How do we live in harmony with each other and the Earth?

we all want to live good lives

Unfortunately, many of the systems we rely on to meet our needs are causing gross inequality, ecological decline and social fragmentation.

Growing Good Lives believes there is another way (many other ways!) and harnesses the collective imagination of communities and organisations to develop new approaches to the challenges of the 21st century.

We start by

Valuing what matters

For too long Western societies have focused on growing financial wealth, at the expense of people and the Earth. It’s impossible and undesirable to grow that kind of economy on a finite planet.

If we are to build systems that meet our real needs we have to first understand what those needs are and start growing the stuff that will allow us to thrive: good food from healthy soils, safe and supportive homes and communities, space to develop and express our creativity, opportunities to increase our capacity for co-operation and kindness.

Learn how to

Go barefoot

Working with poor communities in Latin America in the 80s, Chilean economist Manfred Max-Neef became disillusioned with mainstream economic thinking and with his colleagues developed a framework called Barefoot Economics. Also known as Human Scale Development, it is an holistic approach that integrates economics, ecology and human wellbeing.

Barefoot Economics proposes that the success of an economy should not be measured by GDP growth, but by how well it satisfies our fundamental needs within the Earth’s natural limits.

Work together to

create beautiful economies

There are a myriad of ways to meet our needs in harmony with others and the earth. Explore the philosophy and practice of barefoot economics in our bespoke training courses.

This workshop completely changed my understanding of economics.