ESC: Resiliance through nature group 2026

The Association Nurturing of the Earth and the Spirit (former Pr'nebavec farm association) was established through the youth initiative "Permaculture in the Countryside and in the City" in 2014. Like the name explains, the main object of the association is fostering the care for Earth (practical and theoretical), as well as cultivating the human spirit. It is intended to promote the holistic personal and social development of children, young people and adults as well as sustainable development. The association operates in various educational centers in nature and carries out activities throughout Slovenia. One of the goals of the association is the revival of abandoned farms and the introduction of content in them that brings benefits to society, the individual and nature. The first farm on which the association operated was the Pr’Nebavec Homestead, where we carried out many youth, social and sustainable activities. After four years of activity this farm changed to a family farm and most of the members of began to fulfill the mission of the association in other places. In the last two years, we have been most active at the Vinica Zimšek social farm in Kozjansko, called "Virštan" - FB page: https://www.facebook.com/Virstan-106048674349554/ and at the Mokovc Homestead above Zreče, FB page: https://tinyurl.com/Mokovec. The vision and dream is to create a supportive environment for learning and spreading sustainable living, sustainable lifestyle and development (personal, social and in relation to nature), learning permaculture as an integrated planning of different ecosystems, spreading knowledge about natural building, establishing integrated pedagogy, experiential learning of children and young people. We operate on the principle of empowerment and inclusion of each individual (including the socially and economically vulnerable), the promotion of intergenerational socializing and non-formal learning among young people and the elderly in the local community. The association operates primarily through non-formal education of children, youth and adults. We carry out advanture pedagogical activities according to the principles of experiential learning for children and young people, such as: permaculture and experiential-pedagogical holidays for children and young people; youth exchanges; labor camps; creative experiential workshops; various workshops and trainings. We organize workshops, lectures and online education mainly in the field of permaculture, gardening and natural building. We also provide training in new approaches and methods of eco-communities - such as The Hero's Journey, Dragon's Dream - and other workshops and trainings aimed at self-knowledge and psycho-social development. We also organize workshops for the development of creative, artistic and social skills (for example, drumming and music workshops, art workshops, dance and theater). In addition, we are practically and theoretically engaged in research and education in the areas of sustainable living and sustainable living in relation to nature and fellow human beings (organizing permacultural design course (PDC), planning sustainable natural and social ecosystems, creating arable land in accordance with nature and ethical principles of permaculture, we developed and implemented the first Slovenian interactive online gardening course, members of the association were them initiators and initiators of the Association for Natural building, etc.). The members of the association are experienced in the fields of youth work, social pedagogy, permaculture, education, moderation and coaching, art, natural building and more. Our vision is to offer a variety of quality education and process experiential learning, even to people who do not normally receive it, due to economic, institutional, personal, social, or other constraints. In addition, we also provide visits, occupational therapy, as well as longer stays in our centers, even for the socially and psychologically disadvantaged. This departure from everyday life and the supportive environment of nature and the supportive community empower individuals. We also have the role of partner and sending organization in international youth projects, mainly connected to sustainable living, personal development and creativity. We also host and mentor Slovenian and international volunteers through online platforms:”Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms” and "Work away", in 2020 our focus was especially on this. In the last two years, we have also been mentors and reinforced mentors to EVS and ESC volenteers from Veles Institute and the Sunny hill Association. In our activities we work closely with many related organizations as well as public institutions in Slovenia (Permacultural association of Slovenia, Institute Veles, Association Cirkokrog, Institute Ekovas, Metta Association, Obilje Insitute, Association Natura, Sunny hill association, Kindergarten Slovenske konjice, different youth centers).