Atamai Ecovillage achieves some key milestones

January 16th, 2011

The Atamai Ecovillage on the foothills of the Motueka plain is steadily taking shape, with several milestones achieved in 2010 including the purchase of several lots by intending residents, the successful production of fruit and vegetables, and the first new house.

Atamai Ecovillage is an initiative by some local residents to develop a response to growing and inevitable stresses on communities such as Motueka in energy, climate and the financial economy. One of the founders, Joanna Santa Barbara says they see it as a practical model of how to "live well, sustainably, together".

It is situated on approximately 115 hectares, some 10km outside Motueka, just off the Motueka Valley Highway, around the Mytton Valley. Much of the land overlooks the Motueka plains.

Much progress has been made despite some negative publicity last April when the Nelson Mail reported, under the sensational heading "Village mired in strife, Charity status abolished", that the organisation behind the development has been removed from the Charities Commission register. It also chronicled a previous falling out of some of the founders due to "differing opinions on how they wanted to achieve their goals" (read that article here). Atamai Village Council has put this behind them and got on with the tasks at hand.

The Resource Consent for the first stage of 12 freehold titles was granted by the TDC in 2009 (see our story here). The earthworks which began shortly thereafter to shape the land for buildings and horticulture are now almost complete. The fruit trees in the terraced orchards, planted in 2007, in this area are growing well.

Joanna says six families have identified their lots and made financial commitments for the first stages. In 2010 the second resource consent application was submitted to the TDC and completion is expected soon.

"Already five new families have chosen their lots in this part of the land and indicated their serious commitment to the project," she says. "Although the property market on a national level is declining, the special nature of this project has led to continued high interest in Atamai from both New Zealanders and people from Australia, Canada, the US and elsewhere."

Two adjoining properties with already built houses have now been brought into the expanded village area as well.

The area of "commons" dedicated to vegetable gardens is producing well, Joanna reports. A small store now serves villagers with fruit, vegetables and eggs. "It's possible to supply a good proportion of a family's food needs from this garden. A nursery produces plants for seasonal use. Two cows have recently arrived to graze part of the Commons, and one of the families is milking their own Jersey cow."

The first new house in the village is moving towards completion. It exemplifies use of local construction materials (blocks are made in the village), mainly non-toxic materials, passive solar design, solar hot water, solar electricity, roof rainwater provision, gray water use in the garden, composting toilet and preparation of the land for a Permaculture garden.

In addition to the food production and block making, a mechanical and engineering workshop has also been set up to look after the farm equipment and other tasks.

Several of the families interested in the village are now making at least part of their livelihood within the village economy. One of the villagers is a builder who has been working on the new house, others are looking after food production, and the mechanical and engineering workshop is run by someone interested in being part of the village. Joanna says other livelihood opportunities exist for people with skills in operating a nursery, in masonry and joinery.

Atamai Village Council has also been incorporated as the governing body for the Commons. The village Commons consists of most of the land in the village, along with a variety of physical assets (tractors, machinery etc). The Founding Members of the Council are people who have already bought a title in the village or who plan to do so. The Council has begun its function of administering the extensive area of common land in the village, improving the orchard, and reviewing plans for the next stage of the village development.

The villagers work together at intervals on such tasks as compost making, storing hay and picking produce. Twelve adults and six children now live in the village area, and another two families participate actively while planning to move to Atamai. The villagers enjoy social events together, Joanna says.

More details are available on the website at www.atamai.co.nz

Comment by Kathaleen Bartha:
[Posted 21 January 2011]

Great article on Atamai. Good news on the update, thanks Joanna.

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