Grassroots Innovation for Urban Sustainability: Comparing the Diffusion Pathways of Three Ecovillage Projects

Abstract

Grassroots innovation literature proposes that 'intermediately' situated community-based projects-those which are neither too radical, nor too embedded in the mainstream-play an important cross-contextual bridging role in processes of innovation for sustainable development. This paper explores this intermediacy claim by comparing how three established ecovillage projects engage outsiders and diffuse their lessons learned. Employing comparative case-study methodology, I find that while all three projects successfully replicate alternative practices outside their boundaries-for example through education, outreach, and on-site activities-one project has partnered with municipal planners to translate 'ecovillage concepts' into a new zoning category that will facilitate similar development by mainstream actors. The argument is made that the landscape for grassroots innovation is uneven, and that niche-to-regime translation occurs through projects that position themselves as part of two action domains at once.

The Meaning and Relevance of Ecovillages for the Construction of Sustainable Societal Alternatives

“…One thing that can be said with special relevance for the present discussion is that, beyond seeking to create a sustainable lifestyle, the majority of ecovillages have an explicit goal of outreach aimed at exchanging experiences with the world (KASPER, 2008). In reality, this is especially reflected in a desire to influence society through juxtaposing the mainstream with lifestyles that are more sustainable, acting as "models," "examples," "laboratories of sustainability" or "demonstration sites" (ERGAS, 2010;MEIJERING, 2012;BOYER, 2015;BOSSY, 2014;LITFIN, 2014;LOCKYER, 2010). Thus, it is possible to say that the ecovillage movement ultimately carries an ideal of "transforming the world."…”

“…Before installation, Cloughjordan in Ireland carried out public meetings to inform neighbors about plans and ask for feedback; in this way, it gained the support of local residents and later evolved into a government project for sustainable energy in rural areas, which resulted in the largest "solar farm" in Ireland and was also very important in the market for sustainable housing (CUNNINGHAM; WEARING 2013). The Los Angeles Ecovillage (LAEV) in the United States established itself in the turbulent urban periphery, aiming to help "revitalization" (BOYER, 2015;LITFIN, 2014), and later co-founded a widespread pro-bicycle movement in the city (BOYER, 2015). Through government partnerships, the Ecovillage at Ithaca (EVI) in the US became involved in projects to create a farmer-training center and models for climate--friendly zoning and building codes (LITFIN, 2014).…”

“…However, for the same reason, this model could end up obscuring the need to achieve more profound changes in the dominant paradigm. In fact, it is necessary to consider that urban communities tend to be more structurally constrained (BOYER, 2015), and cohousing communities are also less economically independent and less ecologically sustainable compared with communities (including ecovillages) that are more withdrawn from mainstream culture (SANGUINETTI, 2012).…”

The Green Experiment: Cities, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, and Sustainability

“…Additionally, sociotechnical transition case studies have evaluated the green building economy or ecovillages, providing insights into the changing trends of the green economy around the United States and England [73,74]. Cities can play three roles in sociotechnological transitions: primary actors, locations, or seedbeds for early phases of transitions, or limited roles [8].…”

Accelerating Transition Dynamics in City Regions: A Qualitative Modeling Perspective

“…In the literature on social entrepreneurship and grassroots innovation [40][41][42], upscaling is generally associated with the spread of practices and increasing engagement in local initiatives. The conceptual framework consequently defines the upscaling of an initiative as the development of three actor groups [9]:…”