Innovating with Nature: The Story of Rita Porkka | Women in Rural Innovation
Innovating with Nature: The Story of Rita Porkka | Women in Rural Innovation Read More »
Ecovillage Gathering Highlights Women’s Role in Rural Futures
A workshop at the 2025 European Ecovillage Gathering, hosted by the Global Ecovillage Network Europe, brought a focus on the essential role of women in shaping a sustainable future for rural communities. The event, held on August 15th of the gathering, provided a platform for participants to engage with critical issues surrounding gender equality and
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Rooted in the Forest: The Innovation Journey of Rita Porkka
In the quiet expanse of Northern Ostrobothnia in Finland, where birch forests whisper with the wind and rivers carve ancient paths, Rita Porkka has built more than a business—she has created a movement. As the CEO and founder of Naturest Ltd, Rita has turned her lifelong love of nature into a force for education, well-being,
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Annette Harberink: “Innovation Grows Where Values Take Root”
It was during the FLIARA Community of Practice event in Ireland—buzzing with conversation, collaboration, and shared ideals—that we had the chance to sit down with Annette Harberink, a leading voice in biodynamic agriculture in the Netherlands. In a sea of innovation narratives, hers stands out not just for its vision but for its grit and
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Petra Matos: Planting Seeds of Solidarity in Rural Slovenia
On the rolling green hills of Slovenia’s Primorska region, a modest former military guardhouse has been transformed into something extraordinary: a thriving hub of solidarity, learning, and global cooperation. At its heart is Petra Matos, a geographer whose life mission is as clear as the summer skies that stretch above her community project, Park Istra.
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Rooted in Resistance: The Feminist Farm of Sofia De Matteis
On the slopes of Santa Caterina dello Ionio in Italy, where the Ionian breeze carries stories of ancient rural life, Sofia De Matteis is rewriting the script of innovation—not with machines or silicon chips, but with donkeys, wild artichokes, and a feminist compass. Originally from Sicily, Sofia’s journey took her from the narrow alleys of
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Applications Open for ACORNS 11 Programme Supporting Rural Female Entrepreneurs in Ireland
Early-stage female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland are being invited to apply for the eleventh cycle of the ACORNS programme, a peer-support initiative backed by Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Applications are open until midnight on Monday, 22 September 2025. The ACORNS (Accelerating the Creation Of Rural Nascent Start-ups) initiative is designed to