Over the past decade, Kora has become a hub for young people seeking meaningful experiences in sustainability, regenerative agriculture, community living and personal growth.
Through the Erasmus+ programme, we host dozens of learners every year through youth exchanges, volunteering programmes and training activities.
The Summer School was created to go deeper.
It offers motivated participants the opportunity to spend one full month living and learning in a regenerative farm community, exploring sustainability not only as a concept, but as a daily practice.
Here, learning happens through hands-on activities, shared experiences, and meaningful conversations.
The Summer School takes place at La Buona Terra Educational Farm, located in the hills of Umbria.
This is not a classroom separated from reality: it is a living ecosystem where learning is embedded in daily life.
The farm includes:
• a permaculture garden
• olive groves and a natural essential oil distillery
• outdoor kitchens and natural building structures
• compost toilets and greywater systems
• workshops, classrooms and community spaces
• chickens, herbs, worms, and a lot of life
Participants don’t just study sustainability: they cook it, plant it, build it, and live it.
Participants create a personalized schedule from a rich menu of classes, workshops and practical activities.
Introduction to permaculture, ecological design principles and the possibility to follow a full Permaculture Design Course (PDC).
Theory and practice of natural building methods, sustainable materials and low-impact construction.
Traditional recipes, sustainable cooking practices, food preservation and community meals.
How to create regenerative projects, social enterprises and sustainable initiatives.
Exploring alternative decision-making systems including sociocracy, democracy and community governance.
Creative communication tools, storytelling and educational games.
Creative practices inspired by nature and traditional skills.
Daily activities for well-being, connection and awareness.
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Sarurday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30–08:30 | Body & Mind Practice | Body & Mind Practice | Body & Mind Practice | Body & Mind Practice | Body & Mind Practice | Day off | Day off |
| 8:45–10:00 | Garden | Garden | Garden | Garden | Garden | Brunch rota | Brunch rota |
| 10:15–11:00 | Daily Gathering (core) | Daily Gathering (core) | Daily Gathering (core) | Daily Gathering (core) | Daily Gathering (core) | Free time | Free time |
| 11:15–13:15 | Intro to Permaculture (core) | Intro to Permaculture (core) | Intro to Permaculture (core) | Intro to Permaculture (core) | Intro to Permaculture (core) | Free time | Free time |
| 13:15–14:15 | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | ------ | ------ |
| 14:15–14:45 | Work Groups (core): cleaning round | Work Groups (core): cleaning round | Work Groups (core): cleaning round | Work Groups (core): cleaning round | Work Groups (core): cleaning round | ------ | ------ |
| 14:45–15:15 | Home Groups (core) | Home Groups (core) | Home Groups (core) | Home Groups (core) | Home Groups (core) | Free time | Free time |
| 15:15–16:45 | Induction & Group Building | Permaculture Design | Empty / personal time | Soul Food | Empty / personal time | Free time | Free time |
| 17:00–18:30 | Empty / personal time | Empty / personal time | Group Kitchen | Empty / personal time | Eco Building theory | Free Time | Free Time |
| 20:00–21:00 | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner rota | Dinner rota |
| 21:00–21:30 | Work Groups (core): kitchen | Work Groups (core): kitchen | Work Groups (core): kitchen | Work Groups (core): kitchen | Work Groups (core): kitchen | Kitchen clean rota | Kitchen clean rota |
Expert in EU Youth Programmes since 2004. Specialises in project design, volunteer management, sustainability and intercultural learning in international youth projects.
Vice-president of Kora, leads hands-on activities in the educational farm. He focuses on eco-building, gardening, and supporting young people from challenging backgrounds.
Permaculture educator with 28+ years of global experience. Co-founder of Ecocentro IPEC (Brazil) and former Sustainability Director of Boom Festival, promoting sustainable living worldwide.
Co-founder of Ecocentro IPEC (Brazil) with 20+ years teaching permaculture, organic agriculture and natural building worldwide. Author of “Planet Schooling”.
Chemical engineer specialised in paper manufacturing with international experience. Based in Passignano, she promotes intercultural exchange and manages administration and processes at Kora.
Works with Kora since 2016 coordinating ESC volunteers and facilitating non-formal education workshops. Focused on environmental awareness and human rights.
Youth worker and digital educator using gamification to teach tech skills (web, games, robotics). Co-founder of Felicis Séjour, organising immersive educational camps.
Works with Kora and La Buona Terra on non-formal education, volunteer hosting and project management. Passionate about intercultural exchange, community life and alternative education.
La Buona Terra is one of Italy’s first educational farms, with over 30 years of history. It focuses on environmental education and small scale production, hosting hundreds of young learners from across the World every year. In summer, the eco-friendly campsite features glamping tents, solar showers, and compost toilets.
The farm centers on a 9-hectare olive grove with ancient and young trees, producing organic extra virgin olive oil in the small on-site mill. Guests can explore a small orchard with local fruit varieties, a medicinal herb garden, mainly lavender, for essential oils and aromatic waters, and a woodland area for experimental food forests and nature trails. Sheep, geese, ducks, and Silver Livorno chickens help maintain the land naturally.
Located in Passignano sul Trasimeno, La Buona Terra is ideally placed for day trips to: Perugia (30 min), Assisi (45 min), Florence (2 hr), Siena (1 hr 45 min), Rome (2 hr 30 min)
Shared tents or large dorms
6 tents (4 people each)
2 large dorms (8 people each)
Small dorms in the house
More private shared rooms inside the farmhouse.
All accommodations include access to community spaces, bathrooms and shared facilities.
Prepared with local and seasonal ingredients, food at Kora is a daily opportunity to reconnect with what we eat and how we share it.
• home-cooked, nourishing meals
• ingredients sourced locally and organically whenever possible
• moments of cooking and eating together as a community
Around the table, learning continues through conversations, stories and shared presence.
Special dietary needs can be accommodated.
Includes:
• All classes and workshops
• Learning materials
• Access to all activities
• Three meals per day
• Mentorship and guidance
• Personalized learning schedule
Accommodation is not included in the course price.
You can chose what accommodation you prefer and select it while applying for your spot. Please check the prices here
The closest airport is Perugia, but it doesn’t have many destinations. Florence, Rome and Pisa are the closest airports.
Passignano sul Trasimeno is reachable by train. You can check train times here: www.trenitalia.it
Make sure to check the train connections prior to purchasing your flight tickets and allow time for collecting baggage and passing passport control if you need to.
We’ll pick you up at the station.
At the end of the Summer School, you will receive a certificate of attendance mentioning the courses you took. You can obtain a Permaculture Design Certificate if you select certain courses.
The details about the price can be found under the section “Course Fee”
The details about the price can be found under the section “Course Fee”
Yes, we cater to most common diets, please indicate your dietary requirements during the registration process.
There is a small pool to refresh during the day, but there are beautiful natural places nearby for swimming.
There is a small kitchenette available for students to use for very basic cooking. If you would like to cook something more elaborate you can speak with the kitchen teachers to see what can be done. We do not recommend planning to cook for yourself every day.
We will offer 4 to 8 scholarships discounted at 50% depending on the total registrations. Alternatively you could apply as a volunteer for two months from June till August and help out organising Kora’s summer events!
