The second annual Gaia University Orientation in the Caribbean will be held in December 2010, at the Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute (VISFI).
VISFI is in the process of becoming Gaia University’s Regional Center for the Caribbean, to be known as “Gaia Island.” For students looking to complete their Permaculture Design Certificates before their Gaia Orientation, VISFI will be offering a PDC course in November-a great excuse to head for the islands a bit early!
VISFI is a hundred-acre farm nestled in a valley on the Island of St. Croix, the largest island of the four US Virgin Islands. Between twelve and fifteen people live at the centre full time, but they can house up to 50 during workshops and courses. Without a winter season, VISFI is completely off- grid in energy supply through the use of a few solar panels. The main hub of the site is the VISFI Community Centre which, as in many communities, serves as kitchen, meeting hall, workshop space, and whatever else might be needed. Close by you can find a stone bathhouse (also run on solar energy), “Pablo’s chicken co-op” (though Pablo has since moved on to living the high-life in a chicken tractor), as well as a Permaculture inspired Mandala garden. They have a thriving connection with the local community of St. Croix, which links with VISFI, particularly through a Natural Mentors program, lots of “unstructured time” where people can drop by and visit, as well as VISFI’s 6-course “slow down” donation only dinners which they hold regularly as fundraisers for the centre.
Since Gaia U Orientations do not generally focus on bio-regionally specific learning, Associates do not need to choose Orientations that are within the ranges of their current bioregions or the ones in which to focus their projects. However, the VISFI team will most likely be introducing more bioregional education into the Orientation as time goes on and the centre develops. This could be particularly useful to Associates interested in applying Permaculture and Regenerative Earth-Care practices in a variety of zones.
VISFI runs a number of courses throughout the year, including Jon Young’s Art of Mentoring Bush Skills Caribbean Rendezvous, Nature Awareness and a Permaculture Design Certification Course. As mentioned above, a special community building project-based Permaculature Design Course will be held in directly before the Gaia Orientation. As a PDC is required for some Gaia U programs and is always recommended, this is great and convenient opportunity for Associates who have not completed theirs to do so! While some VISFI courses are run through other university programs, most are open to anyone. They also accept interns to work on the farm. For more information on these opportunities you can visit their website at www.visfi.org and contact them personally by email.
December is a busy month in the tropics, so if you are interested in this Orientation program, finish your online application post haste to have the best chance of acceptance into this exciting new Orientation program.
Degree to be offered from Gaia at VISFI:
Bachelor of Science in Integrative Eco Social Design
Master and Post-Masters of Science in Integrative Eco Social Design
Masters and Post-Masters of Science in Organizing Learning for Eco Social Regeneration
Masters and Post-Masters of Science in Open Topic
Re-Evaluation Counseling Fundamentals Workshop
Instructors: Liora Adler, Andrew Langford, others TBA
Location/Venue: Creque Dam Farm home of VISFI and Gaia Island
Fee/Tuition:
Bachelor -
Master and Post-Master
Contact:
for GUI general questions and info
Click here for an application
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