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Nathan & Natalie Riva
Lineman and Marketing - Ayampe, EcuadorClient, Land Design, OSU PDC Student, PDC StudentMy sister and I bought a beautiful piece of land in the wonderful country of Ecuador. Both of us, being rookies to the world of permaculture design, had no idea where to start. Luckily, one day, I came across a youtube video advertising the Oregon State University’s Permaculture design course. I was ecstatic having come across this course. I felt a sense of reassurance that taking a six month long course like this would be extremely valuable in the journey of permaculture design. It turned out to be even more valuable than I had originally thought.I started the course, and was assigned my professor for the next six months, Javan Bernakevitch. To my surprise we are both living in Ecuador and originally from Canada! What a crazy coincidence; to be in a foreign country taking a permaculture design course and your professor is also there!Over the next six months we were doing assignments, meeting in groups, discussing and learning the ins and outs of permaculture design. What a data dump of information that six months was. Javan had many insightful discussions with myself and the class over this time, which made comprehending this avalanche of information easier.At the end of our six month permaculture design journey, it was time to put to practice on our land all that was learned. Javan really helped me throughout the course to make a workable and professional design. However, I still felt overwhelmed at the task of starting this permaculture farm from a completely raw piece of land.This is when my sister and I decided to ask him if he would be willing to travel to our site and do some consulting in person. We came up with an arrangement, and before you knew it, Javan had showed up in the flesh on the coast of Ecuador. It was surreal to meet him in person after spending six months with him online.He spent two days with us, and I can’t express enough how valuable those two days were! He made us feel comfortable about starting this project. He answered the entire mountain of questions we had, and guided us through everything we needed to do, in order to start things off on the right foot! Again, I can’t express enough the value of his visit. There was the knowledge value we gained as well as the savings in committing rookie errors. We would not have felt comfortable starting this project the way we did if Javan had never come.I would highly recommend to anyone new to farming / permaculture design to not only take the permaculture design coursethat Javan is a part of, but also, to have him come to your site and assess it in person! You will save money in the long run, but more importantly he will give you the confidence and the knowledge to make sure you are doing things correctly. There is much room for error undertaking projects like this. Having Javan help you along the way is invaluable. And not only is he great at his job, but he is great to be around and has wonderful enthusiastic energy. You can tell he is very passionate about what he does, and the knowledge he brings to the table is vast! I implore people to consult with Javan if you need help and are feeling a bit overwhelmed with your farming project. My sister and I would love to have him back to the land one day. He is and will always be a part of our land. Without him, I honestly don’t know how things would have turned out.
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Elana Westers
Ecological Designer - British Columbia, CanadaBusiness, Client, Life Design, Life Design for Permaculture, Mentorship, One-on-One CoachingI want to thank you so very much for all of the support and mentorship that you provided me in our sessions together. I cannot thank you enough for your insight and belief in me when I was struggling in life and business. You have given me invaluable tools that have already yielded results, and that I will continue to work with and reference over time. I am forever grateful for you business guidance and for giving me so many great ideas based on your own tried and true experiences. I look forward to continuing to work with you in the future. Thank you always.
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Elana Westers
Ecological Landscape DesignerBusiness, Client, Education, General, Life Design, MentorshipDear Javan,
I want to thank you so very much for all of the support and mentorship that you provided me in our sessions together. I cannot thank you enough for your insight and belief in me when I was struggling in life and business. You have given me invaluable tools that have already yielded results, and that I will continue to work with and reference over time. I am forever grateful for you business guidance and for giving me so many great ideas based on your own tried and true experiences. I look forward to continuing to work with you in the future. Thank you always,
Elana.
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Verity and Joey King
Cryptocurrency and SommelierBusiness, Client, Land Design, Pre-Purchase Land AssessmentMy wife and I knew we wanted to build a more rural context. However, we felt overwhelmed by the seemingly infinite possibilities — and we never got anywhere. For starters, we didn’t know anything about land, agriculture, natural resource management — not to mention other things we didn’t even realize we should have been thinking about.
Javan knew it all. Like anything else: if you want to learn quickly (and minimize costly mistakes), the best way is to work with someone who already has the experience and the expertise. A few phone calls with Javan saved us time and money — and finally got us into measurable progress. If you’re not sure where to start, this is the right place!
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Sasha Faminoff
Farmer - SwedenBusiness, Client, Holistic Life Context, Land Design, Life DesignI first heard Javan speak on The Ruminant podcast, in an episode on farmer mental health. Javan’s way of communicating really resonated, and I’ve listened to that episode a few times now to revisit what he explained.I sensed really genuine compassion, humour, and knowledge born of experience, and thought ‘this guy is legit, and I would really like to talk to him myself’. I learned some powerful ideas while working through Javan’s Single Decision session, and I would recommend it to someone who is having trouble with decision-making.The questions he posed before the session were thought-provoking and compelled me to look at myself honestly and with kindness. Javan’s approach in the whole process was open-hearted, generous, warm and quite firm in asking for me to show up with authenticity. I appreciated all of it.Thanks a million!
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Marie-Pierre Bilodeau
Project Manager, East Africa Permaculture Project - Vancouver, BC, CanadaBusiness, Client, Education, Holistic Life Context, Life DesignJavan’s course (Holistic Life Context) helped my team and I discover our “why” and coached us in developing our core values. It helped us find order in the chaos that we were headed toward.
I recommend this course to anybody who is starting a business or non-profit to make sure you and your team are all on the same wavelength and to avoid any future catastrophes.
Figuring out the inner workings of your future organization can help you avoid major breakdowns or even burnout when it is already too late to change anything.
This course is an indispensable investment to any organization. It will get you on the right track with proper habits, goal setting, communication, progress tracking and will allow you to create the infrastructure you need for success.
Javan is an encyclopaedia of information and his wealth of knowledge is priceless. He will go above and beyond the call of duty to recommend books, resources, websites, people to connect with etc.
This course is a gift and will leave you inspired, confident and ready to face any challenge that comes your way.
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Jonathan and Christina Davis
Farmers - USABusiness, Client, General, Holistic Life Context, Life Design, Single Decision SessionWe called Javan as we listened to his podcasts for years about making better decisions. We were at a cross roads with our farm and family. The time was very valuable to us. You’re really good at this.
We needed attention and someone to hear us out. You listened in a very non-judgemental way to very judgemental stuff! The homework you provided gives us something solid to work on instead of being lost in fatigue.
We’ve been looking at context work for years and we get it now. We can’t get bogged down with our stuff. Thank you.
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Ben Garrett
Tiny House and Earthship Building - Healthy Homes - Canada, New Zealand, AustraliaClient, General, Land Design, Pre-Purchase Land AssessmentYour guidance through our property search has been invaluable. The quality of research and attention to detail that you provide has been outstanding. With climate change, food security, fire, water management, geotechnical data, noise and views in mind, you have saved us from buying a property that did not suit us, and above all suggested incredible alternatives.
Our family has so much appreciation and gratitude for how you have helped with this process.
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Tyler Stowers
Farm ManagerClient, Holistic Life Context, Life Design, One-on-One CoachingWhen I reflect on my life, few experiences mark a definitive division of before and after. Completing Javan’s life design modules is the most recent example of such a phenomenon.
I’m writing today to provide a ringing endorsement.
Having rarely asked myself questions relating to motivation and introspection to the depth required, this work was foreign and at times extremely difficult. Javan’s abilities in such moments to motivate and articulate significance was central to my success. Further, his sequencing was brilliant. Fleeting attempts at establishing a context had left me stagnant and disgruntled. Javan’s modules exhibited a fluidity that, unbeknownst to me, were establishing the very foundation for a life design that had previously eluded me.
His guidance, council, and cutting inquisition throughout the modules left me proud, lighter, empowered, inspired, and determined.
Looking for catharsis? Javan helped me identify restrictive limiting beliefs operating deep in the programming of my intentionality. Looking for a quick return on investment?
In week 2 of the modules, I saw a financial improvement of $4000 on a decision stemming from this work. To say I recommend working with Javan is an understatement.
I was extremely impressed with his presence, demeanour, and facilitation throughout this process. I can’t say enough good things. If you have ever noticed a hint of interest in establishing a context for yourself, call this man today.