Alberta Rural Sustainable Alternatives Network (ARSAN) is a non-profit, grassroots organization formed in response to various potential major threats that our society is facing.

Educating by Demonstration

ARSAN is an educational organization but unlike many others, is committed to educating by demonstration, by exploring and creating examples of alternatives that have potential to be useful in the future. Such approach presents a great challenge since providing practical examples takes a great and complex effort. We at ARSAN believe that such effort, even when at small scale and likely not perfect may have a high educational value for many.

Sustainability

Concept of sustainability that is central for our organization must be always seen in a wholistic (holistic, systemic) way as it refers to functioning of a living system. However, in our culture we have learned to a “piece meal”, fragmented approach. That doesn’t help understand the challenge and consequently finding effective solutions.

To understand sustainability a different, systemic (wholistic) way of thinking and perceiving the world needs to be promoted and learned. Holistic farming and permaculture are examples of such approaches. These are known to many, particularly those interested in exploring sustainability.

At ARSAN, we take this approach beyond farming and extend it to all other parts of our collective lives; organizations, food system, energy challenge, water cycles, etc. – all that falls under the common wholistic concept of a new, sustainable Way of Life which is how we define Purpose of our organization.