the programme

FULL PROGRAMME

The Full Programme of European Ecovillage Gathering 2024 is live!

Explore the day by day schedule, a myriad of workshops, lectures and connecting experiences! Due to the abundance of the programme we prepared, each of the Gathering days is presented twice in the schedule.

Change is as natural as life itself, so stay mindful – the programme is also subject to modifications!

Find about the Programme in detail by scrolling down this page.

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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

RICHARD PERKINS

A recognised leader in the field of regenerative agriculture, the owner of Europe’s foremost example, Ridgedale Farm, and the author of the widely acclaimed manual “Regenerative Agriculture”.

More about Richard Perkins
More about Richard Perkins

Richard Perkins is a recognised leader in the field of regenerative agriculture and the author of the widely acclaimed manual "Regenerative Agriculture" He is the owner of Europe’s foremost example, Ridgedale Farm, which has become a world-renowned educational hub.

Richard Perkins advocates small-scale, diversified farming and mainly uses Permaculture Design, Holistic Management and Keyline Design. His approach to no-dig market gardening and pastured poultry production has been emulated by thousands of people in all corners of the globe and many of his students have started their own successful farming businesses. He has worked professionally in every major climate zone across several continents consulting to projects, farms and industry, and is now focused on educating a new generation of farmers who want to restore soils and feed their local communities whilst making a good living from it.

His workshop, “Regenerative Agriculture: A human-scale approach to real food, healthy soils and happy farmers!,” will tackle the topics of local food and community resilience centres around small mixed farms that restore soils and habitats whilst producing diverse and nutrient-dense seasonal food right where it is consumed. Join Richard for a broad and engaging overview of how to make small farms work.

Photo by Jeppe Blomgren

DOUGALD HINE

Dougald Hine is an acclaimed social thinker, writer, speaker and the co-founder of the Dark Mountain Project and a school called HOME.

More about Dougald Hine
More about Dougald Hine

Dougald Hine has collaborated with scientists, artists and activists, serving as a leader of artistic development at Riksteatern (Sweden’s national theatre) and as an associate of the Centre for Environment and Development Studies at Uppsala University.
His latest book is At Work in the Ruins: Finding Our Place in the Time of Science, Climate Change, Pandemics & All the Other Emergencies (2023). He co-hosts The Great Humbling podcast and publishes a Substack called Writing Home.

A'IDA SHIBLI

A'ida Shibli is a public speaker, a Tamera co-worker and an indigenous Bedouin woman from occupied Palestine.

More about A'ida Shibli
More about A'ida Shibli

A'ida Shibli is involved in several global grassroots organizations and is regarded as an icon of hope. For many decades she has worked to raise awareness of injustice, to end cycles of political violence in her home country and around the world, for the liberation of women and the feminine, for an end to sexual repression and violence, and for the restoration of community and indigenous knowledge. She helped to set the first ecovillage in Palestine-Farkha, and her effort got the Excellency Award for Gaia education in 2014.​

ANJA LYNGBAEK

Localization activist and Programmes Director of the Local Futures. Passionate community builder and food grower.

More about Anja Lyngbaek
More about Anja Lyngbaek

Over the years, Anja Lyngbaek has coordinated a variety of projects about the renewing of ecological and social well-being by strengthening communities and local economies, including the Economics of Happiness International Conference Series, the International Alliance for Localization and World Localization Day. Fluent in Spanish, English and Danish, she has been a spokesperson for localization on several continents. Anja divides her time between a Mexican ecovillage and a small island in the Danish Archipelago. She is a passionate community builder and food grower and is happiest with her hands in the soil. Anja holds a BSc in Rural Resource Management and an MPhil. in Agroforestry.

LONE BEATE EBELTOFT

Lone Beate Ebeltoft is a native Sea Sami heritage cultural and spiritual speaker.

More about Lone Beate Ebeltoft
More about Lone Beate Ebeltoft

Lone Beate Ebeltoft carries a deep love for her Sami culture, handicrafts and nature-based spirituality. She has been collaborating with the Norwegian government for many years to seek cultural and religious protection for her people`s sacred ways. Lone Beate Ebeltoft works as a Sami cultural guide with a Reindeer herder family in Tromsø and is one of the founders of a new nature-oriented religious society Naturfolk (https://naturfolk.org/) together with wisdom keepers from other cultural minorities in Norway, where they endeavour to preserve and protect the sacred nature sites that are now under serious threat from mining companies and wind-turbine industry.
At the European Ecovillage Gathering, she will share the sacred ways her people have lived in natural housings in the arctic landscapes for over 10,000 years, hunting, gathering, and fishing sustainably without leaving any negative traces (or imprints).

MUSICAL PERFORMANCES

SARA AJNNAK

Embark on a mesmerizing sonic journey with Sara Ajnnak, the Grammy-nominated artist hailing from the enchanting landscapes of Sápmi, Sweden. With a musical alchemy that seamlessly blends Indigenous Saa- mi yoik with captivating electronic influences, Sara’s voice becomes a conduit for profound emotions and an ode to the rich cultural tapestry of her roots.

Listen to the music of Sara Ajnnak
Born into a reindeer herding family in Northern Sweden, Sara’s connection to nature is palpable in every note she sings. The traditional yoik, is interwoven with a contempo- rary soundscape that transcends time and space. As a performer, Sara’s strength lies not just in her vocal prowess, but in her ability to transport audiences to ethereal realms, weaving a tapestry of emotions that resonates long after the music fades.
 
FInd out more about Sara Ajnnak
More about Sara Ajnnak
Sara's artistic journey takes a poignant turn with her commitment to preserving the endangered Ume Sami language. In her debut album 'Suoajggat,' she bravely brought her traditional language to the forefront, a testament to her dedication to cultural heritage. Now, with four full-length albums, including 'Suoajggat,' 'Ráhtjat,' 'Gulldalit Can You Hear Me,' and 'Homo sapiens and My People,' Sara continues to push artistic boundaries.Her recent single, 'Ballat - Nightfear,' released in January 24, garnered widespread acclaim, rec- ognized by the Swedish newspaper DN as one of the best song releases of the week. As Sara gears up to release an extended EP titled 'Wasteland or Wilderness' this spring, she stands at the forefront of musical innovation, captivating audiences with her evocative soundscapes and poignant storytelling.
Sara Ajnnak is not just an artist; she is a storyteller, a guardian of traditions, and a catalyst for change. Her music beckons, inviting you to join her on a captivating journey where the past meets the present, and the power of nature resonates in every hauntingly beautiful note.
 

the programme streams

ECOVILLAGE START-UP​

Workshops designed to support new groups in realising their dream community.

HEART OF ECOVILLAGES​

Sharing the core practices from well-known ecovillages around Europe.

HEALING

Embodied practices to heal ourselves, the land and our communities.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Explore how to create more inclusive and brave communities while reflecting on the current pitfalls and opportunities for the ecovillage movement.

EXPO​

Our area for appropriate technologies will offer both an exposition of low-tech technologies, fire-pitch technology presentations and hands-on workshops.

ECOVILLAGE ECONOMICS​

Sharing alternative and solidarity-based economic models and solutions for a global economic transformation.

CONSCIOUS RELATING​

Authentic relating, conscious sexuality, consensual intimacy. An embodied exploration of how we relate to ourselves and others within communities and outside of them.

ACTIVISM​

Explore how to bring communitarian and regenerative values and solutions to the political forefront.

COLLECTIVE GOVERNANCE​

Sociocracy, holacracy and more. Workshops on how we step into collective and empowered governance.

ECOLOGY​

Hands on workshops grounded deep in the land. We will cover food sovereignty, permaculture and more.

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Morning Practices

As the Sun slowly rises, we will start our day gently, reconnecting with our bodies and surroundings with yoga, singing or meditation.

 

Evening Activities

In the evening, we’ll immerse ourselves in the artistic expressions of music, films, movement and other soulful practices before dancing our hearts out with DJ sets and live performances to end our days.

COMMUNITY RESOURCING CIRCLE OPEN CALL

Are you part of a new ecovillage or an upcoming ecovillage group? Be resourced by the European Ecovillage Gathering to bring your community-dream into reality! This year, the European Ecovillage Gathering, will support the rise of new and upcoming ecovillages through a Community Resourcing Circle!

Through this facilitated journey, the participants of the Gathering get the opportunity to support new or upcoming communities with their skills, materials, knowledge, hands – or anything else that they feel called to offer!

Find out more and apply!
Find out more and apply!

How does it work?

Before the Gathering: 

  • After the application deadline 3-4 communities will be selected.
  • The selected communities will attend 2-3 preparation meetings where they will learn more about the concept of the Resourcing Circle, become clearer on their community needs and prepare their pitch for the Gathering.

During the Gathering:

  • The selected communities will each present their pitch in the Resourcing Circle. 
  • The communities will be resourced from the participants of the Gathering through the facilitated process of the Resourcing Circle.
  • The communities will collect the offers from the participants and bring them home to their communities!

Who can apply?

New communities or upcoming community groups can apply if they: 

  • Are min. 4 people in the group
  • Have a clearly formulated vision, mission and values (or the like)
  • Min. 2 of the community members can be physically present at the Gathering to pitch the project.

Communities can apply whether they have land or not.

Does your community want to be resourced?

3-4 Communities will be selected for the Community Resourcing Circle at the Gathering. Your community can apply by sending an email titled ‘Community Resourcing Circle Application’ that answers the following questions to gathering@gen-europe.org

In your application, please answer the following questions:

  1. Please give us a short description of your community (idea)
  2. Please send us you mission, vision and values statements (can be attached or linked to in the email)
  3. What are your needs? How can the participants at the Gathering resource (be creative and try to think outside of traditional financing – i.e. know-how, services, hands-on support, specific materials needed etc.)? How will the possibility to pitch at the Community Resourcing Circle bring your community to the ‘next level’?
  4. How will the community create a positive impact in the local region? 

The selection will be based on the above questions as well as diversity in the projects and care for regional representation. 

 

It was just great, with the right balance between activities and time for personal connection

GATHERING PARTICIPANT 2023