[from Portland Community College catalog] Co-housing communities balance traditional homeownership with shared common facilities & resources and spontaneous fun with neighbors. Learn the nuts & bolts of how to launch new communities based on lessons from successful local projects. Instructor: Eli Spevak

NICA, the Northwest Intentional Communities Association, has held periodic gatherings at intentional communities in Washington and Oregon for 14 years. The Winter '06 Gathering will be at Rosewind Cohousing near Port Townsend. The NICA website (linked to this listing) is more complete source of info for this event.

Lost Valley Educational Center. (Formerly "Naka-Ima.") Part one of experiential workshop about realizing your vision and facing and dissolving the obstacles in the way of being fully and authentically yourself. Through the practice of honesty, in the context of supportive and loving community, we will explore how to be alive, in the moment, and deeply connected with others. Donation, incl. lodging, meals. $50 registration deposit; suggested additional contribution $300-$650.

Fifth annual diabetes expo. Saturday, April 29 from nine to four at the Qwest Field Event Center, Main Hall, Seattle, WA. Featuring discounted books and healthy cookbooks, prizes, youth zone, Awakening the Spirit (American Diabetes Association's Native American program) and more. Put on by the American Diabetes Association. Learn more at www.diabetes.org

Commune, a documentary about the Black Bear Ranch and their neighbors in Siskiyou County, is having it's national theatrical premiere in SEATTLE at the Northwest Film Forum May 5th - 10th. A number of local groups, activists, and progressive folk are coming to present their activities before and after the screening. The director of the film, which features Peter Coyote (who would often stop by Black Bear), will be there for the opening weekend. The Northwest Film Forum is at 1515 12th Ave in the Capitol Area. Let us know if your group wants to present at the theater. We are hoping to use the film to bring current group living and progressive action to people who might not know what is happening right now. You can see the trailer for Commune at the site below.

Lost Valley Educational Center. (Formerly "Naka-Ima.") Part two of experiential workshop about realizing your vision and facing and dissolving the obstacles in the way of being fully and authentically yourself. Through the practice of honesty, in the context of supportive and loving community, we will explore how to be alive, in the moment, and deeply connected with others. Donation, incl. lodging, meals. $50 registration deposit; suggested additional contribution $300-$650.

The Backyard Wildlife Festival is a free, all-day event to educate and inspire people to welcome wildlife into their communities. The festival begins at 10 am with the Procession of Species Parade, featuring participants replicating their favorite species of wildlife. From 10 – 3 pm festival attendees will be able to take part in workshops and festival events, which last year included arts and crafts booths, native plant sales, wildlife-friendly gardening, hands-on workshops and presentations, nature shows, children’s activities, food and music on the shores of the Duwamish River, instructions on how to certify your backyard as a wildlife sanctuary, and more. At 3 pm, the garden tours begin highlighting several certified wildlife habitat gardens in the Tukwila area. Come down to the Tukwila Community Center just a few minutes South of Seattle 12424 42nd Ave. Tukwila, WA 98168.

Lost Valley Educational Center. Immersion in Lost Valley community life: shared meals, work parties, community meetings, and more.

Greening Hollyhock returns to make Hollyhock more sustainable. Ron Jones and Sara Gutterman, the founders of Green Builder, merge the teaching of green building and sustainable living principles with an exciting hands-on solar project, installing solar panels to supply hot water for the hot tubs and some accommodations. During this dynamic, interactive workshop, we discuss principles of sustainability and learn practical solutions for greening our own homes and offices. An array of sustainable materials, designs, systems, and techniques are explored. Includes opportunities to present your own projects to the group for discussion. Ron Jones, a green builder for over 25 years, is a recognized author and leader in the sustainability movement. Ron currently is the Editorial Director of Green Builder Magazine. Sara Gutterman, entrepreneur, investor, and consultant, focuses exclusively on helping companies and communities become simultaneously more sustainable and profitable.

O.U.R. Ecovillage. Tyrone LaFay (director/founder) of Earthcare Design Solutions. 17-day intensive course that meets, and actually exceeds, standard requirements of the Permaculture Institute in Australia. Fully residential, $1,400CAN, incl. meals, camping; Non-residential, $1,200CAN; PDC graduate refresher course, $500CAN.

O.U.R. Ecovillage. Module 1: 17-day Permaculture Design Certificate Course (see May 31-Jun 16, above); Module 2: 10-week Internship Program. Full community immersion, instruction, individual and group hands-on projects to enhance and expand skills learned within PDC course. Community building, permaculture, whole-systems design, Nonviolent Communication, decision-making processes, personal leadership, local indigenous wisdom. Each participant will develop an experimental garden plot and help run community organic food production systems (no-till, bio-dynamic, bio- and French-intensive, permaculture). Field trips. Instructors: Tyrone LeFay and others. Modules 1 & 2, $4,400CAN, incl. meals, camping; Module 2 only (must hold PDC Certificate), $3,900CAN, incl. meals, camping. Partial scholarships available. Optional—stay through Sep 29 for practicum focused on harvesting, food processing, and seed saving.

Lost Valley Educational Center. (Formerly "Naka-Ima.") Part three of experiential workshop about realizing your vision and facing and dissolving the obstacles in the way of being fully and authentically yourself. Through the practice of honesty, in the context of supportive and loving community, we will explore how to be alive, in the moment, and deeply connected with others. Donation, incl. lodging, meals. $50 registration deposit; suggested additional contribution $300-$650.

O.U.R. Ecovillage. Elke Cole (Cobworks) and guest presenters. Cob construction, light-clay infill, strawbale and cob finishing, stonework, natural plasters, earthen floors, community life. Background theory and natural house design principles. $3,900, incl. meals, camping. Elke Cole from Cobworks, Holger Laerad, Mark Mazziotti, and other guest instructors.

Certificate Program: Integrating Land, Building, Lost Valley Educational Center. Joshua Smith, Diana Leafe Christian, Mark Lakeman, Toby Hemenway, Jude Hobbs, Rob Bolman, Tree Bressen, & others. Two-month residential hands-on, experiential course in creating ecovillages and sustainable communities. Permaculture design certificate course (organic gardening, eco-building, eco-forestry, appropriate technology, community site design), interpersonal communication, organizational and financial issues in community, Lost Valley's personal growth workshops.

Join communitarians and community seekers for a day of singing, sharing stories of community life, networking, introducing community organizations and networks, and open space discussions. The event will include information on the FIC Art of Community Northwest event on Sept 8-10, 2006 and several of its presenters will be at this day-long meeting.

NICA (Northwest Intentional Communities Association) presents a presentation on Cohousing in Denmark at Jackson Place Cohousing... Since the early 70’s the Danes have developed and lived in cohousing communities – today there are hundreds and many of them are unknown to North Americans. Grace Kim and Mike Mariano visited over 20 of these communities in 2004 and shares their experiences through an extensive slide presentation. Through a photographic journey, they will show how Danish communities have successfully created a sense of communitas throughout 30 years of cohousing. They will share insights about successful site planning, covered community streets, the importance of common house design, and the concept of “hygge” in Danish culture.

The Organic Islands Festival 2006 -- BC’s largest organic lifestyle fair -- The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific at Glendale Gardens & Woodland on beautiful Vancouver Island near the heritage city of Victoria -- Exhibitors and sponsors will showcase a complete range of organic products and services in a beautiful outdoor setting of five acres of inspirational gardens -- Product and service areas will include: Farms, Food, Fair Trade, Clothing, Ethical Investments, Garden, Health, Home, Personal care and more! Workshops, vendors, entertainment, and farmers market -- Discover British Columbia's Organic Community: The People * The Products * The Passion -- Sponsored by: Nature's Path Foods

Second Journey, Whidbey Institute. Conversation among architects, developers, educators, healthcare professionals, writers, visionaries, and elders about creating meaningful community in later life. What makes a "great place" in which to grow old? How can elders' wisdom be invested back into the community?

In this year's experiment in creating loving community we're planning a Camp that includes plenty of time for play, relaxation, cuddling and reflection in the midst of several new exciting workshop presentations, ZEGG Style Forums, and Gender Circles. Network for a New Culture (NFNC) is dedicated to creating a world without fear or violence, by promoting self-awareness and personal empowerment. We believe that these goals are most effectively achieved in the context of a supportive and loving community. One of the primary purposes of Summer Camp is to create such a community as a vehicle for social change, and to serve as a model for participants to emulate. We trust that you will join us in the co-creation of camp this year, as we focus on positive social change, creating community, personal growth, sexual choice, and healing the gender split, in a safe, fun, and nurturing environment. Join us in August for Summer Camp like you've never experienced it before!

Internationally renowned Wilderness Survival Instructor, Mors Kochanski teaches a weekend of Edible Plants and Herbs of the Boreal Forest at Kakwa Ecovillage off of Hiway 16 E of Prince George,BC. Children under 18 are free with 1 participating parent.

The Fellowship for Intentional Community Presents, Art of Community Northwest: Building Sustainable Community. An exciting weekend of networking, learning, & fun! Friday, Sept. 8 to Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006 Greater Seattle Area (venue to be announced. Co-Sponsor: Northwest Intentional Community Association. Meet People from Existing & Forming Communities; Ecovillages, Cohousing, Egalitarian, Housing Cooperatives, Collectives. Build Real Community Where You Are; at Home, at Work, at Church, in other organizations. Tools You Can Use; Facilitation, Consensus, Ecological Assessments. Be More Sustainable; Ethical Consumption; Local Agriculture, Bio-Diesel, Permaculture. Presenters Include: Diana Leafe Christian, Communities magazine editor; author: Creating a Life Together. Laird Schaub, FIC Executive Secretary; founder of Sandhill Farm. Geoph Kozeny, the Peripatetic Communitarian from Communities magazine &

Do you want to live in a healthier home but are not sure where to start? Do you or your family have health challenges such as asthma, allergies, recurrent headaches or fatigue? Join us for this eye-opening seminar packed with easy-to-understand information, lively discussion and solutions-oriented, hands-on activities based on the popular book, Homes That Heal. Take a Healthy Home Quiz and evaluate each room in your home. Find out how indoor air quality, mold problems, toxic building materials and common household products and furnishings can affect your health. This program shows you how to create natural, ecologically sound living environments that support and sustain your well-being. Athena Thompson is a certified Building Biologist. A Natural Health Specialist for almost 20 years, she focuses on environmental health, specializing in children’s health issues. Athena is cofounder of Humabuilt™ Healthy Building Systems and lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

This dynamic program is about learning solutions to modern environmental and social challenges. We help develop the skills which foster ecologically regenerative, socially cooperative, and personally satisfying communities. Through a combination of instruction and hands-on application, the course immerses participants in the theoretical, physical and social aspects of ecovillages, community living, and permaculture. In addition to a full permaculture design course, the longer time frame allows for more experiential education, through extended activities and the profound experience of living in community. An incredible team of experienced residential instructors and nationally known guest instructors provide knowledgeable and engaging facilitation. Please visit our website for further information.

Permaculture is both permanent agriculture and culture combined. You will learn a design system that is based on the natural world and can be applied in many ways to your life. You can expect complete immersion into creating innovative and healthy plant and social communities for urban and rural areas. The instructors are skilled growers and activists familiar with social justice and thousands of plant species. The course will impart permaculture principles and methodologies which can be applied anywhere in the world. Permaculture offers a huge storehouse of strategies and practical techniques gathered from all around the globe and throughout history. This is the second gathering on an ecologically centered land trust on the urban fringe. Wise Earth Ecological Landtrust is nestled by a 13 acre family nursery operation and 67 acre certified FSC forest. There is 5 acres consisting of mature second growth. For more information, check out the website

During the Heart of Now weekend, between 50 and 60 people come together in a supportive, loving community. Through a blend of structured, individual exercises and group interactions, we explore how to be fully alive in the moment, authentically ourselves and deeply connected with others. The essence of The Heart of Now is the practice of being present with your whole self: your emotions, your thoughts, your body, and, beyond that, the part of you that is connected to everyone and everything. When you are present with yourself, you can be present with others and with the situations in your life. In this place, you are free from the limitations that have held you back, and all possibilities are available to you to create your dreams and visions in your life. Registration fee:$50 plus $4.80 room tax. Includes: organic,vegetarian meals, lodging and childcare for ages 3-10. The remainder of the cost is offered by donation at the end of the course w/a suggested contribution of $300-$650.

This all-day, Seattle-area tour is presented by Coho/US – the Cohousing Assoc. of the U.S. and is cosponsored by NICA, the Northwest Intentional Community Association. The tour starts/ends at Jackson Place Cohousing in Seattle. We get to know each other as we proceed to Sharingwood Cohousing in Snohomish County. After learning about this community, which has used different development models and includes a nature preserve, we head to Clearwater Commons, an emerging community near Bothell – this community is being created by families in a Sudbury School. Next stop is nearby Songaia, where we'll have a tour and enjoy lunch in the community's common house – Songaia is known for its food program! After Songaia, we’ll bus to Puget Ridge Cohousing in West Seattle - the first cohousing community built in the City of Seattle! After Puget Ridge, the bus takes us back to Jackson Place Cohousing for the final community tour of the day. Craig Ragland will lead the tour. $95 per person.

During the Heart of Now weekend, between 50 and 60 people come together in a supportive, loving community. Through a blend of structured, individual exercises and group interactions, we explore how to be fully alive in the moment, authentically ourselves and deeply connected with others. The essence of The Heart of Now is the practice of being present with your whole self: your emotions, your thoughts, your body, and, beyond that, the part of you that is connected to everyone and everything. When you are present with yourself, you can be present with others and with the situations in your life. In this place, you are free from the limitations that have held you back, and all possibilities are available to you to create your dreams and visions in your life. Registration fee:$50 plus $4.80 room tax. Includes: organic,vegetarian meals, lodging and childcare for ages 3-10. The remainder of the cost is offered by donation at the end of the course w/a suggested contribution of $300-$650.

Become a certified Permaculture designer in this course utilizing practical design experience, hands on projects, and a wide range of teaching modalities. * Urban Permaculture * Ecovillage design * Site analysis * Animals in Permaculture systems * Edible landscaping, organic gardening * Agroforestry * Building design and energy conservation * Natural cycles and patterns. Instructors include: Rick Valley: A pioneer in the field, Rick holds a degree in Permaculture teaching and site implementation from the Pc Inst. (Australia). Rick co-taught the first permaculture design courses in Canada, Oregon and Belize. Jude Hobbs: Owner of Cascadia Landscape Design and an associate with Agro-Ecology Northwest, a business that does research and consultations with small scale farmers. Marisha Auerbach: Certified herbalist, Marisha presents on a variety of topics including: ethnobotany, herbalism, permaculture, edible landscape design, and organic gardening.