Core contents of the program:
Participants in Eco-Israel spend 5.5 months living on the Hava & Adam environmental educational center and ecological farm, located near the city of Modi’in, in central Israel, creating a dynamic self-reliant community - together with Israeli volunteers - developing a strong connection with the diversity of Israeli landscapes – human and natural. Working the land is done in tune with the seasonal flow and holiday celebrations of the agricultural Hebrew calendar. Eco-Israel enables participants to experience and engage with the Bible and Jewish agricultural precepts in relevant, hands-on ways. 

I.        Field Work: Essential activities include bed preparation, planting, weeding, harvesting, fertilizing, and tool maintenance on five garden plots, each between a quarter-acre to half-acre in size, and in our greenhouse.

II.     Ecological Learning Experiences:  Vermicompost, use and care of garden tools, irrigation techniques soil fertility management, plant botany, seed industry and preservation, social issues in modern agriculture, history and applications of the Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm model, environmental issues in modern agriculture, herbal medicines, climatic building methods (mud houses, recycled insulation, climatic ventilation and lighting systems, etc.)

III.   Land of Israel Studies: History of the land of Israel (cultural and agricultural), Jewish land ethics and agrarian practices, Hebrew language skills.
 

IV.  Community Living: Participants create an active, diverse self-sustained community based on; rotations and shared chores for cooking, meals and animal care; mediation, yoga; trips to points of relevance and interest throughout the country, etc.

                                 

What is included?
• Managing a co-operative organic farm and seed-bank together with Israeli volunteers.
• Living in an off-the-gird sustainable model community that has never had refuse collected – its all recycled!
• Learning ecological architecture, ethnic crafts, vegetarian organic food preparation, Hebrew Ulpan, classes in the connection  between Judaism and ecology, trips, insurance.
• Social and cultural events with Israelis.  

Extras:
• Participants will all receive an internationally recognized Certificate in Permaculture Design.
• Communal Shabbat and Holiday experiences.
• Open to young men and women from all Jewish backgrounds interested in sustainable living in an authentic Jewish context.