The first Living Machine in Europe, treating waste water, was opened at Findhorn at the time of the Eco-villages and Sustainable Communities Conference in 1995. Community member and Findhorn Foundation chair of trustees, Michael Shaw, championed bringing this innovative technology to the Park. It was designed by John Todd, a Canadian biologist who pioneered the use of ecosystems as a form of technology, otherwise known as Living Machines, for purposes including the treatment of wastes, purifying water, and food production.

We apologise for the poor quality of the video – we felt it is such an important historical document that it warranted its place in our collective autobiography.

Living Machines, are rooted in ecology, evolutionary biology, natural history and engineering. The parts of a Living Machine are alive and made up of thousands of different species. Living Machines also treat poisonous waste. A pond in Massachusetts was so badly damaged it had lost its ability to metabolise its own dying organisms. A Living Machine was installed to pump water over beds to remove ammonia, and the pond lived.

In 2024 the Living Machine continues to treat wastewater from about half of the homes in the Park Ecovillage. It is operated and maintained by Biomatrix Ltd. which is run by Community members Galen Fulford and his wife Lisa, Michael Shaw’s daughter.

Click here for more stories about the Living Machine.