Final Syllabus: Urban Gardening in the Degrowth Context (Berlin TTT pilot module for the public)
Train-the-Trainer Pilot course: Urban Gardening in the Degrowth Context
Berlin, February 20 – 21, 2014
Note: this is the "public" part of the course. The following weekend days, dedicated to learning and exchange among GROWL partners, are posted on a separate page
Goal: GROWL is piloting a train-the-trainer course that will integrate core degrowth principles and approaches into the topic of urban horticulture and renewable practices. This course will use train-the-trainer techniques to form future trainers (multipliers) who will serve as multipliers, transmitting their new knowledge throughout the groups and activities they are involved in. It contains practical examples of various learning methodologies and guidance for participants to develop their own future courses.
Audience: The target audience are individuals already involved in a degrowth or urban horticulture project who are motivated to become future trainers by combine these two themes. They may have varying levels of experience with adult education and may wish to: 1) incorporate a degrowth focus into their current adult education projects and/or 2) acquire additional orientation as to how to undertake adult education in their projects.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Thursday, Feb. 20th:
10 AM – 1 PM: Sustainable Sites City Tour
- Plänterwald Allotment Gardens
Rosa Rose Community Garden – Current Garden and Memorial Site
Tempelhof Airport Garden Project
1 PM – 2:30 PM: Lunch at Regenbogenfabrik – Solidarity Economy Site
2:45 PM: Registration for Train-the-Trainer Course, Seminar Room 4, Alte Feuerwache Kreuzberg, Axel Springer Str. 40-41
3.00 – 3.15 PM: Introduction to the course and GROWL
3.15 PM - 6.45 PM : Degrowth Lite Module by Research and Degrowth – France team
[Half-hour break in the middle with tea, coffee and snacks]
6.45 – 7 PM: Explanation of Ecological Footprint “Homework”
Friday, Feb. 21st: Theater room, KuBiZ, Bernkasteler Str. 78
9:30 - 10:00 AM: Introductions (ice-breaker) and comments on homework [K. Dowling & A. Hackenburger]
10.00 – 10.30 AM: Orientation on adult education
short summary on adult learning styles
techniques to address the different types of learners
open sharing of practical experiences [example of audience participation]
10.30 – 11.15 AM: Fairbindung exercise, “Memo-Spiel” [Methodology: thinking exercise using break-out groups]
BREAK
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Course administration
targeting/inviting learners
scheduling times and reserving a venue
organising resources (written, audiovisual, experts)
mixing teaching techniques to facilitate participatory learning
tips for speaking to groups
12:00 – 12:30 PM: Landscape for Life materials on sustainability and urban gardening -- Responsible soil management [Methodology: traditional Powerpoint lecture; De-growth goal: utilise appropriate local resources for cultivation]
12:30 - 12:45 PM: Vermiculture video [Methodology: multimedia resource; De-growth goal: divert waste from waste-stream and capture valuable organic material]
12:45 – 1:15 PM: Frau Dr. Cornelia Oschmann, Humboldt University, on edible gardening in limited spaces [Methodology: invited local expert; De-growth goal: enhance low-scale gardening for food production]
1:15 – 2:15 PM: LUNCH by kochzeichen.de
2.15 – 2.45 PM: Fairbindung exercise on Consistency/Efficiency/Sufficiency [example of thinking exercise using break-out groups] Fairbindung exercise on Consistency/Efficiency/Sufficiency [example of thinking exercise using break-out groups]
2:45 – 3:30 PM: Landscape for Life materials on responsible water management, indigenous plants and habitat preservation [Methodology: traditional Powerpoint lecture; De-growth goal: utilise appropriate local resources for cultivation , emphasize selection of local species and encourage biodiversity]
3:45 – 4:15 PM: Soil characterisation [Methodology: hands-on exercise incorporating written instructions; De-growth goal: teach participants to select local soils appropriate for horticulture]
BREAK
4.30 – 5:15 PM: Frau Frauke Hehl, Wem gehört die Stadt? [Methodology: invited local expert; De-growth goal: assessment of the commons for food production]
5:15 – 5:45 PM: Closing exercise by Fairbindung – Exit Cards related to food autonomy and urban horticulture
5:45 – 6:00 PM: Conclusion
explanation of tracking forms for future learners
request for participants to commit to future teaching
Methodologies:
peer-to-peer sharing
break-out groups
hands-on learning
participatory exercises
invited experts
traditional lecture
multimedia
Evaluation strategy: written and on-line
PILOT Degrowth course – Can Decreix – Project GROWL 16-21 MAY 2014
SATURDAY MAY 17: 11h Can Decreix – 18h Portbou
Degrowth pathways: ways to comprehend and experience degrowth
11.00 Starting point: Can Decreix
11.00-11.30 Kicking-off with the local context – from voluntary simplicity to well-being. Presentation of the ideas of
Radical monopoly (Illich), Critics of technology (Ellul) washing machine,
Claudio Cattaneo & Sylvain Fisher
and simple life (Thoreau) Vignes, Jean Labourgade
Presentation of the Limits to growth, & peak ALL (while look of the four-wheel goods, travelling from France to Spain and vice versa). Presentation of Meadows, Roegen.
Ecology I: presentation de Odum
11.45 – 11.40 Walk to the upper neighbourhood
11.40 – 12.00 Inequality and social comparison: Presentation of social comparison theory of Hirsch and happiness (Easterlin). Hacienda – Filka Sekulova & Giorgos Kallis Q & A.
12.00-12.15 Walk to hotel Belvedere
12.15 – 12.40 Critics of development Latouche, Escobar and MAUSS. Federico Demaria. Q & A.
12.40 – 12.50 Walk to the train station
12.50 – 13.10 Deepening democracy. Presentation of the writings of Castoriadis, Graeber and Fotopolous. Q & A. Christos Zografos & Panos Petritis
Group split in slow (A) and fast (B).
Slow group takes train to Portbou/ or walks slowly to Portbou (depending on group mood)
Fast group walks to Porbou.
13.30 – 14.30 Group A – walks to the beach of Portbou for picnic (on train or foot). Imagining the walk of Walter Benjamin. Joan Martinez Alier : Machado, Karl Polanyi : Federico Demaria. Paul Lafarge. Open to more participants;
13.10 – 14.00 Group B – Imagining the walk of Walter Benjamin. Walks through the ‘contrabandista’ trail, stops at the border and listens to a small presentation on ‘open localism’ by Francois Schneider. Arne Naess, deep ecology. Marie Renault.
Presentation de André Gorz . Open to more participants;
14.00 – 14.30 Group B arrives at the beach of Porbou
14.30 – 15.50 Picnic and reflection on the heavy philosophical food swollen in the last three hours
16.00 Portbou – at the Memorial Passagen, Dani Karavan art piece
17.00 Introduction by Joan Martinez Alier. A presentation by Eduardo Maura Zorita. Is Walter Benjamin a precursor of degrowth?
PILOT Degrowth course – Can Decreix – Project GROWL 16-21 MAY 2014
Forum Theatre – Role play on the sources and dimensions
Sunday 18 10h-13h Can Decreix, Cerbère
COOKING CHICK PEAS
Can Decreix, Cerbère
The objectives
Teaching degrowth: explanation of sources of degrowth (the main concerns around degrowth like justice, ecology, democracy, bioeconomy, buen vivir, conviviality etc.) and dimensions of degrowth (the main areas to deal with, related to limits to growth: time, availability of resources, money, social comparison, need to consume, productive capacity etc.) as well as their complementarity, Finally it is about an experimentation of teaching method based on forum theatre.
Needs
We need to have good basic scenarios that link the different dimensions of degrowth: The chick pea scenario
We need a clear area for public and for the theatre to take place (the scene); At the Garage?
We need actors for the basic scenario
We need actors focalized on each source of degrowth
We need to secure good preparation by actors
The steps
0- Presentation of the different degrowth source fans (justice, ecology, democracy, bioeconomy, buen vivir, conviviality etc.) that come with their specific hat, this is the occasion to explain the background of each source and make the link with the authors presented the previous day (that are usually not linked to a single source). The actors, on the contrary to degrowth authors, are “mono-source” for our play (we exaggerate this character, they are some kind of maniacs).
1- Problematic 1 is played – Resources availability
Story line: “We want to cook chick peas and there is no more gas, we call Putin, he explains that there is no more gas; Gas is getting more and more expensive. More and more problems with the exploitation in Siberia (commodity frontier), gas is used for war…”
The different source actors react on the problematic 1
Justici could say we have to stop exploiting land of indigenous people in Siberia and stop importing gaz from there, a carbon allowance small and equal for all
Ecolog could say we have to respect ecosystems there they are more important than humans, and demand small scale renewables respecting nature
Bioeconomy could begin to design resource caps, we can certainly optimize the use of gaz to use it in low amounts
Democrat could be worried with carbon caps, and call for small scale decentralized energy sources, and a referendum for a moratorium on fossil fuels
Happy would say we do not need energy as we can eat raw germinated chick peas, feel the energy in the chick pea and ask for a meditation
Convivial could say that we can cook with wood that our neighbors give away, we give around wine and bread to all also
The public reacts on the problematic 1
Searching for integrated solution for resources availability
2- Playing of problematic 2 - Infrastructures of production
“French people in response want to exploit shale gas to secure deliveries, and they are thinking of a new "gazoduc" (gas pipeline) passing by Can Decreix, gas consumption is booming...”
The different source actors react on the problematic 2
Justici could say that this is unfair
Ecolog could say this will destroy local ecosystems, especially there is a rare vitex…
Bioeconomy could say that we need small scale infrastructure
Democrat would say nobody asked us, this is not democratic, we need to debate what type of energy infrastructure we want
Happy would say that this will reduce the quality of life, what is important is not the infrastructure
Convivial could say that it will destroy the community
The public reacts on the problematic 2
Searching for integrated solution
3- Playing of problematic 3 - time to work
“The gazoduc and shale gas infrastructures development enable to develop Cerbère. The time aspect: some are stressed at work, others are unemployed, and people have no motivation for their work…”
The different source actors react on the problematic 3
Justici could say we need equal and small work hours
Ecolog that we need work coherent with the respect of ecosystems
Bioeconom would reduce working hours faster than material efficiency
Democrat could we need a referendum on working hours
Happy could say we need to work in something fulfilling, and very little in line with lafarge
Convivial could say that he would give his time to care others
The public reacts on the problematic 4
Searching for integrated solution
4 – “Following adverts for new kitchen, Can Decreix inhabitants can now cook chick peas in their all furnished kitchen. This makes South Catalans envious on the other side of the borders, also those that did not manage a job in the gazoduc. It develops anti-immigrant discourses; Can Decreix locks its doors
Last minute, things change, the infrastructure work is finished, shale gas is now exploited in Portbou; jobs and good earning s are now in Portbou. Cerberians have now to go to Portbou to cook chick peas...
The border gets definitely closed on the Belitre pass; some still pass by the tunnel...”
Same pattern
Justici could say if we are all equal no need to close borders, all on earth have the same rights
Ecolog that we need to define bioregions
Bioeconom would set models based on low material flow indicators
Democrat would call for democratic debates defend that we can have a strong variey of lifestyles
Happy could say that it is the frustration that makes us unhappy
Convivial would share his kitchen
5 - Monetary – “There were special deals to all these infrastructures got the state very indebted, also people have to reimburse their new kitchens. Land is destroyed and we have a financial crisis”
Same pattern
Justici could say that we all need the same access to money
Ecolog that we need to base currencies on trees
Bioeconom would reduce monetary capacity with 100% reserve banks
Democrat that all this shall be debated
Happy that money is not what is important for happiness
Convivial get rid of money and function on gift economy
6- Collective conclusion. Looking for multidimensional solutions, the goal is to get all the source actors to understand of the relevance of each concern in order to avoid having outrageous proposals related to reductionist thinking
Including several methodological description: ERR, Pro Active Cafe, Trunk and Roots, T Model etc.
as well as Degrowth theory on different authors and open localism
Agriculture and Food
The following are the results of the GAP at the Degrowth Conference 2010 in Barcelona that are particularly relevant for this working group. The document first presents a summary, including links to other working groups (in italic & bold), and then the complete results of those Barcelona working groups with some relations to the current one.
Summary:
The productivist model must be phased-out and policies that finance industrial agriculture projects must stop (including industrial fertilizers and chemicals).
Economical, political, social and cultural structural changes are needed. (education) There is an urgent need to move towards a more agro-ecological integrated agricultural system of food production by:
providing financial support for agroecological alternatives
using seasonal, ecological and local food
less livestock production {PHASE OUT BETTER?}
having food sovereignty as a principle (trade)
limiting deforestation and promoting re-ruralisation {ARE WE SURE ABOUT THE RE-RURALISATION?}
reconnecting rural and urban sphere in the North and the Global South (social economy)
Citizen initiatives supporting both urban and rural localised farming must be encouraged by diverse alliances with social movements, farmers, consumers, and public institutions as education, health sector, etc. (political strategies)
Working Groups from 2010 GAP in Barcelona with some connections:
Agro-ecology, food sovereignty and degrowth
Agroecology is not an option but an imperative for farming; there is an urgent need to move from a productivist industrial model of africulture towards a more agroecological integrated agricultural system of food production.
Many structural changes are needed; economical, political, social cultural. For instance, policies that are currently financing industrial agriculture projects must stop and instead of them it's needed finantial support of different kinds for agroecological alternatives. Also cultural changes are a must in the relationship between people and food production; these will imply shifts to fair, environmentally sound and healthy food consumption patters that rely less on intensive livestock production.
The rural and urban sphere needs to be reconnected both in the North and the Global South, taking up the perspective of food sovereignty. Citizen initiatives supporting both urban and rural localised farming must be encouraged by diverse alliances with social movements, farmers, consumers, and public institutions as education, health sector, etc.
Trade degrowth
Proposals
Ecological and social impacts of trade have to be measured with biophysical and social indicators, and further have to be integrated in trade policies and agreements.
There is a need for a new democratic global trade organization that moves away from “free trade” and growth as their fundamental basis, and towards social and environmental sustainability.
Food issues should be given priority to improve food security by working towards food sovereignty and productive autonomy.
Power relations have to be reduced among others by absolute foreign debt cancellations.
Research questions
How can ecological and social impacts of trade be measured with biophysical and human indicators?
How can the problem of scale adequately be addressed with various mechanisms?
Degrowth in water consumption
“Reapropiation of commons”: returning to public ownership and management of superficial, groundwater and desalted water at municipal level (if possible) avoiding to consider it as a commodity
Domestic tariff systems with basic threshold for free lifeline and quota up to a ceiling threshold, established in physical blocks terms and per day per person. Heavy industrial tariff to physical parameters and thresholds
Labelling Virtual water content (full life cycle) on all products: water points credit card
Degrowth in water consumption is tightly related to land use planning: non-industrial agroecological approach to agrarian land and food soverignity; stop new irrigation plans and water transfer and big supply infrastructures; stop urban sprawl
Downscaling to local sources management which enable people's empowerment: public fountains of free drink water as a symbol against fetishism of bottled water; democratic control on economy; living the river and its ecosystems; building a new water culture starting from water as life
In conclusion, accelerate degrowth and downshift your lifestyle
Social Metabolism and transitions
Socio-Political aspects
Link environmental movements with social movements and focus on underlying root causes to form alliances.
Aim at the consumption level of the sustainable peoples/classes of the world though this consumption levels take place in an unsustainable systems and therefore cultural changes are necessary even among within these peoples.
Create autonomous and intentional communities (niches of sustainability), and connect them. Promote this way of living and intervene in the system.
We need to change the current narratives that focus on material wealth to shift the focus on values that acknowledge the sustainability principles.
Bio-physical sphere
Global level
Closing material cycles as much as possible
Reinforce the product design-reduce its material requirements-make it more re-usable and re-cyclable.
Reduce, eliminate toxic chemicals (industrial fertilizers)
Return to the traditional, innovative way of agriculture-agro-ecology.
Reduce the global throughput of energy and materials adjusting it to the carrying capacity of the biosphere.
Put a limit to human appropriation of net primary production. Limit deforestation, change in industrial agriculture.
Internalize real costs.
Bio-physical sphere
Local and regional levels
Not exporting trash-
Reduce long-distance imports.
Less energy consumption in inputs.
Switching to locally produced renewable energy.
Construct with regional materials.
Bio-climatic architectural design.
Use seasonal, ecological and local food.
Re-ruralisation.
Foster proximity relationships through urban redesign-re-organization.
Reduce the transport infra-structure and make it more collective.
Promote sharing of electronic home equipment. Perceive them as commons.
Which social changes we expect with bio-physical decrease?
Demographic
Human time
Fool sovereignty
Immigration
Gender issues
- 65044 Aufrufe