Catherine Etmanski

Inch by inch, Row by Row

On the south-western tip of Vancouver Island, Canada, sits one of many organic farms found in this part of the world. In passing, you might not imagine the depth of learning – indeed the wonder – that transpires on this land; that is of course unless you already understand the language of the morning dew drops as they refract shades of purple, green, and silver off the winter leeks.

Seeds and Stories of Transformation from the Individual to the Collective.

This article documents the author’s experience participating in a course taught primarily by food activist, Dr. Vandana Shiva, and run by the Earth University in Uttarakhand, India. Drawing on Gandhi’s four pillars of nonviolent action, this article links individual course participants’ experiences of transformative learning to the transformation of the global food system. It begins with a brief overview of the course content and structure followed by a transformative learning literature review. It then provides sample participant narratives exemplifying various aspects of their own transformation and suggesting that this course supported participants in their already-in-progress process of transformation. The important role community-based organizations such as Navdanya play in efforts for global food systems transformation is also discussed. Within the context of personal and social transformation, the article concludes with a call for transformative learning to be accompanied by patience, particularly in light of the urgency created by today’s complex challenges.