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Allen Butcher

Dry Gulch Ecovillage

A. Allen Butcher. I lived in a student co-operative house in college, joined East Wind Community, then Twin Oaks Community, for 12 years. During those years I was on the board-of-directors of: an appropriate technology center called New Life Farm, the New Destiny Food Co-operative Federation, the School of Living Community Land Trust, a community loan fund (CESCI), and I am one of five incorporators of the Fellowship for Intentional Community. I am founder of the urban, Dry Gulch Ecovillage.

The Dry Gulch Ecovillage is a small urban community in Denver, Colorado!

The DGEcovillage is three apartments in one building with a separate shop and guest room, in the gentrifying West Denver Barrio.

As I have lived in rural ecovillages (even if we did not call them that at the time), I think it is questionable how "ecologically sustainable" people can live in the city, yet I think that little steps toward sustainability can be significant and acknowledged, with plans for further steps through the future.

I am amazed to realize that this building would be a totally derelict structure by now if we had not up-graded the structure and remodeled the units through the last ten years. Announcing now the "ecovillage" identity or affinity marks the completion of most of the energy-efficiency upgrades, including improved insulation, new windows, and a new furnace/boiler which supposedly is about 95% efficient, compared with the original boiler which was about 50% efficient.

Ecological-sustainable upgrades include converting yards to gardens. Solar power installation is planned when affordable.

Primary interests: Intentional Community; Egalitarian Religion

Site content by Allen Butcher

Ecovillages

Dry Gulch Ecovillage

Ecovillage
  • Region: GENNA
  • Language: English

Here in the gentrifying West Denver Barrio we have improved the energy efficiency, safety, and attractiveness of a tri-plex, turning lawns to gardens, with a solar-power system to be installed when affordable. We are 2 blocks from an elementary school, 1 block from a park and bicycle trail to downtown, and 4 blocks from a light-rail station, connecting to the commuter rail line to the DIA airport. … Read more