Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature–the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter. In nature nothing exists alone.
Silent Spring, September, 1962
Our Story
Our community is inspired by the legacy of Rachel Carson (1907-1964) whose early fascination with nature led her to pursue an extraordinary career as a scientist, writer and educator. Childhood walks with her mother on their Western Pennsylvania farm instilled in Rachel Carson a ‘sense of wonder’ about the natural world that in turn inspired a life-long devotion to environmental stewardship. A science degree from Pennsylvania College for Women started Rachel Carson on a journey to become a leading scientist and spokesperson for environmental concerns.
Rachel Carson taught us to see ourselves as part of nature, not a controller or even just a protector, but as inter-dependent with it: as reliant on the world we live in as it is on our good stewardship. We are founding the Rachel Carson EcoVillage on the premise that people have a valuable and purposeful role within the environment and that our presence can enhance the vibrancy and resilience of complex living systems.
Vision, Mission, Aims
Our vision is a world where people value connections with each other and nature and human life contributes to the life of the planet. As a community and as individuals, Rachel Carson EcoVillage at Providence Heights embraces ecologically creative living.
Our mission is to create a community in Pittsburgh where people and nature thrive. We believe that people have a valuable and purposeful role within the environment and that our presence can and should enhance the vibrancy and resilience of complex living systems.
We aim to accomplish our mission by:
- building a 35-unit cohousing ecovillage on land gifted to us by the Sisters of Divine Providence.
- practicing constructive and compassionate communication so that we can govern our community equitably and effectively as a sociocracy.
- attracting people who share a desire to participate in the community and also value the differences among each other.
- cultivating a low-energy, low-carbon lifestyle.
- contributing positively to the health and resilience of our natural ecosystems.