Final Thoughts

As the semester comes to an end, so does my research dealing with food and energy in the ecovillage. Over the semester I have gained an understanding of what ecovillages are and how they are addressing food and energy issues. I have learned various farming techniques and renewable energy strategies. I hope to implement them one day too! But most importantly, I have learned that it is extremely hard to grow 100% of your own food, or to generate 100% renewable energy. It is a goal, and many of the ecovillages I have featured in my blog are working their way towards that goal. Its about the small steps you take by yourself or in your community to tread light on the earth.

If you happen to come across this blog without any previous knowledge of what an ecovillage is, I hope that I have helped you understand what they are. I hope that you also have gained some knowledge about various farming techniques and renewable energy sources. I hope this blog makes you feel like living a low impact life is not as far fetched and other worldly as it seems. You might even be compelled to take it upon yourself to grow some of your own food, or purchase wind power, or buy a solar water heater. Maybe you'll even become a resident of an ecovillage one day. But what I hope most, is that this blog makes you want to take an active role in working to make a positive difference for the health of our mother earth, just like the residents of the ecovillages featured in this blog are doing.

Energy at Kimberton Hills

courtesy of Kimberton Hills

Camphill Village Kimberton Hills has a 8.3 photovoltaic solar array on top of a garage. It powers almost 5% of the village. Although hooked up to the grid, Kimberton Hills purchases all green energy from carbonfund.org. They also have two buildings heated using geothermal technology. Most homes have wood stoves that are used for heating and cooking. Deidra Heitzman acknowledges that although there are greenhouse gases emitted from burning wood, it is better than emitting petrochemicals into the atmosphere. All of the wood used in the stoves comes from wind fallen wood.

Photos of Kimberton Hills

courtesy of Kimberton Hills


courtesy of Kimberton Hills

courtesy of Kimberton Hills

Camphill Kimberton Hills-- Google Map

Camphill Village Kimberton Hills in Kimberton, PA. Scroll around to see the distance between Philadelphia and Kimberton.


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Directions to Kimberton Hills

From Philadelphia:
Take I76 west to 202 south. Exit at 252 and go north through Valley Forge Park to 23. Turn left on 23. Take 23 through Phoenixville to 113 (about 6 miles) and turn left (south) on 113. Take 113 south approx. 2 miles to Coldstream Road and turn right. Take Coldstream Road to where it ends at Kimberton Road. Turn left on Kimberton Road (which turns into Pughtown Rd). Kimberton Hills is 1.2 miles down on the right side of the road.

Directions are courtesy of Camphill Village Kimberton website

A Visit to Kimberton Hills: Insights on Biodynamics

On April 20th, John, Matt and I visited Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, located in Kimberton, PA. Kimberton Hills is just 30 miles outside of Philadelphia. We were eager and excited to be visiting an ecovillage so close to home. The property boasts 432 acres of lush green rolling hills and beautiful old trees. We were pleasantly greeted by a group working in the weavery. We came in through the back door but were nonetheless warmly welcomed. The weavery was equipped with over 6 weaving machines and beautifully woven panchos and wool seat cushions, all made by the residents.

We spoke with Diedra Heitzmann, the Executive Director of Kimberton Hills. She graciously and quite impressively answered all of our questions on how the village addresses farming, energy, recycling, waste, water and sustainable design. Diedra had been living at Kimberton Hills for 26 years, raised her family there and seemed to be the village mom.

Diedra explained how biodynamic farming works in lay mans terms. She said biodynamics is a farming technique that "pays attention to whats going on", referring to the stars, planets, moon and sun. Many people forget that there is a whole solar system out there that greatly affects plants, animals, and other biological cycles. She brought up how the moon affects the tides, to prove how the solar system plays a role in physical properties on the earth. Biodynamics integrates the earth and the world above into a whole systems approach. As well as being connected to the earth, Biodynamics also believes that plants and animals have a close connection to the sun, moon, stars, and plants. Diedra told us that many experiments show plants growing to their full capacity during certain astrological time frames. She also explained that harvesting a crop can result quite differently depending on the cycles of the cosmos. A cosmic calendar is used to reflect the optimum times for farming practices.

Diedra also spoke of the biodynamic preparations. Preparations are used to enrich the soil with nutrients and increase its fertility. She said, "soil started healthy in nature and we need to help heal what has been made unhealthy". Diedra shed insight on the strange use of horn manure. She said that the reason biodynamics uses a cow's horn is because they believe that the soul and spirit of the animal is located in the horn. All of the cows on the property still have their horns for this reason.

We spoke with Diedra for about an hour or so and then went on a long tour through the property, despite the rain. Kimberton Hills had a peaceful and spiritual energy. All of the residents were friendly and seemed content living and working at Kimberton Hills. I think it is an ideal place for an adult with developmental disabilities to live. In Camphill villages adults with special needs can learn and be enriched by a wide variety of real life activities. There they can have a fulfilling and rewarding life and feel like they are part of a special community. Camphill communities are also rewarding for adults and children without developmental disabilities.

Biodynamic Preparations

Biodynamic agriculture is complex and all encompassing. Check out this You Tube video to get a clearer picture on biodynamic farming and the preparation process. Its a pretty cool video about a woman farmer in New York.