What is an Ecovillage?
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”– Anthropologist Margaret Mead (1901-1978).Ecovillages are small, living laboratories, pioneering beautiful alternatives and innovative solutions towards living in harmony with the natural world. The development of ecovillages is founded upon two basic principles: concern for people and the environment. There are more than 10,000 ecovillages in the world, mainly in rural areas where their inhabitants build societies based on cooperation, self-sufficiency, renewable energies and ecological materials. The ecovillage isn't some hippie thing, it's a marriage of high tech and low tech, even some ancient tech - whatever brings the best results with fewest resources.Community is something which people most long for in cities. In rural areas many still live in villages, but they are threatened by the loss of young people who are lured by urbanisation and the promise of a wealthier future. In conventional rural settlements the young leave, the old die off alone or in the hands of paid strangers resulting in the children of the nuclear families in the cities not benefitting from nurturing and the knowledge of an extended family or a respect for the natural world. Nobody wins, and with the overcrowding, pollution and cramped conditions of our current metropolises we see the emergent violence, abuse, pollution, corruption and (yes) contagions which we know too well and are at a loss how to deal with.Ecovillages today are the way forward out of the mess that we're all in, and have a goal of re-educating society as a whole on how to operate more socially, culturally, economically, and to be ecologically sustainable. An ecovillage strives to produce the least possible negative impact on the natural environment through intentional design and lifestyles of the residents, a place where people take ownership of their place on Earth and the children can roam freely once more under the watchful and caring gaze of a community.The vision is to seek alternatives to ecologically destructive electrical, water, transportation, and waste-treatment systems, as well as the larger social systems that mirror and support them. Many enthusiasts of eco-living see the breakdown of traditional forms of community, wasteful consumerist lifestyles, the destruction of natural habitat, urban sprawl, factory farming, and over-reliance on fossil fuels as trends that must be changed to avert ecological disaster and create richer and more fulfilling ways of life.Global warming is here, but we've known this for more than thirty years. This was also knowledge that acted as a catalyst for some in taking the initiative and beginning the ecovillage movement all those years ago. We as a species may be complacent in acting to avert colossal climate change, but for the sake of our children we must do our best and this change will also have to become societal and in the basics of living a sustainable life.What exactly does it mean to live sustainably? In a nutshell, a sustainable lifestyle is one that incorporates eco-friendly principles and practices to reduce your use of natural resources. Sustainability not only means using less, but also replacing what you use whenever possible. Every choice we make impacts others: other people, other animals and other environments. Choose to make the smallest footprint possible, and you're making a choice to live a greener life. A sustainable lifestyle wouldn't be able to, well, sustain itself if it weren't for the three guiding principles of environmental consciousness: reduce, reuse, and recycle. These time-honoured practices have been the guiding stars in the carbon-neutral ecovillage society for decades.The Danish Ecovillage network has been a catalyst in the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) since 1993. Denmark is the industrialized country with the highest number of ecovillages per capita. Its significance derives from the fact that the ecovillage movement can be said to have originated in Denmark, evolving out of the Danish cohousing movement with roots going back to the late 1960s, and in a more inclusive post-hippie era movement in 1990 which was championed by an initiative led by Gaia Trust to link projects globally. At last count there were 49 member communities in the Danish network of ecovillages, known as LØS (Landsforening for Økosamfund) in Danish, while you can read an article on this site on the “Danish Ecovillage Network History“.
Dyssekilde
From the station wander towards the inspired children's playground, you'll find a large dysse (dolmen) there. It's a reconstruction, but shows Dyssekilde's attachment to the spirit of place in prehistory, a connection to the natural world, a mystical sensibility and great fun for the kids!Dyssekilde translates as 'dolmen spring'. Springs have from ancient times been considered as places where a divine and sacred power was present, and devout people in history made pilgrimages to these sacred springs to be healed of diseases of the body or spirit. There are two such sources registered in Torup; Dyssekilde and Møllekilde. The Dyssekilde was located a little north of the station in Torup, and has given its name to the farm, which in turn has given its name to the railway station. The spring provided water to the farm for many years, when water was fetched from the source for farm use until 1942. In recent years the spring appears to have disappeared, but you have the feeling that it will erupt once more one day, rather like in the Mamma Mia film. But perhaps I'm getting a little fanciful here?The Dyssekilde ecological community (Økosamfundet Dyssekilde, also called ØD) began in 1989 and is grounded on principles of ecological and communal life. It’s one of Denmark’s oldest Ecovillages, started by five, then fifty enthusiasts with the vision of an eco-friendly society based on a philosophy of social interaction, tolerance, respect and sustainability. Over the years, as the group evolved it became clear that they did not want any ideological or political foundation to their village, apart from living ecologically.In 1989 there were only fields, nowadays residents have created six housing groups: Bifrost, Dysager, Højager, Månen, Solpletten and Yggdrasil. Some live in quite traditional houses, others in wildly experimental buildings, some in rented apartments, and some in terraced accomodation leaving you with the same diverse, characterful feeling as when you stroll along an ancient village high street. It's been a remarkably successful experiment, and ironically properties are now sold for much higher prices than in the surrounding areas.Thirty years ago the newcomers to the village of Torup were seen as misfits, outcasts, radicals and dreamers. The locals were suspicious, but after some 'umming and ahhing' and the realisation that Torup was on its last legs, the pioneers gained their land and the old farm buildings were purchased. These settlers were resourceful, creative, they had a shared vision, and in the early years the members lived communally in the farm buildings or in caravans while preparing the land and building their homesteads. They used the old barn as storage, the main building for meetings and a library and the kitchen for daily communal meals. As time went by a small house beside the farm was used as a kindergarten for several of the children, and as the little children grew up, so the entire farm was transformed into an official private school. Nowadays, it's a thriving public school with 120 students from both Dyssekilde, the village of Torup, and those arriving by train and bicycle from the surrounding areas. Fields where once only crops grew have been transformed to a vibrant ecosystem of people, plants, animals and a living example of how good an eco-friendly life can be.Today, Dyssekilde has about 195 residents aged between 0 – 95 and is a popular place to live. Coupled with this, it's a rare example of a village that is growing instead of in decline like many other rural settlements around the world. Dyssekilde Ecovillage covers a total of 13.5 hectares, of which half is set out for buildings and half for organic farming. It is divided into housing groups and works as one tightly-knit community. The majority of the village is a car-free zone, with a lovely sign near to the main car park which states (in Danish) that if you do drive through the village in a car then the children have the right to paint all over your vehicle! The local train which runs from Hillerød to Hundested is brilliantly placed on the doorstep of the village, with trains stopping twice an hour; this feature makes car-free living remarkably easy and a natural choice for residents. This train line also provides an efficient and fast connection to Copenhagen, which is 60 km away and can be reached in 90 minutes.Dyssekilde has developed from the idea to create a community grounded on ecological principles - sustainable and recycled materials, low-energy and simplicity. The houses are built in very different styles: with the oldest houses having been built 30 years ago and the latest just being finished. From a historical viewpoint you can see a physical change in perspective on sustainable building over time. The village also has common facilities such as a grey water treatment, waste sorting, a recycling shop, a rainwater laundrette, a farm and a community house for social events. For power, the village relies on seven wind turbines and solar panels.Ownership in the community is based on private eco householders and the common ownership of all communal ground and the former farm buildings. They have split the land in two and reserved half for building houses and the other half for food production, waste water treatment, energy production and an extensive nature area. The area destined for building was divided into several neighbourhoods to phase the construction. Each neighbourhood has its own characteristics and construction rules. For example, there is a neighbourhood with only dome structures, one with row houses and one with rental houses. The rental apartments were built from communal money in the 1990s based on the idea that life in an ecovillage should be accessible for all. In the other neighbourhoods, the foundations of the houses are privately owned by the different community members, with all the gardens around the houses outside of 4 metres belonging to the community.The houses in Dyssekilde Ecovillage are built over a period of three decades and are gloriously diverse in appearance, building materials, size and energy-saving techniques. Demonstrating too that artistic freedom is often intrinsic to ecovillage projects. Everything about the site has evolved over time; with the older houses being much smaller and using passive heating techniques, whereas the more recent houses are larger and have been able to use much more sustainable building materials. Back the the day these materials were either unavailable, or the early pioneers were working from very limited budgets.Torup village was a part of a rural area in decline when Dyssekilde Ecovillage began. There were high levels of unemployment, and the younger people were naturally moving away in search of jobs and opportunities in nearby Hillerød and Copenhagen. One of the visions of Dyssekilde was to also be an economic booster for their locality, with the ecovillage connected to its surroundings and benefitting from investing in it. For example, Dyssekilde gave a loan to the local supermarket so that it could build an extension. They have pooled their finances with other local citizens to turn the old barn into a gathering hall, which can be rented out for various activities and as workshop space. They also started a support union for raising a windmill on the community ground, of which also non-members can buy shares. As the membership fee in Dyssekilde has not changed since its start, this is a very low source of income to the community. Most income has in the past come from selling building plots to community members, but as plots are now all sold at Dyssekilde there needs to be a plan put in place for the future. Community members can also rent small plots of land to grow vegetables or raise animals, this is another (very small) source of income. There is also an organic shop, a bakery and a cafe on the site.Decision-making is made by the entire community four times a year and is where all major plans are made. Proposals are handed in at least three weeks in advance according to strict guidelines. Democratic decisions are made following a majority voting system. To allow more time for discussion about topics, they on the one hand organize a discussion evening one week in advance of the actual meeting. On the other hand, during the actual meeting, they are seated at small tables of six to eight members each: when a proposal is announced they first discuss the proposal in these small groups, then one person of each group summarizes what has been said to the collective. This method was decided upon to give everyone a chance to speak and feel heard at the plenary meeting, without taking too much time. Apart from these annual meetings, each neighbourhood holds their own, irregular meetings for decision-making about their own small area.Power to the people comes in the form of a windmill which the community invested in as a guild which also non-members could buy shares in, again with the ideal to economically boost the region as well. The windmill in Dyssekilde's ground, raised for the initiative of its members, produces double of the energy that its inhabitants consume. Over time they inspired neighbours to raise six more windmills. In a green survey performed in 2014, they calculated that the windmill and solar cells produced more than double the electricity all their houses consumed (700.00- kWh vs. 270.000 kWh). For heating of the houses there are many different techniques chosen. The most popular is a conventional wood-burning stove, solar boilers, pellet ovens and two geothermal systems combined with heat pumps. On many of the older houses you will also see greenhouses tacked onto the sides of the buildings, these make very effective passive heat generation.Wastewater is treated by large willow enclosures close to the gardens and livestock. The trees absorb the semi-treated liquid waste and are coppiced once a year. The wastewater treatment falls short of complete recycling, with the solid waste being removed by tankers twice a year. In the past they had a more complex system in place using filtration cylinders placed in an artificial hill. However, the capacity was not large enough as the community grew and they shifted to the very effective willow solution.Community is paramount at Dyssekilde. In the beginning the old farm buildings served the purpose of gathering people together, but in 2007 a lovely new community hall was created and now houses the office, guest accommodation, a rainwater launderette, a shared kitchen, a gym and a lot of space for meetings, dinners and watching a movie. There is a communal dinner once a week, a newsletter every week from which everyone can make a contribution, and an active Facebook group for members.Socially the vision was to develop a supportive community based on tolerance, diversity and respect. Dyssekilde hosts a yoga/movement festival week in July. There's a yearly music festival which has grown from 250 to over 1000 visitors and has two stages for music, as well as a market atmosphere and fun activities for kids. Splinter groups in the collective focus on diverse topics such as organic agriculture, art, handicrafts, recycling, and sustainability. They also have a yearly festival where all the artists in the community open up their workshops for visitors, several members also provide different types of massage, yoga, healing and therapy. Alongside this, Dyssekilde actively supports events in Torup village facilitated and organized by the extremely proactive and vibrant Torup Ting association. Notably, from the beautifully restored train station where the Ting hosts Torup Marked, a thriving farmer's market held in the summer time until mid October.Recommended - see the sights with a guided tour from the village from March to October every other Saturday (on odd weeks) at 11.15 am. Meet by the shop and main parking area. Read more on bookings at the Dyssekilde website hereAddress: Økosamfundet Dyssekilde, Solen 15. 3390 Hundested. Denmark
Dysager
What defines a sense of home? Your house is so much more than a place for gaining shelter and warmth, having privacy and places to put your possessions. It’s like an outer shell that protects you, but at the same time connecting with what you aspire to, offering a secure and cheerful place where you are respected and loved. When you look at it from the outside, home is just a house, a building. But on the inside, it should strive to be nurturing, womb-like, filled with warmth, light and the understanding that we are closely connected with the natural environment. The saying “Home is where the heart is” says it all.Dysager, or area of the dolmen is where we begin our tour after (hopefully) arriving by train at Dyssekilde station.As you pass by in the children's playground area you'll see a dolmen, but it's a reconstruction. There have been ancient stones found upon the site, and there is reputed to be a source of a legendary and illusive spring. The very name 'Dyssekilde' suggests dysse (standing stones) and kilde (a spring). Denmark is an ancient land, made all the more mysterious by the fact that Christianity only arrived in the 9th and 10th century, and the written word was not commonplace as in parts of Europe conquered by the Roman empire. Paganism was not stamped out with a grand flourish from the 10th century either, but was integrated and worked around by the early church. It's worth noting that often early Christian buildings were placed conveniently upon ancient remains in order to get the undivided attention of the locals. Torup church is no exception, and is conveniently placed upon the toppled remains of a gigantic stone circle, more details on this at stop 13, Torup Church.The construction of buildings and the production of many of the materials used in them causes too many CO2 emissions (and other gases). We therefore need to understand the importance of finding alternatives. In the ecological movement a lot of science and thoughtfulness have been applied in the search for solutions, added to this the resulting designs for dwellings here at Dyssekilde have been prolific in their creativity. This is revealed in the vernacular form (architecture without architects) of designing aesthetically beautiful houses, visionary in the use of both technology and natural materials, advanced with eco-friendly solutions… and at times economically very viable. (See more details on this at stops 7 and 8 in the WWWalks -CO2penhagen tour of Christianshavn)Dysager was one of the first areas to be built upon 30 years ago. It consists of 12 experimental houses; most of them built by their owners, with a high level of recycled and biodegradable materials. Within this housing group are the celebrated Earthship domes, placed on the axis of the earth's alignment to the North Star and 2/3 covered with an earthen mound. The first Earthship building from the west holds the special room “Source in the Star '' where Ellen Berring gives teachings in Zhangs Tai Chi Hun Yuan Qi Gong and hosts ceremonies and meditations in this immensely atmospheric space under the dome of soil. On a clear and cloudless night sky the only window at the northern side is illuminated by the North Star, this feature rekindles the spirit of alignment with the stars that we find at places such as Stonehenge and Carnac. Folkevang is the large construction close by, and is one of the biggest straw bale houses in Denmark. Not without technical challenges faced in creating a large dwelling with something as mundane as straw bales, this was originally built as a community for young people, but is now shared between three families.
Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil in nordic mythology is an immense sacred ash tree that is the centre of the cosmos and considered very holy. This area in Dyssekilde is also very much in the centre of the village.The Nordic Gods go to Yggdrasil daily to assemble at their tings, traditional governing assemblies. The branches of Yggdrasil extend far into the heavens, and the tree is supported by three roots that extend deeply into other subterranean locations. Creatures live within Yggdrasil, including a dragon, an eagle, and deer. Sacred trees are not exclusive to nordic mythology, and feature in ancient Greek and African legends, also in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Celtic and Germanic mythologies. Tree worship is at the heart of religions which include aspects of animism as core elements of their faith, which is the belief that trees, forests, rivers, mountains, have a life force ("anime" i.e. alive) and need to be conserved and used in a sustainable manner.At Dyssekilde most of the houses in Yggdrasil are self-built, many are experimental and low budget. In addition to the 4 straw bale houses, there's a cob house, a Norwegian style log house and a peculiar house built primarily from a mish-mash of granite boulders and salvaged materials.Ancient methods inspired the very ‘hobbity’ Cob House, which was made mostly of cob; a rustic natural building material made from subsoil, water, fibrous organic material (typically straw and sometimes animal manure) and lime. Because of its versatility and widespread availability, earth has been used as a construction material on every continent and in every age. It is one of the oldest building materials on the planet; the first freestanding human dwellings may have been built of sod or wattle-and-daub. About 10,000 years ago, the residents of Jericho were using oval, hand formed, sun dried bricks (adobes), which were probably a refinement of earlier cob. Even today, it is estimated that between a third and a half of the world's population lives in earthen dwellings.Cob is fireproof and earthquake resistant, although it is very labour intensive. It can be used, as in this case, to create artistic, sustainable and sculptural forms. The Cob House sits on a stone and rubble trench foundation with lime mortared walls. The internal walls are generally about 61cm thick and provide excellent thermal mass which is easy to keep warm in winter and cool in summer. This house consists of cob with exterior walls of straw bales, a thatched roof and recycled deep-set windows. Like with many houses at Dyssekilde the greenhouse annex successfully acts as a solar trap which keeps the house warm on sunny days. On colder or dull days a central wood burning stove keeps the house pleasantly warm. The house has a compost toilet and 12 volt solar electricity.The benefits of cob as a material are numerous, it is cheap, plentiful, has a long life-span even in rainy and humid climates, provided that a tall foundation and large roof overhang are present to keep the rain and snow off. In building the Cob House in Dyssekilde, technical problems connected with providing a sufficient roof overhang were overcome by learning through trial and error, of which many residents have interesting stories to tell. The cob building revival is still in its infancy, this example in Dyssekilde has helped to further knowledge about mixing and building, how to use a wider range of soil types, and new applications, techniques, and designs. One lesson learned was to employ a natural building system of which cob is only a part, with hybrid buildings incorporating earth, straw, wood, stone, and other natural materials. Hopefully, this will become a more sustainable solution to regional building using the natural materials that are close at hand. Added to this, the psychological and spiritual effects of natural buildings we should acknowledge that cob building is more than a cheap, environmentally benign way to build. It can be a significant tool for the development of a more sane and sustainable culture.
Wind in the Willows
As you walk along the path at the side of the Cob House you'll see in the distance a tall white windmill, below it a large wild area of willow trees and in the foreground a field with sheep. Further into this area you will find geese, chickens, extensive vegetable gardens and a vineyard. Continue walking and please don't pick or trample the produce, keep dogs on their leash and leave the farm animals undisturbed.The wild area of low willow trees to your left and right hides a couple of unusual activities; wastewater treatment and a music and festival venue. You could imagine that many mosquitoes also enjoy this idyllic setting too, but it's reported to be remarkably free of them in this odourless place. Walk north towards the train track, the first area to greet you is a hilarious collection of oversized chairs and tables made ingeniously from pallets placed around a fire pit. Then, to your right cafes, kiosks that put you in mind more of a mediterranean fishing village, and in the distance a covered stage.Himmelstorm is a small culture and music festival located in the ecovillage. It’s a family friendly event held every July, and filled with music, dance, theatre, acrobatics, circus, and workshops. Guests are invited to camp in the area, and participate in the 3 days of revelries. The event has a green and sustainable profile, with all products that are sold being organic and/or recycled and/or bioregional. One of the main purposes of the festival is to make Dyssekilde Ecovillage visible, to illustrate the alternative way of living to the rest of the world and to indulge in and share lots of fun. Another noble aim is to offer young, up-coming artists the opportunity to play at the festival – not only Danish musicians but artists from everywhere. Performances have been made in the past by artists from Chile, Ecuador, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Ghana, Mexico, Israel and Germany.In 2020 and 2021 the festival was cancelled, fingers crossed for 2022. More information: www.himmelstorm.dkWillow wastewater facilities are low technological wastewater treatment plants which were developed in the mid 1990s in Denmark. Done in the right way, willow facilities have the lowest operation costs and are very easy to manage. It is the only treatment facility that will have a positive energy balance in its lifetime. Walk towards the main stage, on your right are long stretches of the willow tree treatment plant', this area extends to the right-hand side.Wastewater from Dyssekilde households is recirculated into the willow beds. The first step is to separate fat and particles in a settling tank within a large mound, which you'll have passed opposite the sheep pasture. The system is not entirely self-sufficient, with the settling tank required to be emptied once a year by the municipality so that particles will not flow to the facility and clog the spreading system. The greywater is then pumped into the large area of willow cuttings, which are planted in early spring. The idea is that the willow trees grow and suck up the greywater during spring, summer and autumn.Nutrients and heavy metals are effectively absorbed in the willow stems and foliage, and approximately 20 tonnes of willow per hectare are produced. The plant will not affect the environment around it because it is completely sealed in a non-permeable membrane made of polyethylene. This means that willow wastewater cleaning facilities can be used without water seepage, also where wells are placed without spoiling water quality from bacterial infections. It is important that households using willow method use eco-friendly soap, cleaning products and detergents. In this way substances will never be accumulated in the soil and the ground can be used as arable land afterwards. The willow-biomass can afterwards be used for wood chips for stoves, in fencing, in drainage systems, and as building materials.
Green Machine
Continue walking towards the side of the train track, then turn right and find yourself at the far end of the vegetable gardens. Walk back towards the south through the gardens past the vineyard, making sure not to trample any crops.Gardening makes Økosamfundet Dyssekilde into a very green village, illustrated by the fact about half of the 13.5 hectares are given over to vegetable gardens. The site is a paradise of fruit trees, bee hives, chicken coops, havens for wildlife and wild spaces for children to experience a free, safe and wonderfully natural childhood. For a small fee and some 40 hours of labour a year, residents can raise plenty of home-grown vegetables. Participation in gardening is a matter of choice and not all members of the community are involved. In addition to the communal vegetable garden some people have their own small vegetable plot, and the meditation garden Stjernedrys (stardust) provides herbs and a quiet place of contemplation in the heart of the peaceful village. 30 years of growth has done wonders for the maturity of the trees, which provide shade, harmony, fruit, berries, biodiversity and habitat for animals and insects.The windmill which dominates the idyllic scene was erected in the 1990s, to begin with the locals were against it but the council supported ØD in their quest to be energy efficient. Nowadays there are six other windmills in the area. They are cooperatively owned by the Halsnæs Møllelaug association, in which roughly half of the villagers are members. To encourage investment in wind power, by the mid 1990s people in Denmark were offered a tax exemption for generating their own electricity. While this could involve purchasing a turbine outright, often groups purchased shares in wind turbine cooperatives which in turn invested in community wind turbines. By 1996 there were around 2,100 such cooperatives in the country. The seven Dyssekilde windmills produce 450 kilowatts, which is enough energy to cover two and a half times the needs of the households in the village. The windmill in Dyssekilde's ground, raised for the initiative of its members, produces double of the energy that the inhabitants consume.The history of wind energy in Denmark goes back hundreds of years, although real commercialisation of the technology started only after the 1970s. Then, Denmark had an exceptionally high dependency on oil, with more than 90% of its energy supply based on imported oil. This situation led to significant economic difficulties triggered by the 1973 and 1979 oil crisis which stimulated Denmark to shift from oil to coal for electricity production. As concerns over global warming grew in the 1980s, Denmark found itself with relatively high carbon dioxide emissions per capita, primarily due to the reliance on coal. Renewable energy became the natural choice for Denmark, decreasing both dependence on other countries for energy and pollution. Denmark consequently became a pioneer in developing commercial wind power during the 1970s, and today a substantial share of the wind turbines around the world are produced by Danish manufacturers such a Vestas—the world's largest wind-turbine manufacturer.In 2015, Denmark produced 42% of electricity from the wind, and nowadays has the highest proportion of wind power in the world with more than 50 per cent of Denmark’s electricity powered by wind and solar in 2020. In 2020, 80 percent of the electricity coming out of electricity sockets in Denmark came from renewable sources, up from 76 per cent in 2019. In ten years, the share of wind and solar power in Danish electricity consumption has doubled.
Moon Walk
Månen, “The Moon” consists of 13 dwellings and is named after the domes that were the first houses built here. Due to their special construction they have very little heat loss and are built with a minimum of materials. In addition to the domes there are other multi edged houses. Hexagonal (6 sided) is the minimum demanded in this housing group, with one square design.Some experts in sustainable design speculate that geodesic domes are the homes of the future. Yet the dome home is an oddity and there's no hiding the distinct look of a curved building that the eye thinks should be square.The advantages of geodesic domes point to their unique structures which can stand up to harsh weather conditions and natural disasters. People also turn to these structures because they are more energy-efficient and cost-effective than traditional square homes.They resist the natural elements by shedding elements such as wind, rain and snow. In fact, there is some evidence that these structures can even withstand hurricane-force wind. Geodesic domes are particularly resistant to this type of force because they have fewer flat surfaces, allowing the wind to move around the home. In addition to withstanding powerful winds, domed structures can hold up better to strong earthquakes, perhaps not a consideration in Denmark though.Domes are extremely energy efficient and promote more efficient air circulation and keep temperatures even throughout the structure. This can make them two to four times more energy-efficient than traditional homes. These homes insulate very efficiently due to their unique shape. Since light actually refracts and stays inside the dome, these structures are able to take full advantage of solar gain, which reduces the need for artificial lighting.They are very strong and from a pure engineering perspective, geodesic domes are superior to square homes. They are the only man-made structure that actually gets proportionally stronger as they increase in size. They are also lighter, more structurally sound and require fewer materials. When composed of bio-ceramic, geodesic domes are also highly fire-resistant.Things to consider when constructing a geodesic home, builders can expect to confront some challenges. Chimneys can be tricky to place and it can also be very difficult to create divisions and rooms within domed structures. Since the average home is square, basic appliances, fixtures and utilities are manufactured for right angles and it can be difficult to find off-the-shelf materials that fit the home.
What's in store
The tour of Dyssekilde Ecovillage is now for you to continue exploring alone, as we head out and take a walk around the rest of Torup. Before you go I recommend just getting lightly 'lost' and making your own charming discoveries. We'll make a full circle and return via another route into the ecovillage to discover the area around the train station at the end of the tour.Our WWWalks app tour now leads us towards the large building which houses the health food store Taraxacum, featuring bread made at the Kornsang organic bakery, and the local organic eatery, Torup Spisehus.To the right of the shop, cafe and bakery building you'll see large panels with information in Danish and English on the origins, the people and inspiration behind Dyssekilde Ecovillage 30 years ago. If you turn around in the opposite direction, you'll see sheds which house some very thorough trash recycling facilities, also a depository for used clothes, knick-knacks and toys. Residents simply recycle unwanted items here between each other.Taraxacum is the scientific name of the dandelion, and the shop is poetically named after the fields of dandelion flowers that used to blossom here prior to the building being erected in 2000. The shop is a veritable gold mine of organic groceries, fruit and vegetables, gluten free products and many local delicatessen specialities. Delicious organic bread from Kornsang bakery, which is made at the back of the building and distributed in many areas of Nordsjælland are for sale behind the counter. Also, organic body creams, oils, soaps, hair products and biodynamic products. The range is inspired, eclectic and very lovely. Another feature is a selection of products made by ecovillage artisans which supports their livelihoods. Books about the locality, pamphlets of current local activities and events are also accessible - the store really is the place to go to find out any about local happenings - a veritable village voice!Torup Spisehus (eatery) is located next door to the store, and offers both indoor and outdoor dining as well as event catering. This well-run and detail-orientated cafe works closely with producers and suppliers from surrounding farms, mills and breweries. Like the ecovillage their menu is 'flexible' and neither purely vegan, vegetarian or carnivorous, the only classification is that the produce is local and organically raised. Everything is made from scratch: sausages and hams are air-dried in the back room, mushrooms are grown on the premises, cheese is made from raw milk from the local farm, vegetables are fermented, their homemade kombucha is refreshingly delicious, as is their remarkable sourdough bread which may be ordered the day before to take home. The menu is changed weekly, simple, seasonal and generally features just three excellent choices for a main dish.The tour of Dyssekilde ecovillage is now for you to continue exploring alone, as we head out and take a walk around the rest of Torup. Before you go I recommend just getting lightly 'lost' and making your own charming discoveries. We'll make a full circle and return via another route into the ecovillage to discover the area around the train station at the end of the tour.
The Farm Buildings
From the entrance of Dyssekilde Ecovillage, turn right along Hågendrupvej, walk for 50 metres then take a left down Torup Bygade. You'll walk past the school situated inside old farm buildings, then continue along Torup Bygade to the junction with Haldvejen.You're passing the original buildings which belonged to Dyssekilde farm. This place had been farmed for several generations and in 1989 was purchased by the original members of Økosamfund Dyssekilde. As time went by a small house beside the farm was used as a kindergarten for several of the children and as the children grew up, so the entire farm was transformed into an official private school. Nowadays, it's a thriving public school with 120 students from both Dyssekilde, the village of Torup, and those arriving by train and bicycle from the surrounding areas. Fields where once only crops grew have been transformed to a vibrant ecosystem of people, plants, animals and a living example of how good an eco-friendly life can be.Halsnæs Lilleskole (Halnæs Primary School) was started in 2001 by a group of parents from Dyssekilde Ecovillage who dreamed of creating a school for their own children along the same sustainable lines as the ecovillage. The school has a mission statement: it actively supports outdoor life, project-oriented teaching and social learning. With an emphasis on teaching with the subjects rather than in the subjects.Organic food is only served at the school. The kitchen is almost 100% organic and seasonal raw materials are most often grown locally, ideally from the school gardens and otherwise from countries close to Denmark. Excess food and leftover food is fed to local chickens and ducks, based on the idea of respecting the food we grow and have spent resources upon.Torup Landsby Centre (village hall) and Torup Natural Therapy practices are to be found on your left as you walk along Torup Byvej. As more people moved to the ecovillage the need for a village hall became apparent. A place where the people from the ecovillage could meet the inhabitants of Torup, and vice versa and participate in communal events. Part of the original farm was renovated by people from both villages, and turned into the village hall in 1999. A wood pellet furnace heats the place, and hot water is produced by the solar cells on the roof. This warm and spacious hall is used every day for hatha yoga practice and fitness training. The school and kindergarten use it as a sports hall and for many parties, including weddings and confirmations. In addition to this, the hall is where community meetings for the ecovillage are held, concerts, a Christmas market, and lectures also take place here. Torup natural therapy practices are to be found as you walk along Torup Byvej. You'll find more details of the various massage, acupuncture, yoga and healing inside. It's also here that the Yoga and movement festival is held every third week of July. Here you can try different holistic activities from all over the world, including intuitive dance, singing, yoga, and Qi Gong.Torup Byvej now turns a sharp right leading to Haldvejen. On your left at the turn is a small nursery schoolTorup Kindergarten celebrated becoming 30 years old in 2021. It was established by a group of committed parents from Dyssekilde Ecovillage in 1991 with health, ecology and waste sorting a priority. The kindergarten is housed in an old retirement home with a magical garden. Here there are trees to climb in, hills, hiding places, fruit bushes, insects and plenty of fresh air. There's a strong focus on the child's well-being, development and learning as well as on the good life that is lived right here and right now. The year and the cycles of life are seen as valuable traditions, with the recurring seasonal parties a source of anticipation, recognition and joy, and providing valuable knowledge and experiences about learning, nature and culture.
Hvideland Ecovillage
From the junction of Torup Byvej with Sverkilstrupvejen, take a sharp left and walk for approximately 250 metres along the small road. You'll see flags and notice boards announcing the new eco-settlement. It's a private site, but if you continue to the small farm road on your left and inquire at the red farmhouse you may be given permission to respectfully look around. Please watch out for heavy plant and equipment.Hvideland Ecovillage has grown out of interest to repeat the huge success of Dyssekilde, and to increase the population of once sleepy Torup from 350 to approximately 500 residents on 10 hectares of farmland, which has been in the same family for generations. Behind the initiative is Torup Ting (Torup Village Council) and the Torup Foundation.Archaeologists carried out an excavation in 2019 in search for traces of prehistory on Hvidelandsgården's lands. A bog from the Ice Age was excavated, revealing two ankle rings of bronze, which at the end of the Late Bronze Age (approx 700-400 BC) were presumably left here as an offering to the gods. The excavations took a long time, and delayed the building progress. Then in 2020 and the early part of 2021 all work ceased because of the coronavirus pandemic. But work has resumed, and it is hoped that new residents will continue purchasing building plots and be able to move in within one to two years time. Some residents are already in situ, living in the renovated farmhouse and in containers on the site. This being a family community, some children have already begun in the local school and nursery.The philosophy behind the site is that only the land on which the foundations of the buildings stand is private, that all green areas are common and hedges and fences are not encouraged. 100 healthy, affordable and modern low-energy houses are soon to be designed by residents or by architects and craftspeople employing sustainable materials and building practices. Also, the development establishes innovative, renewable energy sources. The purpose of the local plan for Hvideland is to create new, visionary opportunities for modern village life. This includes a vibrant interaction between close neighbourhoods, a cultural life with many facets and a varied business life with, amongst other things, remote working and space for entrepreneurs. At the same time, the local plan will form both a robust and flexible framework that newcomers can fill.The community house is at the heart of the settlement, where residents gather for communal dining, events and meetings of various kinds. Currently, the lovely red brick farmhouse is the meeting place. All the farm buildings will be renovated into common facilities for residents as well as for citizens and companies in Torup and the surrounding area. This is done in collaboration with the Torup Foundation. The buildings are furnished with kitchen facilities, laundry, meeting room, workshops, offices, accommodation and rooms for business purposes. There's currently a lady carpenter constructing mobile Tiny Homes in one of the barn buildings.Common land of 5.6 hectares is available for Hvideland residents to grow vegetables, fruits and berries and raise poultry. Hvideland is, like Dyssekilde Ecovillage, closely aligned to Torup Farmers' Market, which is held every other Saturday during the summer at Dyssekilde station yard.Wastewater here has its own biological treatment facility. This is totally independent of the local council treatment plantsRainwater collection will be an integral part of building design. With water diverted from roof surfaces for use in toilet flushing and for laundry in the individual homes, as well as in shared facilities.Electricity production is required by each individual landowner, who must establish their own solar system for electricity production on their roof surface. Torup Foundation is also working on the possibility of establishing extra common systems.Heat supply for residents will be provided by geothermal heat.For more details, also for enquiries about coming to live here or for arrangements to receive a special tour, please contact Hvideland's website.
Art and Books
Head right and retrace your footsteps back along Sverkilstrupvejen. After 240 metres you'll reach the local cooperative supermarket, Brugsen.In the cellar of the Brugsen building you'll find a small gallery Kældergalleriet. Formed in 2005, by an enthusiastic group of local artists and named the Kunst i Torup group. An association working to promote local art, artists and craftspeople through exhibitions and raising awareness. They arrange an annual open door event and participate in open workshop days for artists all over the country. Together with Torup Book Town (see Stop 15) they also arrange an art and book festival; offering exhibitions, concerts, lectures and selling secondhand books.Five book wagons were set up in 2007 to sit at roadsides for self-service use, and these were joined by a book cafe in a greenhouse at the organic food store. There are now a dozen carts and places to buy books all around Torup.Visitors will find mini bookshops in garages, a workman’s hut, a disused stable, a farm entrance, in front of the church and here, by the entrance to the supermarket in the direction of the church. Step inside, marvel at the sweet simplicity of the idea, buy a book or make a contribution to this great concept.
Torup Church
The redbrick church was built in approximately the year 1100. In the Viking Age (793 AD - 1066) and for several centuries afterwards Torup had a harbour and was the most important town in the area. Hence the imposing and well-financed appearance of the church in such a nowadays, unstrategic position. But in a period of time from the 15th until the 19th century a natural phenomenon occurred in windy Denmark known as the Sand Flytning (sand flight). When loose sand from cliffs and beaches all along the ever shifting Danish coastline began to blow inland and settle on low-lying depressions in the landscape. The vital fjord which connected Torup with the outside world disappeared, snatching away it's accessibility by boat in a time when overland transport was treacherous. Thus collapsing trade, the fishing industry and regional importance. Torup's golden age was over, until 1989 that is!The great periods of flying sand created most of the dunes that characterize the contemporary Danish coastal landscape, and are consequently well-established and seen as attractive features on the flat coastal plains, particularly on the wild west coast of Jutland. But during these historical periods, the flying sand was a very serious problem for the population, especially in the coastal areas of west and north Jutland. Also here in northwestern Zealand, when many people were displaced by a huge onslaught of sand.Originally, the land was forested all the way to the coast, and prevented the sand escaping by the anchoring effects of trees roots, organic debris and flora. But about 2800 - 2600 years ago, the first sandflytning period occurred. Thereafter, drifting sand and dune formation happened repeatedly, especially in the period from the year 400 to 800 AD, and again from about 1500 to 1850 when there was a mini Ice Age in Scandinavia, and much consequent deforestation due to needing wood to burn to keep warm. Moreover, there was a huge loss of trees to use in the production of warships in a period of great colonial expansion, consequent warfare and eventual defeat. But, in the 1720s, the fight against sandflytning became a battle here in northwest Zealand. Well over 100 years later, after a gigantic planting work, the sand escape was finally fairly under control in places such as Tidsvildeleje and Hornbæk, but there was nothing to be done for the decline of Torup and the nearby fjord simply disappeared.The name Torup probably comes from Thors Dysse (Tors Dolmen). During an excavation at Torup cemetery, the remains of a colossal, round stone circle was found approximately 100 m east of Torup church. From within which there were clear traces of ashes and fire - evidence which supported the view among researchers that the name Torup is associated with the god Thor. In the 11th century, the church was conveniently located close to the old sacrificial site and undoubtedly utilized many of the pagan stones into the building of the first chapel. The oldest walls, which are part of the south wall around the porch, date from the time of construction. In many such pagan sites in Denmark, Scandinavia and Northern Europe early churches were purposely placed on top of the mounds which often signified places of pagan worship.Christianity came to Denmark at a late date, the transition to Christianity is marked by King Harald Bluetooth's rune stone at Jelling, which dates to around 965. The stone displays an inscription which declares that Harald made the Danes Christian from the 10th century onwards. But in the ensuing centuries pagan traditions didn't disappear, they were often simply incorporated into the heady mix of traditions and seasonal festivals. This resistance to Christendom and its late arrival in Denmark was partly because of the ferocious Viking Age, and prior to that the lack of influence from the Roman Empire and the eventual profitable spread of Christianity. The Roman legions gave up trying to conquer the impenetrable might of the Germanic tribes further south, who eventually sacked Rome in the 5th century onwards. A flourishing trade did exist with the greater world from Denmark throughout the Dark Ages, where we can see that Vikings were not just bloodthirsty murderers but expert traders, merchants and sailors. Just like their more peaceful descendants today!
Torup Ting
From the church gate, turn left up Haldvejen and head north up the road for 100 metres, then turning left towards the stone circle where the Torup village elders meet at Torup TingThis low, modern stone circle is where members of the Torup Ting (village council) meet symbolically to discuss, plan and sustainably develop Torup and the surrounding areas. ‘Ting’ in old Norse translates as ‘case’ or ‘gathering’. The verb ’tinge’ means ‘negotiate’. Consequently, Torup Ting, means the place where locals discuss and decide on local matters. This has been set in stone: and a traditional stone circle has been created, Torup Tingsted. The essence of the Ting is to continue to be a vibrant, inspiring and very eco-friendly rural area, and after becoming the national Danish Village of the Year in 2019, ambitions and expectations are high. This impetus is continued by engaging residents and supporting local initiatives, as well as by collaborating with companies, institutions and authorities.The backbone of Torup Ting is the Little Tings. Small working groups that set plans in motion and make the local area visible and attractive. The 'little things' are being established on an ongoing basis, and there is already great progress in traffic safety, culture, and beautification of the village. Plans for the future include local job creation, business development and energy supply.A sharing workshop Torup Deleværksted is held every Wednesday, when the community is invited to use a workshop to repair and recycle household equipment and tools, or else work with guidance on their own project. Handy men and women are present and available to help with small, but often overly costly services such as sewing machine service, repairing the vacuum cleaner or a new handle on the shovel. These are accomplished for a minimal fee, and with no cost to the environment.The pathways group works on gathering information about all the existing public rights of way, cycle routes and ancient pathways around Torup. A plan is also 'underfoot' to connect the Hvideland Ecovillage by pathway. In Denmark, there are about 1,200 kilometers of unpaved hiking trails, under the name "Tracks in the Landscape". Many more details (in Danish) here: spor.dk. You may notice QR codes for a walk around the village by Spor.DK, unfortunately I found that the route was overgrown during the summertime.
Dyssekilde Station
Return to whence you came to Haldvejen, then straight over to Stationsvej. Our final stop – Dyssekilde Station.As with many old railway buildings in Denmark, this old beautiful station from 1916 was in a state of dereliction for many years. Today, there is a thriving collection of bright and shiny initiatives which have been facilitated largely due to the boundless energy and enthusiasm of one resident of Torup, retired professor and unofficial town mayor, Peter Plant. His vision has been crucial to show that life in the countryside is something other than stories of rural decline. Indeed, in Torup you’ll have witnessed that this place is thriving because of visionary ideas such as the ecovillage and here in the bustling train station. Peter has also established Torup Bogby, Torup Marked, Spisekammer Halsnæs, Sikkel alternative bicycle rental, Torup Fonden and is chairman of Torup Ting, the village council (see Stop 14).In and around the beautifully restored building you’ll find office space for Torupfonden (the consortium behind the Hvideland Ecovillage), the office for Controlunion, an edible garden, an extensive collection of eccentric eco bicycles, and a world famous secondhand bookstore – Torup Booktown. The jewel in the crown (in my humble opinion) is held every other Saturday, when the area around the station houses a delightful organic farmers’ market – Torup Marked.Torup bogby (book town) was set up in 2006, with 2,000 people attending its first summer festival. In 2010 Torup became a member of the International Organisation of Book Towns (along with Hay-on-Wye) and in 2011 the restored former railway station became the book town’s headquarters. You’ll find the ground floor of the station dedicated to a collection of literature from all genres, both in Danish and in other languages. The interior is charming, simple, full of a sense of yesteryear and the golden age of rail travel. Book wagons were set up in 2007 to sit at roadsides for self-service use throughout Torup, and now the village boasts a dozen locations housed in an odd collection of buildings such as builders' huts, garages, an old stable and hand carts. There are plenty of ingenious shelving ideas too, such as books stacked in bread boxes and milk crates, most operate on a self-service honesty basis. More details on Torup Bogby here. Recently, a local branch of the Folkeuniversitet (Open University) was added to the booktown.The Farmers’ Market in Torup runs all summer long and ends in mid October. Winter is the time for preparation, and for the 25 stallholders to meet up and discuss themes for the following year. The thriving market usually welcomes 500-600 visitors and is a social and joyful place for the community to meet, as well as to welcome visitors by train from as far away as Copenhagen. This charming event is held in the area around the station building and spreads into the car park too. The Market is linked with www.spisekammerhalsnaes.dk. Which is a local organic farmers' organization based on an ethical charter. Another lovely concept here is the edible garden, where you can take a charming walk around to taste edible berries, fruits, herbs, vegetables and flowers.This is the last stop of the Dyssekilde Ecovillage tour, but by no means the last ecovillage to be featured on the WWWalks app. Through the inspired visions of a handful of idealists thirty years ago, I think that you'll agree that solid foundations for this well-run and thriving rural community were founded. From a bunch of misfits creating a vision of a better society at Dyssekilde Ecovillage, to the hive of splendid projects kicking off left, right and centre that we now have witnessed.For my part, I hope that instead of taking a plastic figurine of the Little Mermaid home as your souvenir of Denmark, that you can take this pure inspiration instead and begin to implement it in your life and land. It's worth remembering that on this land where once just humble potatoes grew, now a vibrant community is inspiring all parts of our global society on how to live a good life, for all living things on this fragile planet.Heather Gartside. September 2021
Contents
This app tour is all about being both eco and user-friendly, the geolocations will activate the audio commentary when you are nearing the location, and the tour can also be shared with your family or group members.Optionally, you can follow the tour from the comfort of your home, just turn off the GPS location in your settings.Below is a table of contents, beginning with stop 1) an explanation of what ecovillages are, perhaps something which you'd to listen to before beginning the tour?The easiest way to follow the walk is to simply follow the 'Next' icon in the bottom right of the 16 screens, or by using the index navigation in the top right. A map of the route is indicated below centre. Enjoy, and please leave a review at the App Store or Google Play.
Home Sweet Home
Where earlier there were only fields, now people flourish and grow – some in traditional townhouses, others in experimental houses built from recyclable materials. Dyssekilde is often used as a successful case study by environmental groups from around the world. Visitors are invited to see for themselves the way in which the housing groups were built and the resulting personal interpretations of both vernacular and eco-friendly architecture. This isn't a museum exhibition or theme park though, these are living homes in a thriving community. Please step lightly and refrain from intruding or wandering too closely to the houses in the back gardens, in general though the residents are both eco AND friendly and will answer questions gladly if they have the time.Each house is distinctly creative, and some are more successful or more aesthetically pleasing than others. Many of the houses were built by the owners using new ideas, recycled and biodegradable materials at a time when more sustainable building materials were not as readily available as they are nowadays. There are experimental houses, some made with straw bales, recycled materials, mud, wood, stone, glass or with roofs made completely out of solar panels. But a red thread is that all were conceived and constructed with the objective of being energy-efficient and kind to the planet.Street names are all inspired by the Universe: Solen (The Sun), Månen (The Moon), Stjernerne (The Stars), Nordstjernen (The Northern Star), Regnbuen (The Rainbow), and Mælkevejen (The Milky Way). The communal herb-garden’s name is Stardust and the yearly music festival is named Himmelstorm (Heaven Storm).Dyssekilde is the collective name for the village, it is then sub-divided into areas of which there were originally five, but now there are seven house groups or 'circles'. The names Bifrost, Yggdrasil, Kildespring, Højager, Dysager, Månen, and Solpletten conjure up nordic mythology and/or a connection with the cosmos. Each imaginatively named housing group is responsible for the outdoor areas between the buildings, upholding the bylaws and for managing their own budget. Several house groups also hold various social events such as garden maintenance days, Christmas lunches, bike rides and summer parties. Communal eating and socialising are important ingredients of village life too. The sustainable service systems in the village include sewage treatment, waste sorting, solar cells and collectors, wind generation and vegetable farming. Originally, the idea was that the house groups should form the units of the ecovillage project, with small private houses without kitchens, having instead a communal cook house, extensive autonomy, communal dining, and communal workshops. The vision changed along the way, so that the village as a whole has become the strongest social unit where people meet across residential groups, while many also have very close relationships with their nearest neighbours.Solpletten, The Sunspot consists of 13 larger houses, most of them with apartments where families or non-related residents contribute to the household economy and live under the same roof. They all have large greenhouses attached to their south-facing walls and solar panels to generate passive solar energy. Many feature smaller rooms on the north side.Månen, The Moon is named after the domes that were built here. Due to their special construction the 13 buildings have very little heat loss and are built with a minimum of materials. In addition to the domes there are other hexagonal (6 sided) homes in this group.Dysager, The Place of the Dolmen was one of the first areas to be built upon. It consists of 12 experimental houses, many of which were built by their owners, and with a high level of recycled and biodegradable materials. Within this housing group are the distinctive earth domes, placed on the axis of the earth's revolving point according to the North Star.Højager, The High Place consists of 2 blocks of flats, comprising of 14 rented apartments of 2 or 3 rooms. It was built by the village with local labour, and is a safeguard to ensure that people who did not have the money to build their own house were able to live here too. In Højager families, single parents, middle-aged and senior citizens live side by side.Yggdrasil, The Sacred Tree from Nordic mythology. Most of the 14 houses in Yggdrasil are self-built. In this housing group there are a lot of experimental and low budget eco buildings. In addition to the 4 straw bale houses, there is a cob house where the walls are made of clay and straw, a Norwegian style log house and a house built primarily from granite boulders and secondhand materials.Bifrost, The Mythic Rainbow another name inspired by nordic mythology, where the rainbow connected the world of humans (Midtgaard) to the heavenly place of the gods (Asgaard). The area consists of 7 terraced houses each in their own unique style, with inspiration coming from the traditional architecture found in the Faroe Islands. The main principle is that the height, width and the pitch of the roof must be the same, everything else is up to the house builder to decide. This results in the use of a variety of different building materials and architectural solutions which give you the feeling of an eclectic village high street. All the houses are warmed with a geothermal system, whose central system is in a cellar under the middle house.Kildespring, The Water spring is the newest and smallest of the groups, formed when these 5 houses became separated from a bigger group and became an autonomous one. It includes one of the biggest straw bale houses in Denmark called Folkvang. This was originally built as a community for young people, but is now a co-housing inhabited by three families who share the bathrooms.The entire village of Dyssekilde also has shared facilities such as a waste shed, a recycling shop, laundry area where rainwater is used in the washing machines, a farm, herb garden, vegetable gardens and a community house for social events.
Thank You
Thank you: For several years I have known of the existence of Dyssekilde Ecovillage, but never visited this sustainable settlement. Choosing instead to take my young family to visit local beaches or more mainstream sights. In 2020 I created the first tour on the WWWalks app, Copenhagen Classsic. The idea then was to create walking tours of Denmark with myself no longer as the tour guide, but to inject the same knowledge, humour and originality into the new digital tours - and practice social-distancing.As the lockdown continued throughout 2020 and 2021 the skies cleared of pollution around the world, and wildlife came shyly back to our waters and into the now quiet cities. During and after this wake-up call many more people began to actively care about the environment, including me. I realised that travel as we knew it was doomed and that healthy alternatives had to be developed for the sake of our fragile planet, and for future human generations.The WWWalks app now has two new tours which support sustainable travel: The C02penhagen walking tour, and now this Dyssekilde Ecovillage walking tour. The idea is for curious and responsible travellers to visit these well-researched itineraries using public transport, foot or bicycle. In due time there will be an extensive range of trips offering alternative and eco-friendly 'off the beaten path' destinations in and around Copenhagen and all over Denmark from us. Copenhagen wishes to become one of the first carbon-neutral capital cities in 2025, and before then WWWalks wants to celebrate and share with visitors all the great innovations in sustainabilty which Denmark has made.In July 2021 I stayed in Dyssekilde Ecovillage and discovered a sense of well-being for the planet, and myself that completely took me by surprise. Like the magic that is created at Christmas, there's a shared intent in the air; with so much love, care, meaning and good wishes which have gone into the whole village of Torup. You can feel it, learn from it and return wiser, challenged and changed in your outlook. What's more similar ecovillages have been springing-up all over the world for the past thirty years. Places where magic is actively made, places which give back meaning to our society and healing to the planet instead of taking far too much.Heather Gartside. October 2021Aknowledgements: Many thanks to Matawa Baio, Peter Plant, and Ross Jackson for sharing their deep knowledge of sustainable living, global Ecovillage information from the Gaia Trust, and an overview of the future plans for the entire village of Torup. Thank you to Søren Jensen of Boumboumstudio for his expert help with the audio recordings, my daughter Sasha Knudsen for accompanying me to Torup on numerous occasions. Finally, to the open-hearted welcome, vision and care for the planet from the residents of Dyssekilde Ecovillage. Thank you for helping to shine a light!This app tour is intended as a taster, and not as a replacement of the excellent tours offered by local residents of the Ecovillage. More details here.
