167. FRILAND

Friland is a small community near Aarhus in Denmark. It's a genuinely fantastic idea and there should be more places like this:

Friland (Freeland) is the home of a small community, the Friland Cooperative Ltd. It is situated in Jutland on Djursland, about 20 miles east of Aarhus, Denmark's second largest city.
At present there are 14 families at Friland. They have left the city to build, live and work in this rural corner of Denmark. The settlers at Friland will be trying out new ways of living with each other and with nature.
Even though it is called "Freeland", a few rules apply to all: First of all every family must build a mortgage-free house using recycled or natural materials such as bricks, straw, clay and mussel shells.
Secondly, when moving into their self-built houses - at least one person in every household must start his/her own business or telecommute. Hopefully, in time Friland will become a local power centre and a valid contribution to the regeneration of rural areas.

Friland is an attempt to do something about pollution and environmental degradation. By using un-processed building materials, by minimising waste and by handling own waste water, the Freelanders will do their part to move towards a more environmentally friendly and cleaner future.
Being mortgage-free, the Freelanders will be able to prioritise the important aspects of life such as family, friends and a satisfying job. In the end, Friland is about community, finding a sense of belonging and living out your dreams.

You can visit Friland's official website here.

-- by Roland