Leob Croft Summer Camp 2023
5th ā 13th August Leob Croft, Isle of Mull, Scotland
What does it mean to be free and human today? How do we overcome our fears to find the Divine, celebrate our differences, and work harmoniously with the natural world?
Meet fellow wanderers and pilgrims from different lands and cultures; give voice to important questions and generate meaningful conversations in a safe and respectful environment; speak and listen deeply from the Heart
ā¢ Explore what it might mean to act and facilitate transformation within ourselves, each other and the larger world
ā¢ Develop a personal relationship with the land; to be with and learn from this wild, unusual and beautiful place whose fierce spirit provides a model of eco-spiritual resistance
ā¢ Engage with flexible programming and co-create social and artistic processes where we can honour and celebrate life together and express our truths without fear or shame
A Time of Transformation- Leob Croft is a place of extraordinary beauty, nestled in Scotlandās Inner Hebrides on the southwestern tip of the Isle of Mull, surrounded by sea and mountains, ancient standing stones, and Iona, the sacred seat of Celtic Christianity. Through their engagement with the land, Croft steward Jonathan Knight and his late wife Ann, inspired by the ideas of Goethe, Rudolf Steiner and others, have spent over two decades working to realise their vision of āa little piece of heavenā: a thriving ecosystem, garden, homestead and sanctuary for spiritual seekers, a place where everyone is welcomed and differences valued. In a time of significant personal, collective and ecological disruption, Leob is also feeling its way into its third incarnation as an intentional community.
Format -The eco-questival is a self-organized grassroots summer camp in the spirit of Open Space and Art of Hosting gatherings. The structured part of the day consists of three shared meals and an opening and closing circle in the mornings and evenings. The content itself will be created together every day among participants. All are welcome to be involved as much or as little as desired, and each is encouraged to listen to their own inner rhythm. Some proposed activities include exploring the Twelve points of view and the fundamental social law; workshops on Land Art, Social Art, Perception, the Journey of a Hero and Non-Violent Communication; Eurythmy movement and the Five-Rhythms Dance; Theatre-Improvisation. There will be an opportunity to visit the islands of Iona and Staffa and the Lochbuie stone circle (please allow an extra budget of Ā£40 for these trips).
Accommodation and Food -The three communal meals a day include breakfast, lunch and dinner, and most of the fresh produce will be coming from our biodynamic kitchen garden. As this is a co-created event, attendees are encouraged to participate as able in meal preparation and clean-up. If youāre passionate about cooking and would like to be our main chef or lead a meal prep, please let us know. Accommodation is a mix of simple rooms or camping in your own tent. The number of rooms is limited so we encourage those who are comfortable camping to bring their gear. Leob is a large site and the scenic camping options are numerous! Toilet and washroom facilities are located centrally.
Exchange- We are asking for a contribution of Ā£333 from those who are camping and Ā£555 for anyone staying in a room. This is to cover accommodation and food expenses. If youāre able to contribute more, your generous gift will go toward supporting our work here on the croft, future workshops and camps, and covering transport costs for volunteers. For those seriously interested in attending but worried about covering costs, please do contact us.
How to get here and other practicalities- Truly inhabiting a Scottish summer is a challenging and rewarding experience. Be prepared for the notorious Highland midges and potentially unpredictable weather. The abundance of local and migratory birds, seals, dolphins, otters, sheep, deer and croft animals will help you survive and even thrive in this remarkable place! For those without a vehicle, reaching Mull with public transport can be tricky, but also quite interesting (and cheaper) for the adventurous and able! Oban can be reached via ScotRail and CityLink bus, followed by ferry and then a local bus or hitchhiking until Leob Croft. One of our volunteers just completed this journey and arrived tired but happy. If this is your path, weād be more than willing to help you organise the journey. Note on Times: Opening will be on the evening of the 5th and closing after breakfast on the morning of the 13th to coincide with the bus schedule. Please plan accordingly!
Who Are We?-This yearās questival is organised by Biodynamie Sociale 21, with support from the Leob Croft team. Biodynamie is Frederic, a gardener, pollinator, social artist and pilgrim from France whose work focuses on personal/group transformation and earth healing. He is joined by Lucile, a healer, care-worker and herbal practitioner. The Leob team is croft guardian Jonathan Knight, English architect, spiritual seeker and land steward; Jan, from the Czech Republic, architect by education and now horticulturalist, head crofter/gardener, naturalist and rewilding enthusiast; and volunteer/handyperson from the States, Justin, who recently completed an MA in environmental humanities.
Volunteering- For those interested there is also an opportunity to arrive 2-3 days earlier, or stay longer, in order to help us Croft folk arrange the questival and/or to assist with cleanup once the main cohort has departed. This is a chance to deepen relationships, work alongside of each other, and experience what it might mean to enter into the ebb and flow of a working croft. Inquire for details!
How to get in touch- If you would like to join us at Leob Croft this summer, please fill a form here or contact Frederic at secretary@leobcroft.co.uk, +44(0)7462744210, Leob Croft, Isle of Mull, PA70 6HF, Scotland, leobcroft.co.uk
