ESC: RETHINK GAIA ECOFESTIVAL - Connecting Seeds&People

RE:THINK social cooperative protects local biodiversity and creates sustainable strategies for local communities through innovative, regenerative projects
Rethink Social Cooperative concentrates its efforts on activities based on clear and well-defined objectives: - the support and reinforcement of sustainable development actions against climate change; - raising awareness on environmental, economical and social challenges within the local and broader community; - promoting diversity, inclusion and social awareness actions; - networking and developing common strategies with organisations and initiatives across Europe and beyond. Through our ESC projects we want to promote the sharing of information and skills towards ecological transition and community coherence while supporting engagement in sustainable and regenerative practices with a strong and positive environmental impact. By actively promoting culture, arts and ecotourism using non formal educational tools, we believe that we can boost solidarity, green economy and community living
RE:THINK Social non profit Cooperative has experience in:
1|Organising workshops, training courses, events and awareness campaigns for young people, locals, students and professionals on topics of sustainability, nature education, biodiversity conservation, grassroots initiatives and youth work, collaborating closely with other organisations and universities in the local and broader area using non formal educational tools and methods. During the last 8 years, multiple workshops and events were organised and facilitated regarding permaculture, community composting, organic farming, community building, environmental education, nature bonding, school gardens, creative upcycling and reuse, wellness courses, zero waste festivities, and social peace skills. We facilitate groups and individuals in achieving their personal and community learning goals by: - connecting eco-projects, initiatives and people; - developing long term European solidarity strategies towards sustainable societal transformations; - organising gatherings, eco-festivals and courses for people working in fields related to our activities to enhance collaborations and build a strong community with values of inclusion, peace, social solidarity, ecology, justice and respect for diversity.
2|Stewarding an educational, recreational and research urban permaculture farm on the following projects :
- the Fifa Permaculture Farm, a project implementing Social Permaculture that transforms land to a complete permaculture system design creating ecological gardens and regenerative farms while connecting people with a global community of co-learners and innovating hands-on solutions, envisioning a common solidair and sustainable future. We produce highly nutritious organic food for the community (certified organic oranges, lemons, marmalades and seasonal veggies) while we are researching and providing knowledge in food sovereignty, fair, sustainable food & green energy production and self-sufficiency within an urban context, establishing pathways for eco synergies and sustainable societies.
- the Heirloom SeedBank and the SeedKeepers Alliance, a project with great environmental value as it maintains and evolves continuously the collection, planting and breeding of old traditional plant varieties. Our seedbank currently contains more than 300 hundred listed endangered varieties from the local and broader area. We are also very proud of our Seedkeepers, a very active local voluntary network of people from all ages and backgrounds that keeps growing, exchanging heirloom seeds, creating networking for seed conservation and participating in the organisation of seed exchange events such as the Re:Think Gaia Festival in 2021. Our main goal is to establish seedbanks in school communities to activate future generations towards ethical, fair and sustainable eco-communities.
- the Rethink Community Compost Network, a project implemented since 2014 and recently in cooperation with the Municipality of Kalamata and the Green Fund. It is a grassroots tool of active citizenship aiming at the self-management of organic waste collectively executed by the local inhabitants, leading to sustainable, activated and self-aware societies where the waste producer becomes the compost producer. The network of Kalamata currently consists of 55 community composters (cc) located in selected places from school gardens to public parks open to all citizens, absorbing in average 800 tons of organic waste annually. We have also established pilot community composters in Lesvos (1), Mykonos (1), Samothraki (3), Mani (2), Athens (5) and Thessaloniki (1), plus 20 private ones around Greece. We have organised and facilitated more than 100 workshops and lectures on composting and minimization of the ecological footprint, activating the local communities to take action in waste management while inspiring artists, scientists, activists and educators on the creative reuse and recycling of waste materials.
- the School in Nature, a project of democratic eco based education incorporating principles from different experiential educational approaches (forest schooling, outdoor, environmental, permaculture, and democratic education). We are producing and implementing environmental programmes at our farm and at mountain Taygetos, inspired by the permaculture methodology focusing on the circle of the seed, composting, botanology, natural remedies and DIY crafts and arts, educating school groups, adult groups and families for the past 8 years. Since 2014 more than 20.000 students from public schools of Messinia and other regions have attended our educational programs, approved by the Ministry of Education. Zero waste artistic creation such as Creative Recycling, Upcycling, Trash, Environmental and Land Art are important tools in our educational quiver. We are also aiming to expand our network of school gardens and create a permanent eco-school at our farm where the young generation can learn to live in symbiosis with nature.