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24 AGRARIA JOURNAL 2021 We live in a time when the questions come flooding in seemingly at an ever-faster rate. Big questions about humanity’s place on the earth, past, present, and future all at once. We think we know more than we ever have known yet have only scratched the surface; we’re realizing that there is wisdom awaiting further exploration if only we are open to genuine exploring. ‘Regenerative’ is the new keyword in our conversations about how to move forward to better ways of living with all life on the planet. Regenerative agriculture, for example, is the approach that rebuilds soil, taking our understanding of soil health to new “depths.” Community Solutions has been exploring solutions to the enduring problem of living in harmony with all life on the planet since Arthur Morgan founded it some 80 years ago. With the founding of Agraria as a Center for Regenerative Practice, four years ago, we have been greatly expanding our own knowledge base while connecting more widely with partners around the globe in the quest to help humanity move into a new paradigm. Our work can be summed up as broadly educating and re-educating fellow human beings. We are restoring Agraria’s farmland, providing nature programs for children, and hosting informative and inspirational conferences. We are facilitating community food production both locally and regionally, demonstrating agroforestry and agro-ecological practices, and hosting podcasts. We are becoming a trusted voice of hope and resilience regionally and beyond, and we are partnering with colleagues near and far in the work of promoting the New in the face of the collapsing Old. We do all these things knowing that the future is now, the New encapsulates the wisdom of our ancient past while embracing the truth that body, mind, and spirit are one. Science and spirituality are no longer separate; together, as one body of knowledge, they shape the New we work to bring to the fore. Ultimately, all that we do can be seen as providing education in one form or another. Like other terms in our limited language, education to most indicates some form of formalized process of instruction that endeavors to transfer knowledge and wisdom. And indeed, we are in the process of expanding our partnerships with Central State University, the University of Dayton, The Ohio State University, and other institutions to offer internships and accredited certification courses in a variety of fields. Students will be able to get experience at Agraria that relates directly or indirectly to their chosen majors and minors. Our partners at these schools are excited about these expanded offerings for their students knowing that there is no substitute for real experience in work that has wide benefits. Most of us, in fact, who ROSE HARDESTY BY RICH SIDWELL AGRARIA: A New Educational Model

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