GEN-Europe promotes the development of sustainable settlements in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
“We realised that we wanted to inspire people to seek out enriching experiences that would stay with them for life. We realised that when travellers visit a destination in a responsible way, not only are they helping that destination but that destination is also helping them in return.
And so a new meaning and a new mission was born for globalhelpswap.
We’d love it if you joined our tribe of responsible travellers and shared this journey with us. Will you?”
It is an alternative to WWooFing for both hosts and volunteers. The ‘work’ is more varied too. But the internet shows that there is a diverse range of experiences that have come from the scheme, not always entirely positive.
Like other similar schemes, it is essentially a database, for both hosts and volunteers.
Jonathan Downes is the editor of Gonzo Weekly – a UK (free) online alternative music magazine. Mostly retro stuff – for instance, a lot of Hawkwind-related material.
Jon is also the co-ordinator of the Centre for Fortean Zoology. That website is dedicated to the search for hitherto ‘unknown animals’. They play host to the annual ‘Weird Weekend’.
Greenpeace International is a campaigning and activist organisation to give “the Earth a voice”.
Links to a couple of guerrilla gardening sites. The idea is to radicalise and ‘re-wild’ community spaces – public or private. More than a mix of seed bomb tactics and the arcane knowledge of William Robinson’s Wild Gardening.
Best known for developing the concept of temporary autonomous zones (TAZ). Originally, his name was Peter Lamborn Wilson - he is an often controversial USA, Sufi-anarchist writer and activist.
This is a link to his writings available at the Anarchist Library. Plus a video link to rather self-opinionated interviewer talking to Hakim Bey.
Link to the website of, and a film about, La’Akea Permaculture Farm on Big Island, Hawaii. They host permaculture courses and conferences in an amazing setting of lush forests and volcanoes.
It’s a small community group with equal co-ownership of the land.
Links to their website and a short video.
Like similar schemes, this offers an alternative to WWooFing for both hosts and volunteers.
They say: “HelpX is provided primarily as a cultural exchange for working holiday makers who would like the opportunity during their travels abroad, to stay with local people and gain practical experience. In the typical arrangement, the helper works an average of 4 hours per day and receives free accommodation and meals for their efforts.”
The ‘work’ is more varied too. But the internet shows that there is a diverse range of experiences that have come from the scheme, not always entirely positive.
Like other similar schemes, it is essentially a membership database, for both hosts and volunteers. See their website for details.
The Burgers factory building in Eindhoven, Netherlands, was squatted originally in 1990.
Now, the HertogStaat Foundation aims to create and maintain affordable living and workshops for starting entrepreneurs, artisans and artists. Includes events and happenings.
A lively community of residents and creators.
Facebook group that is pretty much all about what it says on the tin.
Some nice video and photo links to enviro-stuff around the world.