This is a CTP of initiative: Ecovillage Sieben Linden (Germany)
In 1993, the common ground of the ecovillage was worked out by trying to realise a maximum of ecological, ethical and social values. Concerning animal keeping, all members had the same opinion, that the common methods in Germany are not acceptable for the ecovillage. They based their values on knowledge around animal keeping, vegan nutrition, and organic farming. The majority saw animal welfare as a central aspect of an ecovillage. Though, it was never formulated as an explicit aim.
Over the years more vegan oriented people have joined the ecovillage. In their value system they could not accept to ‘imprison’ animals or even slaughter any living being at all.
The issues turned into a CTP when two main positions stand against each other till the point that some people considered leaving the ecovillage when not finding an agreement on this. There were two main opinions or value systems: on the one hand the idea of a species-appropriate, ecological animal husbandry should be realised priory on the base of self-sufficiency for taking the responsibility for the animals which one consumes. On the other hand the consequent vegan members have always been against animal keeping and slaughter in general with the consequence of no husbandry at all and vegan food.
These two different ‘parties’, values and people have clashed several times over the years since the foundation of Sieben Linden. Over the years, discussions with different grades of fruitfulness took place. During this controversial process, no animal was brought to Sieben Linden, even pets were actually not welcome.
Finally, in October 2005 after two years of intensive discussion processes, the community came to a common decision about animal keeping which solved the conflicts. The resolution is valid and realised since then.
The resolution on ‘how to live together with animals in the ecovillage of Sieben Linden’ encompasses different dimensions. The central point is the following guideline of how to deal with animal keeping: “Sieben Linden only allows animals on its territory if they can live a good life till their natural death.” (original: In Sieben Linden leben nur Tiere, denen wir hier ein gutes Leben bieten können und denen wir dieses bis an ihr natürliches Lebensende ermöglichen wollen. in: internal Dokument SiedlerInfo Tierhaltung)
This has been a tremendous step, because it says, that no animal that has ever lived in the ecovillage can be slaughtered, also not later in a different place. In practice, it makes agriculture with almost all kinds of animals impossible.
“We agree on this for respecting those amongst us, for which all kinds of killing animals is against their ethical conviction.”(in: internal Dokument SiedlerInfo Tierhaltung)
Furthermore, they emphasise being aware that they are part of the world where animals are killed because people buy e.g. dairy products. On the other hand, it is still allowed to consume animal products with the aim to buy from regional producers to take a maximum of awareness and responsibility.
The decision on how to keep animals and the question, if and what kind of animal products could be consumed in Sieben Linden for following the ecological and ethical intentions, had been controversially discussed over years.
The community infrastructure plays a fundamental role, why the question of animal keeping has become a common decision at all: Sieben Linden was found as a co-operative to buy its property. The buildings, the agricultural land, the forest and all property belong to all residential members. From the beginning, Sieben Linden has set up a shared food economy: every member pays a monthly contribution and serves oneself from the food storage. These community infrastructures and facilities have economic advantages and require common decisions, e.g. on guidelines for agriculture and food. With the shared properties and the co-operative as owner the ecovillage intends to make sure that ecological values are consequently realised. Still, they had to learn that the same intention can be interpreted differently when put into practice.
The resolution is a tremendous result of co-production between two opposing ‘parties’. It took years to reach this agreement which caused a breakthrough and huge release in internal cohesion of the initiative combined with a deeper level of trust and to feel at home for many community members.
The most important aspect to bring this co-productive turn was based on not only tolerance for other opinions. Furthermore, the community realised one of their highest values, ‘unity in diversity’. Agreeing to the resolution implied for both opposing ‘parties’ (1) honouring and accepting the diversity of different perspectives and values and (2) resigning a part of their own vision for the sake of unity.
Concerning (1), they state “we should be able to dare this span of different perspectives and feelings. It is a test of our true readiness to respect and honour other people with a very different opinion”. (Dokument SiedlerInfo Tierhaltung)
(2), for the sake of mutual respect between members with different world views, both sides resigned a part of their vision.
A) “The members who wanted to produce their own animal products, practically resigned from doing it, because it cannot work with almost all kinds of animals, e.g. producing eggs and dairy products only works in a realistic way with slaughtering male and older cows, goats, sheep or chickens” (Interview Eva Stützel).
B) The vegan oriented people accept that the ecovillage of Sieben Linden is not a vegan project: animal products are served in the community kitchen and they have to fund those with their contribution to the shared food economy.
Disclaiming from a part of their visions to agree to the resolution, the two ‘parties’ had decided that the co-productive part is of greater value for them. With the resolution, the issue was clarified and did no longer take so much attention by the community. The co-productive part of ‘unity’ had gained more importance than insisting on individual intentions. At a certain point in the discussion process, people preferred to solve the differences and feel connected and safe in the community and trust they can stay in the ecovillage.
1993 first vague consensus on animal keeping in the common ground of the ecovillage
2005 after two years of intensive discussions: the resolution on ‘how to live together with animals in the ecovillage of Sieben Linden’
In the first place, the CTP was caused by different world views and the ambition to collectively realise those in the ecovillage. While the general value – animal welfare – has been the same, the interpretation and feelings have different and created two opposing ‘parties. On the base of collective ownership and living in one ecovillage, the CTP was caused by the fact of an increasing level of contestation and rather vague plans of single people to start with animal keeping.
Some of the vegan people had announced that they would leave the ecovillage in the case that slaughtering animals would become an option in Sieben Linden. Therefore, they had lived for years with an inner tension, if they would stay or leave. The resolution of 2005 brought a significant release for many community members.
When the level of contestation was too high, the people felt triggered to co-operate and find a compromise. The contestation was finally overcome with the resolution.
Nevertheless, there has been another contestation in it: For deciding this resolution, Sieben Linden rejected a veto for the first time its history. It came from someone who wanted to keep animals. He argued that it does not work to keep animals like chickens or cows without slaughtering because they would spawn too quickly to handle it. His perception was that the vegans had asserted their world view. After more than 10 years he still lives in the ecovillages – without animal keeping.
During the years of dispute, the community was increasingly yearning for an agreement on animal keeping. When decided, the community had given great importance to the resolution. Today, after more than ten years after the resolution, members are still exhausted when thinking back to the time of conflict. The long-term members are not ready to restart the discussions when newcomers ask for animal keeping.
Today, Sieben Linden keeps some horses for the forest work and bees for organic honey production. Organic dairies and other animal products are ‘imported’. The intention was actually to consume regional products, but it has not worked so far to find a reasonable farmer who could deliver the amount that is needed for the shared food economy.
The central learning in this process was about honouring other peoples’ values. It goes so far to resign partly from the own vision, because community and friendship is considered as more important and of a higher value than realising the own vision of animal keeping.
“I have realised that I am really friends with some people ‘of the other party’ and that I could not stand seeing them suffering or even leaving. Therefore it was more important for me to make a compromise for my own intentions so that they feel at home” (Interview Eva Stützel)
On the other hand, members learned how important it is to agree on basic values, intentions and a way of living before committing to shared property. It is about daily and private life. A community can only work on realistic, not too idealistic base.
Another aspect might have also been, that many members only realise over the years that the decision makes agriculture with almost all kinds of animals impossible.
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