Lilleoru, an ecovillage in Estonia builds a school of practical consciousness

Ecovillages Wellbeing & environnement MD 6 July 2018 0 Comments

Lilleoru, an ecovillage in Estonia builds a school of practical consciousness

Lilleoru is an ecovillage with a size of 30 hectares, at 30 minutes by train from Tallin, the capital of Estonia. For the past 25 years, this ecocommunity has developed an ashram, a school dedicated to yoga and personal development, as well as a permaculture garden and a village with private housing, called the Sky Earth Village. And there is still much more coming!

Their story starts in 1993 when their founder, Ingvar Villido, who is a teacher of yoga and other personal development techniques, bought the land to build his family’s home and to receive his students.

The success of his courses quickly started to demand new infrastructures which led to the ashram, where currently around 30 members live. It also brought about the Sky Earth Village: a showcase of private ecobuildings made out of natural materials. The community currently has 125 members.

A primary school to learn practical conscience from an early age

A school is currently being built at Lilleoru. Next year, its doors will open to 10 students ages 7-8. And the following year, for children ages 9-12.

An education that allows being aware of the different levels of existence (the physical through the senses, the vital through the emotions, the mental through the thoughts, the intellect, etc.) and also liberate ourselves of old habits, frustrations or addictions. Very useful considering science tells us that 95% of our time is guided by habits and routine.

A life connected to nature in the first organic country of the world?

Lilleoru has built a magnificent garden in the shape of the flower of life. The community produces a big part of the vegetables they consume, using permaculture principles. They also produce medicinal herbs, tea and other natural products.

The community also tries to have a political impact on the national level.

Considering that 50% of Estonia is covered in forests and 20% of its vegetable production is biological, Lilleoru is collaborating with the association Organic Estonia to evaluate the possibility for their country to become the first biological country in the world, with over 70% biological territory.

Lilleoru in pictures