How we came into being

The danish organization 'Øko-net'  (Eco-net) - The Network Of Ecological People's Education And Practice - promotes information about ecology, mainly to schools and institutions. About forming everyday life in better agreement with ecological demands, and how to teach children and adults about ecology and a sustainable lifestyle.

This easily gets very technical. So at a seminar, it was suggested that we could try a different approach: Why not take a walk around the country together and visit some projects that work with practical solutions to the challenge of sustainability.
There is a diversity of all sorts of ecological projects - why not visit them, and at the same time make ourselves visible as people, who work for alternatives to the conventional way of life - without being boring, moralizing and condemning.
The first Clodhopper Caravan was born, and took place in the summer of 1999.
 
 

Let the numsculls save the world, when the wise do not want to !! Long enough the wise worked theoretically on the wide range of environmental problems and the challenge of changing our lifestyle. We seek creative and constructive proposals to break out of the consumer's role and take life in our own hands. We have inquiring and wondering minds and have no ready-made answers for anything.

 

Room for changes. The Caravan gathers and looks up people who want to and dare try out ideas in practice.
We meet people on the road and discuss and wonder about local paradoxes and problems. And maybe we can add a little zest to their environment.
Room for mistakes. We should learn from each other's experiences - good or bad.
Keep it simple sweetheart. The challenge is to find simple solutions rather than think up more technology. That is also what we try to practice during the two week caravan.
Light walk on earth. We leave no traces when we leave.
The Caravan's economy pays its way. All expenses are paid by the participants. We wish to be independent of fundings and grants.
All work in preparing and carrying out the caravan is done by volunteers.

We have named the caravan after the fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen, which in danish is called "Klods Hans".
It is the story of two brothers, very clever and very smart, who seek their fortune by proposing to the princess. However, the princess wants neither, but instead, she prefers their younger brother, whom everybody think is a fool. He wins her favours by being completely naive, honest and unimpressed and by giving the simplest possible solutions - a dead crow, a used wooden shoe, and a handful of mud - to solve the very complicated and highly sofisticated problem of the royal banquet...