WELCOME TO
THE FIREWEED LEARNING COLLECTIVE
for Transformative Sustainability Education
The Fireweed Network is a virtual network for those wanting to pioneer
a relational and transformative approach to sustainability education.
We engage in dialogue about the complexities of teaching
for the transition to life-giving societies.
We will serve educators in the future by discussing challenges
educators face in their practice (stay tuned)
and currently share resources such as activities and curriculum
(see Resource Giftshare).
The predecessor, The Fireweed Institute, offered educational programs
for those making the transition to sustainable ways of living.
This included long and short courses, workshops, and presentations by various facilitators.
See the archives for examples of programming. Some of these programs can be adapted to your needs. Please contact us with your email if you are interested.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PART OF THE WEBSITE IS STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT.
PLEASE CHECK BACK WITH US REGULARLY FOR UPDATES.
SYMBOLISM OF FIREWEED
The fireweed is a symbol of transformation. This tall purple flowered plant grows in areas where the soil and vegetation have been disturbed by factors such as fire, flooding, or clearcuts. It grows quickly through a network of roots.
The fireweed is called a pioneer species as it starts the process of ecological recovery and creates the foundation for a mature ecosystem. As a medicinal herb, it also assists humans in dealing with trauma and other 'disturbances'.
Thus, the goal of the Fireweed Network is to teach folks, and assist educators, in pioneering sustainable ways of living and working.
"Their seeds must fall and press beneath this earth, and find me where I wait. My only need to fertilize their birth."
From Elegy by Maya Angelou
MISSION
The Fireweed Network is dedicated to fostering life-giving people.
Given ever-increasing pressures, people are tired of the frenetic pace and they yearn for balance, meaningful work, and time to enjoy life and loved ones. People want to live environmentally and socially responsible lives, but find it hard to do so. Even making sense of all the conflicting messages about environmental issues and what ought to be done, can be difficult.
Living a sustainable life means working and living in ways that are life-giving.
Our personal lives are sustainable when we have time for rest, loving, and laughing and doing things that feed our soul. Our work lives are sustainable when we have adequate time and energy to do our tasks, be creative, make a liveable income, and contribute positively to the world around us. Our living is sustainable when we mitigate the harm we do when we take from the Earth or engage other people in our daily actions.
To live in ways that are life-giving, we need a new way of thinking and being.
The Fireweed Network helps teach adults about returning to these ways of thinking and being. One way we do this is to learn how the natural systems of the Earth and other species work. By understanding that we are part of a larger life web that can teach us, we can find new models for transforming the ways we live and work. We also explore Indigenous philosophies, Wisdom Traditions, and the New Science to begin this new understanding.
The Fireweed Network is a community of those who try to put these principles into action, and who educate others into these new ways of thinking and being. We engage in this mission as a way to imagine and help create a just and sustainable human community with the larger community of Life.
FIREWEED INSTITUTE ARCHIVE
still under development
What is the Fireweed Institute?
The Fireweed Institute is...
Newsletters
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Newsletter 01
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Newsletter 02
Workshops and Education Publicity
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Workshop 01
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Workshop 02
Working Principles
Our principles are....
Community Action Programs
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Program 01
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Program 02
Funders & Partners
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Partner 01
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Partner 02
Videos
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Video 01
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Video 02
Press
About Elizabeth Lange and the Fireweed Institute