presented in association with Global Ecovillage Network Europe

There is an increasing and urgent global need for viable, sustainable human settlements. Ecovillages provide environmental, social, economic and spiritual sustainability, and an enhanced quality of life for all. Ecovillage communities are cohesive social structures, united by common social and/or spiritual values. Working with the simple principle of not taking more away from the Earth than one gives back, ecovillages are consciously diminishing their ecological footprint.

Ecovillage principles apply equally to urban and rural settings, to both developing and over-developed countries.

Ecovillage Training provides a practical forum for learning, and for developing action plans. It draws on the experience and expertise developed within the Findhorn Ecovillage over the past 44 years, as well as on other local and international initiatives.

Findhorn Ecovillage has the lowest ecological footprint for any community in the industrialised world, just half the UK national average.




Ecovillage Training teaches concepts, tools and techniques for creating sustainable human settlements. It lasts for a month and may be attended as a whole, or for one or more of its theme-based weeks.

Topics covered include:

* Ecological building and engineering
* Local organic food production
* Renewable energy systems
* Cooperative social economies
* Group building and global networking
* Deep ecology, earth restoration and environmental art
* Permaculture design

This month-long training incorporates the internationally recognised Permaculture Design Certificate syllabus.

We invite you to join the ecovillage movement. Thousands of individuals and hundreds of ecovillage initiatives and existing ecovillages have joined the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) since its creation in 1995, becoming what has been called the Habitat Revolution.

and complete an enrolment questionnaire.

Week 1
The New Paradigm

Design for Sustainability
Deep Democracy
Building Effective Groups

We introduce ourselves and our projects to one another as we build group respect and understanding. Sustainable design concepts guide us in creating our action-oriented learning environment. We explore the immediate surroundings of the Findhorn Ecovillage and the emerging new paradigm. We examine the impact of the human species upon planet Earth and, using the tools of Deep Democracy and Deep Ecology, explore next steps towards a sustainable future.



Week 2
Economic Sustainability and
Right Livelihood; and
Earthshare, Food and Farming

We explore how we can live well on the Earth – providing for our needs in a way that respects our community, communities on the other side of the world and the ecosystems that support and sustain us. The Findhorn community provides us with tools and examples, including Britain’s oldest and largest community supported agriculture (CSA) scheme, a community bank and currency and a range of other social enterprises. We visit small community farms and study the production methods employed. We explore the values underlying concepts such as right livelihood and voluntary simplicity, that are needed to walk more gently on the Earth.

Week 3
Human Settlements and
Wilderness Ecological Restoration

Ecovillages aim to restore the balance between the four elements: earth, air, fire and water, returning humans to a sustainable relationship with all the other communities of life. This week explores the design and construction of settlements which fit harmlessly into the landscape, and into the climatic regions of programme participants. Included is an exploration of ecological restoration and the protection of wilderness.

Week 4
Designing for the Future:
Integrating & Harmonising our Human Footprint

The final week weaves together the various threads explored during the training. We draw on the human, physical and spiritual resources of the Findhorn Ecovillage to create practical designs for new initiatives that we can implement in our home environments.

Week 5 (optional)
Erraid Community

The island of Erraid is an almost self-sufficient community of people living within the unspoiled and inspiring environment of the sea and mountains on the west coast of Scotland. This optional visit to the island, living and working with the community there, gives an opportunity to experience the Findhorn Ecovillage on a smaller scale and to integrate knowledge gained in the training. There will also be plenty of time for personal space and reflection.

Cost:
For the whole programme (not including Week 5 on Isle of Erraid):
£1395 if your income is low
£1595 if your income is medium
£1845 if your income is high

includes tuition, accommodation, vegetarian meals and field trips

For individual weeks:
£350 if your income is low
£425 if your income is medium
£510 if your income is high

Optional Week 5 on Isle of Erraid:
£130 or £180 if you require transport.

and complete an enrolment questionnaire.

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If you cannot afford the full fee, please check out our bursary guidelines.

We offer Ecovillage Training modules to communities, universities and groups. For further details you can send an email.

Or write for further details:
Bookings
Findhorn Foundation
The Park, Findhorn
Forres, Scotland IV36 3TZ
United Kingdom


In February 2007 the 9th Findhorn Foundation Ecovillage Training took place, hosting 33 participants from Alaska, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey and USA.

A comprehensive, experiential, and integrated introduction to sustainability and design. Explores group development, living economies, food production, green building, sustainable energy and waste water systems, and wilderness protection, framed by permaculture principles and deepened with spiritual consciousness. A month you will never forget. Terri Pauls, USA

The EVT course has given me a wealth of knowledge and practical tools that I can use to enhance my life and have a positive effect on our planet. Thank you! Ben Brieley, Ireland

This place is a cradle and a fireplace. It allowed me to refind my strength, my beauty, and called me back to who I really am. Findhorn is a miracle for me. Deeply empowering. The EVT is spot on, just right, it has got it all. We can all walk out of here with skills, knowledge and a deep sense of spiritual interconnectedness. Heidi Baggenstrøm, Denmark

The Findhorn Foundation and community is a model for holistic and sustainable living

* At the heart of the largest single intentional community in the UK

* Linking spiritual, social and economic domains

* A pioneering ecovillage since 1985

* A major centre of adult education serving 14,000 visitors a year from over 50 countries

* Ecological footprint is half the national (UK) average

* 55 ecologically-benign buildings

* 4 wind turbines

* A biological Living Machine sewage treatment system

* UK's oldest and largest Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) system

* Numerous solar water heating systems

* Comprehensive recycling scheme

* Publisher of UK's first technical guide to ecological housing

* Our own bank and community currency

Over the past 40 years the Findhorn Foundation Community has diversified into more than 40 different businesses and initiatives, providing a model for a vibrant, living, local economy.

The Findhorn Foundation Ecovillage Project received Best Practice designation from the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) in 1998.