A transformative journey into the heart of community building.
A transformative journey into the heart of community building.
Join a rare opportunity to participate in a full Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) online and LIVE, led by top facilitators and experts from around the globe.
Empowering individuals to design and implement sustainable and regenerative lifestyles, organisations, and systems.
This LIVE, four-month course is a transformative journey into the heart of community building, collaborative learning, design for sustainability and regeneration, offering the tools, skills, and inspiration needed to co-create thriving, resilient communities and projects.
You’ll be guided by experienced EDE trainers Taisa Mattos and Macaco Tamerice, and joined by an inspiring lineup of guest educators including:
Daniel Christian Wahl, Helena Norberg-Hodge, John Croft, Albert Bates, Kosha Joubert, Daniel Greenberg, Jonathan Dawson, Ina Meyer-Stoll, Achim Ecker, Anna Kovasna, André Soares, Tomaz Lotufo, and Mugove Nyika.
Why Join?
More than a Course
EDEs are known to be life-changing experiences. Participants from all walks of life have gone on to become facilitators, community leaders, regenerative entrepreneurs, and change-makers in their local and global contexts, as well as leading more meaningful, joyful and healthier lives.
Whether you're working in education, urban development, community development, sustainability, social entrepreneurship or personal transformation, this course will provide practical tools, frameworks, and inspiration to support your journey.
Skills Gained
Practical skills to co-create sustainable projects and communities
Frameworks to design for regeneration and resilience
Tools for group facilitation and collaborative leadership
Connections with a global network of changemakers
Confidence to step into the role of facilitator, educator, or ecovillage designer
This is more than a course, it's a transformative learning journey!
About the EDE
The Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) program emerged over two decades ago from the lived experience of ecovillages and cutting edge educators in order to share how to create new ways of living with low environmental impact, low consumption and high quality of life. Built on the foundation of transformative, participatory education, the EDE empowers individuals to design and implement sustainable and regenerative lifestyles, organisations, and systems.
The curriculum weaves together four key dimensions of sustainability:
Social – strengthening collaboration and community resilience
Ecological – designing and restoring ecosystems to create resilience and minimum environmental impact
Economic – fostering circular, regenerative and inclusive economies
Worldview (Cultural) – cultivating inner transformation, shared values, and living in harmony with nature
How You’ll learn
The programme explores the four areas of regeneration: Social, Ecological, Economic, and Worldview, through a rich blend of:
Live presentations and expert talks
Q&A sessions with guest speakers
Video materials and interactive exercises
Group dynamics, deep sharing, and participatory activities
Project design sessions, where you will create and co-develop your own regenerative initiative with support from peers and facilitators
Social
Enhance your leadership and collaboration skills with practical tools to empower communities, advance social justice, create inclusive solutions, and implement effective governance strategies.
Starts: 6 October 2025
Ecological
Master regenerative design and ecological practices to restore nature, applying principles of permaculture, ecosystem resilience, and innovative environmental solutions.
Starts: 12 January 2026
Economic
Develop regenerative economic models by integrating local economies, ethical finance, conscious consumption, and systems that foster prosperity without depleting natural resources.
Starts: 25 May 2026
Worldview
Expand your perspective by embracing holistic values, ecological ethics, and transformative spirituality while balancing innovation with ancestral wisdom.
Starts: 23 March 2026
Course details
Course format:
Online, LIVE course
Price:
1500 GBP (save 260 GBP by purchasing the full GEDS)
Dates:
from March 7th to July 11th
Duration:
4 months
Structure:
LIVE calls with facilitators and guest teachers every Saturday at 14.00 –17.00 UTC and on Sunday June 28th. (Find your local time here.)
Weekly project design group meetings to be decided by each working group.
Facilitation:
Led by experts in each Dimension
Certificate:
Recognised certificate upon completion of the full course
Is the Online EDE for You?
The Ecovillage Design Education is for you if you want to:
Gain confidence in participatory facilitation and building resilient learning communities
Improve your communication skills and conflict facilitation skills
Explore shared leadership and participatory decision making
Practice deep sharing & trust building
Learn about appropriate environmental technologies
Identify how to support and strengthen local economies
Understand how to think globally and act locally
Gain a holistic perspective of sustainability and community building
Learn from the real experience of community builders and ecovillage founders from around the world
Strengthen your design and implementation skills for regenerative projects
Collaborate with others to co-develop your own project or dream throughout the course
Guided by experts in social transformation.
The GEDS Full Course is guided by dedicated professionals with real-world experience across all dimensions of sustainability.
Meet some of our facilitators:
Aline Van Moerbeke
Flemish born but residing in Spain since 2000, where she arrived as a Chinese Philologies' student working a summer job as an entertainer, and then ended up again for love. Just over a decade later she finds herself taking the Ecological Dimension of a Gaia EDE course on Mallorca, where she learns about whole systems design, bioconstruction, and... permaculture.
Gracelynn Lau
Self-identified as a settler of colour born and raised in British Hong Kong, Gracelynn Lau is a nature-based expressive arts therapist and community facilitator based in Canada. In 2005 Gracelynn began her master degree in worldview studies specializing in ecofeminist theology. The studies brought her to an inquiry into faith, ecological and personal healing.
Root Cuthbertson
Growing up between Montreal, New Hampshire, and Boston, Root learned to love dancing, music, poetry, public libraries, matching needs with resources, monofloral honeys, generously inclusive humor, and stories about healing and hope.
Learn from Global Sustainability Experts
The GEDS Full Course is guided by dedicated professionals with real-world experience across all dimensions of sustainability.
Meet some of our facilitators:
Aline Van Moerbeke
Flemish-born and based in Spain since 2000, Aline discovered permaculture during a Gaia EDE course on Mallorca, where she first explored whole systems design and bioconstruction. Soon after, she co-founded PermaMed (Permacultura Mediterránea), where she continues to serve as a board member. Her early focus centered on education, community collaboration, facilitation, new economies, and inner landscape design. More recently, she co-founded La Casa Integral, a cooperative of permaculture designers and facilitators in Catalunya.
Emma Woods
Dedicated to democratizing economic thinking and empowering others to have their say on the economics that shapes their lives. Tired of peddling economic growth and conforming to a neoliberal neuronormative career path, Emma left a career as a successful senior economist in the UK public sector to set up Flourish Economics which offers alternative economics education, imaginative workshops and radical thought leadership.
Root Cuthbertson
Growing up between Montreal, New Hampshire, and Boston, Root learned to love dancing, music, poetry, public libraries, matching needs with resources, monofloral honeys, generously inclusive humor, and stories about healing and hope.
Gracelynn Lau
Self-identified as a settler of colour born and raised in British Hong Kong, Gracelynn Lau is a nature-based expressive arts therapist and community facilitator based in Canada. In 2005 Gracelynn began her master degree in worldview studies specializing in ecofeminist theology. The studies brought her to an inquiry into faith, ecological and personal healing.
Gaia Education Learning Journey
How to Become a Certified Trainer
The Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) program is the oldest and most well-known educational offering in the global ecovillage movement.
Now over 20 years old, it remains remarkably cutting-edge, continuing to evolve and inspire. The EDE has transformed the lives of people of all ages, across every continent.
Participating in an EDE is a key step in completing the Gaia Education Learning Journey and becoming a certified Gaia Education trainer.
While the EDE is offered around the world in various in-person formats through our global network of partners, we recognize that not everyone can attend a month-long immersive course, or it may not yet be available in your region.
That’s why this Online EDE is such a unique and valuable opportunity to join the experience from wherever you are.
Gaia Education
Learning Journey
Taking the EDE is a crucial part of the Gaia Education learning journey and brings you one step closer to becoming a certified trainer.
Know more about the Certified Trainers Programme:
Social
Enhance your leadership and collaboration skills with practical tools to empower communities, advance social justice, create inclusive solutions, and implement effective governance strategies.
Starts: 6 October 2025
Ecological
Master regenerative design and ecological practices to restore nature, applying principles of permaculture, ecosystem resilience, and innovative environmental solutions.
Starts: 12 January 2026
Economic
Develop regenerative economic models by integrating local economies, ethical finance, conscious consumption, and systems that foster prosperity without depleting natural resources.
Starts: 25 May 2026
Worldview
Expand your perspective by embracing holistic values, ecological ethics, and transformative spirituality while balancing innovation with ancestral wisdom.
Starts: 23 March 2026
What Our Learners Say.
I realize I am more capable than I had assumed. I am grateful for the learning format to facilitate speedy learning. Our project planning now includes more depth and detailing thanks to this course."
– K. U. S.
The course content was very comprehensive, detailed and practical. I appreciated how the facilitators brought a focus on real-world applications from the very beginning. They both modelled the principles of harmonious and supportive group-working that we were learning."
– N. B.
Freedom and flexibility. Meaningful content. Great facilitation. Inspirational and diverse group of other students.
Loved the mix of self study and live sessions."
– E. C.
Have questions? We’ve got answers.
No previous experience is required. All you need is a passion for community building and collaboration.
The course is designed to fit busy schedules with around 10 hours per week of flexible study. Though highly encouraged, Live Sessions are not mandatory and are recorded to be watched later.
Yes! The course provides hands-on tools you can apply immediately in your community.
A comprehensive programme covering four dimensions of sustainability: social, ecological, economic, and worldview.
No prior experience is required. This course is designed for both beginners and advanced learners. Whether you’re new to sustainability or looking to deepen your expertise, the course provides accessible and actionable content for everyone.
Entirely online with live sessions, group discussions, and self-paced assignments. You’ll have access to experienced facilitators, a supportive learning community, and rich resource materials.
Yes, each dimension can be taken as a standalone course, so if you are interested in specific dimensions, you can take them separately. Enrolling in the full course provides a holistic understanding of sustainability and is more cost-effective.
The Design Studio is the integration piece of the GEDS Full programme that you can join after complete the 4 Dimensions.
Participants have life-long access to the course material. Though the course has a defined length, participants can go back to the material any time after the course completion.
Have questions? We’ve got answers.
A comprehensive programme covering four dimensions of sustainability: social, ecological, economic, and worldview.
No prior experience is required. This course is designed for both beginners and advanced learners. Whether you’re new to sustainability or looking to deepen your expertise, the course provides accessible and actionable content for everyone.
Entirely online with live sessions, group discussions, and self-paced assignments. You’ll have access to experienced facilitators, a supportive learning community, and rich resource materials.
Yes, each dimension can be taken as a standalone course, so if you are interested in specific dimensions, you can take them separately. Enrolling in the full course provides a holistic understanding of sustainability and is more cost-effective.
The Design Studio is the integration piece of the GEDS Full programme that you can join after complete the 4 Dimensions.
Participants have life-long access to the course material. Though the course has a defined length, participants can go back to the material any time after the course completion.
A comprehensive programme covering four dimensions of sustainability: social, ecological, economic, and worldview.
No prior experience is required. This course is designed for both beginners and advanced learners. Whether you’re new to sustainability or looking to deepen your expertise, the course provides accessible and actionable content for everyone.
Entirely online with live sessions, group discussions, and self-paced assignments. You’ll have access to experienced facilitators, a supportive learning community, and rich resource materials.
Yes, each dimension can be taken as a standalone course, so if you are interested in specific dimensions, you can take them separately. Enrolling in the full course provides a holistic understanding of sustainability and is more cost-effective.
The Design Studio is the integration piece of the GEDS Full programme that you can join after complete the 4 Dimensions.
Participants have life-long access to the course material. Though the course has a defined length, participants can go back to the material any time after the course completion.
Take your next step toward a Sustainable Future.
Be part of a global community of sustainability leaders. Secure your place today and start your transformative journey!
Speak with us on Whatsapp!