Findhorn Foundation Ecovillage Education and Trainings The Findhorn Foundation has been known in- Ecovillage education at the Findhorn Foundation is designed to facilitate a transition to a sustain- ternationally since 1962 for its experiments with able future. In our programmes a thorough and objective assessment of the state of the planet is new models for holistic and sustainable living. followed by regional, community, and location-based solutions, and theory leads on to practical Today it is at the heart of the largest intentional application. The well-established annual Ecovillage Training and the Ecovillage Design Education community in the UK and the centre of a rapidly programmes provide ample opportunity for developing and broadening skills. They are designed developing ecovillage. Started in a caravan park in to make optimum use of the information available from the ecovillage, and to provide a practical the northeast of Scotland, the Findhorn Founda- forum for learning and developing action plans. The programmes promote the use of tools and tion is a major centre of adult education conduct- techniques for creating sustainable community in the " elds of ecological building, social econom- ing programmes for approximately 3000 residen- ics, organic food production, con# ict resolution, decision-making processes, environmental art, tial visitors a year from more than 50 countries. renewable energy systems, holistic health, global communication, bioregionalism, eco-restoration The Findhorn Ecovillage Cooperation and co-creation with nature has and conservation. Over the years we have designed and delivered sustainability programmes to always been a major aspect of the Foundation’s communities, organisations and municipalities worldwide. Our campus is used as a teaching re- work and from its earliest days it became well- source by a number of university and school groups as well as by professional organisations. known for its beautiful gardens grown in adverse New conditions on the sand dunes of the Findhorn Findhorn Foundation sustainability programmes and conferences complement, correspond with peninsula. Since 1981 the Findhorn Foundation and support the standards set by the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Devel- has been involved in developing the ecovillage as opment – 2005-2014. The Decade aims to integrate the values inherent in sustainable development a natural continuation of its work with nature. A into all aspects of learning, to encourage changes in behaviour which will enable a more viable number of other organisations within the com- and fairer society for everyone. During this Decade, education for sustainable development will Frontiers munity work in partnership with the Foundation contribute to preparing citizens to be better equipped to face the challenges of the present and the to help make the ecovillage a reality. future, and decision-makers who will act responsibly to create a viable world. Thus, " ve kinds of fundamental learning will be enhanced: learning to know, learning to do, learning to be, learning to The ecovillage at Findhorn is a tangible demon- live together, and learning to transform oneself and society. www.unesco.org/education/desd for stration of the links between the social, economic and spiritual aspects of life and is a synthesis of the very best of current thinking on sustainable human settlements. It is a constantly evolving Sustainability model providing solutions to human and social needs while at the same time working in partner- !"#$#%&'())*+#$,&-#)$(.$*$%&/.%(&0.$1#.2&/.#$3&$3"#$#431#,#)5$%&,2)#4$ ship with the environment to offer an enhanced 21&6)#,$&7$"&8$3&$31*/.7&1,$&01$"0,*/$.#33)#,#/3.9$8"#3"#1$3"#5$6#$ quality of life for today and for the future. As well '())*+#.9$3&8/.$&1$%(3(#.9$(/3&$70)):7#*301#-$.0.3*(/*6)#$%&,,0/(3(#.9$ as being involved with the construction of new "*1,)#..)5$(/3#+1*3#-$(/3&$3"#$/*301*)$#/'(1&/,#/3; buildings, the wind turbines and other physical projects, the ‘human scale’ of the experiment has !"#$<(/-"&1/$<&0/-*3(&/$(.$*$7&0/-#1$,#,6#1$&7$3"#$=)&6*)$>%&'())*+# made community participation and involvement Global Ecovillage Network ?#38&1@$A=>?B$*/-$(.$*/$?=C$*..&%(*3#-$8(3"$3"#$D/(3#-$?*3(&/.$ E#2*13,#/3$&7$F06)(%$G/7&1,*3(&/9$8&1@(/+$8(3"$(/3#1+&'#1/,#/3*)$*+#/%(#.$ an integral part of the ecovillage. A rich and di- The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) was founded in 1995 with the (/$#-0%*3(/+$*/-$-#'#)&2(/+$2&)(%5$+0(-*/%#$7&1$.0.3*(/*6)#$-#'#)&2,#/3$ verse social fabric has emerged within the Find- mandate of: Supporting the creation and development of ecovillages; */-$7&1$-#)('#15$&7$'())*+#:.%*)#$.0.3*(/*6()(35$21&+1*,,#.; horn Foundation Community over the four dec- Facilitating the exchange of information, experience and people be- ades of its existence, and experiments with pay tween ecovillages; Communicating the ecovillage experience to main- and remuneration, festivals and celebrations, de- stream policy-makers, planners and professionals; Making information The Findhorn Foundation Ecovillage Project received cision-making, governance and leadership, and about ecovillage concepts and demonstration sites widely available. Best Practice designation from the United Nations other aspects of community life, all contribute to Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) in 1998. the continued evolution of the ecovillage. For more information visit www.ecovillage.org or contact your regional GEN of" ce. Ecological Footprint Ecovillage Network GEN Europe A study undertaken by GEN-Europe in collabora- of the Americas (ENA) Europe, Africa and the Middle East tion with the Sustainable Development Research North, Central and South America Contact person: Ulrike Schimmel Centre (SDRC) and the Stockholm Environment Contact person: Linda Joseph GEN-Europe Institute has found that the Findhorn Ecovillage 64001 County Road DD Sieben Linden 1 1 has recorded the lowest-ever ecological foot- Moffat, CO 81143, USA 38486 Bandau, Germany / 0 4 print for any community in the industrialised Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 6 1 9 6 world. Ecological footprinting is a tool to measure 9 0 the consumption of resources and the creation of Global Ecovillage Network Findhorn Foundation 3 1 0 waste, and is increasingly relevant to the world of Oceania/Asia (GENOA) For more information visit : e n today where energy ef" ciency and sustainability Sarvodaya HQ, No 98, Rawatawatte Road, www." ndhorn.org or contact o h p are critical in our efforts to combat climate change. Moratuwa, Sri Lanka Findhorn Foundation – n The ecovillage’s footprint is a fraction over half the Email: [email protected] The Park, Findhorn r o h national average, meaning that the average resi- Scotland IV36 3TZ d n i F dent in the community consumes just one half of The Global Ecovillage Network has ++44 (0)1309 690311 , y k the resources and generates one half of the waste United Nations ECOSOC consultative status. enquiries@" ndhorn.org S g i of the average citizen in the UK. The community B y b has an especially small footprint in terms of en- d e ergy use (21 per cent of the national average) and Sustainability Education and Trainings t n i r food (38 per cent of the national average). For more information visit www.ecovillage" ndhorn.org or email sust.edu@" ndhorn.org P What are Ecovillages? New Frontiers for Sustainability New Frontiers for Sustainability There is today an increasingly urgent need for Ecological Building Sustainable Economics positive models that demonstrate how we can We have erected 61 ecological buildings to date and there are ongoing plans for the Over the last 40 years the Findhorn Foundation Community has diversi"ed into more than 60 live well and sustainably on the earth. Ecovil- continued construction of an ecologically respectful built environment. The ecovillage different businesses and initiatives, providing a model of a vibrant, living local economy. Com- lages are one such model, exploring sustainable at Findhorn has developed a unique construction system, environmentally sound and munity businesses include: lifestyles not only in environmental but also in energy ef"cient. Using natural and non-toxic materials we have developed a ‘breathing social, economic and spiritual terms. wall’ structure, which allows the fabric of a building to bene"cially interact with people to r Findhorn Foundation, an international centre for holistic education conducting moderate humidity and air quality. We have also experimented with straw bale construc- programmes for approximately 3000 residential guests each year Ecovillage principles can be applied equally to tion, the ‘Earthship’ system using recycled car tyres, and remain open to further new and r Phoenix Community Stores, promoting trade with ethical suppliers, initiating buying urban and to rural settings and to industrialised innovative ecological solutions for the built environment. policies to support local products and non-industrialised countries. They address r Ekopia Project, a Development Trust providing community based ethical investments the need for participation in human-scale com- Renewable Energy Systems r Build One, building ecological houses munities while nurturing and protecting the Numerous homes and community buildings incorporate solar panels for hot water heating. natural environment. A community company supplies panels to residential and commercial customers, both for r Living Technologies Ltd, designing and building natural waste water treatment