We are quite literally building a regenerative school in the ruins…

When Penny Heiple and I made the decision to purchase this land, it was a huge commitment. We felt the significance of finally clearing the debt on Bioparque Moncora that had lingered since 2010. This land is an anchor location in Barichara's greenbelt. And it has the right layout for ecological design and construction of a learning center.

Our first action was to establish an outdoor classroom with rainwater harvesting that could grow into a community garden. Success! This is now in place and the process is unfolding with our teachers and the children in Sueños del Bosque.

This year we want to construct a larger classroom space that can also be used for community gatherings and initiate an "off-grid" design for energy production and water treatment. Plans include a composting toilet system and storage for educational materials.

In parallel, we have pilot programs in community education with some of the rural schools in the territory. And we are beginning to explore how to give this a truly bioregional focus with learning exchanges in other territories of the Northern Andes.

Feeling it deeply this morning as I write these words with a melody of birdsong all around me.

Onward, fellow humans.