The NGO OrganicWay (Društvo EkoPot)

The NGO OrganicWay (Društvo EkoPot) is an organization where the association members actively encourage and support the development of organic farming and volunteering on the local, national and international level since 2014. The first and main activity is an organic farm project where through implementation of new ideas and methods an adaptive farm organism is formed. A small community of like minded people creates an environment where evermore people can learn and experience what local self-sufficiency, sustainable living, stable nutrition, diverse production and processing looks like in theory and practice. Due to the safe and creative environment in which we co-exist as a community, we learn together to grow as individuals and collectively how the implementation of ideas works in practice for a better common future. The second activity is opening the doors of the farm project for individuals and groups who can through workshops, lectures and other events see and learn how this could be applied in any other space. In this framework we on average organize 11 local, regional and international events which are attended by more than 380 people every year. The activities on the local level are mainly oriented at young people who learn how to recognize opportunities within their reach and gain the knowledge to form new ones. At the same time the local organizations and decision makers are presented a model for a successfull inclusion of new ideas which attracts youth with different needs and potential. In addition there are more and more people on the individual level who would like to participate actively on such a farm project. To date we have hosted more than 160 individuals from the national and international space, who with the gained knowledge and skills are gradually changing their local communities. Consequently this is one step at a time changing ourlocal community with the element of cultural dialogue and gradual recognition of the importance of solidarity in the local community in a broader sense. In short we: - create an oppurtunity in the local environment for a comparative and experimental presentation of the organic farm as an organism in the form of an agricultural project; - recognise the interested public with the special emphasis of involving young people and recognizing their needs and create activities accordingly; - step by step raise awareness on all levels (local to international) about the needed skills for a sustainable development and living.