This month, some staff members of GEN Europe are sharing the resources that have impacted them the most on their journey to explore community life. We’ve compiled a must-read, must-listen, and must-watch list of books, movies, articles, and podcasts to inspire you!

(Former ESC volunteer in Arterra Bizimodu, 28 years old, primary school teacher, passionate about sustainability, gardening, and nature activities)

As a teenager, I was fascinated by history and how past societies lived. By chance, I picked up Ancient Futures by Helena Norberg-Hodge from my mother’s bookshelf, where it had been sitting as a gift. The cover, featuring an elderly woman in traditional Tibetan clothing holding a tiny baby, intrigued me.

In the book, Norberg-Hodge describes how she became the first Westerner to learn the language of an isolated Himalayan community in Ladakh, Northern India. Due to their geographical remoteness, the people of Ladakh had lived largely untouched by modernity, maintaining a simple yet, according to the author, rich agrarian life in village communities. What stood out to me was the deep environmental awareness, even among young children, who knew which river was safe for washing and which for drinking. The warmth and cohesion between generations, the balance between work, leisure, and celebration, and the overall joy and fulfillment in their lives left a lasting impression on me.

However, Norberg-Hodge also details how globalization, increased infrastructure, and government-led development programs gradually disrupted this way of life. Despite economic growth, the community’s quality of life declined, marked by rising individualism, consumerism, social conflict, and deteriorating health.

Fortunately, many elders in Ladakh recognized these negative changes. Norberg-Hodge helped initiate a movement to preserve traditional values while integrating small-scale technological solutions such as solar ovens and greenhouses.

The book gave me a vision of what an ideal society, living in harmony with planetary boundaries, could look like. I saw similar transformations happening firsthand in Eastern Europe. During my time in rural Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, I admired the abundant vegetable gardens, handcrafted textiles, and strong community bonds. Yet, I also witnessed the rapid decline of traditional ecovillages. Despite this, I was inspired by the resilience and deep knowledge that still exist about communal living, sustainable agriculture, and our relationship with the planet. Moving forward, we may need to look back—toward these “ancient futures.” Most importantly, we must support those who still live in traditional villages and wish to preserve their way of life against the pressures of economic growth.

I was thrilled to see the localization movement championed by Norberg-Hodge aligning with the ecovillage movement. I even had the opportunity to witness her colleague, Anja Lyngbaek, speak at the 2024 ecovillage gathering in Sweden. What excites me even more is that this year’s ecovillage gathering will take place in Eastern Europe—specifically, in Hungary!

(Membership Manager GEN Europe)

Definitly the Ecovillage podcast by GEN Europe!

“Community is the GEN Europe podcast! It’s an exploration of the biggest questions and most inspiring stories of ecovillages and their inhabitants. It’s about what makes us stronger, more resilient, more hopeful, together. It’s about the people and places that are regenerating our planet, and the tools and strategies you can use to do the same, wherever your are.” Fran Whitlock

Some of my favorite episodes include:

• In Conversation with Tobias Jones – A fascinating discussion about different community models and how communities can support marginalized groups.
• Let’s Build Community: Lessons from a Life in Torri Superiori – An inspiring look at an old ecovillage that has successfully revived a medieval town. The episode highlights the struggles and triumphs of community life, offering hope to those starting their own projects.
• Special Episode – Bafut: War and Hope in Cameroon’s First Ecovillage – A moving episode that sheds light on struggles often unknown to Europeans. It’s a heartbreaking yet inspiring story.

A great starting point for exploring books on community living is the resources page in the GEN Europe membership area. However, we also want to highlight other outstanding collections:

These two books are considered classics and have guided many people on their community journey. Explore the books!

Manja, GEN Europe’s General Coordinator, strongly recommends the book Manitonquat‘s book “Have you lost your tribe?”.

Their book shares wisdom from Native American traditions, particularly focusing on the values, spirituality, and philosophy of the Wampanoag people. It emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with nature, community, and indigenous ways of life to find healing and balance. Manitonquat advocates for tribal unity, storytelling, and traditional teachings as tools for personal and communal empowerment. The book serves as both a cultural guide to community and a call to reclaim indigenous identity and heritage.

Cynthia, from the USA, has visited over 150 intentional communities. She now helps people find communities that fit their needs and leads ecovillage tours worldwide (ecovillagetours.com). On her website, she shares inspiring blog articles and has compiled a list of the 47 best books on intentional community living.

We hope these recommendations help you on your journey to understanding and experiencing community living. Happy reading, listening, and exploring!