Zegg - Info – Weekend

Mount of Oaks/Monte dos Carvalhos has 10 week programs, in Autumn and Spring for 2 to 4 people, who would like to experience community living and deepen their knowledge and experience on off-grid sustainable living…you will also have the challenge to practice your design skills and present to us at least one design of either a new system or improvement of existing ones. The Regeneration process on this 5 hectar piece of land started in 2006, when the land was bought through a divine miracle and many people´s generosity before “crowd funding” was even a concept. The land has no private property as it became part of an Association and residents are guardians and part of the ecossystem. Back when I (Barbara) came here, I could only see plowed fields, a small stone ruin with half roof, some olive trees, some citrus trees and a few pear trees, a tiny little native forest at the top of the hill and a massive pond, and a tiny little forest at the bottom… Thank God, the seed bank needed to begin the restororation was still here, and with many human, animal, fungi and vegetable help, things started to improve… Now I can say it is an abundant, resilient and restored ecossystem :-) Our first 5 years were mainly filled with daily tasks, getting to know our neighbours and the region, observing the natural system and praying, as that was our main intention for this place…A refuge of peace, rest, healing and prayer that restores land. From 2009 to 2012 we hosted several PDC´s each year, with the great pioneer in Portugal, Lesley Martin… Today, besides the most important which is a restored healthy no tilled soil, we have already much to inspire others and much to develop still : – The only existing small ruined was restored to be our common working kitchen now filled with a lot of our delicious produce (olives and olive oil, aromatic herbs, teas, madicine in all shapes and forms and fermented food and drinks ) – different compost toilet systems; – hot shower w

Tues, 24 March – Sun, 29 March 2015 This course teaches a sequential approach to designing an ecovillage/land-based community using permaculture design principles and methodology, culminating in small group designs which encompass each broad step. The course is designed as an advanced module for PDC holders as well as those well familiar with the concepts of Permaculture. In order to design harmonious human settlements which marry the needs of people with the needs of the land, we begin by learning attunement skills to sensitize ourselves to the natural environment. The ‘nuts and bolts’ aspect of this course will draw upon mature examples of some of the most successful international ecovillage-communities as our role models. One of these is our residential learning-ground of Tui Community. Course content: reading the landscape and site assessment, land selection and land tenure systems, internal zoning, siting buildings, collective infrastructure (eg water, access, sewerage), land caretaking, seasonal calendars, regeneration of wilderness areas, community-scale food production, and social systems. Who is this course for? – permaculture designers and developers – people living or preparing to live in land-based communities/ecovillages – community development workers who are engaged in land-based projects Pre-requisites: Permaculture Design certificate, or prior experience or study/reading of Permaculture. Main tutor of this course will be Robina McCurdy who brings extensive practical and educational experience to this course. Her teaching style caters for a variety of learning modalities, is inspiring, interactive, dynamic and fun. Cost: NZ$ 275/400/525 for registration, tuition & course materials, PLUS $175 for camping accommodation (in own tent/van or communal sleeping structures) and vegetarian food (3 meals/day). Prices are based on a 3-tiered sliding scale according to income & financial mea

The 2014 Communities Conference at Twin Oaks Community will be held Labor Day Weekend, Aug 29 – Sept 1. The conference is a chance for people interested or involved in intentional communities and other community-oriented projects or businesses to share ideas, network, and enjoy a weekend together. There are formal workshops, open space, as well as many informal opportunities to cross-pollinate with other community minded folks. This year’s theme is radical resource sharing! Basic registration fee range is $85 – $185, depending on accommodations (food included). Prices go up June 1st! We welcome both community seekers and members.

At the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center, CATIE, in Costa Rica. there will be a space to share some of the conference of the Summit, during the week..