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 2021 (SPRING AND FALL), A RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS BETWEEN 18-28. WE SERVED A TOTAL OF 20 PARTICIPANTS IN 2021, WHO CAME FROM ALL OVER THE U.S. IN 2021, WE ARTICULATED AND CODIFIED THE CURRICULUM, FURTHER ORIENTED IT TOWARD EMERGING CULTURAL FOCUSES, ESTABLISHED NEW LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, AND DEVELOPED RISK MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR RUNNING COVID-CONSIDERATE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMMING DURING THE PANDEMIC.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 18 PARTICIPANTS IN 2021 WHO CAME FROM ALL OVER THE US.

EDUCATION & CONSERVATION - OFFER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT 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 2021 (SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL), SERVING 120 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS REPRESENTING 4 GENERATIONS FROM WITHIN A 40-MILE RADIUS TO CHAPEL HILL, AND DONATING A SURPLUS OF PRODUCE TO A LOCAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION CHARITY. DESPITE RAISING PRICES AN AVERAGE OF 50%, WE SOLD OUT ON THE MORE POPULAR SESSIONS, ACCUMULATING A WAITLIST.

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE - BUILD COMMUNITY RESILIENCE THROUGH COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AND SEASONAL CELEBRATIONS TO FOSTER CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG PEOPLE INTERESTED IN A BETTER ECOLOGICAL FUTURE.KIDS SEED & SONG: HELD NATURE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AT THE ECO-INSTITUTE IN 2021 WITH 20 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6-10, IN TWO DISTINCT SEASONS CALLED SEED & SONG (SPRING AND SUMMER). WE MADE NEW CONNECTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR FAMILIES IN NEED OF BETTER OPTIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN THAN VIRTUAL AND/OR HOME-SCHOOL NECESSITATED BY THE PANDEMIC, WITH COVID-RESPECTFUL SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES AND A CURIOSITY-DRIVEN CURRICULUM FOR NATURE CONNECTION.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. 37 PARTICIPANTS (WINTER, SPRING, AND FALL) 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.IN HONOR OF THOMAS BERRYS LIFE AND WORK.