The Green ApprenticeshipCenter for Creative Ecology – Kibbutz Lotan

The Permaculture and Ecovillage Design and Training program of The Center for Creative Ecology (Kibbutz Lotan).

Course formats in 2008-2010 include 6-10 week sessions on Lotan and a college accredited fall semester

“Peace, Justice and the Environment” program program in conjunction with Living Routes and UMassAmerherst.

The Green ApprenticeshipThe Green Apprenticeship

The Green ApprenticeshipThe Green Apprenticeship

The program focuses on the ethical, The program focuses on the ethical, physical and social components of physical and social components of sustainable development and sustainable development and sustainable community from a Liberal sustainable community from a Liberal worldview and the experience and worldview and the experience and tools we have acquire while working tools we have acquire while working to enact change in our community.to enact change in our community.

The Green ApprenticeshipThe Green ApprenticeshipElements of the program:

Practice meets theory in hands on work in the organic garden and ecological building techniques including adobe bricks, geodesic domes, straw bale and construction with recycled materials

Field trips to neighboring kibbutzim, ecological sites and natural areas

Presentations, group discussions and films present a broad view of Israeli and world ecological and community issues

Graduates will receive an internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certificate and Ecovillage Design Diploma.

The Green ApprenticeshipThe Green ApprenticeshipThe program utilizes the unique facilities developed by Kibbutz Lotan and the Center for Creative Ecology:

Ecokef Recycling and Organic Gardening Education Park

Kibbutz Lotan Constructed Wetlands Wastewater Treatment and Migratory Bird Park (under construction)

Migratory and Desert Bird Reserve

Green Apprenticeship Solar Neighborhood

Watsu (Water Shiatzu) Pool

Community Recycling Collection Center

Media recognition of our work and outreach activitiesMedia recognition of our work and outreach activities

Design Like You Give A Damn

Permaculture MagazineCommunities Magazine

The Jerusalem Post

United Nations - IRIN

The 2006 Award for Ecovillage Excellence has been awarded to Kibbutz Lotan by the Global Ecovillage Network in recognition of its work in promoting ecological building, waste management and environmental education; and also for its work in promoting

sustainability through the building of bridges between different ethnic groups in Israel.

Practical lessons are conducted at Kibbutz Lotan’s Center for Creative Ecology’s EcoKef (“Kef” means Fun) Education Park

Hands on work in Lotan’s organic garden and…

Green Apprenticeship

…Alternative Construction Utilizing Natural, Renewable and Recycled Materials

Green Apprenticeship

The same techniques are used for constructing a new nature study classroom in the bird reserve and…

Green Apprenticeship

…a hand crafted waterless toilet facility.

Green Apprenticeship Link to Aaron Padwee’s (GA 2002) website – construction photos

Green Apprenticeship

The program is based at Kibbutz Lotan, where The program is based at Kibbutz Lotan, where participants will experience life in a participants will experience life in a

community that makes a living connection community that makes a living connection between Jewish identity, cooperative kibbutz between Jewish identity, cooperative kibbutz

lifestyle and environmental awarenesslifestyle and environmental awareness

Green Apprenticeship – a unique experiential program which offers

• Leadership trainingLeadership training• Hands-on environmental studiesHands-on environmental studies• A tool box of practical skillsA tool box of practical skills• Sustainable communal living Sustainable communal living

What have Green Apprentice Alumni to say

about the programand

How have they used the tools and experience in

their communities?

Rachel Sandler is a second year medical student at the University of Iowa. She is an on and off campus activist and founder of

Future Physicians for the Environment

“The GA is ten week long permaculture experience where you gain hands on skills in earth building, organic gardening, and environmental activism. The GA involves workshops, lectures, and lots of fun. I think I use skills and ideas I learned at the GA virtually everyday.”

Rachel Sandler is a second year medical student at the University of Iowa. She is an on and off campus activist and founder of

Future Physicians for the Environment

“I learned from the GAHow to compost,Lots about plants, How to see problems as solutions,That environmental justice and social justice go hand in hand, &How to design more sustainable systems.”

Rachel Sandler is a second year medical student at the University of Iowa. She is an on and off campus activist and founder of

Future Physicians for the Environment

“I have used what I have learned to live a more sustainable life. I also began a group at my school called Future Physicians for the Environment. We aim to bring environmental awareness to future

medical professionals both in their personal and professional lives.”

Merav Carmi, 33, a third generation member of Nahalal, Israel’s first Moshav Agricultural Cooperative is an organic gardener and poet, has started the Yesh Meain Permaculture Education Farm,

runs a monthly Fair Exchange market.

“The GA for me was an overwhelming

experience, a treasure box filed with tools and keys. The time in Lotan made me believe again that one can change on a large scale as long as you just - do it and not get trapped in the fear of making mistakes.”

Grandfather’s Tools at Yesh Meain Farm Photo: Dalia Bali, GA 2006

Merav Carmi, 33, a third generation member of Nahalal, Israel’s first Moshav Agricultural Cooperative is an organic gardener and poet, has started the Yesh Meain Permaculture Education Farm,

runs a monthly Fair Exchange market.

GA taught me that “there are always resources, always solutions, always amazing people to co-operate with, always love and

abundance that are just waiting for us

to surrender them.”

Yael-Maya-Merav-Dalia (all GA 2006) Photo: Dalia Bali, GA 2006

Merav Carmi, 33, a third generation member of Nahalal, Israel’s first Moshav Agricultural Cooperative is an organic gardener and poet, has started the Yesh Meain Permaculture Education Farm,

runs a monthly Fair Exchange market.

What am I doing with

what I learned from the GA?“I pass it on,

create inspiring projects, make platforms for

people to learn, talk and do

ecology like we do here at my

farm.”Merav’s Garden Photo: Dalia Bali, GA 2006

Sarah Gilberg, 23, Washington, DC“ I use what I've learned in the GA program every day. I work for two nonprofit organizations whose missions definitely align with the principles that I learned at Lotan: The Institute for Local Self-Reliance emphasizes the use and care of local resources, promoting local economies, renewable energies, and zero-waste initiatives; and the Healthy Building Network promotes environmental health and justice throughout the life cycle of building materials.”

Sarah at Greenbuild 2007, Colorado, promoting a tool to help building professionals choose environmentally and socially responsible building materials

Sarah Gilberg, 23, Washington, DC, works as an accounting associate with two nonprofit organizations: the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) and the Healthy Building Network (HBN).

“I try to incorporate permaculture principles into my own personal

habits, from transportation choices

(planning my life within walking distance or at least within reach of

public transportation) to water conservation, to

backyard food production and composting.”

Making a vertical structure for climbers while gardening in the backyard of my parents' house

Sarah Gilberg, 23, Washington, DC, works as an accounting associate with two nonprofit organizations: the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) and the Healthy Building Network (HBN).

“I also try to share what I have learned with

others in my life. What has been equally

important to me though has been the friendships that I have maintained

with other inspiring individuals - having

this network helps keep me motivated to

continue to improve my own habits and seek more ways to apply what I now know.”

Building an Earthship made from earth pounded in used car tires, Jamaica 2008

Josh Tolkan, 24, participated in the GA during his University of Minnesota Master Degree Urban Planning studies.

“My work as an urban planner will allows me to draw on the same principles that permaculture is based upon everyday… I believe with the kind of job I could teach some sustainable living skills to urbanites, and that is what I hope to work for. "

Josh Tolkan, 24, participated in the GA during his University of Minnesota Master Degree Urban Planning studies.

“I plan on using the skills I learned in the GA in planning for cities that allow people to live permaculture life styles.”

Josh and friend at meeting on light railroad planning

Support The Green Apprenticeship by making a donation to our

Scholarship Fund and Solar Panel Fund

Please Visit Our Websites forInformation and Updates About theGreen Apprenticeship atKibbutz Lotan’s Center for Creative Ecologywww.kibbutzlotan.comwww.birdingisrael.com