• We are a reflection of the land because we are made of land. Often overlooked, commitment to healing the land is a commitment to healing yourself. Like everything, healing is relational. Indigenous peoples all over the world live in relation to nature, therefore the act of re-indigenizing must involve healing our relationship the land, its energy and its spirits.
  
  
• As we fight fiercely for our sovereignty, we cannot forget to fight for our soil. Our earth is a reflection of our collective health and well-being. In this two-day immersive course we will analyze the parallels between key principles of healing and shadow work and land stewardship, using syntropic agriculture as the conduit for understanding. Syntropic agriculture is a form of dynamic agroforestry, a regenerative practice inspired by collective, indigenous farming practices throughout the world. The goal of syntropic agriculture is to build self-sufficient ecosystems where every being, step and soul is respected in its role and entirety. As we dive into the principles of building up the forest floor, we’ll unpack the many ways that we are merely a reflection of nature and its processes. 
• Both days will include theory, application and service
• Learning Objectives

  • Learn the basics of natural succession and principles of Syntropic Agriculture

  • Develop skills to listen to nature and communicate with the ecosystem and open yourself to the messages it has for you.

  • Learn about equilibrium and questioning human-centered design

  • Understand the importance of community and service as a tenet for soil and soul healing

  • Unpack the capitalist-forward thinking often applied to farming (even regenerative farming) and healing

  • Develop our own learning plan with the environment

  • Understand the connection between ecology and harmony

ENGKANTO STORY

In the backyard of a ranch-style home in the city of Corona, California, Engkanto Garden Farm is a small portal where the veil is always thin. Renato and Ilana always knew that their mission on this earth was to steward land and guide souls together. They moved out West from the East coast with that intention, patiently waiting for and following the signs. In 2021, shortly after Ilana’s lola passed, they were given the chance: a 1939 home for sale with half an acre in the back, a shed full of tools and equipment and 30 year-old orchard trees presented itself. Engkanto Garden Farm started when Ilana and Renato accepted this gift and they have been slowly bringing life back to this little plot of land since. The dream of Engkanto Garden Farm is to be a space for communal land tending, soil healing and soul healing. 

ILANA BIO

Ilana is a regenerative urban farmer and land-based spiritual practitioner originally from the Northeast and now stewarding land in Southern California (Payómkawichum territory). She draws from her multicultural - Filipino and Jewish - roots to create a practice that is first and foremost rooted in communion with the land, its spirits and ancestors. She considers herself a practitioner and student, choosing a slow pace to learning and integration, building on the values of integrity, character, consistency and humility. Her approach to farming and healing are the same: everyone eats. Ilana is the hebrew word for tree a namesake that she consistently strives to live up to. 

RENATO BIO

Renato is a fifth generation farmer from the Northeastern state of Bahia, Brazil. Growing up in a drought-ridden area of the country and farming with his father, Renato developed his own communication style with the plants, beings and spirits early on. He is a student and practitioner of Syntropic farming, a form of dynamic agroforestry that aims to build self-sufficient ecosystems.