What Does It Mean to Live Sustainably Together?
A recap of our recent sustainability info session for folks interested in joining us as members at Killick Ecovillage.
When planning this info session, we asked ourselves this simple but revealing question: what does sustainability mean to you? Our answers ranged from growing your own food and shared laundry facilities to reducing dependence on cars, from tackling loneliness to building something resilient enough to weather climate change.
What struck everyone was how rarely these goals are achievable alone, and how naturally they follow from living well together. That tension between aspiration and the difficulty of acting sustainably in isolation is precisely why Killick Ecovillage exists.
For those of you who missed attending our info session, we thought we’d share the highlights in a blog post!
The Three Pillars of Sustainability
The heart of the evening was a deep dive into what sustainability actually looks like at Killick, as something woven into the land, the buildings, and the daily life of the community.
Permaculture and Land Stewardship
The entire 57-acre site is managed as a chemical-free farm guided by permaculture principles. Vegetables grow right on the land under the care of our resident farmer, Killick Ecovillage founder Kyle Reid Fairhurst. The walking paths, ponds, and wetland areas at Killick aren’t just amenities; they’re part of a landscape we are designing for biodiversity and climate resilience, with swales and ponds managing rainwater and biodiversity corridors woven throughout the site.
Infrastructure and Building Design
The most sustainable home is one you actually want to live in: warm, quiet, well-lit, and inexpensive to run. Killick homes (breaking ground later in 2026!) have been designed for energy efficiency in heat, light, and sound, warmer winters, lower bills, a more comfortable life. The broader infrastructure is being designed toward net-zero energy generation, with thoughtful recycling systems and responsible waste processing throughout.
A right-sized home, say 800 square feet instead of 2,000, means less to heat, less to clean, and less to maintain. And because our residents will gain an entire village as their extended living room, nothing is given up. You no longer need to drive somewhere for recreation, socializing, or exercise. The shared guest suite, exercise room, library, workshop, yoga space, craft room, and more are all just steps away.
Community as Infrastructure
Community itself is a sustainability technology. When people share resources and design their lives in proximity, sustainable choices are so much easier!
Shared laundry, kids’ playrooms, teen spaces, and tool libraries mean less stuff purchased and less waste generated.
Collective buying power for internet service and bulk goods will benefit everyone’s budget.
Optional community dinners in a shared kitchen and dining hall will produce far less food waste than 51 separate households cooking separately, and far more connection. And yes, your own kitchen will still be there when you want it.
Sustainable living also includes being able to live together in a healthy way. Our governance model is Sociocracy, a consent-based decision-making process that keeps things fair and effective – supporting sustainable decision-making and workloads. Working groups around land, food, sustainability, and community life will ensure everyone finds their niche and contributes meaningfully. The system and experience of working through issues together builds resilience and cohesion for when times get tough.
One Simple Choice
Choosing to live at Killick Ecovillage we will be able to simplify what we need in our own homes. My husband and I, for example, are choosing to not have laundry machines within our unit. Instead we will walk over to the common house to do our laundry there. Yes, in the winter that might be a decision we occasionally question or regret, there are 4 big benefits that for us overrule any discomfort:
- Money saved – we don’t have to buy and maintain machines ourselves in our unit.
- No space taken up by machines in our unit – that frees up a whole new closet for us!
- No noise from laundry machines & those beeps when a cycle is done within our home
- A simple way to ensure we are engaging with neighbours in our common space – hanging out in the reading room, craft room, playing a game, co-working space, working out in the gym.
The Conversation That Matters Most
What emerges when we talk about sustainability together is a genuine sense of shared purpose. The problems Killick is trying to address, like climate change, isolation, and unsustainable consumption, aren’t individual problems. They call for collective responses. And those responses, it turns out, can also be joyful, connected, and deeply rooted in place.
If you missed this session, we’d love to hear from you and share more. And if you were there and want to take the next step, we’re easy to find – simply reach out via our inquiry form.
PS – What Is Killick Ecovillage?
For those who are joining us for the first time: Killick is a housing co-operative being developed on 57 acres of coastal farmland and forest in Portugal Cove-St. Philips, about 20 minutes from St. John’s. We’re designing 51 homes built around community and nature, with a move-in target of spring/summer 2028.
The village takes shape around two clusters: an Upper Village on level ground with personal backyards and shared green spaces, and a Lower Village offering homes with balconies and views. At the heart of it all is a Common House with a shared kitchen, dining room, and facilities such as a workout room and crafting space, surrounded by farm fields, forest trails, ponds, and wetlands. Cars are kept at the edges; the village itself belongs to the people.
Homes range from 600 to 1,400 square feet with one to three bedrooms and an optional loft. All are built to universal design principles, meaning they are accessible to all ages and abilities, and every home is energy-efficient and designed for our beloved Newfoundland climate.
The financial model is a Mutual Home Ownership Society: roughly 7% upfront (minimum $15,000), with a monthly fee capped at 30-35% of net income, repaid with interest when you leave. Payment plans and affordability pathways are available.
Update: Where Things Stand
Groundbreaking is planned for August 2026, with move-in on track for spring/summer 2028. The community is actively growing, and there are three ways to get involved at whatever level feels right:
- Social — $40/year. Stay connected and get to know the community.
- Explorer — $250 for 3 to 6 months. Get to know us in depth before applying to become a resident member.
- Resident — $1,000 share plus minimum loan. Secure your home at Killick.
Explore membership options, learn more about our home designs & land, and read up on all the frequently asked questions we hear from future members!