Michigan Launches Statewide Tour of Ecovillages and Intentional Communities

INTERLOCHEN — Michigan is set to launch its first statewide tour of ecovillages and intentional communities on July 17 at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. This weeklong event, running through July 24, aims to explore sustainable living practices, environmental innovation, and community development, aligning closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Tour Overview

The “Ecovillages and Intentional Communities Tour” is organized by Community Energy Solutions in collaboration with several environmental partners. The tour will visit over a dozen locations across Michigan, including Benzonia, Traverse City, Boyne Falls, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Detroit. Participation is free, though attendees are responsible for their own meals, lodging, and transportation.

SDG-Focused Activities and Highlights

The tour’s activities emphasize sustainable development and community resilience, promoting practices that contribute to multiple SDGs:

1. July 17: Opening day at Interlochen Center for the Arts featuring discussions on the institution’s climate action plan and sustainability initiatives, supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
2. July 18: Visits to GrowBenzie in Benzonia, the Telford Farm intentional community in Cedar, and an energy presentation by the Leelanau Energy Project in Traverse City, advancing SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
3. July 19: Tour of GasTechno’s energy center in Boyne Falls focusing on clean biofuels and greenhouse gas reduction, followed by a renewable energy building practices event in Traverse City, reinforcing SDG 7 and SDG 13.
4. July 20: Sustainability tours at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville and a visit to a tiny home neighborhood in Grand Rapids addressing homelessness, linking to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 1 (No Poverty).
5. July 21: Exploration of co-housing, composting, and urban agriculture sites in Lansing and East Lansing, including Michigan State University’s experimental dairy farm and research facilities, supporting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
6. July 22: Tours of Veridian Farms’ Thrive Community Ecovillage and co-housing neighborhoods in Ann Arbor, with a presentation on off-grid microgrid solutions by Sesame Solar, advancing SDG 7 and SDG 11.
7. July 23-24: Finale in Detroit featuring visits to the Detroit Arboretum, urban gardens, ecovillage neighborhoods, and cultural institutions such as the Motown Museum, the Henry Ford Museum, and Greenfield Village, promoting SDG 11 and SDG 15.

Additional Initiatives and Participation

• Organizers are developing a statewide database and interactive map of Michigan’s ecovillages and intentional communities to enhance accessibility and community engagement, supporting SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• Daily agendas and RSVP forms are available at communityenergysolutions.info/events.
• In-person attendance is encouraged, with select sessions available via Zoom to ensure inclusive participation.

Conclusion

This tour represents a significant step toward fostering resilient, sustainable communities throughout Michigan. By highlighting innovative environmental practices and community-driven solutions, the event directly contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and serves as a model for other regions aiming to integrate sustainability into local development.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Focus on renewable energy, clean biofuels, and off-grid microgrid solutions as highlighted by the Leelanau Energy Project, GasTechno’s energy center, and Sesame Solar presentations.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Promotion of ecovillages, intentional communities, co-housing, urban agriculture, and tiny home neighborhoods addressing sustainable living and combating homelessness.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Practices such as composting and sustainable agriculture featured in Lansing, East Lansing, and other locations.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Climate action plans at Interlochen Center for the Arts and greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts at GasTechno’s energy center.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Urban gardens, arboretums, and ecovillage neighborhoods contributing to sustainable land use and biodiversity conservation.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 7 Targets
   • 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
2. SDG 11 Targets
   • 11.1: Ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.
   • 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning.
3. SDG 12 Targets
   • 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
4. SDG 13 Targets
   • 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into policies, strategies and planning.
5. SDG 15 Targets
   • 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. SDG 7 Indicators
   • Proportion of population with access to electricity (implied through clean energy access in communities).
   • Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption (implied by renewable energy projects and presentations).
2. SDG 11 Indicators
   • Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing (implied by tiny home neighborhoods combating homelessness).
   • Number of sustainable urban development plans implemented (implied through ecovillage and community planning).
3. SDG 12 Indicators
   • Amount of waste recycled and composted (implied by composting sites visited).
4. SDG 13 Indicators
   • Greenhouse gas emissions per capita (implied by GasTechno’s focus on emissions reduction).
   • Number of institutions with climate action plans (explicitly mentioned for Interlochen Center for the Arts).
5. SDG 15 Indicators
   • Area of urban green spaces and arboretums preserved or created (implied by visits to Detroit Arboretum and urban gardens).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: 9and10news.com