Page 11 - Bulletin #67 - November 2020

a fashion that has worked in Africa and other regions for thousands of years—and now
adding pumice and local fibers in a site-specific fashion.

Ecovillage children celebrating our renewal

Sometimes disaster brings renewal. Our loss will be the gain for many as we empower
women and families to build stronger, more sustainable homes. Fiji will be more resilient 11
after Super Cyclone Winston as our communities rebuild together. We are now a model
for the nation, building prototypes. Fijians love this direction, as it’s affordable, truly
sustainable, easy, and beautiful.

Our work is within the abilities of all, children included, to do some serious “barn-
raising” together. Community building is the glue that holds nations together. It has
brought new life to our ecovillage after near total destruction and abandonment. And it’s
brought inspiration to Fiji, already a leader in responding to climate change.

As Native American elders have said: “We are the future we’ve been waiting for.”

Philip Mirkin is the founder and executive director of the Fiji Institute of Sustainable
Habitats (www.SustainableFiji.org), cofounder of Fiji Organic Village, and a designer,
educator, and author (see The Hybrid Adobe Handbook and now Hurricane Lunch,
available in 2020). His articles in Communities have appeared in issues #171, #172, #174,
#179, #181, and #184.

Credits: We thank Philip Mirkin for permission to reprint this article which first appeared in
Communities #186: https://www.gen-us.net/communities/