Ecovillage Design Training of Trainers 2008

Ecological Design - Week 3

October 18th, 2008

Facilitated by Michael Shaw

Appropriate Technology for the Built Environment

This module will provide an overview of methods using renewable energy sources and recycling materials and the practical applications and costs of these methods. We will compare and contrast renewable sources and conventional sources: costs, installation/ running, benefits, disadvantages, pollution, convenience, availability.

Topics include:
Requirements for Appropriate Technology
Renewable energy sources including
Bio fuels
Solar energy
Wind power
Wave power
Hydroelectric power
Recycled resources including composting systems, reed beds, living machines

Green Building and Retrofitting

This module is an introduction to the principles of ecological building and retrofitting. It will provide enough information so that students will be able to evaluate building materials and methods in terms of environmental standards for energy and resource conservation.

Topics include:
The use of low cost indigenous construction techniques as well as conventional construction
Construction types- timber frame, straw bale, cob wall, rammed earth, breathing wall construction, adobe, earthships, etc
Simple ways of using Nature's renewable energy sources
Recycling and managing wastes
Water cycles and 'living machines' based on Nature's technology

Local Food Production

This module explores the role of food in community, from the way we relate to the land on which it is produced, to the celebration of life that is eating together. We will discuss and experience different approaches to the production and distribution of food as shared from the experience of participants in the training. We will visit and work on a farming and gardening projects in the locality and will cook a meal together for which we will have harvested the vegetables ourselves.

Topics include:
The basic principles and practices of organic and biodynamic food production
How to build and maintain a mulch garden
How to create a Community Supported Agricultural (CSA) scheme
Food as nutrition and as a central community ritual
Urban growing and distribution integrated into the social fabric of the settlement
Composting of organic solid wastes.

Restoration Ecology and Whole Systems Design
This module will introduce the fundamentals of restoration ecology, ecological footprint of the built environment, regulatory environment, project planning - vision, values and principles, strategic objectives, performance targets (sustainability indicators), design specifications, delivery vehicles and monitoring.

Integrated Ecovillage Design
This module introduces the principles of an integrated ecovillage design, based on cooperation with Nature, caring for Earth and its peoples. This module will draw together knowledge and skills from many ecological disciplines - old and new - to meet our basic needs of food and shelter, as well as creating sustainable social and financial structures.

The EDE is being introduced to the world at this time to complement, correspond with, and assist in setting a standard for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014.

Michael Shaw's field is ecological design. He is a founding member of The Ecovillage Institute at Findhorn and is a resident Trustee of the Findhorn Foundation. He pioneered the Ten Stones ecovillage and cohousing community with others in Vermont, USA. An engineer by training, he has been involved in all phases of the development and implementation of natural wastewater treatment and bioremediation systems including Restorers since 1989 with Ocean Arks International (OAI). With Dr. John Todd, founder of OAI, he is the author of two wastewater treatment patents.

Training fees
For the whole programme
£1595 payable by participants with low income
£1835 payable by participants with medium income
£2125 payable by participants with high income
£455/£515/£605 per module according to income

Fees include tuition, accommodation, vegetarian meals and field trips.

Please complete the Application Form and Enrolment Questionnaire

Enquiries by e-mail: bookings@findhorn.org

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*If you cannot afford the full fee, please check out our bursary guidelines.

* If you can afford to pay more than the full fee for this programme, your donation will be gratefully received and used to help those who cannot afford the whole fee.

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