GErmany Near NL Embracing Munay: The Heart of Our Forest Garden

Understanding Munay in the Context of Permaculture

Munay, a term derived from the Quechua language,
embodies a profound principle in Andean philosophy that signifies an unconditional and eternal love towards all living beings.

This fundamental belief underscores the idea that all individuals are,
at their core, in pursuit of happiness.

Within our Munay Forest Garden in Oberberg, Germany, we aim to nourish this spiritual connection between humans, nature, and the divine, adhering to the principles of permaculture.

Creating a Harmonious Space

Since 2020, I have had the privilege of living, playing,
and experimenting in this enchanting sanctuary.

The Munay Forest Garden is not just a patch of land; it is a thriving ecosystem that honors the interconnectedness of life.

Here, we emphasize the need for respect for nature, aligning perfectly with permaculture ethics which advocate for 'earth care, people care, and fair share.'

This approach promotes sustainable living by nurturing our environment while simultaneously supporting the wellbeing of the community.

The Diverse Ecosystem of Munay

The garden itself features a rich tapestry of ancient herbs,
shrubs, and trees that thrive in a symbiotic relationship,
showing that the principles of Munay go beyond just
mere philosophical musings.

Each plant plays a role, contributing to a balanced ecosystem that supports both wildlife and human inhabitants.

Encouraging biodiversity is crucial to our aim of creating sustainable and harmonious systems capable of withstanding various challenges, from pests to climate variations.

In the Munay Forest Garden, we dedicate ourselves
to fostering a deep appreciation of the natural world.

By engaging actively with the land, we can witness the greatness of the interconnected web of life.

Through workshops and volunteering opportunities, we also invite others to join us in this transformative experience, ensuring the principles of Munay resonate with a wider audience.

Conclusion: The Future of Munay

As we look toward the future, the Munay Forest Garden serves as a testament to the power of love, respect, and sustainable practices.

By continuing to embrace the teachings of Munay, we are creating a model for how individuals can live in harmony with nature, each other, and the divine.

Ultimately, it is through this bond that we can cultivate happiness for all living beings on this planet.

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Creating a mindful food forest and organising language camps for local children in Waldbröl, Germany

https://www.workaway.info/en/host/142127999649

Description

Hi lovely people! Please, come and help us out in our food forest! The sun is shining and the forest shade will let you enjoy autumn ! There is lots of work to be done, also for inexperienced garden people! It is just so lovely to be outside!

In November, we want to prepare the food forest for planting and we Need to start planting! We Need tonprepare the vegetable beds for winter time! Lots of wending to be done!

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Get inspired by our new permaculture - food forest project in the German countryside, close to Bonn/Köln: surrounded by 300-year-old trees, this place is full of spirituality! With our new project, we want to inspire young people to become self-sufficient and work on sustainability.

In our recently ecologically renovated German "Fachwerkhaus" (consisting of cob and wood), which was previously owned by a German artist, we welcome people from all over the world to work with us and create a better world!

We - my husband Sven (German) and myself Ellen (Belgian) and our two lovely daughters (8 and 16 years old) - have been living abroad for a long time (from 1998 until 2017, with long-term stays (more than 3 years) in Bolivia, Peru, Kenya, and Senegal). We finally settled in Germany in 2017 and found our "dream house" in the countryside, close to Bonn and Köln, in 2018, after a profound renovation process, we moved inside the house in August 2020 (so very recently). , I am a social worker & cultural anthropologist and my husband is a political scientist - we both have a PhD. We both care about our environment and love animals. At the moment, we have one dog, 4 cats and 4 kittens, 1 rooster, 9 chickens with 7 chicks, 7 walking ducks, 2 goats - and all of these animals are helping us in our ecological garden.

Our place is surrounded by forest. The landscape of Oberberg is very beautiful. Our terrain has 4 hectares (which is big for this neighbourhood) and consists mainly of forest with very old oak and beech trees (many are 200-300 years old), a fenced field for the goats, and plenty of garden space. We practice permaculture and we want to expand the natural forest and design in our garden and at the forest borders, a tiny FOOD FOREST. There are also four small ponds which after some work could again become homes for trout and great places for us to swim.

We have plenty of work in the forest and (vegetable) garden (chopping wood, weeding, planting, etc.). People who have already experience in permaculture/food forest are more than welcome to share their ideas with us! Regarding the gardening work during spring 2024, we are looking for one/two workawayers to help us with the vegetable garden based on permaculture (sowing/planting and making more raised beds/vermicomposting and hügelkultur) and some forest work (collecting wood, chopping and storing wood). We also need to clear the many brambles in the fenced field for the animals. On an everyday basis, we need help with feeding the animals, walking with the dog, cooking, cleaning, and now and then taking care of our children.

Along with the work in the garden/forest, we organize during Easter/Summer/Autumn FOREST LANGUAGE CAMPS for local children. As there is a general lack of opportunities for local children to practice foreign languages and share different cultural customs, we created a place where they can learn and practice speaking these other languages, while playing in the forest and taking care of the animals. We are especially looking for NATIVE speakers in English and Spanish for our Forest Language Camps with local children. The native speakers should have an interest/in or have experience in wilderness pedagogic and permaculture to be able to come and join us for the Forest Language Camp!

IN 2024, we do not organise any forest language camp any more, due to the winter time that is coming. In 2025, the English Forest Camps will take place during the Easter Holidays. Besides the Forest Language Camp, we organize workshops on Saturdays every month for our "Permaculture Kids" (break during the summer holidays). Together with the children, we design our garden; start sewing and planting, and play in the forest. What is new! In March 2025, we also gonna organise a permaculture/food forest course for adults and a FUN/RELAX weekend for adults in May 2025! Be there to help us and enjoy!

IN GENERAL, we are a FAMILY and love to be surrounded by people who love nature and have a big interest in permaculture and food forests; enthusiastic people who want to be part of our family and who see themselves as open-minded, colourful, spiritual, creative, easy going, rainbow people. We are looking for those who see the beauty of life and mostly, in the smile of young children. Skilled people in handicrafts/wilderness/ outdoor activities; yoga/shinrin yoku (forest bathing) practitioners and craftsmen are also more than welcome! Are you getting curious? Come and visit us soon!!!

Main topics: organic, permaculture, food forest, teaching, vegan, mindfulness, yoga, wilderness pedagogy, forest bathing, animal care, and family life.