Eco village cottage with tropical garden and palm trees, classic veranda.

Balenbouche Estate, St Lucia

Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with a butterfly and gear symbol.
  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • English
  • Ecological
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 1984

What we do

Our family has lived and worked on this land for over 35 years. During this time, we transitioned from a large scale historic plantation to an ecotourism site, retreat center, and organic farm. We are seeking responsible, motivated, and experienced individuals to spend a few months or more helping us become more sustainable and self-sufficient. Our goal is to convert to solar energy, grow more of our own food, and deepen our practice of the 6 R’s. Right now, we are looking primarily for individuals with maintenance, building, and handyman skills. We have no particular affiliation or ideology, we just feel that now is the time for communities to improve their quality of life while using fewer resources, and we want to lead by example. We are hoping that tourism will continue to be a part of our business, but we are open to having more permanent residents as well. Our property is absolutely beautiful, and even includes a small river and two beaches! It’s the perfect place for retirees, artists, writers, world schooling families, and those who can work remotely. We do not require a long term commitment. An initial period of 3-6 months would be ideal, with the possibility to extend. The island has a lot to offer, and public transportation is inexpensive. We have a large network of contacts on island and you will quickly feel at home in St. Lucia.

  • Purpose
  • Ecological
  • Languages
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Community type
  • Land-Based Communities
  • Spiritual Retreat Centers
  • Activities
  • Experiences

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 1984
  • Started living together

Video

  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
5

How to join

Please first read our website, blog, social profiles, and public reviews. If you are interested in collaborating with us or visiting us for any length of time, please send us an email with your background, interests, and expectations, as well as a few photos. Please note that we are not affiliated with any ideology or organization. We are just hard-working individuals who care about the planet and about protecting and maintaining properties such as Balenbouche Estate for future generations.

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Location

  • Saint Lucia

Balenbouche Estate, St Lucia

Promoted Needs and Offers

Need
  • Events
9 years ago

Autumn PDC 2017 Greece, Tinos Island

Autumn 2017 Permaculture Design Course 23 September – 5 October (12 days, 80 hours certificate) Led by Andrew Jordan and Elena Symeonidou We are excited to announce the second FULL PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE (PDC) that will be hosted in Tinos Eco-lodge with two knowledgeable teachers Andrew Jordan from Ireland and Elena Symeonidou from Greece. The Permaculture Design Certificate The Permaculture Design Certificate is an 80 hour theoretical course based on Bill Mollison’s Designers Manual, teaching how we can use today’s tools and technology to create a more sustainable world. Permaculture is not only about growing vegetables and animals, it is a whole sustainable lifestyle. Permaculture ethics are Earth Care, People Care and Return of Surplus and this is taught by showing students to focus on local resources and their local community, and to have well thought out design practices to create abundance sustainably. Andrew and Elena aim at inspiring students with their own very real examples of transforming their lives with permaculture in a contemporary context. Having worked in a broad spectrum of climate and social conditions, they will share with their students the thrills but also the challenges they faced. Oftentimes permaculture is being presented as a panacea for world problems and the road to resilience and abundance is depicted as straightforward and easy. Andrew and Elena will challenge this notion and try to prepare their students in a realistic manner for their own fascinating journey towards change. Nikos will share his hands-on experience of building the ecolodge and designing the energy, water, plant and waste systems. We will have the rare opportunity to discuss and elaborate on Nikos’ and Marilia’s choices on different aspects of their project, reflect on the challenges, opportunities and limitations. Anyone who wants to bring a big change in his life and gain a thorough understanding of how we can use our natural e

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Communities

A residential project: people live here as their primary home.

Organizations

An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).

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