Echo Valley Hope

Echo Valley Hope's dedication towards environmental stewardship, social justice, and peace work are important and invaluable to all communities. They nurture many diverse ideas and encourage all to be present and advocate for peace and justice in our world.
The Echo Valley Hopes Board Statement of Allegiance aligns well with my personal and ethical beliefs.

Echo Valley Hope continues to be an organization that mirrors and aligns its existence with the path forward to peace, justice and sustainability. As a trainee in Echo Valley Hope’s offering of both the Peace Education Program and additional facilitation training series, I have witnessed this nonprofit reach out to diverse and expansive communities and amplify the work of generations of people locally, across the region, and around the world.
Echo Valley Hope’s commitment to land stewardship and cultivating sustainability are evident in their outreach endeavors and in affiliations with groups that support similar outcomes and those who may have a differing perspective or approach. This concomitant ability to find shared meaning between others and the Earth, to create Peace in absences of Justice, and to “meet people where they are at” is a tribute to the beautiful beings that help operate Echo Valley Hope. This nonprofit is certainly an organizational beacon and an example of light to follow for the years ahead.

Echo Valley Hope puts a lot of effort into community building and education via insightful interviews. I think it's important to have organizations focused on creating community with people from different backgrounds and different values. Echo Valley Hope does that.

Review: I appreciate Echo Valley Hope's commitment to uphold the rights of all human beings to live in peace and with dignity. Its respect and encouragement for diversity, inclusion, and equity of all people is evident in activities and programs. I stand with humanity and support Echo Valley Hope's wholistic mission.

Their focus on environmental justice, environmental responsibility, peace, ending war and human equality are just a few of the great things this non profit stand for. They use social media and radio to reach a large audience.

It is a pleasure to extol the leadership-by-action of Echo Valley Hope and relate how their living example has informed the path of our own mission and goals. We have gone from being helped to helping others, and are now their willing donors. We first became aware of them in 2014 when we bought a small property in Wisconsin’s Vernon County, with the goal of growing our own food. After meeting them and relating our plans, they provided some much-needed farming equipment, along with sincere encouragement and forever friendship. We attended their seminars about Peace and protesting war, and saw first-hand instances of compassion, inclusion, gratitude, empathy, and kindness. Because of them, we started to grow food to give away to those in need and have trained 60+ persons in farming techniques through WWOOF and other platforms. Some of those persons have started their own farming and sharing ventures. For many years now we’ve fed our neighbors, made great friends, and promoted the ideals learned at Echo Valley Hope: Peace, food security, environmental issues such as regenerative farming, and social justice matters. All that we’ve accomplished can be directly attributed to Echo Valley Hope, and we’re so very grateful to their founders, staff, and collaborators.

I love Echo Valley Hope's interviews with people working to make this world a better place. They are truly visionary in seeing the connections between all the issues that concern us, and celebrating people who rise up to do the much needed work. And the message comes through with hope and compassion.

We have been collaborating with Echo Vally Hop as mutual members of the Wisconsin Network for Peace Justice. Echo Vally hope is always willing to endorse, support, and collaborate with our efforts to build unity for a more just, sustainable, democratic, and peaceful world.

I deeply admire and support all the great work that Echo Valley Hope is doing. It's encouraging to see orgs. like them. More importantly, they don't work in isolation but always sorting out collaborations that is a key in any social change we dream of.

I have been a part of Echo Valley Hope since its inception. I have witnessed the widening circle of groups, organizations and individuals that the non-profit has reached out to, interacted with and made a difference for in the areas of peace, sustainability and humanity over the years. Total commitment with love!!

I’m impressed with the work being done by Echo Valley Hope. Over the years this organization has opened opportunities for all of us to participate in productive activities from food growing to learning more about peace in our own lives. At the farm there is hands-on learning as well as information. EVH participates in both local and neighboring outreach so becoming a unique resource to all.

The folks at Echo Valley Hope have integrity as a foundational value. You can be sure that they evaluate every choice they make for the organization for kindness, effectiveness, transparency, and heart in their mission to promote peace, justice and sustainable living.

Echo Valley Hope is an organization that unwaveringly pursues its mission. I have been impressed by the many ways they support and promote sustainable peace. Through events like Widening the Circle and the Peace Education Program, Echo Valley Hope provides a unique approach to achieving peace that provokes people to broaden their thinking. As a board member, I also appreciate the consistent transparency and genuineness shown by the organization's leadership.

I enjoy the variety and engaging conversations that Echo Valley Hope creates through their "Widening the Circle" talks.

Echo Valley Hope is a phenomenal intentional community! Our Family Farm Defenders members have participated in many events there, and also just enjoyed the respite/retreat they offer with their open space, quiet cabins, communal meals, plus great company. Echo Valley Hope also shares their voice/vision much more broadly through collaboration with the WI Network for Peace and Justice (WNPJ), their blog posts and podcasts on social media, as well as the popular Conversations show on Viroqua's community radio station - WDRT - that is hosted by Echo Valley Hope founder, Dena Eackles. Several FFD members have been interviewed on this show in the past.

I began volunteering for echo valley hope about 17 years ago. The attention to new programs as well as disaster relief made me aware that this nonprofit is versital.
I am a gardener and that includes vegetables, herbs, trees, and flowers. Echo valley hope supports learning more about living sustainable lives and learning from many people with diverse backgrounds

Echo Valley Hope's educational outreach is an invaluable resource to our community. Important environmental issues that don't make it into local media or aren't understood by many people are thoughtfully explained and shared by Dena's diligent research and writing. Echo Valley Hope brings Hope and inspiration by sharing important ideas and facilitating discussion. This great organization also offers people resources for connecting with personal peace. In a time when so many of us struggle with hopelessness and poor mental health these resources are a lifeline.

It all begins with seeds--of thought, manifesting into action, through steady streams of love and attention to the dignity of all living beings. This is what they do at Echo Valley Hope. They nurture us through these conflicting times with honest, intelligent, radio broadcasts, meetings, writings, and social gatherings, Widening the Circle, loving the Earth, and witnessing Humanity Rising in each one who joins them. My wish is for Echo Valley Hope to continue its expansion of sustainable living and learning to the far reaches of this county. Thank you for this everloving source of hope for peace and dignity among us all.

Echo Valley Hope does important work that impacts beyond the small rural community where it is rooted. I am grateful that my personal work and passion aligns with the work of Echo Valley Hope. There is so much work to do to heal the planet and this organization lives and inspires that each and every day. When we know our purpose, we know why we act and each action creates ripples beyond what we know. Echo Valley Hope embodies purpose, action and ripples beyond our little rural community.

Echo Valley Hope integrates core values of peace, love of the earth, and inclusion. They bring education, organizing, and healing to their local area and beyond. They bridge divides and host meaningful conversations that help people return to clarity about respect, dignity, and the well-being of all. By supporting both on-the-ground wisdom and sharing stories from many places, Echo Valley Hope aids people in learning skills and understandings that are deeply needed in these times. They are humble, powerful, and persistent in all that the organization approaches. From a local radio show to learning workshops to virtual gatherings, Echo Valley Hope shows that small teams can make a big difference.

Change work is hard, especially in such a polarized culture that emphasizes both urgency and production. Echo Valley uses wisdom from the land, elders, and community to operate in ways that are growth-ful and nourishing. It is a community of intentional power who are working to build the world they know is possible, in loving collaboration with those around them and in continuous value alignment.

Ten years ago, in 2012, we first experienced Echo Valley Farm, home to Echo Valley Hope. My wife and daughter and I attended a family camp that was a family experience that helped us learn so much about ourselves as well as the natural world. We will never forget our time there. We got to garden, eat from the land, drum, dye wool, tend sheep and chickens.
We returned to Echo Valley again in the following years and it continues to be an oasis of peace, sustainability, connection with nature, spiritual growth--not to mention delicious homemade food!

Echo Vally Hope is about action. It is located in the beautiful Driftless Area of Southwest Wisconsin. All are welcome at this peaceful place where sustainable living is practiced and finding inner peace is taught, resulting in personal growth, happiness and nonviolence. Respect for all nature and respect for all of all of humanity is a priority. « Kindness wins » is a favorite motto.
Education in peace and justice is an important component in Echo Valley’s work. There are discussions and action about social justice issues and the power of love. My husband and I have seen Echo Valley Hope grow over the years and it is definitely
inspiring changes not only in our little area but also beyond.

Echo Valley Hope is all about our potential as human beings. It is the shedding of the conflicts and paradigms we’ve come to accept about the world and about our inner selves. It is the discovery of a process to begin the realization that we can be so much more than we expect. Echo Valley is the discovery and confluence of peace and harmony both within ourselves, with each other, and with our Earth.

Whenever I'm feeling stressed and need to find some calm, I close my eyes and think of my memories of time spent at Echo Valley Hope, in the driftless area in rural SW Wisconsin.

I've had the opportunity to be part of community organizing meeting in the circle of their yurt....eaten hearty, wholesome breakfasts in the warmth of their kitchen.....walked up their mountain for the view of the stars, so clear without city lights....and watched Dena, Lauren and all who live there, interact with love and genuineness to all the critters who live and visit there!
I'm already looking forward to my next opportunity for a visit!

Echo Valley Hope is engaging in work needed to meet the critical moment we are facing as a species. For too long, we have let exploitation, violence, division, and fear shape our reality and it is coming at a heartbreaking cost. Echo Valley Hope is helping us build and maintain connections so we can truly care for one another and this planet. I especially appreciate the Widening the Circle virtual series in which a wide variety of leaders and change makers engage in conversation with Executive Director Dena Eakles. Widening the Circle and Echo Valley Hope is making space for everyone to belong and everyone to feel welcome.

Echo valley hope offers a vision of how we can live in meaningful community with ourselves, with each other, with the land that we learn sustains us, with our world. Echo valley hope teaches by example and embraces issues of social justice. They do great work and have given me inspiration and education. I wish I could live there! Thank you dena and lauren and the whole team for your consistent effort to make a difference!

Echo Valley Hope is an amazing organization, devoted to peace, justice, and sustainability. Founder Dena Eakles is a tireless advocate for anthracite, equity, and justice. I highly recommend Echo Valley Hope as an organization worthy of your support!

My sons father is a volunteer and works and lives at Echo Valley Farm. My son and I reside just outside of Minneapolis, MN. We went so my son could be with both of his parents as our family needed to come together for him due to a traumatic family event. I went knowing very little about Echo Valley, just knowing in my heart that it was important that we be there. We got in after dark. In the morning after I sat down to breakfast with everyone and was welcomed like part of a family at a table full of people, most of which I was just meeting for the first time. Every meal, breakfast lunch and dinner was enjoyed that way throughout our 4 day stay. It is a beautiful way of doing things and what I observed was that not only did these meals shared keep everyone close, this is also the reason why the farm and everything else they do at Echo Valley runs as smoothly as the local Kickapoo river. After breakfast I went outside to see the sign that I had not previously been able to see at night when we arrived.

Echo Valley has offered me an opportunity to step back from the demands of everyday life, slow down, and become familiar with what I so often neglect-myself. I have visited Echo Valley several times. It is quite unique indeed. A few years ago Dena Eckles the owner showed me an area on the property that she envisioned to be an outdoor amphitheater. I stared out at tall grass, thickets, and mud. Now each year in August the Widenining the Circle concert occurs on this very site which is now a beautiful amphitheater. Much effort and progress has been made to develop Echo Valley's somewhat rugged terrain, so that guests can navigate easily and safely. Yet just as much care has been taken to insure that development has not occurred at the expense of the land. Echo Valley's natural beauty and purity remain intact. In addition to enjoying time for myself on quiet walkways, and in addtion to enjoying the music of various artists who have performed at Echo Valley, other opportunities abound. I have listened to different speakers talk about organic farming and gardening. I have watched videos of Prem Rawat speaking about a way to experience peace within myself. I have enjoyed the simple pleasure of participating with other volunteers to ready Echo Valley for the Widening the Circle concert. I have only scratched the surface. Echo valley offers much more. Activities and events planned in the near future can be found on their website: echovalleyhope.org. Bottom line: Sometime treat yourself to a visit to Echo Valley. Slow down for a day or two and just enjoy.