Currently at Avnø Oasis Ecovillage, our community consists of a core group of 7 adults and 3 kids, several explorers of the project, and 5-10 volunteers. The total number of people staying here varies from 10 to 60+ people of different ages at different times of the year, depending on events, how many people are home, as well as the number of volunteers, students, and guests. We aim to raise the number of permanent residents to 30 adults plus our kids.
By January 2025 our members are:
John (USA), Kristiane (Denmark), Lena (Ukraine), Olha (Ukraine), Lasse (Denmark) are partners of the project. Our kids are Rada, Timur and Zoryana.
Bob & Isabel are explorers. Hauke Christian is a co-liver. Activity partners include the board of Vitalitetsfonden, Rikke & Bernhard, Lucia, Karin, Alicia, Thias, Philippe, Christian, various members of LØS, who are teaching parts of our courses, and others.
My name is Kristiane. I am in Avnø Oasis because I love to see people, plants and projects grow. I was part of starting this project because I wanted to create a greater impact than I could do alone. To witness the transformation that people who come here go through no matter if it is volunteers, explorers or students is absolutely fantastic. To experience that the connection with the other core members becomes deeper every time we together handle a difficult situation is very satisfying for me. I have only experienced that with some of my children before. Our focus on empowerment gives me hope for a brighter future on earth and motivates me to continue to do my very best to realize this project.
I'm John, 79 years old, grew up in Oregon USA raised on a dairy farm. Graduated from University of Portland in Oregon with a degree in accounting and a minor in economics. Worked with my brother in a home building company and land development company. Later owned a manufacturing company, manufacturing, wood, lockers, and racquetball and squash courts internationally. Currently at Avno working with the maintenance and bookkeeping since its founding in 2020.
Defining myself in a few lines is tricky - I have many facets and many roles at Avnø. What seems to always stay is my passion for authenticity, depth, harmony, and connection. When I was 20, I went through cancer, - and that liberated me immensely. I realized - it is time for me to change my life and the world around, supporting myself and others in becoming who we truly are. So I came to Avnø in 2022 to facilitate the Community Education course - and since then it became my home, my expressive laboratory, and my version of Hogwarts. Here I coordinate, organize, facilitate, promote, offer community-building, educate, clean, and support people in enjoying their work and life at Avnø.
I am a permaculture designer and mother. I have three children. I enjoy growing trees from seeds, beautifying the planet with gardens. I garden and teach permaculture in our community. Personal development is also important to me. I feel like I have found the perfect place for myself here because I can learn and share knowledge and live surrounded by nature and wonderful people.
Rada is 12 years old. She is creative and likes to read books. Timur - 9 years. Open and sensitive. Like to play Lego and cars. They attend a Steiner school close by. Zoryana is 3. Goes to kindergarten. Active and independent.
I joined the community looking for friends and a project to be involved in, which I have surely found! Having been involved since winter 2022/23, I am part of making the buildings and IT function. I enjoy fixing things, learning new skills, and writing a song every now and then. I hope to participate in making Avnø an even more awesome place to be.
We are often 7-10 different nationalities around the table 🙂
As an international community, our main language is English. However, we want to stay integrated into our local area, so Danish is learned by the residents, and spoken in situations when only Danish-speaking people are present.
Living in a community can be socially demanding, but it also provides opportunities for personal growth, healing, and deep connections with other people. It is an opportunity to learn to find a balance between taking responsibility for your personal needs and the community’s needs. There will be people and situations that trigger your weak spots or bring out your strengths. It’s essential for an enjoyable community life that you (and everyone else here) are eager to learn and develop yourself through your stay and that you are willing to work with tensions/conflicts that may arise. Here you can find our procedure for dealing with conflicts in a respectful manner.
Regular community building activities are:
• daily morning circles at 9:00 — to start the day with a song or activity and hear the announcements
• weekly sharing circles at 19:30 on Sundays — to share what’s alive in our minds and hearts
• opening and closing circles for people coming/leaving etc.
• Coordination group meetings
• Sometimes there are also womens circles, biodanza, morning yoga/exercises, video evenings and other workshops, courses and events organized by volunteers, students, residents or as part of Avnø Højskole.
You are invited to participate in the above activities or initiate more common activities, spend time alone, or explore the surroundings.
Legally, all activities of Avnø Oasis are run through Vitalitetsfonden (CVR 417046). We use sociocracy for decision-making and organisation. It gives everyone a chance to be heard and provides transparency (of course, if practiced correctly 🙂). Residents, volunteers, and contributing guests participate in one or more working circles matching their skills and interests.
Every working circle has clearly defined aims and a mandate to make decisions within their area of responsibility. Our working groups are:
• Vision Keeper circle
Make sure that our decisions and activities are aligned with our vision and values.
• Coordination circle
Responsible for designing areas of responsibility for the working groups, so that everything is taken care of and nothing overlaps.
• Community subcircles
• Partner circle
Make long term decisions. Consists of people who are committed to make the project succeed. Partners elect 4 Vision keepers for a year at a time.
• Kitchen circle
Prepares meals for the community. Keeps the kitchen clean.
• Hosting circle
Make sure we have a nice and welcoming atmosphere. Keeps our indoor environment clean and cozy. Make sure that new people are being well integrated into the community.
• Højskole circle
Creating and coordinating courses, events, students and teachers, facilitating workshops…
• Communication circle
Promotes the project on our social media and website. Creates and maintains our visual branding. Improves our inner communication processes.
• Economy & Administration
◦ Bookkeeping, yearly reports, IT, organizing information structures etc.
◦ Property & Land
• Land circle
Growing our food. Taking care of the general outdoor land.
• Technical circle
◦ Daily maintenance, repairs, renewable energy, plumbing, electricity works, etc.
◦ IT
◦ Building permits
◦ Sustainable designs and solutions
• Ecopreneurship circle (not yet established)
Develops small green enterprises at Avnø Oasis: Makerspace, Health Sanctuary, green cafe, etc.
You can read more about sociocracy here, in our library, or participate in our sociocracy courses.
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