Graduation Date
Spring 2019
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Social Science, Environment and Community
Committee Chair Name
Anthony Silvaggio
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Gregg Gold
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Nikola Hobbel
Third Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Subject Categories
Environment and Community
Abstract
In this research, I explore social practices that members of two intentional communities identified as contributing positively to their experiences and the functioning of their communities. Specifically, I examined the social practices that deal with conflict resolution/prevention, the decision making processes of consensus and sociocracy, and how knowledge about these practices is shared within the ecovillage context. The intention is to present how community members develop and use these social practices to live together more harmoniously and authentically by utilizing activities and techniques to help mediate and resolve conflicts and make decisions collectively.
In order to investigate these questions I traveled and lived at several different sustainability oriented communities ranging from three weeks to five months. I participated in day-to-day life at these communities and interviewed residents of the two communities I stayed at longest. Through my participation in these two communities it appeared the social practices of heart shares, check-ins, community meetings, mediations, and personal growth workshops helped to reduce conflict and foster social cohesion between community members. The insights from this research revealed how knowledge shared about these practices is done so mainly through participation. Results indicate that knowledge sharing about these practices may benefit from increased involvement of both community members and visitors, specifically, through holding events and gatherings.
Citation Style
Chicago
Recommended Citation
Olson, Richard Brett, "Communities towards social sustainability: A case study of La'akea permaculture community and Lost Valley education and event center" (2019). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 270.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/270