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Andrew Langford berichtet, wie eine kühne Bildungsvision zwei Permakultur-Pioniere endlich zusammenführt

My first knowledge of Declan came as I was pioneering Permaculture in Britain in the mid 1980's. Lea Harrison from Australia encouraged me to be in contact although it was not until 2005 that we met.

From those early days I had a sense of support, just from the very existence of Declan working on permaculture in Germany. It felt very risky to me to be jumping off the edge to leave my previous livelihood and to try to make a living in permaculture and, as I kept hearing, through the years, through the grapevine, about Declan's daring transition out of academia and into permaculture and ecovillage life, about the emergence of Lebensgarten and more, I felt bolder myself.

When we did meet, 2005 in Croatia at the International Permaculture Convergence 7, it was as if we had been in close contact all along the way. I was with Liora Adler (she and I had started working together just 6 months before) and, out on the terrace of the hill top hotel in Istria, over a bowl of soup we asked Declan if he would take a lead role in our just launched and very experimental Gaia University project.

Well, Declan's response was lovely. He was enthusiastic (although he needed to check-in with the rest of his life to make sure he would not be overwhelmed) and super proactive. He proposed that he should convene an Advisory Board for us, drawn from his extensive list of contacts from all over the world, make sure it had gender balance and both significant endorsement value and age representation.

This offer was a major boost to both our morale and the functionality of the Gaia University project. True to his promise, Declan has created an inspiring Advisory Board and also gone beyond. He has been a significant part of bringing the Gaia University DE project into being (how can I ever forget the wonderful opening day events with the Mayor and Councillors of Steyerberg proud to declare themselves a University Town) and has become a valued personal friend and mentor.

Above all, Declan models to me, his younger by 15 years, older and bolder (in spades as a card player might say). I am delighted to be a witness to his continued innovation and leadership at an age when most folk settle for a quiet retirement. I am inspired to go the same way myself!

Much love to you Declan.

Andrew Langford

Joint Founder and President of Gaia University

andrew@gaiauniversity.org

www.gaiauniversity.org