by Alan Weisman
First published 1998
In the barren, rain-leached savannas of eastern Colombia, a group of visionaries build Gaviotas, a village that defies the odds. They invent ingenious, low-tech solutions to thrive in this brutal environment: wind turbines, solar collectors, soil-free farming, and water pumps powered by children's seesaws. Over nearly three decades, this community of scientists, artisans, and rural peasants elevates sustainable development from cliché to reality, creating a model for the developing world. This is the story of how Gaviotas alchemized peace and prosperity in a stricken land.
Genres: adventure, non-fiction, environmental-science, sustainability
Vibes: inspirational, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: against-all-odds, found-family
Setting: Colombia
256 pages · Paperback · Chelsea Green