That would be a shame, not only because a lot of people and community based organizations that have a stake in the project would be seriously hurt financially, but also because ours could still be a very viable project financially as well as in all other ways if we could just find the right investor, partner or lender in time.

Another big loss, of course, would be in not having this community as a resource for the families and individuals who expect to have access to this supportive, community based, ecological housing. It would also be a loss to this community as a whole; we are already being contacted frequently by others in the region who are interested in pursuing some aspect of what we are doing.

But the biggest loss might be to the planet itself, because the model we are building offers a clear pathway to a post-global- warming future, not through technological breakthroughs or a drastic curtailment of comfort, but through social structures that are already highly valued and technologies that are already readily available and affordable at this scale.

So, we are appealing to you, our St. Louis friends and neighbors, to assist us in saving the Ecovillage and the Earth directly with your resources or with referrals to others.

You can contact us directly or come learn all about the project at our next orientation and tour on Saturday, September 13, at 11:00, which will be followed by a potluck lunch. You are welcome to participate in a workday with the Green Beings CSA that day, too.