Social dimension of agroecology

The Belgian course “Social dimension of agroecology – City and countryside”  will take place in Brussels and Namur in November 11-16.

The Belgian course is  builded in two parts:

-  The first three days 11-13/11 will take place in a ecovillage called “la ferme de Wevy-Weron” on the countryside where the participants will be part of the life of  the 40 inhabitants living there (Old farmhouse +  Self-made woodhouses + Houses in the trees +… . This experience will be an opportunity to meet the people, to see their activities (gardening, agriculture, raising goats, bio-food distribution, bakery …) and how they organize the life together.

- The three last days 14-16/11 will happen in Brussels  around  city commun and shared garden and other agroecological experiences  open  to people with disabilities or social difficulties (children in risk, homeless people, eldery etc.)

The focus of the course is:

- Transmission of an eco-village experience and sharing with other existing experiences

- Transmission of agroecological experiences with people with disabilities or social difficulties

- Reflection and training  about socio-economical degrowth context

- Exercices about training the trainers on those subjects and experiences

Preliminary Course programme:

Tuesday 11 : 4:00 p.m. home in Namur ( Farm Vevy – Wéron Wépion )
Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 – Training in Namur
Friday 14 and Saturday 15: Training in Brussels
Sunday 16 : return – departure

TUESDAY  11 /11: Home , meals and first debate around the issue of degrowth with local actors

WEDNESDAY  12 /11:
- AM : Degrowth Module 3 – 4 hours
- PM : Visit Vevy – Wéron farm – theme : social dimension rethink its way of living in community, sharing, place in society …
- Late PM : Meeting at a festive meal with the residents of the farm and village
- Methodology of the day : deductive approach ,starting  with the course and illustrated on the field.

THURSDAY 13 /11:
- AM : Social Dimension part 1 :  “agroecology in the everyday life”.
- PM : Meeting of market gardeners and goatherds and other artisans of the farm and the village : how can we live decently declining fashion : the countryside – agroecology
- Provide social theory module Dimension 1: during build in advance : make a proposal, a theoretical basis (syllabus on line ) that will be revisited , completed … that is kept or not , what is changes , what we should add … the syllabus . Three stages: 1 syllabus starting 2 methodology fieldwork , 3 debriefing with amendments , criticism, suggestions for improvement , that we retired to the training of trainers . (before – during – after the seminar ) .
- Methodology of the day : deductive approach ,starting  with the course and illustrated on the field.

FRIDAY  14 /11:
- AM : Social Dimension Part 2 : Social institutions (disability, homeless, … )
- PM : Visit of ” Nos Pilifs” : 4-5 Pilifs  professionals that tell their Pilifs  point of view : their role in social integration and agroecology ? Perhaps than , “Le debut des haricots” (early beens)
- Methodology of the day : inductive dimension from the field , in situ reflection with professionals.

SATURDAY  15/ 11:
- Europe Day : meeting and personalities involved in the agro- ecological approaches European associations.
- Meeting in Brussels transition groups (Etterbeek in transition, transition St- Gilles , Brussels center , … )
- Methodology of the day : inductive dimension from the field , in situ reflection with professionals.
- Festive Evening

SUNDAY  16 /11: A last breakfast (or brunch ) in common and sweet  time for good- bye … and  free scheduling of the departures

Course in organised by: HEB