There is wonderful news coming from the countryside of Umbria, specifically from Ficulle: the crowdfunding campaign for the birth of SPAC! (Popular Space for Collective Learning). was successfully concluded, exceeding the target set.

WWOOF Italy can only rejoice when projects are born that focus on agroecology, care of the earth and the transmission of knowledge outside traditional academic circuits.

What is SPAC?

SPAC is not just an association, but an experiment in popular education applied to ecological transition. Founded by a collective of activists, artists and farmers (including Philip, Helene and many others), it aims to be a bridge between environmental activism and rural practices.

The points of contact with the WWOOF world are obvious:

• Horizontal learning: Knowledge is not dropped from above, but built together through exchange.
• Agroecology and Environment: Core topics that will be explored in 2-3 month residential training cycles and the possibility of organizing webinars.
• Caring for the Collective: The idea that friendship and cooperation are key policy tools for inhabiting rural areas today.

The Annual Meeting: it’s on!

Due to the success of the fundraiser, the inaugural three-day event will be held for all supporters. It will be a time of celebration and reflection to explore the need for popular education today by bringing activism, journalism and performing arts into dialogue with the world of peasant labor.

“It’s not about lecturing, but about supporting people’s projects to collectively invent new tactics and strategies.” – The SPAC team

Looking to the future

Achieving the budget will allow the spaces in Ficulle to be set up, reimburse guest expenses, and guarantee an affordable “farm menu” for those who attend the workshops.

As WWOOF Italy, we are following with great interest this new “popular school” being born in the heart of Italy, certain that there will be no shortage of opportunities for contamination and collaboration among our networks.

Congratulations to the entire SPAC team on this milestone!