ve no doubt seen on the web page, with a communal
and biogas digester. Perhaps most importantly building housing a co-operative nursery, communal rooms, laundry, sauna, guest room
though, we minimise the use of resources by sharing and a few other rooms. Each apartment has a small allotment of 60-90sqm, there are also
kitchen, laundry and other facilities, as well as hundreds of cherry trees, plums, apples, pears and currant bushes which grow as
decorative trees and semi-wild shelter belt. There is a car park at the entrance to the
informally sharing private possessions such as village and otherwise the narrow neo-mediaeval streets are car-free.
vehicles, tools and various electrical goods. And of
course, anyone who’s spent any time here will know The homes vary from 1 bedroom to 4 bedroom
about the internal recycling system as regards apartments, some 2 storey. The buildings are oriented
books, music, furniture and clothes. to the south to maximise passive solar gain and heat the
glasshouses on the south side in which we can grow
Phil and I decided that we would like to spread the grapes and figs and kiwis etc. Most houses have
composting toilets, all have a high insulation level and if
word about some of the things we get up to here, it means anything to you, I can say that my heating bill
and help people to incorporate them into their own for my woodburning stove was about 60? last winter.
lives, wherever they live. In April 2001, we registered
a non-profit organisation ‘Low-Impact Living We have a communal waste separation system for recycling and our own worm compost
Initiative’ (LILI), to undertake for organic waste. All garden waste is also composted. The outdoor space is maintained
environmental installations, run by residents, through all round work and two common work days each year. We also
courses, give school tours and have one work day for spring cleaning the communal buildings.

presentations, and publish The village is owned by HSB, a large Swedish co-operative housing organisation. We
literature. Our idea was to explain have a board of I think 7 people and we have monthly village meetings where about 20
to people: firstly, what various people usually participate. We also have a large number of different “Groups” who do all
facilities (like solar hot water panels, compost toilets, sorts from organising communal events and activities to the bee group and hen co-op.
biodiesel etc.) actually are; secondly, how they benefit These are usually very informal groups, although some are a little more structured.
the environment; thirdly, how they can build them,
buy them, use them and / or maintain them. Due to the nature of the place, there are a lot of families here, a lot of single parent
families, loads of kids, but also a number of elderly residents, so we are in that respect
probably fairly representative. We have an unusually high population of non-Swedes
So far this year we have been involved mainly in (about 25% of households at last count) with mainly Europeans, but even an Israeli (we
installation work. We have installed a wind generator have a couple of ex-kibbutzniks
and solar panel on a school; fixed the greywater here too). We also have an
recycling for a housing association; mended the unusually high number of
photovoltaics for the National Energy Foundation. journalists, musicians, teachers,
nurses and environmental
professionals. We obviously have a
We have a programme of courses starting next year, higher number of eco-activists than
which we are busy promoting at the moment. your average housing estate,
Accommodation and theory sessions will be in the although one of the interesting
renovated stable block and practical sessions will be features of this place is that people
held in the ‘gallery’ above the stables. live here cos it’s a nice place, not
that they’re necessarily radical eco-
For a subscription of £10 per year, you can become fundamentalists, we only have a
a ‘Friend of LILI’ and receive a 20% discount on small group of those really, although everyone is generally environmentally aware and
interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle, environmentally as well as socially.
courses and manuals. Visit our website for more
information about our courses and other activities. As to a potential role for us in an international communes organisation I don’t quite
know in what way we could be involved, but obviously we are interested in promoting
tel: 01296 714184 sustainable living generally, and sustainabalising kibbutzim could be a fascinating project!
email: lili@lowimpact.org We have talked by the way about translating our web page, but as yet it hasn’t happened,
website: www.lowimpact.org but that maybe an easy contribution to international info exchange

All the best
Dave
Redfield News 2001/2002 Trevor Graham

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