Fifty Alivelihoods

What makes you, your community and the world come alive again? What are regenerative livelihoods for the planet? READ MORE ABOUT ALIVELIHOODS HERE.

Modern civilization spent the last 150 years destroying the earth in search of progress (what we call 'deadlihoods'), so now it is time to make our 'alive-lihoods' by regenerating ourselves, the earth's natural systems and healthy compassionate communities.

Are we learning to do any of this important work in our schools and universities?

Some may find it strange that there are no professional academics or policymakers on this list. We need 'intellectuals', 'thinkers' and 'visionaries' but these should grow out of practical experiences with these eco-careers, integrating our heads, hands, hearts and homes, rather than as a fragmented, ivory tower categories.

The idea of alivelihoods is different from green jobs and social entrepreneurship. They seek to ask more root questions about the meta-crises facing humanity. They seek to bring more focus to local economy and place-based solutions, to shifts in power dynamics and decision-making, and to the spirit of seva.

Here is a short list of growing eco-careers that I have encountered to heal ourselves and the planet:

1. organic urban and rural farmers
2. seed savers of traditional varieties
3. organic food store/suppliers
4. healthy cooking restaurants/tiffin service chefs/bakeries
5. urban composters of wet waste
6. eco-architecture designers and builders
7. eco-bricks, bamboo and other natural building materials producers
8. food forest regenerators -- www.afforestt.com
9. wildlife and biodiversity conservators
10. groundwater and river systems purifiers
11. water conservation and groundwater rechargers
12. waste segregators and collectors
13. treatment of medical and other hazardous waste
14. upcyclers making waste into useful products (bags, diaries, jewellry, furniture, etc.) and repair cafesÔÇè
15. freecycling stores hosts
16. alternative healers (ayurveda, naturopathy, yoga, meditation, nlp, etc.)
17. herbal beauty/hygiene products (soap, shampoo, etc.) producers
18. herbal medicinal products producers
19. midwives
20. green and deep connection event managers (zero waste unconferences, weddings, etc.)
21. cultural workers, community media producers, musicians and storytellers (local filmmaking, theatre, radio, newspapers, etc.)
22. alternative energy engineers and manufacturers (solar, wind, biogas, etc)
23. producers of clothing and shoes using natural fibers
24. natural dyeing of clothing
25. handloom weavers
26. deep learning facilitators with children, youth, communities
27. coaches for deep learning in organizations and with leaders
28. natural handmade paper makers
29. bamboo and recycled paper furniture makers
30. natural and clay plates, bowls, spoons, pots artisans http://www.bakeys.com/
31. shared bicycle/car transport coordinators
32. biodiversity eco-resort hosts
33. slow money (localization) investors
34. nature/culture walking and cycling guides
35. organizational cross-pollinators (connecting across different groups and movements)
36. maker space/tool libraries hosts
37. decommissioners of big dams, nuclear power plants, etc.
38. compost toliet and other eco-friendly toliet manufacturers
39. conservational breeders (breeding and supporting endangered species)
40. neighborhood-based dairies
41. neighborhood bee keepers
42. marine ecologists
43. computer hackers and free software guys
44. publishing houses and dariya dil bookstalls
45. animal aid shelters
46. love unschool hosts and relationship counsellors
47. public artists/artivists (non-private gallery) (creating beauty and feeling of community)
48. clowns, tricksters and organizational happiness huggers and pollinators (adding chaos, humor, care, hospitality and creative disruption to innovative organizations)