Our four principals:
One: Build communities, create knowledge networks and connect with a common goal
We create a sustainable community by working together towards a healthy ecosystem, an active and learning network of people who positively connect with our vision and goals. Feeling yourself part of this network gives our volunteers a sense of meaning. We support and encourage people to take active initiatives themselves to contribute to the developing network. For example, by working together during our stay on the farm to restore an ancient terrace wall, so that we gain knowledge about its construction and gain respect for the former residents and their skills.
Two: Apply an ethos of care and make sure everyone is embraced
These times requires us to think about how we can shape care for each other again, now that existing structures such as traditional family ties and local communities are disappearing. How do we take good care of each other and what kind of support networks can we create for this? In our project we pay attention to social sustainability, precisely by emphasizing the importance of looking out for and caring for each other. Every morning we pay attention to how everyone is doing and give feedback when we notice when people are withdrawing from caring for each other. Long before globalization, people were connected through trade networks and information was thus spread across the planet. It is still and perhaps more than ever important to share knowledge and connect groups so we can continue to learn from each other and benefit from the knowledge we gain in different places. On our farm we act very local, but the impact is global, as volunteers from all over the world sit at our dinner table and share knowledge.
Three: Develop a deep appreciation and understanding of human culture. Conserve, learn from each other and expand knowledge about this.
As long as we exist, we as humans tell stories and myths to share and develop knowledge with each other. This is the way to learn about habits, ways of thinking, history, and life on this planet. Archetypes are an important part of our culture, they are spontaneous representations from the subconscious that reflect psychological and spiritual values. They are life patterns of universal value that help us in the search for our spiritual relationship with the soul of Mother Earth. They teach us what really matters in our lives and how we can continue to grow in our development. Every evening we share stories with each other at the table. Everyone talks about their personal amazement or wonderment that day with nature. These stories stimulate our collective knowledge, but they also teach us a lot about ourselves and our own nature, what we as individuals experience as beauty, justice and meaningful.
Four: Combine old knowledge with new, integrate the deep wisdom of the past with the smartest and most nature-friendly knowledge and practices of our time.
For true eco-resilience in the 21st century, we need to combine traditional and contemporary knowledge and practice. This includes educating our next generations with the understanding and the practical/cultural skills needed to survive and thrive in very different conditions than those we live in now - rather than preparing them for a world that is already history. In concrete terms, in our project this means that we slow down and reflect and thus strengthen the connection with the nature around us. We become aware of the small changes that lead to major consequences and we make ourselves aware of the possible solutions to live together differently with and in nature. We build towards a eco-system that enriches our planet and supports future generations and open our senses to changes and are open to new solutions. That is at the heart of what we work on with our volunteers.
