I am sending this email to you from our friend’s permaculture-oriented Fox Hollow Farm in Ohio where I am taking a working vacation. (Pictured: Me in front of their home with their dog Wally) Bruce Rickard and I took our first permaculture training together in 2004. He and his wife Lisa are college graduates and x-professionals who walked away from high paying jobs to raise their two children in the country (home schooled too). This farm is much more fertile and productive then it was when they took it over 16 years ago. On this 285 acres they have reversed soil loss, eliminated chemical use and pollution, increased rainwater retention and are sequestering greater and greater amounts of sunlight into useable human form (mostly protein from sheep, cattle and chickens). While I’m here, I will be taking pictures for a summary that I will compile in the future. This farm will likely become a spot for us to do future permaculture classes. There is so much that they have learned from their farming/permaculture experience and they are willing to share it with others. I
Speaking of farming….Look what I came across (next item)!!!
Permaculture Hot Link…!!! Farming in the Suburbs & City, on Other Peoples Land Talk about growing food locally – What about raising it in peoples own back yards?
Two very creative and talented start-up farmers from Portland, OR, discouraged with the prospect of buying or renting farmland for a vegetable operation (CSA – Community Supported Agriculture), put the feelers out in their community to see if people would be willing to pay them to grow food in the resident’s own backyard. The interest was strong and immediate. Last year they tended almost 50 gardens on a weekly basis, doing the planting, weeding and harvesting, leaving the picked vegetables in a basket at the homeowner’s back door. They charge an average of $40 per family, per week. I’ll let you do the math. It has been ages since a start-up farmer has been able to make that kind of money. To me, these women (that’s right, it is two women farmers) are prime examples of a permaculture approach to farming. They are transforming barren back yards into vegetable production, sequestering more rain water, harvesting more sun, educating their customers about how to grow their own food, supplying wholesome-organic food, reducing transportation and packaging costs/pollution, and building community. Care of People – Care of Earth – Share the Surplus: the permaculture ethic in action. http://www.portlandtribune.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=117346673927891500
72-hour Permaculture Design-Certification Course -- Boulder, CO – April 19-26, 2008 With an emphasis on suburban and urban, high altitude permaculture.
The early registration period for this course ends on February 19th. If this course is for you, register before then to receive a copy of Bill Mollison’s foundational permaculture work – A Designer’s Manual (retail $97) as an early registration gift. Registration continues all the way up to March 30th but student must purchase the text separately after the 19th of this month. http://www.bouldercountygoinglocal.com/8daypermaculture.html
Join us at The Organic Farming Conference – Feb. 21-23, 2008 in La Crosse, WI – This is one of the best organic conferences in the US. Stop by our booth and introduce yourself please. Becky and I would love to meet you (if we haven’t already). We will have some of our design course graduates in the booth with us and I will be participating in the “Farm Beginnings” workshop. Mark Shepard will be there as well with his New Forest Farm booth. This is a great opportunity to meet Mark. http://www.mosesorganic.org/umofc/intro.html
3-Hour ‘Introduction to Permaculture’ in Chicago – March 29th -
Several of our design course graduates are working with the Sivananda Yoga Center to transform their small Chicago back yard into an inviting permaculture environment. Come learn about their plans, enjoy our 3-hour ‘Introduction to Permaculture’ seminar and stay on for a light evening meal and follow-up conversation as we explore what the spiritual aspect of a permaculture approach to life might be. The yoga center director and I will lead this discussion. Follow this link for more information and to pre-register for a discounted fee. http://www.midwestpermaculture.com/IntroductorySeminar.php
That’s it for this month… Time to start ordering seeds and planning out the rain gardens… Best to you all…Bill
P.S. Registrations continue to arrive for the May and August design courses at the MREA in Wisconsin. Details Here.
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