Welcome to an introductory seminar on Ecovillage Living 10th to 12th October 2014, at Jevnaker in Oppland We will use Permaculture to design Ecovillages. Participants will learn methods and techniques, and see examples of Ecovillages, with Permaculture Designers Craig Gisborne from Findhorn and Jan Martin Bang. The seminar will be in English. Permaculture Permaculture is about designing sustainable human settlements. It is a philosophical and practical approach to land use integrating microclimate, functional plants, animals, soils, water management and human needs into intricately connected, highly productive systems. Permaculture means thinking carefully about our environment, our use of resources and how we supply our needs. It aims to create systems that will sustain not only for the present, but also for future generations. The idea is one of cooperation with nature and each other, of caring for the earth and people and presenting an approach to designing environments that have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems, to regenerate damaged land and preserve environments which are still intact. Permaculture is right design based on environmental ethics. Ecovillages Ecovillages are: Human scale, usually thought of as somewhere between 50 and 500 members, but with exceptions. Fully featured settlements, in which the major functions of life, food provision; manufacture; leisure; social life; and commerce, are all present in balanced proportions. Human activities should be harmlessly integrated into the natural world, with an ideal of equality between humans and other forms of life. Supportive of healthy human development. A balanced and integrated approach to fulfilling human needs – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, not just for individuals, but for the community as a whole. Successfully able to continue into the indefinite future. This is the principle of sustainability, and indeed, in many cases Ecovillages and Sustainable Communities are terms that are used interchangeably. The programme will consist of talks, discussions, group work, films and slides. It will be suitable for both experienced Ecovillagers and for beginners. Our aims are: • That participants understand how Ecovillages fit into our western culture, history and development. • That they gain insights into the development of Ecovillages over the last two decades. • That they learn about the varied elements that go to make up an Ecovillage. • That they learn how to set up and nurture a local group that wants to establish an Ecovillage. • That they learn about networking with the Norwegian Ecovillage Association and the Global Ecovillage Netwørk. Programme Friday 10th October 16 00 to 21 00 Arrival, supper and social gathering. Introductions, participants present themselves. Logistics of the seminar. Why Ecovillages? Resources and needs. Short introductory film by Geoff Kozeny, discussion. Social time, a chance to get to know each other. Saturday 11th October 08 00 Breakfast 09 00 The new paradigm, ways to see the world. Examples. Social design as a method. 11 00 Vision workshop. Work in small groups and plenum. 13 00 Lunch 14.00 Building and technology Talk with pictures, examples, experiences and networking. Design work in small groups and plenum. 18 00 Supper 19 00 Film about Tamera, Portugal, and Sieben Linden, Germany. Discussion, sharing of experiences, story telling. Sunday 12th October 08 00 Breakfast 09 00 Agriculture for Ecovillages. Examples of cultivation, social synergies within and outside the Ecovillage. Networking. 11 00 Ecology and natural cycles, Permaculture principles. 13 00 Lunch 14 00 Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), Norwegian Ecovillage Association. Looking back at the vision workshop from yesterday. Follow up and commitments for the future. Finishing off and evaluation 17 00 Safe journey home! Teachers and facilitators: Craig Gibsone is from Australia and has ived at the Findhorn Foundation for over 40 years. He was involved in establishing the Global Ecovillage Network in 1995 and has developed several courses in both Permaculture and Ecovillage Living. He teaches the annual four-week ”Applied Ecovillage Living” course at Findhorn. Jan Martin Bang is Norwegian, has lived in England and Israel, and in income sharing communities for 25 years. He is a Permaculture Designer and has written 5 books on community and ecology. He lives in Norway and is active in both the Norwegian Permaculture Association and the Norwegian Ecovillage Association. More information: Jan Bang tel 48 12 96 53 jnbng49@gmail permakultur.no, okosamfunn.no, Jan and Craig are writing a book together about Permaculture at the Findhorn Ecovillage to be published by Findhorn Press in 2015.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 13:01:34 +0000
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