My foray into eco-villages was more of a spiritual awakening than a mere professional diversion. Think of a world where people live in harmony with nature, rather than in a busy metropolis where the only wildlife you're likely to see is the odd urban fox digging through trash. It all started on a normal Tuesday when, in the middle of all the email and deadline madness, I came across an article on eco-friendly living. There was something genuinely intriguing about the notion of eco-villages — societies aiming to live in harmony with nature, predicated on principles of sustainability that felt like solutions to questions I hadn't yet articulated. So, I embarked on this journey to personally experience this lifestyle, driven by a combination of curiosity and a hint of what some may term mid-life adventure. I was enlightened by my initial experience in an eco-village. Envision dwellings constructed from mud and straw bales, solar panels shining in the sunshine, and gardens overflowing with healthy foods you'd exclusively find at posh grocery shops. The past and future intertwined in a seamless way, as if entering a parallel universe. The individuals who live in an eco-village are more important than any amount of green technology or organic produce. Picture a community where everyone knows one other's names, builds houses together, eats together, and brainstorms how to fix the planet by reusing materials, one compost pile at a time. The community rallied together to repair a leak in the community hall on a wet afternoon that stands out in my memory. I was holding a hammer and doing my best not to injure my thumb—just like a city lad who thought putting together furniture was a survival skill. In equal measure, it was embarrassing and funny. I came to understand that eco-villages were about creating a life that felt truly linked that day, among shared stories and laughing. I have gained a deep appreciation for the profound simplicity and the complicated problems of eco-village life via my time spent living and studying within these communities. It is an example of the power of unity in the face of adversity, rather than a perfect society free of all issues. My exploration into eco-villages has served as a poignant reminder of the value of community, the significance of sustainability, and the pleasant surprise of gardening in a world when isolation is all too common. I often find myself retelling this anecdote, not just to make people laugh or raise their eyebrows, but also to demonstrate the point that, in order to go forward, it is necessary to return to the fundamentals.