The course engages students in hands-on projects relating to various aspects of sustainable living - ecological food production (e.g. biointensive mini-farming); “green” building methods (e.g. plastered strawbale or light clay construction); alternative energy production (e.g. wind power, photovoltaics, etc.); passive solar heating (e.g. with thermal mass, thermosiphons, solar hot water heaters); “living machines” for treating wastewater (now referred to as Advanced Ecologically Engineered Systems - or AEES); alternative community design; conflict resolution and community-building skills; and healthy food/personal health. A key aspect of this course is reconnecting with the natural world on which all of human life ultimately depends, and learning to work WITH, rather than AGAINST, Nature.