Center for Rural Livelihoods

Back from the Land: Fellowship at the Center for Rural Livelihoods

This six-week fellowship is for those who take seriously the possibility of a popular movement for economic and climate justice by doing the work of understanding one specific place together — Cottage Grove, Oregon. In the 1970s, 10,000 communes sprung up in the back-to-the-land movement as the social movements of the 1960s were in retreat. Now, facing end times fascism and climate chaos, we are orienting back-from-the-land. CRL has been rooted in Cottage Grove since 1981 — long enough to have community but also long enough to know what we don't yet know about this town. This intensive program is physically, socially, and intellectually demanding with bread labor in the morning, and some community work in the afternoons and evenings that contributes towards power mapping the region. The program culminates with a gathering of partners and allies where we will present and get feedback on the inquiry. Fellows will read and discuss Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor's forthcoming book, End Times Fascism.

Dates: September 12-October 24, 2026