By Tom Braford
At Arizmendi Ecovillage, we realize that much of what it takes to build an ecovillage is not immediately obvious. It takes specialized education, skills and ways of working with each other and the surrounding community.
This requires research, experimentation, discovery, innovation and invention and ultimately a constructed ecology that includes social and economic, as well as built environments, the restoration and preservation of habitats that support people and a diversity of other life forms that together have the potential to become self-sustaining.
Therefore, we are creating a program that will consist of classroom learning as well as active experiences that initially will include maintaining, beautifying and upgrading the initial site’s building and gardens, program fundraising and promotion. The second phase is to create one or more fusion enterprises that have the potential of becoming self-sustaining while also advancing the ecovillage project.
Our intention is that each class with instruction and coaching will last 6 months, and the participants will then have the opportunity to assist with the training and development of another two classes to follow. The first class will begin on March 1.
Tuition is $1,000 and can be converted to double that amount towards purchase of a home or share in a co-op business upon successful completion of this year-long practicum. There will also be opportunities for participants to receive a monthly stipend of $250 for taking on special accountabilities.
We are now seeking tax-deductible, tuition-matching sponsorships to defer some of the cost of the program of $1,000 a piece for the first class of 15. Sponsors are encouraged to contribute an additional amount up to $500 to cover a portion of a participant share as well, thus making this program more widely available.
Please let us know if you might be interested in enrolling or in making it possible for others to participate. For more information, please plan to attend an orientation on both the Arizmendi Ecovillage and the training program on Saturday, February 3, from 1 to 5pm, followed by a launch party from 5 to 8pm.
Check our website for more information:
www.ArizmendiEcovillage.com
braford@sbcglobal.net