We stayed at EcoVillage at Ithaca on our way to Boston and we found a wonderful place. When we checked into the Bed and Breakfast the first thing the owner did was to show us the raspberries and greens we could pick in front of the house. Then he gave us a quart of fresh sugar snap peas from the local farm that is part of the EcoVillage and a quart of fresh local blueberries. We were able to attend their board meeting in the evening and learn about some of the issues they are dealing with - how to write the lease on the land for the farmer who grows organic food on their property and supplies the village with food, and how to deal with people building campfires on the property. We also met the Executive Director, Liz Walker who wrote two books: "EcoVillage at Ithaca, Pioneering a Sustainable Culture," and "Choosing a Sustainable Future, Ideas and Inspiration from Ithaca, NY." There is much to tell about this place, but suffice it to say that this morning Mollie and I went for a walk in the trails that they have cut through the wood and ate handfuls of wild black raspberries. As we neared the bend toward the community garden we were met by some very friendly and sweet chickens who greeted us hoping we would feed them. We also ran across a local villager who gave us handfuls of basil, some tomatoes, a cucumber, a fantastic purple onion and some fresh garlic. He just handed it to us from his garden and said he always grows more than he can use. So very nice - Mollie and I were really struck with the openness and friendliness of the community, and also with the richness of life here. It is not monetarily rich, but rather rich in life and spirit.
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