Ecovillage Immersion Internship Summer 2012

Courses, Workshops & Events

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2008, Living Mandala
creative services by: 360 Degrees

Including

HANDS-ON ACTION LEARNING

DEEP NATURE CONNECTION

PERMACULTURE DESIGN & PRACTICE

ECOVILLAGE IMMERSION

COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE

PRIMITIVE SKILL BUILDING

Hosted By

Shire Springs

Facilitators & Instructors

Jay Ma

Bern Haggard

Eviane Coton

Ben Browner

Indigo Donaldson

John Schinner

Additional Facilitators & Instructors to be Announced Soon!

Description

Join us this summer in the wild hills of Northern California to participate in the farm systems, social systems, and structural underpinnings of a newly-forming EcoVillage Community. Nestled in a breadth-taking hot-spring riddled valley, midpoint between Mt. Shasta & Mt. Lassen, Shire Springs is an 82 acre rural stronghold recently purchased by a small group of permaculture teachers, passionate land stewards, cottage industry owners, and Ecovillage Developers. Big Bend is home to a diverse array of ecologically rich wonders, including some of the most extraordinary geothermal activity on the west coast. Located in the Heart of Big Bend, Shire Springs is a lush 84 acre homesteading site with 60 acres of mature forest, an abundance of water including a large pond, several streams, 5 year round springs, 1 acre of existing fenced garden with some of the best soil in the bio-region, mature producing orchard, variety of fruit trees, meadows, and grazing areas for animals. Structurally the property currently holds a 5 bedroom lodge style home, granny unit, large metal workshop, and access to many potential building sites. We have great neighbors and community, and we are within short biking distance to some of the most epic hot springs soaking you will ever experience. The possibilities are endless! Come live and learn with us for 4 weeks, as we nurture ALL of the systems needed to assist an amazing Ecovillage into blossom.

As a Shire Intern, You Will Experience...

Deep Nature Connection:

Currently home to eagles, river otters, foxes, bears, mountain lions, bobcats, ringtails, martens, and many other endemic wildlife... Big Bend is a little known oasis of natural beauty. Throughout this internship, we will be incorporating core routines of nature connection and other practices to deepen our knowledge of and connection to the natural world.

Projects On the Land:

permaculture gardening, irrigation, landscaping, carpentry, plumbing, electric, pruning, trail building, property cleanup, holistic cooking, food preservation, cob natural building, herb / medicinal gardening, spring box / microhydro development, animal husbandry, small pond building, timber frame carpentry, forest stewardship, etc…

Intentional Community Processes:

intentional community theory, invisible social structures, community visioning and intention setting, community agreement creation, facilitation, consensus decision making, ceremony/ritual, emotional processing modalities, gratitude circles, nature awareness practices, etc. Participants will also have the opportunity

On & Off site Adventures:

pond/river swimming, bonfires, hot springs soaking, primitive skills sharing, exploring the vastness of Mt. Shasta & Lassen National Parks, backpacking / camping, mountain biking, fishing, seasonal celebrations, etc

What is Permaculture?

The word ‘Permaculture’ was originally coined by University professor Bill Mollison and environmental design student David Holmgren in the 1970’s and was first taught as “Applied Systems Design “ in 1981. The word “permaculture” itself came from the notion of establishing “permanent agriculture” or “permanent culture”; in other words, permaculture is a practical set of ecological design principles and methods for human settlement that provide for humanity’s needs of food, energy, shelter, water and other material and non--material needs in a way that is sustainable and regenerative with the Earth’s natural ecosystems. Over the last 30 years, permaculture has grown to become a global grassroots movement of healing and re-connection with the Earth penetrating many different fields, continents, and cultures. Though often thought of as just a set of gardening techniques, permaculture is in fact a whole systems design philosophy. As a methodology for whole systems thinking, Permaculture is being applied towards business, economics, government, group process, and more. It is in this spirit of permaculture as a holistic design philosophy encompassing many fields that we are truly excited to gather in one place such a diverse spectrum of teachers and facilitators and offer this course to the public.

Details

Education: Most of the education at The Shire will be received by living through intentional community processes and working with the land. However, 2 afternoons of every week Shire members and/or guest teachers will be offering half day classes on various topics such as permaculture, sociacracy, community governance, deep nature connection, carpentry, natural building, water works, pruning, fermentation, nutrition, and more.

Food: All food is provided with the internship, and most meals will be eaten together. Food will be vegetarian based, with local and organic meat options available on special request. Lunch and dinner cooking shifts will be rotated amongst members and interns alike (2 co-shifts/wk, pending on the number of people). We will be eating most of our meals together in joy, gratitude, and community.

Housing: We have a large lodge style community house with a community kitchen, living area, wireless internet, office/library, arts & crafts area, indoor shower, and 5 plus rooms under renovation. We request interns to stay in tents, and to utilize the main house as the community living space. As part of the internship we will be continuing to work on some aspects of the main house.

Time: Shire members set minimum amounts of time for certain activities to ensure the fluid functioning of our community… These are broken down below:

Work Trade Projects: 14hrs/wk

Education/Classes: 6hrs/wk

Shire Meetings: 2hrs/wk

Circle & Community Processing: 2hrs/wk

Cooking Shifts: 3hrs/wk

Sit Spot / Nature Connection Practices: 3 hrs/wk

Lodge Cleaning Party: 1hr/wk

Hot Springs Soaking: 1hr/wk

TOTAL: 32 hours/wk

We understand that personal time is of paramount importance, so any time other than what is listed above is yours to decide what to do with… Explore! Create! Relax! Enjoy the beauty of this amazing area!… : )

Hot Springs: Located just a few miles from Shire Springs are some of the most amazing hot springs you will ever experience, and they are available for soaking at any time. The 3 pools at "Hunt & Kosk Hot Springs" are extremely beautiful, natural geothermal hot spots, thought to be sacred by the local indigenous Pit Tribes. It is asked that no glass bottles be brought to either. Camping is permitted at Hunt & Cosk.

Miscellaneous: Doctor Bronners will be provided, but bring all other shower and hygienic products that you need. Laundry machine, eco-detergent, and clotheslines are provided. Bring a bike if possible, as they're nice to ride to and from the Hot Springs. Sorry, no children this time around. Alcohol is permitted during the evenings, but drunkenness is not.

Contact & More Info

For questions and more information regarding this Internship:

e-mail: education@livingmandala.com or shiresprings@gmail.com

phone: (707) 634-1461 (leave a message and we will call you back)

Website: www.shiresprings.com

Apply

To apply, click here to download the application and and email it back to us at shiresprings@gmail.com and/or education@livingmandala.com. The Internship is limited to 10 people, so please apply ASAP to confirm your spot.

Registration & Cost

Cost: We are asking for an extremely affordable $675 for this 4 week experience. This fee will mostly go to cover food, lodging expenses in the form of electric, propane, internet, etc, as well as guest instructors, preparation costs, supplies, and more.

Internship Application: We ask all potential Shire Springs Interns to download an application from here and email it back to us at: shiresprings@gmail.com and/or education@livingmandala.com. We will respond to you ASAP, and follow-up with a 20 minute phone interview conducted to determine if it is a good fit. This summer internship program is limited to 10 people, so apply soon to confirm your spot.

The Area - Big Bend, California

The internship is being held in the small town of Big Bend, California, situated in the Cascade Mountain Range in Shasta County, nestled right between the peaks of two majestic volcanos: Mount Shasta & Lassen Peak. Mount Shasta is believed by some to be one of the world’s most sacred mountains, and includes California’s largest watershed and some of the best quality water in the world. Just over an hour’s drive from the nearest major city of Redding, Big Bend is a little known oasis of natural beauty. Home to eagles, river otters, foxes, bears, mountain lions, and many other specatular wildlife, Big Bend has a population of only around 150 human residents. In the 1930s and 1940s, the population of Big Bend was reportedly nearly ten thousand people. The abundance of good water, soil, vegetation, microclimates, and other natural resources in the area provided a large portion of the food for the people living there. Looking further back, Big Bend was the residence and sacred grounds to an indigenous population known as the Achomawi. The Pit River, which flows through the heart of Big Bend, was at one time the 3rd largest Salmon run on the west coast of the USA, and now has a native Rainbow Trout run that remains healthy. One of the most extraordinary resources in the area is the geothermal activity. Big Bend is situated on top of a geologic fault line that allows ground water to flow down to the hot rocks and to bring lots of hot geothermal water to the surface. Because of this, Big Bend is home to some of the most amazing geothermal activity on the west coast and enjoys incredible abundance of hot water and renewable energy.

Site Details - The Land

This amazing, abundant, 84 acre property is one of the best properties in the greater bioregion with an abundance of water, soil forest, ecological diversity, access, and existing infrastructure poising it to become the ideal Ecovillage Development Community.

The Property Includes:

•50 acres of mature forest. Doug Fir, Cedar, Ponderosa Pine, Black Oak, Alder, Cottonwood, Pacific Yew.
•Lodge type home built for town doctor in 1956, recently restored with 4+bedrooms, 1.5 baths. Great room with stone fireplace and 15' copper chimney. Views of pond and forest. Solid and livable, but needs finishing details of fix up.
•Updated cabin with modern amenities. 900 square feet. Attached to lodge via bridge over stream.
•Large metal sided workshop. 25'x70'.
•Allot of Water. At least 5 substantial year-round cold springs, 3 wells, geothermal hot water fault line, constant streams and creeks with water falls.
•Spring fed year-round 1.5 acre pond. Great waterfowl viewing. Bass, catfish, and bluegill. More seasonal ponds.
•1 acre fenced garden with dark rich soil – some of the best in the region. Flood irrigated from pond.
•Many mature producing orchard and fruit trees. Including apples(10+ kinds), grapes, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, berries.
•Meadows and grazing areas for animals.
•Great neighbors and community.

To view photos of the property click here.

Shire Springs

Shire Springs is a developing Ecovillage based on Permaculture Ethics & Peacemaking Principles offering affordable residential Ecovillage living opportunities and co-stewardship opportunities of an amazing 82 acre property producing an abundance of food, facilitating connection to nature, and embodying a culture of human beings living harmoniously with each other and their environment.

Shire Springs Goals are to:

•Create an Ecovillage Community offering affordable residential and seasonal Ecovillage living opportunities on an amazing 82 acre property committed to a shared vision based on permaculture ethics and peacemaking principles.
•Establish an abundant farm modeling permaculture, sustainability, & regenerative food systems to produce an abundance of quality, organic food for the local community and the surrounding bioregion.
•Provide educational courses, programs, and apprenticeships with other partners in the bioregion in permaculture, nature connection, appropriate technology, holistic ecology, and much more.

Ecovillages & Intentional Communities

Over thee last 50 years, the international Ecovillage and Intentional Communities movement has birthed communities all over the world and connected together communities that already exist or have existed for thousands of years. Some of these communities include eco-towns like Auroville in South India, the Federation of Damanhur in Italy and Nimbin in Australia; small rural ecovillages like Gaia Asociación in Argentina and Huehuecoyotl in Mexico; urban rejuvenation projects like Los Angeles EcoVillage and Christiania in Copenhagen; permaculture design sites such as Crystal Waters, Australia, Cochabamba, Bolivia and Barus, Brazil; and educational centres such as Findhorn in Scotland, Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, Earthlands in Massachusetts, large networks like Sarvodaya (11,000 sustainable villages in Sri Lanka); EcoYoff and Colufifa (350 villages in Senegal); the Ladakh Project on the Tibetian plateau; and many more.

International & Intergeneration Movement

People across the globe are hearing a drive to find the land and the community on which and through which they can sustain their means of local sustainability for food, water, shelter, and other material and non-material needs. One of the most prominent regions where this “back to the land” movement is taking off in the western world is in Russia, where since the fall of Communist Soviet Union, millions of people have been moving out of the cities into clustered small, rural plots and forming ecovillages to live together as more intentional., sustainable communities. In the United States and internationally, we are on the brink of a back to the land and back to community movement, the likes of which are just beginning in Russia today. Where is your water source, food source, and community?

Facilitators & Instructors

Instructor, Facilitator

Jay Ma

Jay Ma is a permaculture designer, natural builder, and community organizer committed to cultural healing through Peacemaker Principles. Jay is the director of programs at Living Mandala, and works with regenerative educators and institutions organizing educational courses, workshops, and events for personal, ecological and social regeneration in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. He received his first permaculture design certification through Naropa University in 2001, a B.A. through New College of California in Culture, Ecology, and Sustainable Community with a concentration in Eco-Dwelling & Natural Building. Jay is a two-time graduate of the pioneering two-year training intensive in Regenerative Design & Nature Awareness. Jay has facilitated educational programs, retreats, workshops, and events as well as community land development projects for 10 years now with organizations including the Regenerative Design Institute, the Institute of Noetic Sciences, Gaia University, Omega Institute, Harmony Festival, and many others. Jay is also a Fire Walk Instructor through Sundoor International, and is passionate about renewing Rites of Passage experiential programs for people of all ages.

Facilitator

Indigo Donaldson

Indigo Donaldson is a Permaculture Designer and Educato, Activist,Master Gardener and Western Herbalist.She believes that clean organic food is the basis of good health and that everyone should have access to to it.She is committed to growing and teaching people how to grow their own food and medicine.She has studied Permaculture and many styles of Organic Gardening at such places as Occidental Arts and Ecology,Regenerative Design Institute,UC Santa Cruz,Camp Joy Gardens,and completed a Permaculture Teacher Training at La Akea Gardens in Hawaii as well as a teacher apprentice program at Regenerative Design Institute.In December 2010 she completed an Aquaponics Course with Max Meyers in Nicaragua and helped finish the Aquaponics system there and also helped on the system at the Ukiah High School.She has also co-created larger Permaculture Garden Projects such as The Howard Hospital Garden in Willits and La Paloma,and urban community garden/art space at the Cellspace in San Francisco.In line with her passion for clean organic food she worked full-time on the GMO- Free Campaign in Mendocino County,CA,the first county in the US to take a take a stand and become GMO-Free.She currently lives and gardens in the Santa Cruz mountains and is teaching Yoga/Permaculture workshops titled "Sustainability from the Inside-Out".

Facilitator, Guest Instructor

Jon Schinner

John Schinnerer is a whole systems design consultant, teacher, and facilitator who develops cultural and ecological systems for a variety of public, private, and nonprofit clients. John has a Master’s Degree in Whole Systems Design, with a focus on cultural and ecological design. His work integrates permaculture and keyline design, appropriate technologies, and human relating and governance systems. Since 1996, John has studied, worked, taught and published in the realms of human relatings, governance and decision-making systems, appropriate technology and ecological design. He applies his wide-ranging observations of and experience with cultural and ecological systems to all aspects of his practice. John lives in a rainforest on Hawai’i island and seasonally in the Cascadia bioregion of North America.

John brings to bear his years of work and life experience as Hawai’i-Pacific regional representative for The Sociocracy Consulting Group. Exploration and integration of existing cultural patterns is key to his inclusive approach to organizational design and governance consulting and facilitation. The methods, tools and techniques that John offers invite clients to maximize clarity, honesty, and integrity while also enhancing individual and group efficiency and effectiveness – in other words, to get things done and have more fun!

Guest Instructor

Ben Browner

Ben is passionate about understanding and creating containers of Connection: to Self, Others, and the Natural World. At 27, he is kind of a jack of all trades, having owned a lawn & land business for 7 years, co-founded a thriving turtle sanctuary and eco-education project in Malaysia (www.juaraturtleproject.com), founded and floundered a "conscious advertising organization", lived in several intentional communities on the west coast, interned on a couple permaculture farms, was a full-time Occupier for 3 months in Santa Rosa CA, and is most recently doing internal healing work, writing a book to his younger self, and helping to bring into being "Shire Springs" in Big Bend, CA… Ben has been on a learning journey over the past 2 years, doing his PDC with Living Mandala in '08, 2 of Joanna Macy's WTR, various Bill Plotkin programs, Jon Young's AOM, several weeks of Tom Brown's Tracker School, and various other intensives… Today, he is most passionate about facilitation & participatory decision making, having studied with The Art of Hosting network, Rudolf Steiner College, the Community At Work folks, Adam Wolpert of OAEC, Starhawk, Erik Ohlsen, and several Occupy facilitation teams. He is just beginning on his teaching path in these realms, and hopes to offer healthy examples through his practice.

Support Facilitator

Bios of Additional Facilitators & Instructors Coming Soon!

Affiliate Organization

For Upcoming Courses, Workshops, & Events Click in Permaculture, Ecovillage Design, Sustainable Living Skills,

& More Click Here.

Hands-On Ecovillage Immersion Internship

4-Week Residential Experience

July 23 - August 20, 2012

Shire Springs, Shasta County, Northern California