(Eight)finity lessons on learning of growing food – essays

Attitude analysis & (Eight)finity lessons on growing food learning or
Returning to grow own food in the heart of Europe

When you look at pictures of a beautiful plot with beds, or a photo of a man working in the garden, or a girl with a huge harvest at her feet, what do you think about?

Growing food always begins with the land: with the first plant, with the first harvest. But this decision is seldom made. You can study, be interested, read books, watch videos, but never start growing food in practice, never move to the land. Why?

We all have attitudes, internal statements about everything: about ourselves, about certain events, about certain processes. The attitudes of growing food also come from childhood. Someone happily remembers how they planted beans with their grandmother, and someone remembers potatoes fields with horror.

There are attitudes that help us move forward (for example, “growing food is inspiring” or “growing food can be profitable”, and there are those that do not allow us to make a move (for example, “agricultural work is ungrateful and hard” or all successful people live in the city. ”). Understanding positive and negative statements can be of a great help in learning to grow food.

There are different ways to change such attitudes, but most of them are related to other people’s positive experiences. That is why this project is based on real stories that will help you look differently at growing food and see how learning of it can change your life.

The story of a business woman who could combine work and growing food – Vira Rodionova
Before

Vira is a 100% city resident: she was born, studied, and worked in Kyiv. As we say, “a child of asphalt.” The first acquaintance with traditional food growing Vira had in the 1990s, when the economic situation in the country was difficult, shops were empty, but you had to eat something and children had to be fed. At that time, it was forced and exhausting.

Later, the focus was on the career. 7 days a week – a leadership position, subordinates, full, but rich in stress, life. Among many sources of energy from which each person chooses their own, nature has been found to be the source of strength, health, inspiration, and joy for Vira.

Explore all stories in essays by Iryna Kazakova here

The story of a man who is trying to grow a garden from the ashes of the soul – Andriy Zeleniuk
Before

Andriy grew up in a village. Older people often mentioned the hellish work that had haunted them on the collective farms. Before Andriy’s eyes were outdated and ineffective technologies for growing food, so our hero was absolutely sure: working the land is hard and does not bring money.

At the age of 19, Andriy volunteered for an anti-terrorist operation (War in Donbas) and took part in fights. While at the border, Andriy’s thirst for life began to die down and he caught himself thinking that death would be a good way out. Andriy was forced to leave his comrades and military service, but the civilian world did not change his attitude. His life turned into a constant escape from himself – he changed work every two months and eventually retreated into himself, while apathy towards society was growing. In the end, all this brought Andriy back to the village.

CONTEXT (En)

Fears and prejudices are the reasons that prevent people from starting new activities, such as growing their own food. The story therapy aims to debunk the myths about growing food, soften or even eliminate prejudices about this process, and allows you understand it better. You will find seven real-life stories that will open you up to different ways how to start growing food and how permaculture can change your life. The eight one is Iryna Kazakova’s toolkit, in which you will find the explanation of how to use Attitude analysis and how to find an infinite number of lessons in each story you hear from people. 

CONTEXT (Ukr)

Аналіз установок та Вісім нескінченних уроків про вирощування їжі – Ірина Казакова

Страхи й упередження є тими причинами, які не дозволяють людям розпочати нову діяльність, наприклад, вирощувати власну їжу. Історіє-терапія направлена на розвінчання міфів про вирощування їжі, дозволяє пом’якшити або навіть позбутися упереджень щодо цього процесу, та дозволяє зробити висновки. Ви знайдете сім реальних історій про те, як пермакультура може змінити ваше життя, про різні шляхи, які можуть привести вас до вирощування їжі. Восьма історія  – це інструментарій Ірини Казакової, де ви знайдете пояснення, як використовувати аналіз установок та як побачити нескінченну кількість уроків у кожній історії, яку ви чуєте навколо.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Author: Iryna Kazakova, NGO Permaculture in Ukraineabout mefb

Colalborators: Anastasiya Volkova,  Ivanna Bilous,  Vira Rodionova,  Lilia Moruha, Maksym Zadorozhny,  Valentyna Movchan, Andriy Zeleniuk    

Photos: Photos from own archives of heroes of stories

Project funded by Culture of Solidarity Fund
Part of The Supermarket Museum International Web-Doc

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