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The Palgrave International Handbook of Women and Outdoor Learning pp 335–349Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Living Lesbian Lands and Women-Led Experiential Living: Outdoor Learning Environments for Gaian Flourishing

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Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Gender and Education ((GED))

Abstract

This chapter synthesizes and makes meaning of descriptive research findings regarding lesbian and women’s lands and women-led projects as ecofeminist sustainability learning centres through living in outdoor learning environments. Through treks, ceremonies, land-based sustainable living experiments, small-scale farming, permacultural householding, collective creative ventures, and feminist culture genesis, women’s lands and women-led adventures incubated effective, local, small-scale learning alternatives to industrial domination education. Women-led outdoor experiential learning environments offered open spaces for slowing and presence that affirm sufficiency, emergence-from-within, strengths-based skills, opportunities, and sanctuary-towards. Grounded in compassion and an ecofeminist ethic of care, these outdoor experiences nurtured creativity within and amongst learners and the land. They catalysed regenerative ripples and generative webs and networks of Gaian flourishing that further nurture and liberate other educational and cultural contexts. Decolonizing perspectives can further strengthen the offerings.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the participation of Bethroot Gwynne (Fly Away Home), Denise Mitten (Woodswomen), Jean Mountaingrove (Rootworks), Musawa Moore (We’Moon), Nicole Apelian (EcoTours International), Sierra Lonepine Briano and Marj Greenhut (Art Springs), Vicki Noble (Motherpeace), and the alumnae and board members of OWL Farm for their generous contributions of time and insight that nurtured this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Earth Regenerative Studies, Portland, OR, USA

    Marna Hauk

  2. Prescott College, Prescott, AZ, USA

    Marna Hauk

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia

    Tonia Gray

  2. Prescott College, Prescott, AZ, USA

    Denise Mitten

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Hauk, M. (2018). Living Lesbian Lands and Women-Led Experiential Living: Outdoor Learning Environments for Gaian Flourishing. In: Gray, T., Mitten, D. (eds) The Palgrave International Handbook of Women and Outdoor Learning. Palgrave Studies in Gender and Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53550-0_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53550-0_21

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-53549-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-53550-0

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