The Peoples' Institute for Re-thinking Education and Development

Fifty-Two Alivelihoods

What makes you, your community and the world come alive again? What are regenerative livelihoods for the planet?

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 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.

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)