eco-dictionary

Ecovillage Wiki: Understanding Ecovillage Concepts Terms
Permaculture, Sustainability and Community Concepts

Bioregion

A bioregion is defined by the naturally occurring geographic and ecological regions and is larger than an ecosystem and smaller than an ecozone. These regions cover large areas of both land and water. Bioregions also contain natural communities and species which change with variations within a bioregion. The term bioregion has the same general meaning as “ecoregion”.

CSA

Definition of CSA – CSA is an abbreviation meaning “Community Supported Agriculture”. CSA is based on the idea that the consumer buys a subscription from a farmer or a “subscription farm” for a specified price to receive fresh produce on a regular schedule (usually weekly or biweekly). It provides local produce to a community and can be delivered directly to a home or a pick up location which may be at the farm. When a community member makes a financial commitment to a farm they become a “subscriber” to the CSA..

Carbon Footprint

A Carbon Footprint has to do with expelled resources that release carbon into the environment and relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc.. A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. The global carbon footprint is a measurement of the sum of all greenhouse gas (GHG), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH4), emissions produced by an organization, business, event, activity, product or person within a defined boundary and calculated as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) using the relevant 100-year global warming potential (GWP100).

Ecoregion

Another term with the same general meaning as “bioregion”. See bioregion above in this Wiki for further definition.

Ecovillage

The concept of not needing to consume resources to exist. There are two major ways of managing human impact on ecosystem services. One approach is environmental management; this approach is based largely on information gained from earth science, environmental science, and conservation biology. Another approach is management of consumption of resources, which is based largely on information gained from economics.

Fairtrade

FairTrade refers to an organized movement promoting social integrity in trade. The general concept is to pay a fair price for products produced in under developed regions worldwide while promoting sustainable practices as well as higher social and environmental standards. Fair Trade also considers that a product has been constructed without the inappropriate use of a child, slave and/or any type of labor that takes advantage of labor. Key organizations in the fairtrade movement include “FLO” FairTrade International which focuses on global fairtrade standards and certification measures, FLO-CERT works with FLO implementing fair trade standards certification systems and monitoring compliance.

GMO

An acronym for “Genetically Modified Organisms”. This can apply to any organism which includes plant or animal life or anything that has genetics – DNA material. A GMO is a scientifically synthesized organism using recombinant technology to create a “new” set of genes which is transferred into an organism which alters the organisms initial structure. This process is very controversial safety, health issues, ecological concerns, and economic concerns.

Heritage Chickens

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC), a nonprofit organization ensuring the survival of rare breeds of livestock and poultry, has defined the term Heritage for chickens. The definition for Heritage Chickens: Standard breeds of chickens as defined by the American Poultry Association that are naturally mating, long-lived, and slow growing. The value of the definition for farmers is that it safeguards the integrity of the breed as expressed by its genetics. Buying heritage chicken as defined by ALBC is helping to save endangered breeds.

Intentional Communities

An “intentional community” is a group of people who have chosen to live together with a common purpose while sharing responsibilities and resources to create a lifestyle that reflects their shared core values. Communities may live together on rural land, a suburban home, or an urban neighborhood and they may share a single residence or live in a cluster of dwellings. Intentional communities include collective households, co-housing communities, ecovillages, farming collectives, communes, survivalist retreats, kibbutzim, ashrams and co-ops. Each of these groups places a high priority on fostering a sense of community, belonging and mutual support which is increasingly hard to find in mainstream Western society.

NGO

NGO is an abbreviation meaning “Non-Governmental Organization”. The definition of an NGO or non-governmental organization is an organization that is legally formed that functions independently from any specific government. In some areas NGOs are referred to as “Civil Society Organizations” because of their social and environmental focus. NGOs are usually non-profits, foundations, trusts, charities, volunteer organizations or unincorporated businesses without a “for profit” business focus.

Natural

This has to do with the produce itself in terms of seeds. Seeds that occur naturally and have not been synthesized in any way outside of “Mother Nature” are considered natural. Natural does NOT mean the same thing as Organic. A food can be natural and inorganic or organic but not natural; it can be, and hopefully, both natural and organic!

Organic

An NOP (National Organic Program) standard defined by the USDA of set guidelines for farming/growing and handling food which uses methods that do not alter the natural environment of produce. The USDA’s approved methods integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.

Permaculture

Permaculture is about the relationships that we have with water, plants, humans and animals. Properly building a balanced world with all of these relationships in harmony with one another creating a self-sufficient, self maintaining, agriculturally friendly, and reproductive nurturing environment in a shared community. The result is a sustainable ecosystem that does not deplete the earths resources.

Sustainable

The concept of not needing to consume resources to exist. There are two major ways of managing human impact on ecosystem services. One approach is environmental management; this approach is based largely on information gained from earth science, environmental science, and conservation biology. Another approach is management of consumption of resources, which is based largely on information gained from economics.