The Center for Creative Ecology, Kibbutz Lotan in partnership with Gaia Education

present

Green Apprenticeship Training:
Ecovillage and Permaculture Design Course

Based on the Gaia Education Ecovillage Design Curriculum – an official contribution to
the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014

Gaia Education is a program of the Global Ecovillage Network

What is the Green Apprenticeship?

The Green Apprenticeship Ecovillage and Permaculture Design course is an intensive 6 week work /study experience run by the Center for Creative Ecology at Kibbutz Lotan in southern Israel. The program offers a highly practically-based immersion into the processes and challenges involved with the design, building and running of sustainable communities, linking together ecological, social, economical and spiritual aspects into a unified whole. Practical skills are developed through hands-on work in our environmental education center, organic gardens, alternative/natural building projects and the Lotan migratory bird reserve, complemented by theoretical sessions in topics such as ecological design, permaculture and sustainability.

Students on the course live in the GA eco-campus – a prototype model for sustainable living that is a learning experience in itself. Living quarters are super-insulated straw-bale and mud geodesic domes, built on-site by previous course participants. Passive cooling systems are employed to combat the desert heat. Electricity is almost entirely from alternative energy sources. Composting toilets and grey-water systems help conserve water. The daily challenges of living together as a micro-community in this low-impact environment form an integral part of the educational experience of the course.

Participants on the course are also interwoven into the daily life of our kibbutz, an intentional cooperative community based on the principles of liberal, egalitarian Judaism. The experience and world view of Lotan is utilized as a case study for focusing on group process and community building. The ideas and ideals behind our way of life and projects are discussed, including talks about

kibbutz economics and social structure. Students are encouraged to take part in cultural/ religious events on the kibbutz and in the region that occur throughout the program. The Green Apprenticeship also integrates tours to local points of interest, neighboring kibbutzim and other ecological projects, and hikes in the region around Lotan.

Every practical experience on the course is reinforced by formal studies, a holistic link to permaculture ideas, and an opportunity for participants to share their ideas and past experiences to influence our projects. The activities are designed with the belief that an individual can bring these ideas to their own homes and communities, empowering them towards making positive change.

The Green Apprenticeship course is an authorized provider of the Ecovillage Design Education curriculum developed by Gaia Education. The Ecovillage Design Education curriculum is an official contribution to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014 and has the endorsement of UNITAR - United Nations Institute for Training and Research. Gaia Education is a program of GEN - the Global Ecovillage Network.

On successful completion of the course work, participants will receive a Permaculture Design Course Certificate according to the International Permaculture standards, which will be taught as part of the Green Apprenticeship program.

Practical work includes: 

1. Organic gardening
2. Natural, alternative building with mud, straw and straw bales, tires, junk
3. Creative recycling
4. Expansion, maintenance and running of the Center for Creative Ecology
5. Development and upkeep of the bird reserve and nature trails

Topics covered in the course include:

1. Local food production
2. Permaculture
3. Ecological design
4. Natural / alternative building techniques
5. Israeli and international eco-projects presentations with videos, slides and discussions
6. Sustainable technologies
7. Community economics
8. Environmental ethics
9. Sustainable community

Read what past participants have said about the Green Apprenticeship course

 

About Kibbutz Lotan

Kibbutz Lotan is a young community situated in the Arava Desert in the south of Israel. We are far away from urban Israel in a quiet area in beautiful desert surroundings.

Lotan was established in 1983 by graduates of the Reform Jewish youth movements from Israel and overseas. We came together to create a community based on a modern liberal approach to Judaism that strives to fulfill values of equality between the sexes, equality in work, and genuine communication between people. Lotan’s population is equally divided between native-born Israelis and immigrants from all over the world. Hebrew is the commonly used language but English is

also spoken. Our economy is based on date plantations, dairy, tourism, holistic health center, field crops, mariculture and various professions held by members who work outside of the kibbutz. Presently we number 55 adult members and around 60 children.

Kibbutz Lotan maintains a co-operative lifestyle in which means of production and resources are shared. We are members of the “Co-operative Stream” in the Kibbutz Movement.

 

The Center for Creative Ecology

The Center for Creative Ecology (CfCE) is rooted in “Tikkun Olam” -- the Jewish concept for repairing and transforming the world – and started as a dream and vision. It began with a small desert organic garden, and once we realized how much knowledge we had accumulated, expanded to become a unique ecological center that combines hands-on, experiential environmental education within the framework of a living community.

Each project helps us evaluate new directions we wish to pursue. Utilizing creative recycling and alternative/natural building techniques, the center now includes an ecological theme park, migratory bird reserve, nature trails, recycling center, and constructed wetlands for treating the waste water of the entire kibbutz.
In early 2009, the CfCE was awarded a Green Beanie by JTA.org, chosen from over 100 entries to be featured in their special section Eco Jews: Trends and Triumphs in Jewish Environmentalism.

Lotan is a member of the European branch of the Global Ecovillage Network and in 2006 received the organization’s award for Ecovillage Excellence in recognition of its work in promoting ecological building, waste management and environmental education, and also for promoting sustainability through the building of bridges between different ethnic groups in Israel.

Our Educational Team

Mike Kaplin was born in England and is a graduate of The London College of Furniture (Design/Craft). He is certified in Permaculture and Organic Agriculture and has many years of experience in building, welding and carpentry. A member of Lotan since 1986, Mike is the manager and initiator of Lotan's "Ecological Projects" that grew into the Center for Creative Ecology. When Mike is not working, he can be found with his wife Gwen and three boys, playing with mud or bird watching.

Alex Cicelsky grew up in New York State and has a BSc in Soil and Water Sciences and Environmental Quality in Agriculture from the Hebrew University Faculty of Agriculture. Alex is a founding member of Lotan and is currently finishing up his Master’s in Environmental Studies at Ben Gurion University. Alex also supervises the research interns at the Center for Creative Ecology and works on various planning and development projects in the Ecological Neighborhood and on the kibbutz. For pleasure, his wife and four children join him in search of creative arts and theatre, forest streams and ice cream.

Leah Zigmond grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and has been a Lotan resident since 1999. Leah holds a BA in Biology from Chatham University and a MS in Environmental Science and Management from Duquesne University. Although her main job is overseeing educational programming at the Center for Creative Ecology, Leah also oversees the organic gardens. Her background in both market gardening and agricultural research fuel her passions for sustainable irrigation practices and community-supported agriculture. When she is not in the garden (or in her office), Leah enjoys baking, hiking, and reading with her husband and two kids.

Mark Millstone Naveh was born in England and grew up in Australia. He graduated from the University of Sydney with a BS in ecology, followed by Honors in marine ecology at the James Cook University of North Queensland, and an MS in Education for Sustainability from South Bank University in London. Mark arrived in 1989 and is currently the General Secretary of the kibbutz. When not at his desk, Mark enjoys listening to music, cooking, walking in nature, and just hanging out with his wife and three kids.

Yisrael Piperberg was born in Israel and has been living at Lotan since 2004. Yisrael holds a permaculture design certificate and brings much experience in organic agriculture, irrigation, electricity, and just general handy-work. Yisrael teaches practical and theoretical classes in organic agriculture and permaculture. When he is not busy at work Yisrael enjoys swimming, meditation and yoga.

Rounding out the staff is the general population of Kibbutz Lotan: educators, artists, farmers, therapists, dancers and others who add a special flavor to the Lotan social and educational experience.

Program Details

• Accommodations are in our eco-neighborhood (two students per dome).
• Full board - all meals are in our communal dining room (kosher) with vegetarian options available.
• All studies are held in English.
• The course is based on the Israeli 5-day week (Sunday-Thursday) with Friday set aside for optional field trips, enrichment classes, working on group/ personal projects, or personal travel and rest-time; there is no work on Shabbat (Saturday) or on Jewish holidays.
• We encourage participants to schedule travel time before and after the program in order to explore Israel.
• Places on the course are limited. We accept applications on a rolling basis and preference will be given to those applying early. Notification of acceptance into the course will be sent out by the applications committee at least 6 weeks prior to the start of the course.

Fees and Dates of the Next GA Courses

11,400 NIS* for the 7 week course.
(Discounts are given for tuition paid in full before the first day of the course).

Cost includes housing in the eco-neighborhood, full board, tuition and processing fees, and educational support materials provided to each student.

*Consult xe.com for current exchange rates. 

• 21 December 2009 - 10 February 2010
• 22 February 2010 - 13 April 2010
• 19 April 2010 - 9 June 2010

How to Apply

Download the application form.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available on a limited basis. Please click here to fill out the form

 

ARZA CANADA

We are grateful to The Michael S. Stroh Scholarship Fund of ARZA Canada which offers grants to Reform Canadian participants in the Green Apprenticeship Program. Please see their website for scholarship criteria and contact information.

          

Special thanks to the Hazon bike ride for sponsoring scholarships to the Green Apprenticeship.

Support for the Green Apprenticeship Program including seed money for the building of housing for program participants has been generously provided by the Kibbutz Representatives Charitable Foundation.