Location:

Asheville, United States

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Fall Semester, Spring Semester, Summer

Program Overview

Program Description:

School of Integrated Living's Farm & Ecovillage Immersions are semester-long residential service-learning programs in which participants are immersed into the village, homes, lives, businesses, and farms of their hosts and faculty for a hands-on, skill-building, life-changing experience. The Farm & Ecovillage Immersion curriculum is based on the “three-legged stool of sustainability” and approaches the topics of social, ecological, and economic issues through a variety of service and content-based modules with a specific focus on organic food production, regenerative systems, and community living.

We view education as primarily a social learning activity. The ideal learning environment includes both formal and informal, work and practice, study and absorption. The process of immersion into an active, living culture of sustainability solutions, critical thinking, and systems orientation makes for not only an integrated, holistic approach to education but a rare opportunity to see experiments in action. Each week consists of 40-45 hours of structured learning. Our approach is both experiential and traditional, using expert lecturers, excursions and field trips, salon talks and fireside conversations, scheduled work shifts, pertinent readings, journaling, small group projects, independent observation, and team building to provide an intimate, well-rounded and powerful learning experience. The Farm & Ecovillage Immersion is intentionally designed for a maximum of 12 students. Small groups enable us to provide a high quality learning environment in which we can best address the personal needs, interests and goals of each student. The flexibility of small groups enables us to take advantage of a myriad of unique opportunities, like circling for around a campfire or piling into the back of a tractor. All experiences are more personal, interesting, and fun.

Mission The mission of SOIL is to inspire and empower people to live responsible and creative lives by providing experiential education in integrated living and regenerative systems. Vision We envision a world where self-reliant, interdependent, and nature-connected people are deeply engaged in their local and global communities. We envision that these passionate people make informed and responsible choices for their basic needs (food, shelter, water, medicines), understand their impact on the world, forge real connection with themselves and others, and ultimately contribute to a more sustainable and just world for all.

Setting Description:

SOIL's Farm & Ecovillage Immersions take place at the farms, neighborhood, and homesteads within and near Earthaven Ecovillage. This village and farming community is the ideal living laboratory for a whole-life skills curriculum--a place to see regenerative systems in practice, food production in action, and community living on an up-close and personal level.

Cost:

Rates include tuition, program costs, instructional materials, all meals, housing accommodations, mentoring support, arrival and departure transportation (if necessary), our alumni network, access to resources and information on further training, internships, jobs and more. Fall Session: ?Sept 14-Dec 14, 2013: $6,400 Spring Session:? January 18-April 19, 2014: $6,400 Summer Session: ?June 14-Aug 16, 2014: $4,300 Receive the $300 Early Bird discount when your Application is received one month