Discovering Sustainable and Regenerative Futures

James Clapham, Teacher, Woodleigh School and Rod Davies, Head of Minimbah Campus, Woodleigh School

A few hours into day two of the Discovering Regenerative and Sustainable Futures Workshop a few things became clear. We were sitting at a long, rustic dining table in a shared space tucked behind the farmgate of the Uncommon Folk Farming Collective, in an old shed on a cold, wet autumn morning. The fire was roaring, and we were listening to the inspirational story of the farm - its origins, and its purpose. The place and the moment were special; the sense of possibility was palpable as we heard about the work being done there to regenerate the environment and reimagine the approach to just about everything, from agriculture to capitalism and community development.

The first thing that became clear was that a generative social field had emerged – that the physical space, and the shared sense of purpose, trust, openness, high levels of respect and connection were enabling dialogue amongst a newly formed group. Secondly, alongside the environmental regenerative practices, a deep awareness of the systems at play was enabling regeneration of a different sort; both at a social and at the individual level. A new community was growing, where communities once existed, and individual well-being was considered a key ‘measurable’ of the success of the collective – in the words of one member of the group, they were trying to find ways to measure smiles. This was a wonderful example of the interconnectedness of systems at the heart of the Compassionate Systems Framework, and the idea that developing a sense of connectedness and care at each level; self, other, society and the larger natural world, can shape a positive future.

So, what led us to that place, the place of systems awareness and the generative social field where creativity and a sense of possibility permeated our dialogue? Reflecting on day one of the Discovering Sustainable and Regenerative Futures workshop, it demonstrated the value of holding space; using check-ins and guided journaling to trust and connection. It also showed the importance of taking a systems approach to building a generative social field and highlighted the importance of integrating self, others, and the wider world in creating are generative and sustainable future. By recognizing the interconnectedness of all systems and embracing a holistic perspective, we were able to explore the complex relationships between environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability. Through practices like systems thinking, holding space, and utilising theories like awareness-based change, we developed a deeper understanding of the role of compassion in fostering a shared sense of moral purpose and creating inclusive and resilient communities. From a Compassionate Systems perspective, the workshop highlighted the transformative potential of integrating compassion into sustainable and regenerative practices, leading to a more just and equitable future for all.