Eco-Institute At Pickards Mountain Inc

AN EARTH SANCTUARY AND LEARNING COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO HEALING THE HUMAN-EARTH RELATIONSHIP.

LEADERSHIP - ENCOURAGE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP IN YOUNG ADULTS: RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR GAP YEAR, COLLEGE AGED, AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE LOOKING TO CLARIFY THEIR VISION AND DEVELOP TANGIBLE SKILLS FOR GUIDING THE WAY TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.RISING EARTH IMMERSION (REI): EIPM HOSTED 2 SEASONS OF THE RISING EARTH IMMERSION IN 2022 (SPRING AND FALL), A RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS BETWEEN 18-28. WE SERVED A TOTAL OF 25 PARTICIPANTS IN 2022, WHO CAME FROM ALL OVER THE U.S. PERMACULTURE FOUNDATIONS COURSE: EIPM HOSTED A WEEK LONG WORKSHOP EXPLORING THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF PERMACULTURE DURING THE FALL REI. CO-TAUGHT BY MEG TOBEN AND DAN WAPEPAH, WHO BROUGHT AN INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE. WE SERVED A TOTAL OF 29 PARTICIPANTS IN 2022 WHO CAME FROM ALL OVER THE US.

EDUCATION & CONSERVATION - OFFER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO RECONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE AND PROMOTE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES. THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS A WORKING FARM FOR THIS PURPOSE. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FIELD TRIPS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS, WORKSHOPS TO TEACH EARTH SKILLS, SUCH AS BEEKEEPING, ORGANIC GARDENING, WILD FOOD-FORAGING, AND HERBAL WELLNESS. FOR EXAMPLE, GARDEN COOPERATIVE IS A COLLABORATIVE GARDENING OPPORTUNITY IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS SHARE IN THE LABOR AND IN THE HARVEST OF OUR ABUNDANT LEARNING GARDENS, DEVELOPING ORGANIC GARDENING SKILLS AND GOING HOME WITH PRODUCE. WE HOSTED 3 SEASONS OF THE GARDEN COOPERATIVE IN 2022 (SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL), SERVING 96 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS.

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE - BUILD COMMUNITY RESILIENCE THROUGH COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AND SEASONAL CELEBRATIONS TO FOSTER CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG PEOPLE INTERESTED IN A BETTER ECOLOGICAL FUTURE.COMFREY SALVE-MAKING WORKSHOP: AN INTRO TO HERBALISM, THIS 2-HOUR WORKSHOP WAS FOR PROCESSING A USEFUL PLANT FROM THE COMMUNITY LEARNING GARDEN CALLED COMFREY INTO A TOPICAL SALVE FOR THE SKIN. 19 PARTICIPANTS IN DECEMBER CAME AWAY WITH NATURAL MEDICINE FOR THEIR HOME, OR HOLIDAY GIFTS.SPIRAL OF LIGHT: A WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL, AND AN ANNUAL ECO-INSTITUTE TRADITION, SPIRAL OF LIGHT IS A BEAUTIFUL RITUAL INVOLVING A MEDITATIVE LANTERN WALK, A SACRED COMMUNITY FIRE, CANDLES, WARM BEVERAGES, AND CEREMONY. 40 PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS HELPED MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE WHICH WAS HELDIN HONOR OF THOMAS BERRYS LIFE AND WORK.