Sieben Linden Ecovillage

Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with interconnected leaf and flower design.
  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • German
  • Ecological
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 1997

What we do

Sieben Linden Ecovillage aims to establish a socially and environmentally progressive model settlement – both as a village and a community. The settlement is planned as a living and working space for 300 people of all age groups and social/cultural backgrounds. The ecovillage aims to enable its inhabitants to live through self-governance and as self-sufficiently as possible. We finance our lives individually but share some costs including food and utilities. Our own organisations provide some jobs but the majority of our members have to find paid work outside of the community.
In 1997, we started to build the model settlement as an autonomous spatial unit located on a 22 hectar plot outside of the village Poppau, Germany. Since then, the village has significantly grown. We now have several big houses for community members and all are built with high ecological standards using mostly local materials, many with straw bale insulation and mud plastering.Others still live in trailers. We run a thriving seminar center, a forest kindergarten, a mailorder business, and a big garden.
As a community, we have a council system to enable all members to participate in decision making while trying to stay efficient in the process. We gather at least twice a year for periods of five days or more for „intensive times“ to reconnect and discuss the general path we are taking.
Ecological living is definitely a value we all share and the sense of community is also very important component. We integrate new members through a process of getting to know each other and a trial period which is preceded by a two week seminar we call „community course“. All those living here strive towards manageable and transparent social structures the foster cooperation and connection between human beings and nature.

  • Purpose
  • Ecological
  • Languages
  • German
  • English
  • Community type
  • Ecovillage
  • Intentional Neighborhoods

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 1997
  • Started living together
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
140

How to join

Workshop-visitors welcome, Non-working Guests welcome, Work Exchange welcome, Volunteers welcome, ; We see some development of people living nearby but integrating somewhat into our village and community structures. Some of this is due to a serious lack of living space/houses on our premises.

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Location

  • Germany

Sieben Linden Ecovillage

Promoted Needs and Offers

  • Events
2 years ago

Off grid Permaculture Internship Feb-May2025

Mount of Oaks/Monte dos Carvalhos has 10 week programs, in Autumn and Spring for 2 to 4 people, who would like to experience community living and deepen their knowledge and experience on off-grid sustainable living…you will also have the challenge to practice your design skills and present to us at least one design of either a new system or improvement of existing ones. The Regeneration process on this 5 hectar piece of land started in 2006, when the land was bought through a divine miracle and many people´s generosity before “crowd funding” was even a concept. The land has no private property as it became part of an Association and residents are guardians and part of the ecossystem. Back when I (Barbara) came here, I could only see plowed fields, a small stone ruin with half roof, some olive trees, some citrus trees and a few pear trees, a tiny little native forest at the top of the hill and a massive pond, and a tiny little forest at the bottom… Thank God, the seed bank needed to begin the restororation was still here, and with many human, animal, fungi and vegetable help, things started to improve… Now I can say it is an abundant, resilient and restored ecossystem :-) Our first 5 years were mainly filled with daily tasks, getting to know our neighbours and the region, observing the natural system and praying, as that was our main intention for this place…A refuge of peace, rest, healing and prayer that restores land. From 2009 to 2012 we hosted several PDC´s each year, with the great pioneer in Portugal, Lesley Martin… Today, besides the most important which is a restored healthy no tilled soil, we have already much to inspire others and much to develop still : – The only existing small ruined was restored to be our common working kitchen now filled with a lot of our delicious produce (olives and olive oil, aromatic herbs, teas, madicine in all shapes and forms and fermented food and drinks ) – different compost toilet systems; – hot shower w
  • Events
1 week ago

Portugal Ecovillage Tour: May 15-24, 2027

Ecovillage Network logo with sun and moon symbols in purple.
Ecovillage Network logo with green leaves inside a circle.
Ecovillage Network logo with a heart-shaped handshake symbol.
Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with a stylized flower design.
Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with interconnected figures.
May 15–24, 2027 | Portugal Discover one of Europe’s most vibrant hubs for intentional and regenerative living Spend 10 days exploring more than six inspiring ecovillages and rural initiatives across Portugal, a country that has become a global hotspot for people experimenting with new approaches to community, sustainability and regenerative living. Visit projects including the internationally renowned Tamera peace research village, Traditional Dream Factory, Ananda Kalyani, Spirala Ecological Village, SerVivo and other innovative initiatives working to regenerate both land and community. Meet residents, founders and regenerative leaders and experience a wide variety of approaches to intentional living—from permaculture, regenerative agriculture and ecological restoration to natural building, cooperative economics, alternative social structures and the revitalization of rural villages. Through community visits, hands-on experiences and meaningful conversations, you’ll gain an inside look at both the ecological and human sides of building thriving communities. Along the way, experience Portugal’s beautiful landscapes and culture, from the sun-drenched Alentejo region to the green valleys of Serra da Estrela, while enjoying local food and the connections that naturally develop when traveling with a small group. A great fit for: Prospective community members, aspiring community founders, people interested in regenerative and sustainable living, and travelers who want to experience Portugal through the lens of community, connection and ecological regeneration. Learn more about this tour: https://www.ecovillagetours.com/portugal
May 15, 2027 00:00 – May 24, 2027 23:59

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

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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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