Establishing a permaculture for your community, looking more deeply at deep adaptation, and taking the principles of nonviolent communication into consideration are the subjects of a special guest speaker at the Kakwa Ecovillage Co-op.
Eric Bowers is the leader of the Road To Compassion interpersonal healing program and the author of the book Meet Me In Hard-to-Love Places: The Heart & Science of Relationship Success.
Bowers will be the special guest presenter at a weekend learning retreat at the Kakwa Ecovillage Co-op located on the Walker Creek Forest Road (about 130 kilometres east of Prince George).
"You will be given the tools to co-create structures and systems for working through conflict with your group members - community, workplace, family, and others," said Russ Purvis, host of the retreat.
"Eric's workshops are experiential and engaging, with lots of time to practice in small groups. He also uses short games and activities to keep participants energized. Eric is a certified nonviolent communication trainer with extensive training in attachment theory and interpersonal neurobiology. He has also trained in restorative systems for conflict, shadow work, music and improv theater."
In addition to exploring nonviolent communication (a style of honest expression that reduces emotional conflict and supports solutions to problems), permaculture (the use of nature's principles in designing human communities), and deep adaptation (implementing sustainability principles into community planning, taking climate change realities into account), the weekend retreat will also include demonstrations in bee keeping, wool spinning, forest kids, seed saving and wild foraging.
"Climate change is a natural phenomena that is scientifically accepted as a given on our planet, Earth," said Purvis.
"What if we are simply out of time?... If we are out of time, some ideas are worth considering. It's important to encourage people to have these discussions, which we are doing. It's also important to develop techniques for communicating which demonstrate empathy in times that may become increasingly stressful. That is why we are actively promoting nonviolent communication with Eric Bowers."
The event happens July 20-21, with overnighting options available.
For a cost breakdown and registration information, go to the Kakwa Ecovillage website at kakwaecovillage.wordpress.com/events/. Buy before June 20 and receive an earlybird discount.
Some limited bursaries are available. Contact [email protected] for more information.
.jpg;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
