Case Studies of Connectivism

The Embodied Permaculture Project has been featured in the UNDP Conscious Food Systems Alliance's global case studies collection

A new paradigm of activism is emerging across the world. You could call it Connectivism - awake, embodied, relational action. Its foundational orientation is one of diverse, inseparable wholeness. Within that orientation, the notion of oppositional activism begins unravelling as we ask questions like, what or who is our opponent? What or who stands outside of wholeness? Is opposition even possible from wholeness? This orientation does not preclude us from saying no to harm, and yes to health but it no longer seeks to position people, places or circumstances on the outside looking in. It recognises that everything is within the wholeness of capital L Life.

One context this is showing up is the emergent edge of agroecology and regenerative agriculture. There is a growing movement of farmers, growers, buyers and consumers that recognise that if what we seek is whole-system change, then we need to bring our whole system - both outer and inner - to that process of transformation. And it is a clear sign of the traction this new orientation is getting that the United Nations Development Program has convened and funded the Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA) to connect people and projects from around the planet who are taking a consciousness approach to food system transformation.

So it’s both gratifying and energising to share that the Embodied Permaculture Project, our program grant funded by Alef Trust through their Conscious Communities Initiative has been featured by CoFSA as a case study in their new publication highlighting 31 global projects bringing this work into the world. 

The Embodied Permaculture Project supports ecological systems designers, regenerators, educators and leaders to make the paradigm shift from "working with nature" to "working AS Nature". 

Through an 18-month program drawing on the best of whole-person psychology, nervous system regulation techniques, contemporary contemplative and spiritual approaches, and integrative relational practice, we've been offering an innovative and highly effective approach to wellbeing. 

As we learn to show up in the world from embodied presence we discover it's possible to do the slow work of repairing, regenerating and reconnecting communities and landscapes without burning out, falling out with others or dropping out altogether. We learn that we can rely on Life's energy and wisdom to guide our action in the world which brings greater confidence, trust, capacity and joy to this essential work of our times.

Farmers and Food producers are at the front line of a volatile, uncertain, ambiguous and complex cascade of disruptive changes to both our ecosystems, our climate and our societies and we need to discover, practice and integrate ways of being and acting that allow not just survival, but a transition back towards thriving. The projects highlighted in CoFSA’s case studies all offer solutions to support that transformation. These are people, projects and helpful pragmatic inspiration from a panoply of cultures and contexts and crucially they also paint a picture on our cultural canvas of that beautiful truth we are working from; diverse inseparable wholeness.

To read these case studies of Connectivism in action please download the publication here:

https://tinyurl.com/tx8m3tsz

And for more information about the Embodied Permaculture Project please visit:

https://beingearthbound.substack.com/t/embodied-permaculture

And for more about this approach to coaching 

www.earthbound.fi

The Embodied Permaculture Project is now entering its storytelling phase and we are currently gathering the collective wisdom of our participant’s 18-month journey together. We’ll be sharing the findings and telling their stories via podcasts and articles here on Substack over the coming months.