A transdisciplinary team facililtated by Esa Aaltonen and Jaana Kuusela, including architect Outi Palttala, permaculture designer Salla Kuuluvainen, Transition Town movement specialist Jupiter Cormier, gardeners Tuulikki Sulavaara and Kirsi Laulainen, local food specialist Silja Jääskeläinen and water lecturer Olli-Pekka  Haavisto offered a most inspiring Deep Winter Ecological Design week at Keuruun Ecovillage in Finland.

Participants coming predominantly from urban areas after going through the Ecological Design content realised the future cannot be solved only through ecological lens, having community building one of the main foundations for resilient living.  Facilitators of Keuruun combined technical sessions with hands-on workshops such as making non-toxic paints, planting seeds, cooking.  Many participatory tools such as World Cafe, circle dancing, and leadership challenge games and sharing circles were used, generating a real interest   from participants in deepening their   knowledge of community building.
It was high Winter in Finland and Keuruu ecovillage offered a ‘cool’ venue to host this multifaceted Ecological Design programme.

For more information on future Keuruun Gaia Education programmes visit www.keuruunekokyla.fi