Archetype : Eco-education Center
Having a resource center and reading room where people can find free, accessible information about ecology, organic farming methods, sustainable living, alternative building, permaculture and biodynamics as well as native plants, animals insects, mushrooms and reptiles is an important resource for even the smallest village.
Allowing local eco-organizations, seed saving groups, permaculture guilds and other green groups to distribute free newsletters, fliers, pamphlets and educational media is a great way to connect people with the conscious community.
Dispensing seeds and plant material while posting about upcoming talks, classes, courses and workshops, even small kiosks can be a great help in creating relationships between people, plants, animals and the eco-system.
Elfinhome
In the heart of the gardens is a small permaculture eco-education center. This all ages resource place is open daily and unstaffed so locals and visitors can explore its resources in their own way. Within the center are free maps of the heart gardens printed by the SCRD (one for adults and one for kids) as well as free media from many different eco-organization on the Sunshine Coast and Greater Vancouver. A free seed bank has also found a home in this center along with an in-house library of books on native plants, permaculture and sustainability.