Monday, January 28, 2008

Syllabus for Building Sustainable Communities

Weeks 1, 2, and 3 Jan.7th-25th
  • Jan 5th-19th: Attend the Earth Activist Training in Cazadero, CA. Basic permaculture design, agroforestry, vermiculture, earth based ritual, natural building, sustainable energy, political activism, community dynamics and power structures, water catchments/conservation and grey water systems, bioremediation, animal husbandry, and more. Completion of group permaculture design project and presentation. Earn permaculture certification.
  • Document experience at training through photography, journaling and audio recordings.
  • Jan 23rd: Visit Occidental Arts and Ecology Center in Occidental, CA, to research intentional living situations and volunteer in their organic garden.
  • Write complete syllabus
  • Read The Earth Path by Starhawk aloud with learning partner
  • Begin academic blog with entries from readings and reports on training.
  • Complete sketches and initial brainstorm for Art installation

Week 4 Jan. 20th Feb. 1st
  • Do exercises in Body and Earth chapters 1-3 and The Earth Path
  • Keep field journal of nature awareness exercise
  • Write on Blog about EAT and The Earth Path
  • Publicity for EAT report back
  • Sketch and write notes for art installation, watch Rivers and Tides by Andy Goldsworthy for inspiration
  • Volunteer for Climate Change day
  • Seminar on The Earth Path
  • Reading: EAT reader and begin Reading: Creating a Life Together
Week 5 Feb. 4th-8th
  • Do exercises in Body and Earth chapters 4-6 and The Earth Path
  • Keep field journal of nature awareness exercise
  • Write on Blog about EAT reader
  • Publicity for EAT report back
  • EAT report back curriculum planning
  • Continue research on natural materials art installations and finalize sketches for installation
  • Seminar on Creating a life together and EAT reader
  • Reading: EAT reader and Creating a Life Together
Week 6 Feb. 11th-15th
  • Do exercises in Body and Earth chapters 7-9 and The Earth Path
  • Keep field journal of nature awareness exercise
  • Write on Blog about Creating a Life Together
  • Publicity for EAT report back
  • EAT report back curriculum planning
  • Begin construction of art installation!
  • Seminar on Creating a Life together
  • Reading: finish Creating a Life Together begin reading excerpts of The Intentional Communities Directory
Week 7 Feb. 18th-22nd
  • Do exercises in Body and Earth chapters 10-12 and The Earth Path
  • Keep field journal of nature awareness exercise
  • Write on Blog about The Intentional Communities Directory
  • Present evening report back on EAT for general community at the Free School
  • Continue construction of art installation and gaining inspiration
  • Seminar on The Intentional Communities Directory
  • Reading: The Earth's Blanket: Traditional Teachings For Sustainable Living
Week 8 Feb. 25th-29th
  • Do exercises in Body and Earth chapters 13-15 and The Earth Path
  • Keep field journal of nature awareness exercise
  • Write on Blog about report back
  • Continue construction of art installation and gaining inspiration
  • Seminar on Widening the Circle: Inspiration and Guidance for Community
  • Reading: Continue The Earth's Blanket: Traditional Teachings For Sustainable Living
Week 9 March 3rd-7th
  • Do exercises in Body and Earth chapters 16-18 and The Earth Path
  • Keep field journal of nature awareness exercise
  • Write on Blog about Widening the Circle: Inspiration and Guidance for Community
  • Continue construction of art installation and gaining inspiration
  • Seminar: community creation map plan
  • Reading: finish The Earth's Blanket: Traditional Teachings For Sustainable Living
  • Start work on self evaluation

Week 10 March 10th-14th
  • Do exercises in Body and Earth chapters 19-21 and The Earth Path
  • Keep field journal of nature awareness exercise
  • Write on Blog about community creation map plan
  • Present Art Installation and photographically document experience
  • Continue writing self evaluation


Week 11 March 17th-21st
  • Self evaluation and faculty evaluation


Booklist:
Nature Awareness and Permaculture
  • Body and Earth: An Experiential Guide by Andrea Olsen 2002. Middlebury College Press Lebanon, New Hampshire.
  • The Earth Path: Grounding Your Spirit in the Rhythms of Nature by Starhawk. 2005. HarperSanFrancisco, San Francisco, CA.
  • EAT reader, selected articles
Community Vision
  • The Intentional Communities Directory: A Guide to Intentional Communities and Cooperative Living, 2000 edition (selected essays). Fellowship for Intentional Community, Rutledge, MO
  • Creating a Life Together by Diana Leafe Christian. 2003. New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, BC.
  • The Earth's Blanket: Traditional Teachings For Sustainable Living

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