Passionate about Earth Activism and our environment? This 4-day workshop with CELT at Slieve Aughty Centre will inspire you.

The Centre for Environmental Living and Training (CELT) in partnership with Cultivate, Cloughjordan, are delighted to offer this unique and inspiring 4-day workshop and bring together permaculturalists, change makers, rebels and dreamers to share some time in nature, strengthen our connections, and deepen our creative and collective vision.

Facilitated by international guests Starhawk and Alfred Decker, with a local contribution from Davie Philip of the Cultivate Cooperative (Cloughjordan), this special gathering will take you on a journey of transformation, regenerating and restoring our inner and outer landscapes.

During this course you will explore how an understanding of ecology and the principles of permaculture can infuse and inspire our collective actions to meet our core human needs, address climate and biodiversity challenges, while also sharing key tools for staying grounded, present, creative and connected during moments of difficulty and challenge. Participants will come away with a deeper understanding of tried and tested permaculture approaches and key tools for evaluating strategy, crafting actions and campaigns that tell a clear story, improving intra-group communication and resolving conflicts, and with renewed energy and hope.

You will hear the positive stories that can keep our hope alive in these crazy times, fuel our inspiration for actions that have beneficial impacts for people and planet, and help us to create a new story for our own lives and the times we live in.
In this training, you will learn about:
Using permaculture & ecological design as a model for applying systems thinking to groups and social organization
How to facilitate meetings and processes that enhance community and connection
A range of tools and processes for group bonding and community building
Designing structures to support beneficial relationships
Designing the physical to support the social
Working with diversity– race, gender, class, sexual orientation, etc.
Group vision: picture of the world, mission, goals and governance
Effective group structure, reweaving and sharing a clear vision
Power: Power over, power from within, earned and unearned social power
Communication: Good communication skills and conflict resolution approaches; nonviolent communication
Effective feedback
Creating harmony and preventing conflict—embracing, mediating and resolving group conflict
Dealing with difficult people – starting with ourselves – what’s here that no longer serves us

Included is a field trip to Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Ireland’s leading community-led housing project, and its thriving Community Supported Farm. Here you will explore how applying ecology and permaculture principles can strengthen group dynamics, enhance resilience, and support more effective collaboration.