Laura Kaestele

Why learn Permaculture? Permaculture helps us to live a balanced and sustainable life. Whether in a rural, suburban, or urban area, the principles, ethics, and design methods to which a practitioner of Permaculture adheres – or rather, since none of us are perfect, aspires to adhere – are the very principles, ethics, and methods that will greatly increase the possibility for a sustainable, regenerative human presence in harmony with all life on this planet. This PDC, facilitated at a forming ecovillage in the tropics, is, at its core, about relearning a mindset that humankind has lost over time, a mindset of abundance and cooperation not just with other human beings but with all life on earth. The primary steward of your learning experience is Rebecca Reiber, founder of 8th Life Panama EcoVillage project. Rebecca has over 30 years of practical experience in building teams, facilitating change, and creating and implementing Permaculture designs in a variety of settings. She is joined by experienced co-facilitators during each PDC — see the Faciltitors tab. Learn by doing! To increase learning opportunities and keep “classroom time” to a minimum while on site, there are 4 preparatory online classes held in the weeks prior to the onsite course. This maximizes practical hands-on experience and allows for meaningful discussion and action-learning. The course includes 13 full days of onsite learning including over 90 hours of practice, instruction, discussion, and skill sharing. This course will challenge you to learn by doing and, when you’re ready, to enhance your learning by coaching others on what you’ve just learned. We all bring many skills to the table and we each have special gifts and talents and we will also challenge you to apply and adapt these throughout the course. Activities will center around the ever-changing panorama of a forming ecovillage i

Ecovilliage Network is one of the important components that help Communities manage their sustainable development process. Talanoa sessions will help identify areas of improvement for all members of the community based in urban and rural communities. Join us for the first Talanoa sessions in Lautoka on the 8-10th of February 2020.

Awakening Leadership Training is a 6 month empowerment training based in Thailand that weaves inner transformation and societal understanding with techniques for community building and effective mindful leadership. It provides space for dialogue, reflection and contemplation on the deep questions facing humanity and our planet. It will help you to take new steps with increased confidence, broadened perspective, and enhanced social change skills. You can join for one week, or the full 6 month course, engaging in the learning process that emphasises inner cultivation as a foundation for fostering new paradigm leadership. About This program is developed in partnership with Gaia Education, and is offering a pioneering Advanced Ecovillage Design Education certification. The learning journey integrates and deepens exploration of four dimensions of sustainability: social, economic, worldview and ecological, as well as incorporating a fifth dimension on Skillful Means for Social Transformation. The program is based at Wongsanit Ashram (near Bangkok) eco-community, and we will take journeys to live and learn with indigenous, grassroot and intentional communities across Thailand, explore and experiment with community building and self governance, and participate in the co-creation of knowledge together. It is designed to support people committed to social change to: HEART – Deepen self awareness and compassion to stay balanced to cope with the uncertainties of the present world situation HEAD – Broaden perspectives on social and environmental issues HANDS – Develop practical skills and meta-skills SPIRIT – Cultivate Right Mindfulness as the key factor for awakening Highlights The journey grounded in critical self awareness as a foundation for personal growth. Mindfulness practice is embedded into the daily rhythms in order for participants to become present, calm and develop emotional stability, empathy and comp

We invite you to join us (Global Ecovillage Network Australia) at the annual Sustainable Living Festival (SLF) Big Weekend in Melbourne (on Fed Square and Birraring Marr along the Yarra River). See here for more on what is on offer: http://www.slf.org.au/bigweekend/ Join us for many events and exhibitions and to find out more on ecovillages, cohousing, intentional communities, sustainable and regenerative living futures (we are co hosting a stall at the SLF with Cohousing Australia and Transition Towns Australia). And join the GEN Power of Community Summit Online between 8th and 10th February, broadcast around the world and have registered a Hub right at the SLF Big Weekend to connect to the event. The solutions are here! Do you want to live in a world where you know your neighbor and they know you. Where you can ask for help, where you feel like you belong, where you can have your private space but step outside to a familiar community? Where you produce lots of your food in your communal gardens, have opportunities for sustainable livelihoods right where you live? GEN Australia is working toward environmental, social, cultural and economic regeneration through the power of community building and resilient systems. We will have a stall full of great ideas, events and people ready to answer your burning questions. Find a forming ecovillage or other community in your region or a sustainability initiative in your suburb or town. Your passion and enthusiasm to contribute to a more sustainable and convivial future will be warmly welcomed. Help us strengthen the movements by joining the network of empowered communities and groups working towards a more sustainable and thriveable future of a just and equitable world for all. The Global Ecovillage Network envisions a world of empowered citizens and communities, designing and implementing their own pathways to a sustainable future, and building bridges of hope and international solidarity.