Welcome to Imece Evi ( Collective Work House)  ::-) 

All meals, including breakfast (08:00), are prepared accordingly, also your contribution considered. Before every lunch (13:00) and dinner (18:00), tea/coffee and fruit/ cake is prepared and the “bell rings”. Apart from these times, when you hear the bell, you should know that it is an invitation to a social activity or an alimentation. You are free to join these activities. However, if you let the kitchen know about this, you would help them to allocate right enough resources. If you are also among the “vegeterian” or “carnivores”, you should also tell this to the kitchen so that we would feed you in your way. We cool the water naturally, which comes from the Kazdagi springs, by putting them into earthenware jug. If you see an empty  jug and have time, you can fill it in with the pump which is placed on the carboy. If you feel like having mineral water, fruit, fruit juice, milk...etc or feel hungry before the meals, just drop by the kitchen! Feel free to take what you need from the refrigerator, and, please, remember to write it down in the notebook on the fridge. If you are staying here over the night, you should use the small notebook. But, if you are accomodating here, you should use the big notebook.

Please also note that, Imece House is not a charity organization, and it survives with your help.You should write down the lunches and the drinks you consume day by day and separately. The day you leave Imece, you can calculate the amount you are supposed to pay including the days you stayed here and give the money to the store or reception. We have also bought a credit card machine just in case, though we do not prefer using it. The cleaning of cutlery, glasses, plates...etc that you use to drink (tea, mineral water, beer, water...), and eat are of your own responsibility.  

You can use the tap in front of the terrace to do this and you should put the items back to their places on the shelves. All the space is at your disposal in Imece. If there is no rope up to the Tarzan House, it means there is someone there.  The bowers are all common place, do not hesitate to rest there.If the hammocks are free, use them, however, the swings towards the sea are only for kids. If you are an adult, we recommend you to use the swings behind “Saman Ev” (the Straw House).

The sofas and tables in the saloon and terrace are for you. You can enjoy them as much as you want. If you have a laptop with you, there is a cable waiting for you in the saloon to get connected to internet. You can use the cooker anytime you would like to have tea or coffee. Of course, if there is no other person who did that before!!! During your stay at the Imece Evi, you can join the work anytime you would like and help. Even you can organize quickly a workshop of your own if you have any skills you can share with the inhabitants.

Please, do not bring any food or drinks, napkins or kleenex except the medicine you need! Because, these mean waste to us, plus, Imece is not a picnic place! When you observe around carefully, you will notice that Imece produces almost no waste. Lemon skins were the only thing that the animals do not eat, but, we have found an ecological solution to that, too. ::-) 

When you are staying in the Imece Evi, we accept and envisage that you are ready to volunteer to do work from washing the dishes to cooking, from gardening to taking care of the animals, from contributing to the workshops to do fishing. This volunteering comes from the nature of the Imece Evi.

Otherwise, this place would turn into a touristic holiday venue and we would feel ourselves like “the tourism business people who have to serve their customers”.Enjoy your home ::-)

www.imeceevi.com

Divisions at Imece Kitchen* Cooking* Bureau-internet* Food cases/ pots* DetergentWaste recycling* Paper, glass, metal* Batteries* For the dog* For the animals in the    shed* Egg shell* Lemon peallingSaloon* Open buffet table* Product shelves* Water storage- jug* Ostrich egg* Chesnut- Oak* Meal bell* Bill* LibraryBoatFishingAmateur sailingElectricity generating bikeElectrical boat motor Lighting from bikePotlaç- Imece mealsSun cookerCeramics AtelierOvenKids HouseBowerHammocksSwingsHousesStraw HouseGardens WC-Lavabo & douches * Septic tankSolar heating for waterOil storesBikesssssss
Soap productionCheese productionLaundryTools storeSeed Library
Multi-purpose atelier* Natural products* Painting* Sign painter* Serigraph* Sharpening & Stoning* Accessory designing* Timer storeGarbageShop & stands* Natural products* Toys* Souvenirs*Earthenware pots* CeramicsElectricity from the sunSheds* Goat- kid* Sheep- lamb* Hen- chicken* Duck* Goose* TurkeyRecycled wallSnowstorm ,Tarzan House,...

Frequently Asked Questions About İmece Evi  

1)      What does “imece” mean?Although we summarize the co-oporative way various communities in Anatolia have lived for thousands of years as “imece”, the explanation of the word given by the Turkish Language Institution is as follows: 1.      Having the obligatory or voluntary work in rural communities done by the villagers in equal circumstances and co-operation.2.      Many people gathering for someone’s or a community’s work in order to finish off the cumulative work starting from somewhere.  

2)      Why did you decide to establish Imece Evi?To make true what we have been defending for many years: “Another World is Possible”! Is it really possible to create a peaceful, collective, simple and ecological community as an alternative to the system we have been imposed to? Is it possible to apply the social and political ideas, we defend, in our daily, private and business life? Or do we fulfill our social responsibilities by recycling, taking part in demonstrations, as we have been doing for many years? What are we going to leave for our children? Are we going to tell them that the system we criticize is a fact and our suggestions are dreams? Imece Evi is the first step to make our dream a reality. And the next step is the “Eco-village”.    

3)      What does “Eco-village” mean? The common feature of the eco-villages, numbers of which have been rapidly increasing, is that people with the same kind of dreams come together and establish an alternative life style in which 3 or 4 generations can live. This life style is independent, autonomous, requires the practical application of real democracies, dominated by peace and respect, lets its inhabitants to produce and consume collectively, sell the excess in the local market and/or barter with other producers. The inhabitants think more of giving to the nature than taking from it, build up self-sustaining common facilities: from hair-dresser to carpenter, from education center to emergency service unit, from mess hall to tea house, from art workshops to natural and traditional products shop, to sports and leisure areas, to production workshops where the waste is recycled constantly. 

4)      Who are the founders of Imece Evi? Many nameless greens, ecologists, environmentalists, nature defenders, peacelovers, outdoor sportsmen/women, artists, philosophers.    

5)      How do you economically sustain yourselves?  Imece Evi, which was founded by the money the first initiators borrowed from their children’s futures, has started run on its own in a very short time period. Imece Evi and its various providers in the villages have been sustaining their lives without depending on any party through the visitors’ payments for the food, accommodation and purchases from our natural product shop, online or in our place. 

6)      What kind of an entrepreneurship is Imece Evi? Is it a tourist facility or a business initiative? With the high way (Küçükkuyu-Assos) on one side and the sea on the other side, Imece Evi is more subjected to the pressures of tourism. However, Imece Evi is a production village without any profit gaining intentions, as its name shows clearly! It doesn’t provide tourist services but the daily life is run by the contributions and cooperation of anyone who visits Imece Evi. 

7)      Isn’t there any detergent use in Imece Evi? We prepare our own cleaning agents. In addition to the soap we make ash-water. 

8)        How do you deal with hygiene related problems?  It is almost impossible to adapt to the speed and craziness of the age of consumption and the understanding of hygiene this system creates... Since there aren’t any of the environmentally destructive chemicals in Imece Evi, there is no dirt to be cleaned other than mud and natural waste. Therefore, soap provides the hygiene. 

9)      Why don’t you have tissues in Imece? For they consume resources and produce waste. In stead there are fountains and natural soap everywhereJ.  

10)   Do you find your “utopist” aim realistic? All facts that exist today were dreams once, when they were first thought of! A peaceful world seems unachievable in today’s violent consumption society, but it’s possible.  

11)   What do you feed on? We feed on what we and our friends produce, and collect from nature as much as possible. Although our diet is mostly close to a vegetarian diet, most of us occasionally eat meat. Dairy products such as eggs, fish, milk and cheese, are always present in our day to day life in Imece Evi. 

12)   Are there any models that you are inspired by? From the first existing civilizations, in Çatalhöyük, people have always known how to live together and benefit from mutual community style of living. Recently there are more examples of community lifestyles as alternatives of the consumption cultures: around 100 eco-villages all around the world, eco-kibbutz, the MST (Landless Workers Movement) in Brazil, Longo Mai in France, Village institutes in Turkey... 

13)   Have you all escaped from the cities? No! We are from Kaz Dağları (Ida Mountains), we are from Edremit, we are shepherds, we are fishermen, we are villagers and we like cities as much as our friends from the cities. Providing solutions for production, consumption, nutrition, accommodation and education problems of the cities in such a heaven as Imece Evi makes us even happier. 

14)   Are you following the new fashion concepts like ecology, environment, global warming etc.? We have been inside the “environmentalist”, “green” movement since 1980s. Today, we believe that everyone should naturally be environmentalists. Trying to undermine this effort by calling it a fashion would only mean to degrade the balance of our planet a little bit more.  

15)  What kinds of people mostly visit Imece Evi and support its existence? Very different people like some missing the peaceful natural way of living with a mutual cooperation spirit, the ones curious about living without polluting the nature and others who want to have a breathe support and visit Imece Evi. 

16)   Why doesn’t Imece use the concept of “organic”? We don’t use that concept not only because organic agriculture code only lets the certified products to have that title, but also we don’t find the concept of organic suitable for the type of living we are trying to establish in Imece. The concept of “organic” includes living organisms but does not really refer to “natural or ecological lifestyle” as much. 

17) Why does Imece identify itself with ecologists in stead of environmentalists?      While environmentalism is a civil initiative trying to save the environment and nature, ecologists explain the balance in the relationship between the living and non-living organisms with a “cause and effect” approach. We interpret this relationship, take direct action and deal with all this by democratic means.      

18) Are you against technology? Do you want to live in the Stone Age?       Why would we be against human and nature friendly technology? We use the internet in order to communicate with people all around the world and to access useful information when needed. If we ever need to go back to the Stone Age, the reason will not be what we do, but this consumption madness. After depleting the resources in a way that is calling for an ecologic disaster, the survivors may have to face with the Stone Age! 

19) Do you desire the entire world to live like you do in Imece Evi?        It would be very nice, but it impossible. Each person and society will come up with its own ideal way of living. However, if these solutions do not rely on “peace and ecology”, they will not be sustainable. 

20) Are you crazy?      Yes, we are!!! Since idealism is understood as madness in our age... 

21)    What should I bring with me when visiting Imece Evi? Bring your excitement, love, knowledge, compassion, musical instruments, empty glass jars and fire wood in stead of plastic bags, bottles, tissues, soda and alike mass produced food and drinks J . 

22)    Does everyone make their own food in Imece Evi? No. Since life in Imece Evi depends on everyone’s voluntary contribution in mutual work, people, who wish to do so, voluntarily help with the collection of ingredients form our garden and preparation of the meals. We encourage those volunteers to prepare the food they want to cook. 

23)    How far has the Imece Evi project become real? It is establishes in its most basic level. We have built little cottages with fire place for people to be able to accommodate in the winter time. Our common places like the kitchen and the living room became very motivating for everyone. For people to understand themselves and join Imece family, the needed establishment has happened already. We are able to adapt visitors in our production and sharing cycle immediately. At this point, with the guidance of our vision that we prepared with our faithful friends, we will go one step further: purchase land and start establishing the eco-village.      

24)    Are we really going to pay and work? YesJ. This way, you will not only support the production in the community, but also ease the replacement of the amount of resources you have used. 

25)    Is there alcohol in Imece Evi? Of course! We have our own wine that you would contribute in its preparation with your efforts, and we are open to new recipes that you would suggest. We also have beers. We can’t produce our own beer yet but it is one of our future projects.  

26)    What is the political standing of Imece Evi? We stand on the “green” color of the political scale. We support a kind of political structure that would make society’s communal living real by means of direct, participative democracy. We believe that the upcoming ecological crisis can not be stopped by temporary and shallow solutions, but only by revolutionary fundamental changes.  

27)    Are there wire fences around Imece Evi? No! Building the life out of barbwires is against the Imece Evi spirit. Imece’s objective is to remove the fences people build around themselves 

28)    Is Imece Evi open for anyone? No. It is only open for the people who are ready to compromise to sustain in a peaceful community in harmony with nature and the ones who respect direct democracy and ecological way of living. 

29)    Is it possible to increase the accommodation capacity? It wouldn’t be practical to accommodate more than 30 people in the summer time and 20 in the winter time in Imece Evi.  

30)    Can the families join Imece? Of course! We get even happier when families join us. The people who managed to live in a basic level of community usually contribute with higher energy. 

31)    How is the education provided for the children? There is a primary school and a high school only 7 km.s away. And we are here as well! With a labor division, we support the children’s education. Moreover, with our neighbors, who believe in “alternative education”, in our region, we will start an “Alternative School” with Montessori method.  

31) Is there love in Imece Evi?       Of course! Imece has been built with love. 

32) What does cooperation mean in cultivation, production and living?       To make decisions on what to do in every aspect of life and apply those decisions together... Producing together and sharing mutually! 

33) To what extent are you able to make barter-based living possible?        Pretty much we can. We barter especially with local producers involved in organic agriculture. 

34) Do you have enough place to make all your ideals real?       We have such a big world to make whatever dream, your imagination creates, real.  

35) If everything goes well in Imece Evi, what is the next step?       The next step is to establish an eco-village on our lands.  

36) What is your understanding of religion as a concept?       We respect any kind of belief system and we have the same distance to all. We support all believers to live what they believe in as far as they do not force or blame others.  

37) How do you deal with the administrative hierarchy?       We all openly remark our opinions. In case of conflicts, we appoint a facilitator among us and make compromises on problems. Also, we distribute the responsibilities in such a way that they would be changed each period so that the boredom and monotone duties get prevented in addition to hindering a hierarchical system to occur.     

38) What is your perspective on villagers and traditions?       We have a lot of respect for wisdom and people with the local knowledge. The traditions of our villagers are the reflections of this wisdom and knowledge. We believe that this inheritance should remain undamaged and get enriched to be passed over to the next generations. For this reason, we keep learning from the ancient cultures and remaining traditions of local people, and benefit a lot from them. 

39) How is the participation going to happen? What are the requirements for that?       We are getting together under the legal construction of the co-operative that we are about to establish. Only the people who can live with us in the eco-village are accepted in the co-operative. We give the candidates and ourselves some orientation period to assess the harmony and compatibility. After this period, the eco-village life starts if both parties are happy with each other to make the most difficult action on earth -making different people live together in a community- realJ.  

40) Is there a nearby hospital? What happens when someone gets ill?       Most of us have taken basic first aid training. In case of emergencies, we do whatever is needed urgently. Other than that there is a clinic in 5 km.s distance and a state hospital just 18 km.s away. So far we haven’t experienced a serious health problem. We remain healthy with a lot of physical exercise, a natural diet and a lack of stress. 

41) Is there a washing machine and a dishwasher in Imece Evi?       Yes, we have both. They are the most economical machines in the market. Also, in stead of detergents and cleaning agents, we use our home made soap and ash water. The result is perfect! 

42) Is Imece safe?       Yes, it is much more safer than the cities. Here, you can go out any time and you don’t need to lock your door. That’s why we say that Imece Evi is our “home”. We are safe here just like anyone feels safe in their home. 

43) Don’t you ever get bored?       Boredom is only for the human kind, of course we also might feel a little bit bored sometimes, but a lifestyle in which you describe the means and rules doesn’t really make you get bored. We don’t really have time to get bored... There is always some work to do for everyone. Also, it is a very social environment!!! There are always new visitors coming to see, know and learn... 

44) Don’t you ever miss the cities you come from?       Of course we do. We visit the cities we were born in where we have friends, families and memories whenever we feel like visiting. ... 

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