Minimum Viable Academy (CoLab Training)
Minimum Viable Academy (CoLab Training)
A training program to cover:
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Governance training
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Change & Evaluation training
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Digital Collaboration training
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Economic practice training
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Facilitation training
Delivered by the MVA team in collaboration with other facilitators by the beginning of October 2022.
With particular attention to Permaculture CoLab’s needs as identified through the Permaculture Design work carried out in 2021, also by surveying the current active landscape and anticipating what is emergent in the ecosystem.
Please note that from 2024 the MVA Project also encompasses the Re-evaluation Counselling Scholarship Fund Project.
Team
Aimee Fenech, Jyo Maan, Andrew Langford, Vida Ashmole
Reporting Officer: Jyo Maan
Area
Training and eLearning, Next Steps project, Capacity+ project
objectives 2022
1. Demonstration of different trainings and facilitation methods and tools
2. Practical applications for active members in the different circles and working groups to try out
3. Artifacts in various formats that can be used in a variety of ways eg eLearning courses, podcasts, social media teasers, eResource database
4. We will use training and courses created as offers to other networks including GRC, DAF and others from within the Digital Circle enterprise model (including income sharing)
5. We will share our findings from followups of the trainings within the colab, including outcome harvesting and outcome mapping designs
6. We will create spaces enabling cross community collaboration & networking
OUTCOMEs 2022
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Permaculture CoLab Ecocycle Planning 4 hour workshop + artifacts delivered in 2 sessions
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Hosting an Inclusive space – 3 part series workshops of 1.5 hours each + artifacts
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Remote collaboration 101 1.5 hour webinar + artifacts + recording + personal consultation time for each circle / group for real life application if needed
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Wise crowds for self-generative business practices – delivered in 2 sessions of 3 hours
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Happy Money Story Fishbowl exp + artifacts + recording 3 sessions of 1 to 2 hours
objectives 2023
1. Understand the needs of the CoLab wider membership.
2. Set out the program in service of general CoLab needs before the end of April 2023.
3. Deliver the program by the End of the third quarter, October 2023, with associated artifacts and recordings.
OUTCOMEs 2023
Cross Network Collaboration Completed.
Conflict Transformaiton for Self-Organized Teams Completed.
Ethical Business Practices using Permaculture Principles is scheduled for Oct 11, 2023.
objectives 2024
1. Deliver a training programe for the CoLab which is self-elective.
2. Create associated artifacts and recordings from training to enable CoLab members to take the training on an adhoc basis.
3. Promote the existing OMBRA course open for CoLab members.
4. Fill the allocated scholarship slots for the RC trio of courses according to standard rates. Re-evaluation counseling / liberation from oppression, using RC tools for co-creation/conflict navigation scholarship slots 20; 10 for Reclaiming discharge – openings limited.
Outcomes 2024
September Update:
Colab Training Programme is hosting the Journey of Colab-Oration on Monday Sept 23, 2024 3pm – 4:30pm UTC and Wednesday Sept 25, 2024 3pm – 4:30pm UTC, a storytelling and story sharing space for the old and the new navigators of the ecosystem we love, our International Permaculture Colab. We realize that it is not a one way for all, therefore we are creating this space for the old and the new to come together and share, mentor, guide by learning from our stories made here in the Colab. We would like as many stories be voiced on this space.
This Quarter, the Reevaluation & Counseling (RC) Cohort project has made significant progress by adopting and expanding the one-on-one teaching method introduced in the Q2 2024 report. This approach provides greater flexibility for both learners and teachers while promoting consistent mutual practice sessions. Additionally, it allows us to connect new learners within the Colab environment to established RC communities, both geographically and through the pre-Colab Gaia U network.
Currently, three to four learners are actively participating, ensuring at least three reciprocal teaching and session exchanges weekly. These sessions total six teacher-led events per week, with one learner also engaging with advanced RC practitioners and communities in Sacramento and the Foothills, further enhancing their experience. Peer learning and session-swapping between participants is becoming a regular practice, which strengthens the cohort’s skill development.
December Update:
Three sessions were delivered this year successfully and the recordings were published within Colab. The sessions are Creating & Maintaining a Sociocratic Ecosystem, Active & Responsible Participation in Open Governance and A Journey in CoLab Oration, the recording of which is published on Colab’s youtube channel at https://youtu.be/vQ3sBcEAAng?si=fvPjlK8ECdUS_X0X
If you feel inspired to further this conversation relevant to your environment and teams, please contact us at learn@perma.earth
An article outlining OMBRA training, what it entails and how to participate was published. More information about this can be found here: https://gaiauniversity.org/rc-pathway/
There was an intention for CoLab Members attending 1-on-1 mentorship with Andrew to give them the experiential and theoretical skills, around 4 people took up this opportunity. Towards the end of the year there was a change of objective to produce an article about what Re-Evaluation Counseling is and how it is being offered.
The team is intending recenter its objectives around maximising impact through the CoLab training program for Y3.
objectives 2025
1. Explore what tailormade means in this CoLab context
2. From the identified needs, make a proposal to the community for offerings
Design & Deliver Offering 1
Marketing strategy for permaculture projects – 28th May – 16:00 CET – 17:30 CET (part 1)
Design & Deliver Offering 2
How to be a community member of a thriving, resilient, online space – 15th July – 16:00 – 17:30 CET
Design & Deliver Offering 3
Network weaving practices and processes for colab members – mid-October (with Andrew) – Wed 15th October
16:00 – 17:30 CET
Design & Deliver Offering 4
Introduction to Permaculture – mid-November 3 – 2x hours sessions, 4th, 7th, 10th November 2025 – 18:00 – 20:00 CET
Outcomes 2025
September Update
In this quarter, we ran the session “How to Be an Effective Member of a Thriving Online Community” – a highly engaging event where participants shared and reflected on their experiences of being in community. We also created an artifact capturing both the theory and practice of community: how to be a good community member, and what it takes to build and sustain community online.
The design for Network Weaving Processes and Practices has been completed, and the session will run on the 15th of October using a fishbowl format. Invitations have been sent to a number of experienced network weavers to share their expertise. Registration is open here: https://learn.perma.earth/product/network-weaving-practices-and-processes-for-international-permaculture-colab-members/
We are also finalising the design of a 3-part series planned for the end of the year: “Introduction to Permaculture”. This course will provide a practical orientation to permaculture design, explore its history, and offer opportunities for mentorship and feedback on participants’ design activities. Registration is available here: https://learn.perma.earth/product/introduction-to-permaculture-course/
Finally, we are collaborating with the iCAAFS team to create badges for the Introduction to Permaculture course. Permaculture teachers in the CoLab have been invited to peer review this course as part of a wider effort to develop peer-reviewed courses within the CoLab.
To Register for the future events please use:
https://learn.perma.earth/minimum-viable-academy/
Final Update
The CoLab Training Programme delivered a full cycle of learning offerings in 2025 designed to strengthen skills, confidence, and shared capacity across the global permaculture community. The programme began with an ethical marketing workshop that introduced a clear framework for designing communication in ways that are values aligned and accessible. Participants worked with nature-based metaphors to understand how strong marketing can be rooted in ecological thinking, with activities that helped them assess their content and outreach through lenses such as flowers, pollination, mycelial networks. The session was well received, and the accompanying recording, session design, pitch deck and activities have been made available for further use.
A second session explored what it means to be an active and supportive community member in an online space. This offering was delivered through an interactive conversation and produced an artefact that outlines practical behaviours, expectations, and tools that help strengthen participation. The session recording is available to CoLab members through the CoLab YouTube channel, along with resources that can be adapted for future onboarding or orientation processes.
The Network Weaving Practices session brought together experienced network weavers from across our wider networks. They shared practical insights on how to cultivate strong, resilient communities and how to support people to connect around shared purpose. The session generated useful reflections and artefacts that are now accessible to members and guests. A recording of the session is also available on the CoLab YouTube channel.
The final offering of the year was the Introduction to Permaculture course. This was our largest offering to date with comprehensive sessions offered over 3 days plus activities for attendees to track at home. This course went through a peer review process and was formally badges through the CoLab in collaboration with iCAAFS Open Badges. The cohort included a wide range of learners, including a young participant working with parental support, demonstrating the accessibility of the material. All course materials and recordings have been published for reuse, and a new cohort is planned for January.
As the project closes its current cycle, a substantial body of curriculum, recordings, and facilitation tools is now in place. These resources can be used to expand learning opportunities within the CoLab and adapted for other communities. The facilitation team is open to consulting, co-designing new tailor-made programmes, and delivering these sessions more widely. Anyone interested in collaborating can connect with the team through minimumviable.academy
Resources Created
- Micro Solidarity Session Plan
- Micro Solidarity Handouts
- MVA Cross Network Collaboration Artefact
- MVA Conflict Transformation Artefact
- MVA Ethically Conscious Business Practices Using Permaculture Principles Artefact
- A Journey in CoLab Oration: Stories from CoLab Members
- What makes for a successful remote collaboration?
- How to be a community member of a thriving resilient online space
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