50 years of embodied knowledge and wisdom.

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.

Applied Ecovillage Living 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 50 years, as well as on other local and international initiatives.

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

Topics covered include:

* Permaculture
* Local organic food production
* Renewable energy systems
* Cooperative social economies
* Group building and global networks
* Deep ecology and earth restoration
* Ecological building and engineering
* Alternative waste water treatment

Book Online and complete an enrollment questionnaire.

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.

Week 1 - People Care
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 - Fair Share
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 different organic agricultural practices, a community bank and currency, and a range of other social enterprises. We visit small community farms and examine 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 - Earth Care
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 - Design Projects
Designing for the future, integrating and harmonising our human footprint

The final week weaves together the various threads explored during the programme. 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.

Recommended Visit

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 with the community there, gives an opportunity to experience the Findhorn Ecovillage on a smaller scale and to integrate knowledge gained in the programme. There will also be plenty of time for personal space and reflection.

To book a week on the island see the Erraid Community Website.