BUILDING RESISTANCE FROM HOME: ECOVILLAGE AT ITHACA AS A MODEL OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING by DlANA MICHELLE FISCHETTI A THESIS Presented to the Department of Geography and the Graduate School of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts September 2008 11 "Building Resistance from Home: EcoVillage at Ithaca as a Model of Sustainable Living," a thesis prepared by Diana Michelle Fischetti in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts degree in the Department of Geography. This thesis has been approved and accepted by: Shaul Cohen, Chair of the Examining Com)lrlttee .,.".,.,,'/ Committee in Charge: Shaul Cohen, Chair Peter Walker Accepted by: Dean of the Graduate School 111 © 2008 Diana Michelle Fischetti IV An Abstract of the Thesis of Diana Michelle Fischetti for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Geography to be taken September 2008 Title: BUILDING RESISTANCE FROM HOME: ECOVILLAGE AT ITHACA AS A MODEL OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING Approved: ~ ICohen Because of the personal, social, economic, and environmental impacts of material consumption, resistance is afoot. The creation of new places is a tool used by those resisting the negative aspects of consumer culture. One example is the ecovillage: an intentional community whose members strive to live in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner, to practice voluntary simplicity, and to cultivate meaning, life satisfaction, and fulfillment. This research involves a case study of EcoVillage at Ithaca, located in New York, the goal of which is to create a model of sustainable living that is appealing to mainstream America, reduce the ecological footprint of inhabitants and increase meaningful relationships within the community. Through its educational mission and accompanying outreach, EcoVillage at Ithaca models an alternative to middle-class, mainstream American culture. EcoVillage at Ithaca's impact beyond the lives ofthe v individual residents demonstrates its effectiveness as a space of resistance to consumer society. VI CURRICULUM VITAE NAME OF AUTHOR: Diana Michelle Fischetti PLACE OF BIRTH: Boston, Massachusetts DATE OF BIRTH: April 19, 1976 GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOLS ATTENDED: University of Oregon, Eugene University of Colorado, Boulder Boston University DEGREES AWARDED: Master of Arts, [Geography, September 2008], University of Oregon Master of Arts, [Environmental Studies, September 2008], University of Oregon Bachelor of Arts, [Environmental Studies, December 2000], University of Colorado AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST: Nonprofit Management Certificate, [Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management, September 2008], University of Oregon PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Outreach Program Manager, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), 1 month (current employment) LEED™ Education Program Project Coordinator and Graduate Teaching Fellow, Office of Academic Affairs, University of Oregon, 1 academic year Vll Graduate Teaching Fellow, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies Program, University of Oregon, 2 academic years Editorial Assistant, Journal ofSedimentary Research, Society for Sedimentary Geology, 1 year National Science Foundation Research Fellow, Department of Geography, University of Colorado, 1 academic year Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Geography, University of Colorado, 1 academic year Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Fellow, Department of Geography, University of Colorado, 1 academic year GRANTS, AWARDS AND HONORS: Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Office of Academic Affairs, University of Oregon, 2007 Summer Research Award, "Building Resistance from Home: EcoVillage at Ithaca as a Model of Sustainable Living", Department of Geography, University of Oregon, 2007 Coeta and Donald Barker Fellowship Summer Research Award, "Building Resistance from Home: EcoVillage at Ithaca as a Model of Sustainable Living", Environmental Studies Program, University of Oregon, 2006 and 2007 Coeta and Donald Barker Research Fellowship, "Building Resistance from Home: EcoVillage at Ithaca as a Model of Sustainable Living", Environmental Studies Program, University of Oregon, 2006 Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Department of Geography, University of Oregon, 2005 Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Environmental Studies Program, University of Oregon, 2005 Gamma Theta Upsilon, International Geographic Honor Society, 2005 V111 National Science Foundation Research Fellowship, Department of Geography, University of Colorado, 200 I Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Fellowship, Department of Geography, University of Colorado, 2000 Dean's Scholarship Award, University of Colorado, 7 awards during 1997 - 2000 Phi Beta Kappa, Honor Society, 1999 Golden Key Honor Society, 1998 PUBLICATIONS: Mayo, Joseph and Diana Fischetti. 2008. "The White Stag Goes Green: Renovation ofUO's new home in Portland earns LEED gold." Bulletin: School ofArchitecture and Allied Arts: 2. Fischetti, Diana. 2008. "The White Stag Block: University of Oregon's New Green Home in Portland." The Ecotone: The Journal ofEnvironmental Studies: 35-36. Cheng, Nancy, Jessica Engeman, Cody Evers, Diana Fischetti, Ashley Garrett, Bethany Johnson, Casey Kleinhenz, Ray Neff, Dawn O'Connor, Jolyn Overton, Jason Owens, Zach Rose, John Wallace, and Michael Wilson. 2008. "Case Study of The White Stag Block." Barry, Coeylen, Rebecca Briggs, Bari Doeffinger, Diana Fischetti, Meghan Murphy, Peterson, Matt, and Rebecca Silver. 2007. University ofOregon Campus Sustainability Assessment. Fischetti, Diana. 2007a. "Book Review of The Coldest Crucible: Arctic Exploration and American Culture." Western Association ofMap Libraries Information Bulletin 38:83. -. 2007b. "Real Simplicity or Simply Solicitation? An Analysis ofReal Simple Magazine." The Ecotone: The Journal ofEnvironmental Studies: 14-19. IX ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express sincere appreciation to the Department of Geography and the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Oregon for providing rigorous programs of study and a supportive environment in which to pursue them. I would also like to appreciate the Department of Geography, the Environmental Studies Program, and the Coeta and Donald Barker Fellowship for providing me with funding, in the form of both Graduate Teaching Fellowships and research awards. My advisors, Associate Professors Shaul Cohen, Peter Walker, and Nancy Cheng, are also deserving of hearty thanks for their guidance, encouragement, and for challenging me. The residents of EcoVillage at Ithaca, and especially those who allowed me to interview them, deserve deep gratitude. These residents include: Elan, Kelly, Will, Steve, Liz, Laura, Phebe, Lucy, and Harry. Last but not least, I wish to express my deep gratitude for the indispensable love and support of my friends and family, including Andy Polanchek, Linda Fischetti, Michael Fischetti, Marilyn Winkleby, Megan Lawrence, Lee Pera, Amy Tolliver, and Geisel. x This thesis is dedicated to the idealists, who may be accused of being na"ive; to the change-makers, who may be told their pursuits are futile; to the unaware, who may need to be told of another way; and to the pessimists, who may need to be shown rather than told.