Community HarvestsStorytelling for Action in the Coffee Lands of Indonesia

May 23 - June 8, 2013

“...stories evoke emotion, which build memories. But emotion alone is not enough to inspire action or to ensure an idea gains traction.....Action requires possibility. Story marries possibility with a clear path to action, and wraps it in a pack-age that our brains are innately wired to understand.” From Story Juice, by Julie Fuoti and Lisa Johnson

Immersion in the coffee landsOn this field course, we will immerse ourselves for two weeks with an indigenous community living in the forest and farmlands on the shores of Lake Toba, in the heart of Sumatra, Indonesia. Our days will include working alongside rural farmers, learning from local village experts, storytellers, and others navigating the delicate balance of conserving both coffee lands and forest lands. In addition to joining in the harvest, we will delve deeply into the process of effective and inspiring storytelling as we examine the issues confronting farmers of this high-value global commodity. The course culminates in a storytelling workshop and community storytelling event in Missoula, Montana.

DatesThe field component of the course runs from May 23 - June 4, 2013 in Sumatra, Indonesia. The storytelling retreat runs from June 5 to June 8, 2013 in Missoula, Montana.

Who Should Apply?We are looking for students, storytellers, researchers, and changemakers: people who want to take positive action in the world, connecting with coffee and farmers. We encourage university students, graduate students, and teachers to apply. This course will be capped at 16 participants to ensure an intimate learning opportunity.

Logistics We will use a mix of lectures, writing and storytelling assignments - using new media tools - to help develop our intimacy and understanding of the nuances of coffee farming, conservation, and global trade. Each day will have two class sessions, supplemented with experiences working in the small coffee farms of a community cooperative. We will be joining in the coffee harvest, all aspects of processing, and farm restoration and local conservation projects with the farmers hosting us.

AccommodationsWe will stay in modest guest houses for a few nights, and at village homes with host families for most of the field time. You can expect to be treated to wonderfully fresh local cuisine and produce from coffee and market gardens. While certain comforts like hot showers will not always be available, homes of the host families are healthy and have space for one or two students.

Cost and Payment The cost of this travel seminar is $2455. This includes pre-and post-trip resources, in-country programming, language interpretation, honoraria for local resource experts, plus all meals and lodging, ground transportation, fees for activities in the program, and visas.

A deposit of $500 is required with your application. The remainder of the balance is due by April 11th, 2013. All fees will be completely refunded if the course is cancelled; application deposit will be refunded to any students not selected to participate in the course.

To receive an application or request information, including possibilities for academic credit, please email mary@forestvoices.org

InstructorsDr. Mary Bricker is an ecologist with experience in field research, wilderness courses, and traditional classroom teaching. Noah Jackson has worked with forest-farming communities in Asia and Africa for more than a decade as a conservation consultant and storyteller who combines writing and new media. His work appears in publications such as National Geographic Traveler, The Rainforest Alliance Canopy, and blog. Guest lecturers from the conservation movement in Indonesia and

experts from the Missoula, Montana community will help students craft their understanding and bring stories back to their home communities.

About Forest VoicesForest Voices uses student courses, direct trade, and storytelling programs to foster meaningful connections between people across vast geographic and lifestyle distances. We help consumers of globally traded products such as coffee, tea, and cocoa understand and directly experience how good practices of trade and agroforestry can impact the lives of the farmers producing these crops. We believe that understanding the full process and story behind the foods and products we consume can encourage people to think and act with greater care, to enhance the quality of life and sustainability of the communities of farmers and consumers alike.

Forest Voices 4741 Sundown RD, Missoula MT 59804 406-240-1050