Ecovillage Transition in Action – Voices of Transition

Ecological Dimension – Project Portrays
4 Topics
Grow seeds, food and soil through regenerative agriculture – Ali and Inci Goodmann about the Project Knidia in Turkey
Clean and replenish sources and cycles of water – Markus Dittrich about the Project Tamera in Portugal
Work with waste as a valuable resource – Nara Petrovič about the Project “Let’s do it. More clean up days” in Slovenia
Increase biodiversity and restore ecosystems – Ashley Brown about the Ecosystem Restoration Camps Foundation in the Netherlands
Social Dimension – Project Portrays
6 Topics
Nurture diversity and cohesion for thriving communities – Katerina Varella about the Project Mikros Dounias in Greece
Practice conflict facilitation, communication and peacebuilding skills – Maja Turniski about the Suncokret centre for community development in a rural region that suffered heavily from the civil war and the recent earthquake.
Enabling all to engage in lifelong learning for a sustainable future – Rüdiger Bachmann and Kira Petersen about the School in Schloss Tempelhof in Germany
Promote health, healing and wellbeing for all – Ole Underland about the Hurdal psychiatric Recovery Center in Norway
Strengthen responsible and accountable administration and politics – Elidth Brown from the Project TSIMoray in Scotland
Maggie Fyffe – about the Project Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust in Scotland
Cultural Dimension – Project Portrays
4 Topics
Nuture mindfulness and self-reflection – René Hirschi about the Project Herzfeld Sennrüti in Switzerland
Reconnect to nature and embrace low-impact lifestyles – Svetoyara Caciurenco about the Project Busha Toloka in the Ukraine
Enrich life and celebration – Macaco Tamerice about the Project Damahur in Italy
Engage actively to protect communities and nature – Carolin Waldmann about the Extinction Rebellion in Scotland
Economical Dimension – Project Portrays
3 Topics
Reconstruct the concepts of wealth, work and progress – Luisa Kleine about the Project Region im Wandel in Waldkappel/Germany
Cultivate Social Entrepreneurship for Regeneration – Mieke Elzenga about the proejct Liber Terra in the Netherlands
Use banks and currencies that strengthen communities – Christian Gellerie about the Project Chiemgauer currency in Germany
Integral Design – Project Portrays
5 Topics
Identify assets, needs and leverage points – Christiano Bottone about the Project MIT in Italy
Engage all stakeholders in designs for the future – Thomas Meier about the Project Schloss Tonndorf in Germany
Adapt solutions to scale and context – Duncan Crowly about the Project Transition Town in Lisbon/Portugal
Spread core patterns of regeneration – Alexander Clark about the Project Meadows in the Making in Scotland
Build alliances across all divides – Communities Program Hungary
Previous Lesson
Next Topic

Nuture mindfulness and self-reflection – René Hirschi about the Project Herzfeld Sennrüti in Switzerland

Ecovillage Transition in Action – Voices of Transition Cultural Dimension – Project Portrays Nuture mindfulness and self-reflection – René Hirschi about the Project Herzfeld Sennrüti in Switzerland

Short summary:

René Hirschi is a co-founder of the Herzfeld Sennrüti project 14 years ago. Today they are 83 people living there on a one thousand square meters land. Interestingly since the beginning the number of adults equals that of children. So, a particular organisation has to always be put in place for how the children participate and integrate. Another particularity of the project is how they have accomplished good integration in the area through having professional positions outside of the ecovillage itself. They generally believe a lot in the power of personal relationships. They place just as much, if not more, emphasis on the social part as they do on the ecological part. And so they pay a lot of attention to their decision making process that is a sociocratic on the direction of holographic, meaning that once a decision has been reached, it is always checked against their general vision. A very speacial thing of their mentality is their view on conflicts as something vital and productive that leads to deeper relationships. For example, even after having had a court dispute with the municipality, they are still on amicable terms with them.

“Conflict is something good because it brings growth to the ecovillage and also it brings people more into relationship in deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper levels. Through every conflict we go, we meet each other after the conflict again in a new togetherness.”

René Hirschi
Short Version
Long Version
Previous Lesson
Back to Lesson
Next Topic
Post a comment

Leave a Comment