Israeli idealists plan to develop a land trust in the northern Galilee to encourage rural homesteading.
Despite its emergence as a developed, industrial country, Israel has a bevy of close-to-the-earth learning experiences to choose from. Several kibbutzim throughout the country offer a variety of useful workshops in permaculture, off-grid living, sustainable building, and organic farming. These programs can be as short as one day or as long as an extended month-long volunteer project. Even so, given our collective agricultural brain drain, the small country could definitely benefit from a resurgence in small-scale, cooperative farming. Which is why the North West Galilee Trust caught our attention.
Calling themselves “Israeli idealists,” the Zionist group seeks to redeem and manage agricultural land in the North West Galilee. Not only does this region have a long history for multiple faiths, but it is also one of the few remaining outposts of natural beauty available for small-scale agricultural development.
The group intends to develop a land trust network in order to facilitate rural experiential education centers. These will be managed in tandem with traditional environmental and social Jewish values.
In pursuit of a pilot for their “holistic agriculture” project, the Zionist idealists are attempting to raise funds in order to purchase a one-acre plot east of Nahariya. Eventually this property will grow into a “living agricultural workshop” or rural homestead, where individuals and groups will be invited to practice hands-on, applied permaculture.
Jesus traveled throughout the Galilee spreading peace and helping people. Several hundred years later, this group aims to do the same by promoting a cooperative and sustainable lifestyle.
For more information, contact: Kochav David HaLevi at [email protected].
More on organic farming and permaculture:
Learn Permaculture and Green Building Techniques in Israel
Marda Plants Sustainable Seads In Palestine
Permaculture Initiative Greening Jerusalem
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
