| We believe we can change the world and the course of its destiny by implementing the permaculture principals, living in ECO friendly, environmentally compatible, and self sustainable harmony with ourselves, each other, and the world that surrounds us; without disturbing the natural habitat, with little or no waste, and by providing opportunities, and enrichment activities for a wholesome, well rounded lifestyle alternative, and by teaching others how and why, so they too can make the changes necessary to “RE-GREEN” the earth.
WISE®
What is Permaculture?
Permaculture: [From permanent and agriculture] Strategic Ecology -Consciously designed landscapes that mimic those found in nature.
Permaculture Living: Strategically designing the landscape and then living in harmony with our natural environment, in self sustaining ecosystems, while letting the Earth and nature do what it does naturally.
* Protecting Life; participating in the protection, conservation, & propagation of life and the well being of our ecosystem and of all living things
* Self Sustainable Living; purging the economic crises, by providing our own food, water, shelter, electricity, and other essential needs
* Permaculture; practicing permanent agriculture, reforestation, forest management, recycling, and generating as little waste as possible
* ECO Friendly; implementing, and promoting renewable resources, bio-degradable commodities, and ECO friendly waste management
* Education; providing education & enrichments that promote an awareness of our delicate ecosystem and how to begin consciously living for the conservation and propagation of it
* Diversity; encouraging communication and acceptance for our diversities by teaching an understanding of tolerance, patience, and unity, with respect for each individuals path and faith
* Progress; altering the way we think and live, promoting science & technological progress toward a healthier ecosystem
WISE® is a Nonprofit Mission Society for the conservation, and propagation of life, and to the well being of our ecosystem, the natural elements, and all living things.
From one seed planted in the earth to one seed planted in the minds of millions-
WISE IS... Changing the world... One seed at a time.
Article I – Name & Function
Section 1. The name of this organization is the WoodLand Institute for Strategic Ecology (WISE INC® ) We are a Nonprofit incorporation for the conservation and propagation of life, and to the well being of all living things.
Paragraph 1. Our philosophy is based primarily on promoting life and the health and well being of all living things by providing the protection, preservation, and propagation of our ecosystem, our young, our animals, each other and ourselves, through education and personal growth, and by encouraging diversity tolerance, and amalgamation within our community.
Paragraph 2. Our mission is to unite the efforts of all humanity,
Item 1. to research, protect, preserve, and propagate the life and well being of our environment, our young, our animals, each other and ourselves,
Item 2. to research and practice permanent agriculture, using renewable energy and resources, recycling, and generating as little waste as possible,
Item 3. to purge the economic crises, by becoming self sustainable and providing our own food, water, shelter, electricity, and other essential needs, and sharing our knowledge, combined with the knowledge of our ancestors, to promote our philosophies,
Item 4. to enrich adults and young people in ways that promote an awareness of our delicate ecosystem so they can begin consciously living for the conservation and propagation of it, rather than continuing the cycle of destruction,
Item 5. to promote literacy, education, science, creative arts, history, mental, physical, and emotional health, spirituality, and personal growth,
Item 6. to get along with each other with respect to our diversities, and in harmony with each individuals particular path or faith,
Item 7. to implement strategic ecology, plant as many trees and gardens as possible, and to encourage others to do the same, no matter where they live,
Item 8. to research, develop, use and promote environmentally and ecologically safe technology and recyclable and/or biodegradable commodities,
Item 9. to “re-green” the earth.
Paragraph 3. We believe we can do this by implementing the permaculture (permanent agriculture) principals, by living in environmentally compatible, and ecologically “ECO” friendly, and self sustainable harmony with ourselves, each other, and the world that surrounds us; without destroying the natural habitat, with little or no waste, and by providing opportunities, and enrichment activities for a wholesome, well rounded lifestyle alternative, and by teaching others how and why, so they too can make the changes necessary to “RE-GREEN” the earth.
Article II – Purpose
Section 1. The WoodLand Institute for Strategic Ecology (WISE INC® ) is a 501( c) 3 Nonprofit Incorporation organized exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, scientific, and literary, purposes and preventing cruelty to children or ani¬mals, and to the conservation and advancement of charitable, educational, religious, scientific, and literary, purposes and preventing cruelty to children or ani¬mals, within the meaning of section 501( c) 3 , including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to and receiving distributions from organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501( c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Article III – Affirmation
Section 1. The WoodLand Institute for Strategic Ecology (WISE INC® ) is a nonprofit incorporation to facilitate a Mission Society:
Paragraph 1. Our philosophy is based primarily on living in self sustainable harmony with ourselves, each other, and the world that surrounds us, with as little effort and waste as possible, by promoting the conservation and propagation of life, and the well being of all living things, through the practice, advancement and encouragement of permanent agriculture, by protecting our ecosystem, our children, our animals, each other and ourselves, by sharing our knowledge with others, and by promoting health and well being, education, science, creative arts, history, diversity, tolerance, and amalgamation within our community.
Paragraph 2. Following this code we offer fellowships, and welcome members to join us in our mission. In doing this we hope to help preserve the purpose and function of this Mission Society.
Article IV – Mission Statement
Section 1. As members of The WoodLand Institute for Strategic Ecology (WISE INC® ) we agree and adhere to the following:
Paragraph 1. To participate in the protection, conservation and propagation of life, our ecosystem, our children, our animals, each other, ourselves, nature and the elements thereof, and to preserve and advance our knowledge, and the knowledge of our ancestors, through charitable, religious, educational, scientific, and literary, endeavors.
Paragraph 2. To teach an awareness and respect for all living things and promote a balance between humanity and the nature of all living things, and to show by example how to live in harmony with ourselves, each other and our environment.
Paragraph 3. To use our knowledge and resources to incorporate our community unit with the conservation of our environment for the purpose of preserving the nature of all living things, and within the scope of our understanding, to promote a way of life based on the principals of this Mission.
Paragraph 4. To build fellowships, by working together for the unity, edification, discipline, and encouragement of individuals, that they might grow into a greater relationship with themselves, each other, and our environment.
Paragraph 5. To encourage and promote education, communication and acceptance in our community, and to find unity in our diversity by teaching an understanding of tolerance, patience, and amalgamation, with respect for, and in harmony with each individuals path and faith.
Article V – Objectives
Section 1. The WoodLand Corporation will provide a well rounded structure for individuals, so they can learn and grow in harmony with themselves, each other, and our environment through our philosophies on the conservation and propagation of life and the wellbeing of all living things.
Paragraph 1. By building and promoting self sustaining ECO science and educational centers and communities, (ECO Villages) as based on our principals, and encouraging other communities and individuals to follow our example
Paragraph 2. By implementing the proven permaculture concept and design to facilitate our Mission to live in self sustainable harmony with our natural environment, with as little effort, and as little waste as possible by letting the earth and nature do what it does naturally
Paragraph 3. By offering programs for enrichment, education, and support for others who would like to learn about our ideas and the permaculture concepts, and by offering many opportunities for personal growth through the encouragement of literacy, creative arts, history, science, theology, and philosophy
Paragraph 4. By practicing and promoting tolerance and compassion for ourselves, each other, and for all living things, encouraging personal growth, diversity, unity, and teamwork, and working together on various projects to accomplish our goal to establish a balance within our natural environment
Section 2. We will endeavor to promote integration and a happy, healthy, and plentiful natural lifestyle, by providing enrichments using a ‘back to our roots’ approach.
Paragraph 1. By taking into consideration the deficit of natural resources, and cutting back where ever possible and by practicing and promoting permanent agriculture, personal growth and educational endeavors
Paragraph 2. By integrating with our natural environment as much as possible rather than trying to conquer it, and by working together to conserve and propagate the knowledge of our ancestors in ways that promote self sustainability
Paragraph 3. By practicing and promoting a combination of the self sustainable techniques of our ancestors and that of our modern science and technology to enhance our productiveness and increase our yield, while decreasing our cost of living
Paragraph 4. By offering and encouraging enrichments for finding a balance between our physical, spiritual, mental and emotional health, through individual and group activities
Section 3. We will encourage others and promote the regeneration of our natural environment, science, and technology, conserving the resources of our natural environment, and attempt to ‘RE-green’ the Earth through logical, ethical, scientific practices.
Paragraph 1. By applying the scientific method, through research, hypotheses, experimentation, charting and drawing conclusions based on our results and providing solutions for progress
Paragraph 2. By utilizing and offering alternative energy strategies, renewable resources, biodegradable commodities, and recycling services
Paragraph 3. By using and promoting waste management strategies and producing as little waste as possible by recycling biodegradable matter
Paragraph 4. By promoting agro-forestry and forest gardening and other principals of the permaculture lifestyle which facilitate our mission
Section 4. We will endeavor to protect and propagate the life of our children, our animals, ourselves, each other, and our environment by any means necessary and possible within lawful and ethical boundaries.
Paragraph 1. Through promotions, conferences and events offering programs designed for education on social, environmental and ecological issues
Paragraph 2. Through charitable contributions, received and provided by this organization for purposes pertaining to the facilitation of our mission
Paragraph 3. Through the enlistment of legal council, licensed individuals, and educated, and skilled volunteers and other necessary personnel
Paragraph 4. Through research, planning, and the implementation of our ideas and the permaculture principals and the education of others
Article VI – History
Section 1. The ‘WoodLand Club’ (also “WLC”, and often referred to as a “Clan”, or the “Wood Lovers Club” - for tree huggers) was founded in 1991 by Director, Rev. Angelina Francis, and has been in operation as an unofficial communal gathering and enrichment activity since that time.
Paragraph 1. The WLC began as a gathering of friends here in Columbia, SC, where we came together on the holidays to discuss our adventures and philosophies, and to share great food and handmade gifts with each other. We have had scheduled meetings throughout the years, here in the south-eastern region, and many other gatherings periodically, and we have generated unofficial members from all walks of life, in many different areas of the United States, and online we have accumulated more than a thousand unofficial members from all around the world.
Paragraph 2. Rev. Francis has provided leadership and guidance for the group’s members, mentoring, and tutoring members in the areas of living in harmony with ourselves, each other, and our environment, interpersonal relationships, guided meditation and other related arts, music and creative arts, and along with others, providing enrichment activities, and entertainment. Members of the group, have visited ECO communities all around the world to study the permaculture design principals and sustainable living practices, renewable energy and resources, water & waste management, organic gardening and agriculture, botany and plant biology, and many other ‘tricks of the trade’ and do-it-yourself projects.
Paragraph 3. Our accumulated unofficial members, have acquired an array of experience, skills and talents to teach each other. Some live and work in ECO communities, and many others have worked and or volunteered with other individuals and nonprofit organizations within the scope of our efforts to gain experience and share an understanding of practical applications for promoting and implementing our philosophies. Since each individual has funded and planed their own adventures and education, we have been able to share a wealth of knowledge with each other.
Paragraph 4. Our group efforts have harvested many memorable events over the years. While many of our modest gatherings have hosted less than 50 people at any given time, some of our events have generated up to and possibly in excess of 200 at a time. Our Primary Incorporator, Carol Dooley, and Director, Rev. Francis have known each other for over twenty years and have worked successfully well together on many occasions, alongside other members of our prospective Advisory Council who have also known each other, and the Director, for many years.
Section 2. All together we have generated such a wide response and so much interest we decided to incorporate our unofficial club as an official nonprofit corporation so we can bring our knowledge together to implement the proven permaculture concepts conducive to our mission and offer many educational programs and activities to a wider range of people, for the further felicitation of our mission.
Paragraph 1. The WoodLand Corporation® is now incorporated as the Woodland Institute for Strategic Ecology (WISE inc® ) and has spent the last several years researching, planning, and preparing to launch our official nonprofit and our first official campaign to build a self sustainable ECO Science and Educational Center and Community (ECO-Village).
Item 1. We have researched environmental, economic, and social issues and have established a need for our non-profit, whereby changing the way we live to show by example the results and possibilities, we can change the way others think about the necessary changes they can make to ease the problematic conditions facing the world today.
Item 2. We have invested an extensive amount of time researching legalities, licensing, and regulations to ensure the legal, lawful and ethical operation of this organization.
Item 3. We have researched the geological aspects in our prospective region to determine the agricultural demands and concerns, and we have chosen several potential locations that can benefit by our concepts and will suit our needs, within the scope of our projected financial capabilities.
Item 4. We have researched potential expenses and the cost of preparations and resources necessary for the project, designed a strategy, and have established a timeline for implementing our campaign.
Item 5. We have researched compatible venders, companies and other organizations that can help and/or supply material goods and other resources necessary to further facilitate our mission.
Item 6. We have established a solid prospective membership base, including professional occupational candidates such as teachers, medical practitioners, agricultural specialists, botanists, trade specialists, and skilled laborers through word of mouth and internet connections, for which to launch our initial official recruiting campaign.
Item 7. We have prepared our articles of incorporation, mission statement, and bylaws, and voted them applicable and acceptable at our first congressional meeting on September 5, 2008, keeping minutes of the meeting for public records.
Item 8. We have set goals for our project and prepared a thorough and comprehensive business plan detailing our organization’s mission and objectives.
Item 9. We have researched fund raising and promotional strategies and have developed a strategy to launch our first ECO Village campaign and to further facilitate the project potential.
Item 10. We have assembled a powerful, energetic, team of volunteers ready to go into action, and we’ve gathered resources and materials for launching many programs with tentative plans for future projects conducive to the purpose of our mission.
Item 11. We have established a base of operations, a simple homestead, whereby we can show by example our concepts, through experimentation, and enlisting interns to help us achieve our goals.
Article VII – Foundation
Section 1. Our Earth’s natural resources are approximately 70% used up
Paragraph 1. Depleting forests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface; now they cover a mere 6% or less, and the plants and animals which depend on them are becoming endangered species’.
Paragraph 2. Timber, Coal, Oil, Natural Minerals and Gas supply is dwindling; If we don’t curb our usage now we will run out in our lifetime.
Paragraph 3. Viable elements are becoming scarce and precious metals are being bought up, by the private sector, in tons.
Section 2. We need to make drastic changes on a global scale within five to ten years to avoid the consequences of our past consumption.
Paragraph 1. It has become essential to conserve our resources and put back what we’ve taken from the earth. By using the principals of permaculture we can re-green the earth while replenishing the soil to produce the life sustaining necessities it once had.
Paragraph 2. Education on a global scale can increase our chances of reversing the damage. Most people want to make a change, they just don’t know how or where to start. Providing many programs for adults and teaching them how to become more self sustainable, will lead us down a path of conservation and propagation, and with programs specifically aimed at youth groups we can target the young people so we can instill these values in the minds of future consumers.
Paragraph 3. Practicing and encouraging others to participate by living in sustainable harmony with ourselves, each other, and the world that surrounds us, with as little effort and waste as possible; by promoting the conservation and propagation of nature and permanent agriculture, health and well being, education and science, creative arts and history and by encouraging diversity tolerance, and amalgamation within our communities we can show by example that we can make a change for the better.
Section 5. We are on the verge of a global transformation toward the preservation of the resources we have left and on the threshold of the coming explosion of technology aimed toward conservation and renewable resources.
Paragraph 1. We plan to be one of the leading examples of renewable energy and resources in action. Green technology saves time, money and resources, with less waste, and it’s easier to implement than most people think.
Item 1. We will enjoy the comforts of country living, while we use up to date technology to live ‘green’, organic, and completely off the city electric grids by erecting wind turbines.
Item 2. We will build our own structures utilizing the resources from our own property, whenever possible, recycling what we can and working with the natural environment.
Paragraph 2. We plan to become one of the leading examples of permaculture in action. Permanent agriculture and self sustainability are obtainable on a global scale and will be a simple, cost effective way of life.
Item 1. We will supply and provide our own homes, food, water, electricity, heat, air conditioning, waste management, holistic medical care, day care, enrichments, commodities and assets for financial support.
Item 2. We will incorporate the principals of permaculture and the pathways beyond sustainability to create a working, thriving example of how and why permaculture works and how to implement it.
Paragraph 3. We plan to be the loudest lobbyists for the necessary changes. Change doesn’t start at the government level; rather it starts in the minds of the youth of our nations. Ethical environmental planning will become the wave of the future.
Item 1. We will organize many avenues specifically for enriching the young people in ways that give them important values for the conservation and preservation of life and the well being of all living things.
Item 2. We will lead humanity on a path of applying ethical planning for our environmental and biological advancement, rather than continuing down the path to its destruction.
We are inviting you Sponsor a Seed.
-The average American carbon footprint is about 21,000lbs of CO2 per year. The goal on a global scale is to get the average down to about 2,500lbs per person, per year, over the next ten to twenty years.
-A tree seedling can be sponsored through WISE INC for one year @ $16.67, and offsets the average carbon footprint by approx 1% (or about 107lbs of CO2 per year).
-Each garden sponsored for $250.00 is equal to sustaining 15 tree seedlings for one year @ $16.67 each, which offsets your carbon footprint by approx 15% (or about 1,600 lb) and is a tax deductable contribution with a certificate provided by our organization.
~Thank you for supporting the Earth! | 
