Lakabe Eco-Village: A Week of Eco-Living, Community & Fun

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Nestled in the mountains of the Basque Country, Lakabe, a tiny, once-abandoned village has been transformed into a thriving hub of sustainability and innovation over the past 40 years.

I had the opportunity to spend a week in Lakabe as part of a group of 30 individuals from across Europe, all united by a desire to learn more about ecovillages and sustainable communities.

The experience left me with a renewed sense of purpose and connection to the larger movement for sustainable living, so I’m super excited to share more with you about it!

The History and Magic of Lakabe

Lakabe’s story began in 1980 when a group of people seeking an alternative lifestyle stumbled upon the deserted village. With no roads and crumbling infrastructure, they rebuilt it from the ground up, creating an off-grid community that thrives today.

What makes Lakabe special is its commitment to living in harmony with nature, supported by shared governance and collective decision-making. The village operates with minimal external economic influence, focusing on shared resources, ecological farming, exchanging with other communities, and baking and selling bread & cookies.

Life in Lakabe: Shared economies and governance

One of the most striking aspects of Lakabe is its shared economy. Resources, from food to finances, are pooled together, ensuring that everyone’s needs are met.

Income generated from the village bakery and other artisanal crafts flows into a communal pot, which residents can access as needed.

Equally impressive is their shared governance. Decisions in Lakabe are made collectively, using a unique three-step meeting process for making major decisions or solving issues:

Emotional insight – The first day is dedicated to exploring the emotional aspects of a decision, allowing all voices to be heard and feelings validated.
Logical deliberation – The following day, participants evaluate the practical aspects, analyzing facts and weighing pros and cons.
Community impact – Finally, on the third day, the community discusses the broader impact of the decision, ensuring it aligns with their collective values and reflecting on the decision’s broader implications.

Lakabe also actively works on dismantling oppressive societal patterns, like those based on gender or social hierarchy. They incorporate tools like Process Work (a form of group facilitation that focuses on personal and collective transformation) and constellations (a method for exploring and resolving interpersonal dynamics).

A Day in Lakabe

Morning: Rise with nature
Life in Lakabe begins early. Residents gather in small groups to enjoy breakfast, typically made from freshly baked bread, homemade jam, and other locally sourced produce.

Mid-Morning: Community work and roles
After breakfast, the village comes alive with activity. Every member has a designated role, whether it’s gardening, animal care, or maintaining infrastructure. Some might head to the bakery to prepare loaves for local markets, while others engage in forestry or repair projects. Everyone contributes to various aspects of village life.

Lunch: A shared feast
Lunch is communal, with everyone pitching in to prepare and enjoy a hearty meal. Ingredients come straight from Lakabe’s gardens or from nearby communities. Meals are shared in a large common area.

Afternoon: Meetings and learning
With daily chores winding down, late afternoons provide time for personal projects or leisure. Alternatively, afternoons might feature skill-sharing sessions on sustainable practices, group facilitation, or crafts.

Evening: Connection and relaxation
Dinner is more informal and often enjoyed within smaller groups or individually. The stars fill the night sky & the residents follow a more natural, slower pace of life. Some days, the evenings are lively, with music, or jamming sessions by the fire, and others, relaxed and quiet.

Community dynamics and decision-making

Weekly meetings

Every week, the community gathers to plan the upcoming week. They discuss task allocation, project priorities, and maintenance needs. This meeting also includes scheduling the use of shared resources like cars or tools.

Task rotations

Responsibilities like cooking, cleaning, and bread baking are rotated weekly to ensure everyone contributes to the collective workload. These tasks are assigned based on individual skills and the community’s immediate needs.

Shared governance

Lakabe’s governance operates on a circle system with collective decision-making. The three-step process for major decisions ensures all voices are heard, focusing on emotional, logical, and community impact aspects.

Unique aspects of Lakabe

Sustainability: Lakabe emphasizes ecological living. They use dry toilets, conserve water through short showers, and run the village on off-grid renewable energy. Energy usage is monitored. Solar panels and the small wind turbine are maintained collectively.
Bread and beyond: The bakery remains central to the economy, producing organic bread sold across Spain. Additional income comes from workshops, artisanal crafts, events, etc.
Cultural exchanges: Lakabe hosts international gatherings, connecting like-minded communities and individuals. These events include workshops on holistic farming, sociocracy, and non-violent communication.
Food and resource distribution: All food and basic supplies are shared. The community has a central storage area for bulk items like grains and cooking oil, which are restocked regularly.
Compost and waste management: Each household participates in the upkeep of the village’s composting system. Organic waste is separated and regularly transferred to communal compost bins for use in the gardens.
Educational and social activities: Lakabe organizes workshops, from practical skills like soap-making to personal development sessions such as Process Work & constellations.
Childcare: Children are raised collectively, with adults sharing childcare duties. This includes organizing learning activities and helping with schooling within the village.
Community celebrations: Seasonal changes and significant milestones are celebrated with special events, often involving music, feasting, and rituals that connect the community to nature.

My Week in Lakabe: A personal reflection

Through Yes to Sustainability, an organization connecting young people with eco-communities across Europe, I had the chance to experience Lakabe firsthand.

From the moment I arrived, I felt like I’d been welcomed into a big, cozy hug. I could feel my body release tension, and my mind quickly shifted into a calmer, more peaceful state.

The warmth of the Lakabe community, and the group of people from the project, made me feel instantly comfortable and safe.

It was a bit unexpected when I arrived and there was practically no service and internet connection (except to a single spot that we found for emergencies :D) but it actually felt quite good to disconnect from the outside world and immerse completely within the experience.

Our days in Lakabe were a great balance of learning and having fun. We had a day where were spent exploring the village and its projects – solar energy systems, permaculture gardens, and a bakery that supplies organic bread across the region.

The rest was presenting various individual or communal projects, discussions, brainstorming, exchanging ideas, and learning from each other.

In between, we had plenty of time to bond as a group with jam sessions, movement, playing, and enjoying delicious vegan meals prepared by the community with locally sourced ingredients.

All I’m gonna say is that it was a beautiful group of people, that I enjoyed connecting with very much.

A Visit to Arterra Bizimodu

Halfway through the week, we had a day trip to Arterra Bizimodu, another nearby eco-village known for its vibrant community and experimental projects.

Founded in 2012, this community is nestled in the mountains and occupies a 17-acre site, featuring spaces dedicated to permaculture, sustainable living, and community-oriented projects.

Arterra is known for its vibrant atmosphere, where residents, who number around 50, engage in a variety of entrepreneurial and ecological ventures. Unlike Lakabe, Arterra embraces a more entrepreneurial spirit, so the day trip to Arterra provided us with a fascinating contrast to Lakabe.

While both are eco-villages committed to sustainability, Arterra places a stronger emphasis on integrating professional and entrepreneurial efforts with its ecological principles. For example, the community operates a local brewery where they produce organic beer using permaculture principles.

They also have a music studio, and members of the community produce and sell goods like natural cosmetics, homemade jams, etc.

The visit provided a broader perspective on the different ways ecovillages can function and thrive. It was inspiring to see how each place had its unique take on how to balance ecological values with a spirit of innovation and collaboration.

More about Yes To Sustainability

All of this was possible because of Yes To Sustainability (YTS), an international project that empowers young people by connecting them with ecovillages and sustainable communities across Europe.

It’s part of the broader NextGEN Europe initiative, which supports youth-led projects, exchanges, and workshops within the Global Ecovillage Network EcoVillage.

Through fully funded youth exchanges supported by the Erasmus+ Program, YTS connects young people with ecovillages, where they learn about sustainable living, community dynamics, and how to live a more regenerative and sustainable life.

Participants engage in hands-on activities, learn about low-impact lifestyles, and deepen their connection to nature and community.

We also had the beautiful opportunity to meet with Clara (image below), a current member of the Lakabe community, who’s one of the people who started Yes To Sustainability, back in 2016. It was truly inspirational to hear her story and how she made all of this a reality.

FAQ

What is Lakabe’s governance system like?
Lakabe uses a horizontal governance model with a focus on collective decision-making. They employ a three-step process for major decisions, addressing emotional, logical, and community impact aspects in separate meetings.

What facilities does Lakabe offer?
Despite its remote location, Lakabe is well-equipped. It has a bakery, cheese-making facilities, a school, workshops for metalwork and carpentry, and a car repair garage. These facilities help the village maintain self-sufficiency while also exchanging goods with nearby communities.

How does Lakabe manage its resources?
The community practices sustainable forestry, uses renewable energy, and operates a shared economy to minimize waste and promote self-sufficiency.

How do people contribute to village life?
Each resident has a role, such as gardening, animal care, baking, or maintaining the infrastructure. The workload is distributed based on skills and interests, ensuring the village runs smoothly.

What is the education system like in Lakabe?
In Lakabe, the education system for children is quite different from traditional schooling. The community emphasizes self-directed learning, where children are encouraged to explore their interests and passions.

The educational environment is designed to be flexible, focusing on holistic development rather than rigid academic standards. Children participate in a variety of activities, from nature-based learning to creative arts, and they are guided by adults within & outside the community who provide support and mentorship.

How does Lakabe handle waste management?
Lakabe uses composting toilets and recycles organic waste into compost for their gardens. This minimizes environmental impact and helps maintain self-sufficiency.

What is the role of spirituality or rituals in Lakabe?
While not religious, Lakabe values rituals and collective practices that foster a sense of connection to nature and community. These include seasonal celebrations and group reflection sessions.

How does the village generate income?
Most of Lakabe’s income comes from its bakery. They also earn through workshops, selling crafts, and trading with nearby communities.

How is Lakabe connected to other ecovillages?
Lakabe actively collaborates with other ecovillages through networks like GEN (Global Ecovillage Network) and Yes to Sustainability. These partnerships foster knowledge exchange and mutual support.

Can I visit Lakabe?
Yes, but visits must be arranged in advance. The village hosts open days and workshops for those interested in learning more.

Is Lakabe open to new residents?
Yes, but joining the community involves a gradual integration process. Prospective members typically spend time volunteering and getting to know the community before committing to permanent residency.

Are there any rules or guidelines for visitors?
Visitors are expected to respect the community’s values, contribute to daily tasks, and minimize their ecological footprint during their stay.

Final thoughts

My week in Lakabe was filled with lots of goodness, and it gave me a lot of perspective. It was a blend of learning, connection, and reflection on what sustainable living can look like.

Of course, living in such a community comes with its challenges – balancing personal freedom with collective responsibility, navigating conflicts, and ensuring that everyone’s needs are met.

But these challenges also made the experience more meaningful, as I saw how the community continuously adapts and thrives despite difficulties. It left me with an appreciation for the work that goes into building sustainable, resilient communities.

The warmth of the community and the rich exchange of ideas left me inspired and hopeful for a future where more people can experience this kind of intentional living.

If you’re curious about sustainable lifestyles, Lakabe and organizations like Yes to Sustainability are fantastic places to start your journey.

If you have any questions and would like to know more about Lakabe or Yes To Sustainability, feel free to reach out.🙂