Sevengardens is a globally active network that empowers people to change themselves and society and bring about change for a more sustainable world. Initially, this is done through the joint production of colors from plants and the associated creation of dye gardens. The aim here is to playfully rediscover and experimentally explore knowledge and cultural assets that have almost been lost in the course of industrialization.

Sevengarden's dyer's gardens can be found in educational institutions, museums, parks, on the premises of various companies, in theaters, on private property, etc. A garden of this kind does not have to conform to any particular predetermined concept, but is designed and maintained individually by the people involved. For some, plants in meadows or on roadsides are enough. What they all have in common is the goal of creating color from the plants, ensuring biodiversity and protecting the environment. They garden, harvest and experiment together and share their knowledge in a cross-cultural exchange.

Everyone involved - from kindergarten children to educators and company executives to residents of retirement homes and many more - experience a broader view of the effects of industrial paint production through self-empowerment and are encouraged in their own possibilities of local production. Sevengardens dialogers (as we call ourselves) have been producing inks, textile dyes, cosmetics, wall paints, wood stains, colorful food and more for over 20 years now. People are addressed by gardening and painting together and are given the opportunity to get involved in civil society. Ecology, economy, culture, education, social and political aspects are combined. The joint work promotes cultural diversity and cultural heritage, the protection of biodiversity, the recognition of ecological connections and opportunities and the strengthening of personal responsibility.

Learning environments are transformed, educators' skills are developed and young people are empowered and mobilized. Sevengardens dialogers train each other and are happy to pass on their knowledge in this way. As a result, sevengardens has been recognized by UNESCO as a structure-creating measure and has been included in numerous faculties. University research has been taking place for several years in areas such as psychology, art therapy, textile production and product development. Sevengardens dialogers are committed to education for sustainable development (ESD) in companies and initiate new projects every day. In this way, sevengardens is a network initiative for the participatory shaping of a global sustainable education culture.

Human resources: Education and work today are characterized by a high level of demands (perfection, reliability, flexibility, speed, efficiency) that originate from an industrial era.
Only a few people can meet the requirements for methodological, social and personal skills that are taught through ESD. Sevengardens transforms learners and society by developing skills that enable them to lead fulfilled and happy lives within a utopian value system.

Through artistic activities, cultural ideas are developed together. Participation, self-esteem, recognition of one's own skills and the will to leave something valuable for future generations are fundamental paradigms.

Sevengardens aims to strengthen existing informal skills: Joint discovery, research & experimentation, error-friendliness, recognition of existential dependencies, trust in self-determination. Teachers become facilitators and learners become experts in a joint process.
The focus here is on human dignity and mutual appreciation. People garden together, learn from each other, and products are made and sold. The certainty of being connected through a worldwide network of like-minded people strengthens each individual. And everyone can refer to the achievements and recognition of the other network partners in their region. This is a resource that should not be underestimated, even when it comes to applying for and receiving funding.

Expand cooperation with craft and industrial fields of action (e.g. enable large-scale production of plants printed fabric, plants colored wood or replacements for plastics, etc. new ideas are welcome :-))

Deepen exchange with universities & various educational and social settings (e.g. expand research in the field of art therapy; sustainable color production in various vocational trainings; establish the method as part of ESD training or as a subject in schools)

Continued training of dialoguers from a wide variety of social and cultural contexts (e.g. bring refugees together from different countries of origin through the sevengardens method)

The headquarters in Germany (NRW) offers a concrete place for networking. We are currently expanding the location: organize sevengardens art and culture events; facilitate the exchange of experiences; build an outdoor living lab; showcase best-practice; explore more differentiated application possibilities & new impulses (e.g. sustainable further processing of artifacts created in the work process). We are looking for companies and institutions who would like to support us in this endeavor.

show a new kind of sustainable art that makes people think and act

people who want to break new ground towards sustainability in product development; water management companies and related institutions; companies and universities who conduct research in the field of sustainable color production; institutions that stand up for cultural diversity; curators who are interested in sustainable art

Our dyer's gardens are planted worldwide in places for early childhood learning, schools, universities, museums, parks etc. In this way, spaces are created in the field of ESD that offer impulses and networking opportunities.

One example of the effectiveness of our project is the work at the HIV/AIDS hospital in Parys, South Africa. In 2017, sevengardens dialoguers travelled there as part of a delegation from the South Africa Aid Association of the state of NRW.

Funded by Aktion Medeor, a dyer's garden was established and workshops were organized, experts were trained, who have again found their own niches for further work on site.

Ancient knowledge of Ndebele and Zulu women was brought back to life. The women recorded impulses as to which type of their culture should be revived.

Today, some of the these women teach the production of natural dyes at the University of Johannesburg, others weave and dye fabrics, design greeting cards for tourists, paint home-fired clay works or sell home-made cosmetics.

Slowly, the structure of the township changed as the people there took things back into their own hands through self-esteem and self-efficacy.

This way the local production of raw materials for products creates new regional markets and social structures. People worldwide are sensitized to ecological processes and are starting to network for a common cause.

Further results of the cooperation with our partners can be seen in numerous publications or online.

info@sevengardens.de

https://sevengardens.eu
https://www.facebook.com/sevengardens?locale=de_DE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md6-bwVBXSI