Residents of a Welsh village built in the hills are refusing to leave after receiving an eviction notice.
Ninety percent of their food grows there. Residents get fuel by coppicing wood. However, they can’t use the toaster with the kettle because solar, wind, and hydro power aren’t strong enough.
Gervásio cooked dinner last night too. The community has nine people and animals. She made carrots, potatoes, and lentil dhal. Gervásio uses they/them pronouns and focuses on living regeneratively.
Andromeda came from Lisbon, Portugal. She is a dancer and is 31. She wanted a new way of life and has never felt such belonging. She stayed a month in June originally.
She returned in October and has been there since. She lived in London and felt burnt out. The city was overwhelming and isolating, she craved nature and real connection. This was a dream come true, she feels.
Julian and Emma Orbach started the community in 1993. They built structures without permission. In 1998, authorities spotted the site from the air. The community fought to stay for a decade.
Brithdir Mawr became a case study, which helped form Welsh policy for low-impact living. They host classes and workshops now. These teach about ecologically sensitive living.
Gervásio feels a strong sense of community. She didn’t find this in the city, which felt limiting and temporary to her. Life here feels constant and joyful.
Rachel May is the new landlady. She bought the land from Julian Orbach. She issued eviction notices to the residents and wants to create a healing retreat. The community wanted until 2025 to buy the land.
Half the community left due to eviction fears. Twenty people became nine in recent years. The rest refuse to leave their “sacred land”.
Will, an ex-teacher, won’t leave either. “This is more than our home,” he claims. This is an old co-op with 30 years of history, where everyone works together as equals and people fought hard for this land.
The prior owner said they had until 2025 to buy. But Rachel bought the land instead. Will says they are rooted there and wants to find a solution with her.
Will arrived accidentally four years ago. He was traveling and stayed only two weeks initially. His activism skills were helpful, and he felt like he matched Brithdir Mawr.
Ninety percent of dinner comes from the land. They live in simple buildings with animals. Some moved from cities for a calmer life.
The residents have three principles: sustainability, community, and education. Rosie, an expert, says it concerns affordable land; rent is deliberately kept low for them.
Growing food is difficult now, she adds. West Wales lacks suitable housing. Brithdir Mawr offers affordable housing to its people, as they create their own food together and no one has more power than another.
They want to cooperate with the landlady. They don’t want conflict ideally. Maybe she would have bought somewhere else, Rosie says; however, they hope for a solution.
Rachel May said she tried to work with them. She wanted a fresh start, ending old rights. Because they were not interested in her vision, she felt forced to pursue eviction later. She sold her home to invest in this.
