The utopian lifestyle that will be created on the site formally known as Aiken village will not be paradise for everyone. However, for those who choose to live here the rewards will be numerous. Inhabitants will be given personal satisfaction to know that their daily lives reduce their carbon foot print on the Earth.
“Early to bed, early to rise” will be the common routine living on this intentional community. The sunshine filtering through high windows will help to awaken students from their slumber.
The morning shower will get its warmth from water heated by the sun. Water that goes down the drain will be piped to a garden, where it can be cleaned, nurture plants and be used again to flush toilets in the house.
Next, everyone heads to the community kitchen for some breakfast. This meal is not always labor intensive, so most of the time, everyone is on their own for breakfast. Next, it is off feed the animals. Starting with pets and then moving to the chickens, which will provide fresh eggs and occasional meat. Once everyone is feed it is off to class.
After class, everyone will return to paradise to finish daily chores. Gardens must be checked for weeds, pests and disease. If rain has been absent for a while, irrigation can provide water to the plants from water stored in rain barrels and cisterns. The constructed wetlands should occasionally be checked for debris or trash that may have made its way into the hydrologic system.
In and around the buildings, private spaces will be offered so that tenets can have some alone time away from the group to relax, to talk on the phone or do some homework. These private spaces will be extremely important for everyone’s mental health and to help to avoid social conflict.
Supper time will be an important time because everyone will chip in to bring the meal to the table by using as much locally produced energy and products as possible. The energy used to light the kitchen and heat the oven will be from solar panels on the roofs. The produce on the plates will have been grown in the gardens on site. Leftovers from previous meals were used to make compost that nurtured the plants for the current meal.
After supper is finished and the kitchen is cleaned, students can congregate in the large social space. There will be room for plenty of room for different activities such throwing a ball, playing music or relaxing by a fire.
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