Then Covid came along, the group stopped meeting for a while, and the idea was shelved.
But when the group reassembled, Ludlow said she was keen to write/edit a utopian-themed book "about all the great things that are happening around this area".
Writing friend Susan Connolly offered to help, Andrea Cook and Glenn Hooker offered generous sponsorship, and the book project started in earnest.
The book features a variety of stories from people she interviewed and others who made a contribution.
"The stories mushroomed.
"I would talk to someone and they tell me about another person to talk to.
"It was sort of word of mouth."
The book starts with Leigh Ramsey and his pyrolysis machine, which breaks down plastics into hydrocarbon fuel such as gas, oil and coal.
Not only does cooking plastics create a fuel source, but it tackles the problem of waste plastic.
"Pyrolysis is a really fascinating process.
"Leigh had been in Solomon Islands making these machines out of bits and pieces, but now has this huge machine, which he has brought into New Zealand from China and is working through regulations to be able to use it.
"It cooks plastic in a double chamber container, which also doesn't have emissions coming from it."
Deidre Kent then writes about surviving the future economy including the idea of a local currency system.
The 200-page book also features, as highlighted in the intro, stories about the "Ōtaki Māoriland Hub and māra [garden] Ōtaki Repair Cafe, the right-to-repair movement, Energise Ōtaki, solar energy and the electricity structure, wood recycling, regenerative farming, the importance of local libraries, the revival of a local flax industry, the advantages of emulsified fuels, Ōtaki rangatahi youth group, and biodynamic farming".
"Also included are ideas on early childhood education, healthy literacy practices, workplace wellness, nostalgia for small-town industry, a Buddhist monk's poetic view on life, tamariki wellbeing, and a look into how promoting te reo in the streets of Ōtaki can make our community stronger and more connected."
The cover artwork is by youngsters Beck and Angus Marshall, whose mother Charmead Schella writes in the book.
"I saw the artwork on Charmead's wall when we were having a writers' group meeting and immediately liked it."
Louise was happy with the finished book.
"I just want it to be something that people can look at and be proud of some of the things happening in our community.
