“The collaborative action had a good flow.  At the first meetings – we were feeling safe in the group, but the outside world was becoming increasingly stressful.  We had created a safe place.” Kipper Fisher, German Permaculture Academy

An important part of the process was the organisation of a series of writer’s workshops, using an innovative “Pattern Language” approach to identifying some of the core content for the training. 
 

• How we create the new from the diversity we bring together: how the creative surge ignites the group and we accomplish the impossible with ease – an inspiring experience of collective wisdom!
• Affirming unanimously our commitment to creating a 2 year/ 8 module course with the backbone of the course being informed by an archetypal story, ‘The Hero’s Journey’, and infused with the three strands of I / We / World i.e. the journey of the individual; the sense of community and mutual support we create; and the relationship of these to the wider context.
• Being introduced to ‘Pattern Language’ and understanding how we can use patterns to organize different levels of our curriculum.
• Applying Pattern Language in writing up the first elements of the curriculum and starting to identify its different components e.g. the Backbone and the Tool Kit (the latter might include Info on Definitions, Pedagogies, Processes, Case Studies, Change Agent Life Stories).
• The creative writing surge in which all wrote in diverse ways around themes we were inspired by, including the generation of the ‘First Participant’s Story’.
• Meeting the budding ecovillage of Kasteel Nieuwenhoven: the inspiring history, the permaculture gardens, the home grown food, the youth project.
• Meeting with Change Agents in the Hub Brussels and receiving our first live feedback to our curriculum ideas.
• Moving from using Moodle and Ning sites to using Google Docs as a simpler way to share our knowledge and ideas.
• Adopting generosity and trust as a way of sharing our experience and expertise especially around money issues.
• The recommitment of all partners for the whole period of the Learning Partnership.