Walk and workshop

This morning started in the same quiet and calm sequence as the others. After breakfast I went for an extended walk. Along the crop fields, I came to the community center and from there to the water reservoir at the bottom of the valley. I crossed the reservoir and took the way uphill, along a construction site. At some point, the track got lost in nature. I followed some animal tracks, until I came to the pond, where I’ve had been two days ago and, again, followed the trail uphill. After a second relaxspot along the trail, the path became really overgrown.

Now and then, I had catched a glimpse of a great view across another valley. But because of some bamboo padges, a ditch and a fence, I couldn’t quite get a good look. Thus, I worked my way through some brambles and stuff, until I reached the highest point. From here, I really had a great sight! Reward! Luckely, I had remembered some little landmarks along my path, thus I could find my way back. Looks the way down quite different than coming up. On a bench at the pond, I took a moment to just be there. Taking in. Feeling. Being part of… And then, it was lunchtime.

Some last preparations for the workshop. Got my pants ironed. And with a little delay we drove off to Viçosa. Next to the faculty building is a little plain. Every Wednesday, there is a market from local farmers and handcrafts. It’s part of the agroecological community project. In a meeting room next to it, they have courses and conversations to share knowledge and expriences. At this spot, my workshop took place. The market got going, en though people started to come in. The professor for economics for creatieve networks came with a few teammembers, some were from Felipes faculty, some were project fieldworkers in several community projects, a few from a NGO. What a crowd, for just two days notice! Amazing, how much interest they had in the subject. Most had heared from doughnut economics, but nobody had dived in, yet, the quick check-in revealed. With just 90 minutes, I only could give a quick overview in the line of thinking, basic models for community selfies and goalsetting and for business development. For examples, I had looked into Brazilian projects, making it as tangeble as possible. Good conversation, pracical focus. Good respons. Loved it!
(the first 2 following foto’s are not my own)

The end of this 10day part of my learning journey had come. The next day, I took the bus to Belo Horizonte. Thus, we went for Celebration to a nice little restaurant in town. What a vibe!