The Cloud | Living together (literally)

“We all live together, we grow our vegetables, we don’t mow the lawn, we share a few cars… There are people who think we’re a cult! »

Atlantis Puisegur is well aware of the clichés inspired by its way of life. However, the La Nuée ecocommunity has nearly 50 members and they do not correspond to any specific stereotype. What they have in common cannot be seen with the naked eye, in fact. It is a thirst for social and environmental alternatives…

But let’s start with the basics. The term “ecovillage” or “ecocommunity” is used to designate different models built around active community life and an ecological approach. It was my eco-anxiety that led me to take an interest in the concept. Are there better ways to occupy space?

La Nuée quickly caught my attention with its offer that combines lifestyle and tourism.

The collective was born in 2020 and settled on a 41-hectare plot of land in the village of Saint-Didace, in Lanaudière.

There are two houses, an old restaurant, a building that needs renovations, a hexagonal building in the middle of the forest, a barn and a garage…

Eventually, the members would like to build about twenty small dwellings and several collective spaces (laundry room, dining room, etc.) which would allow them to save costs, in addition to encouraging meetings.

Some of them already live in the buildings of Saint-Didace, others are only there part-time. Atlantis spends half of its year there, while its spouse, Nathalie Berthélemy, goes there mainly on weekends.

It’s like having a shared chalet, after all?

“For some, Nathalie replies. The difference, for me, is that there is more economic and social life. In general, you take care of your family at home, but in an eco-community, you have to make collective intelligence work. We have no leader and we want everything to be horizontal…”

As you can imagine, living like this is not always easy.

First, there is the material. At La Nuée, we build in an ecological way and we upgrade what already exists… It’s great, but it requires know-how. A know-how that Nathalie did not have (note that her profession is supporting companies and individuals in a sustainable development approach, not carpentry).

“Fortunately, we found someone who was willing to help us with the renovations and train us at the same time,” she explains to me. So we were able to do a lot of work on our own. It’s great because in a group, magic unfolds! »

Now, if a magic unfolds in the life in community, several conflicts do it too…

“The biggest challenge is that we have been formatted to think only of ourselves, believes Atlantis Puisegur. Moving on to empathy and listening is not easy! We have to find a balance between the group and our individuality. »

Tensions often arise when it comes to power, security and control, notes Nathalie. ” It’s normal ! We are used to wanting to control everything to secure ourselves. Losing this reflex requires working on yourself, and this is the part that has enriched me the most…”

OK, but on a daily basis, how do you distribute the tasks without a leader? There is work to be done when we focus on permaculture and the upgrading of old buildings.

Everything is based on the members’ desire to participate, explains Nathalie Berthélemy. They have to try it. Only committed members have definitive responsibilities. They are currently eight and their regular involvement is recognized by the rest of the group. In return for their commitment, they have a right of veto when making decisions.

“The question we must ask ourselves is: how to be in power with and not in power over ? sums up Atlantis Puisegur.

And the 40-year-old has experience in this area. Coming from a community background, he notably worked in food security at Building 7. It should be remembered that a citizens’ initiative made it possible to transform a huge disused building in the Pointe-Saint-Charles district into a space for sharing and gathering. It is now a Montreal model of self-management.

But that’s in the past for Atlantis. For the past three years, he has been developing the Saint-Didace ecovillage full-time.

Moreover, La Nuée regularly welcomes people curious to know more about these alternative models. The members of the collective orchestrate various workshops, seminars and open houses. You can also rent a room in the hexagonal building for short stays, in exchange for a voluntary contribution.

It’s a different way to escape. A useful way, above all.

“In my opinion, we will have no choice but to change our way of life,” concludes Atlantis. Whether because of the climate crisis or a possible economic crisis. Sightseeing in an ecovillage is a good way to find out how difficult or difficult it will be for us to make this transition…”