Applied Permaculture Intern Program
May 1 thru October 30
at Earthaven Ecovillage
fees range: $700 - $2500
The Applied Permaculture Intern Program will provide twelve to twenty-four
individuals with practical, applied training in permaculture, an ethical
approach to land use and economics based on: 1) care for the Earth -- its
air, water, soils, forests, plants and animals; 2) care for people, who
need not only the things of the Earth, but each other; and 3) care for
community, through dispersal of that which is surplus to our own needs. The
curriculum will focus on practical skills for ecological living and life
skills for effective citizenship and community participation. Through a
variety of teaching methods including lectures, small group discussion,
participation in public workshops, research projects, and applied hands-on
work projects, the interns will learn how to design permaculture systems
that neither exploit nor pollute, but rather provide for the harmonious
integration of people into the landscape in such a way that the land grows
in richness, productivity, and aesthetic beauty. Hand in hand with training
in practical skills for ecological living, the interns will learn consensus
decision making, creative problem solving, conflict resolution, and
effective communication methods -- life skills for effective citizenship
and community participation. This component is vitally important as each
intern will be asked to commit to passing on their knowledge gained from
the program to at least seven other individuals from their own community,
thus multiplying the impact of the program.
Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants
May 9
at Earthaven Ecovillage
sliding scale fee: $75-95
Identifying, harvesting and preparing "weeds" and other common, local
plants as food and medicine will be the focus of this course. Participants
will learn how to make their own tinctures, vinegars, salves, and oils, as
well as how to incorporate wild plants into their diets to support optimum
health.
Building with Earth & Straw
May 29 thru 31
at Earthaven Ecovillage
sliding scale fee: $175-225
A hands-on workshop which focuses on building using locally available pole
wood, earth and straw. Participants will learn the recipes and processes of
ancient and contemporary adaptations of simple building methods including
cob (bricks of clay, straw and sand), wattle and daub, and clay slip/straw.
Through the process of learning to build with the materials that surround
us, the workshop empowers participants to take care of their lives by
providing healthy, affordable, soulful shelters. "If we are to live in
ecologically sound ways, then creating built environments that reflect our
values is an important step along the path to a sustainable culture."
Straw Bale Building Workshop
July 3 thru 5
at Earthaven Ecovillage
sliding scale fee: $175-225
Learning the techniques of building with straw bales will be the focus of
this workshop as participants raise the walls on a 13-sided community
meeting center. With a focus on non-load bearing structures, the workshop
will teach general aspects of foundations for straw bale buildings, how tstabilize
and secure the bales to the post and beam frame, windows and
doorways for straw bale structures, and plastering techniques for both
interior and exterior application.
Building with Earth and Straw
July 31 thru August 2
at Earthaven Ecovillage
sliding scale fee: $175-225
A hands-on workshop which focuses on building using locally available pole
wood, earth and straw. Participants will learn the recipes and processes of
ancient and contemporary adaptations of simple building methods including
cob (bricks of clay, straw and sand), wattle and daub, and clay slip/straw.
Through the process of learning to build with the materials that surround
us, the workshop empowers participants to take care of their lives by
providing healthy, affordable, soulful shelters. "If we are to live in
ecologically sound ways, then creating built environments that reflect our
values is an important step along the path to a sustainable culture."
Women's Permaculture Fundamentals
August 13 thru 21
at Earthaven Ecovillage
sliding scale fee: $500-750
Because "women's work" has traditionally been involved with the cycles of
daily living, permaculture can be a vehicle for re-valuing many traditional
women's concerns -- especially health, education, childcare, spirituality,
the home system, and relationship with plants. With all the Fundamentals of
Permaculture covered in this course, there will also be an emphasis on
those aspects which are of particular interest to women. Woven into the
curriculum will be hands-on projects, gatherings for circles and songs and
sharing, lectures, and focused discussions.
Stream and Creek Restoration Techniques Workshop
August 29
at Earthaven Ecovillage
sliding scale fee: $75-95
As the population growth and land development in the western NC mountains
increases, concern over stream and water quality issues mounts. It is
important for land owners and stewards to understand simple methods that
they can use to protect and improve the quality of the waters in their
care. This workshop is intended to offer participants hands-on experience
in streambank stabilization and restoration techniques including the
design, use and placement of brush deflectors, tree revetments, root wads,
and bio-engineering (re-vegetation strategies), as well as an understanding
of watershed and stream dynamics. Gully repair and erosion control
strategies will also be addressed in this workshop.
Permaculture Approaches to Water Management and Use-From Source to Sink
August 30
at Earthaven Ecovillage
sliding scale fee: $75-95
As clean water becomes recognized as a limited resource to be used with
care, it is imperative that homeowners and land managers understand and
practice sound ecologically based water use strategies. This workshop is
designed to familiarize participants with water's uses and it's ecological
management in the home and in the landscape. The workshop will explore
strategies and techniques for sound water collection, storage, use,
recycling, and purification using permaculture principles. The workshop
will cover water harvesting from surface water runoff and roof catchments;
water storage for domestic and agricultural uses in ponds, swales,
chinampas, and cisterns; and water recycling and post use purification
using constructed wetland waste treatment and greywater irrigation systems.
Permaculture Fundamentals
September 18 thru 26
at Earthaven Ecovillage
sliding scale fee: $550-800
Introduces permaculture as a conscious design of "cultivated" ecosystems
that maintains the diversity, stability and resilience of natural
ecosystems. Offering both theory and practical training, the workshop
teaches participants how to harmoniously integrate people into the
landscape in such a way that the land and its inhabitants grow in richness,
productivity, and beauty. Interpersonal "community building" will also be
an important component of the course.
Village Design Practicum and Advanced Permaculture
September 28 thru October 6
at Earthaven Ecovillage
sliding scale fee: $550-800
Building on permaculture principles presented in Permaculture Fundamentals,
this course provides in-the-field training at Earthaven and several city
and suburban locations, and extensive small group assignments in designing
a permaculture village. Certification in Pc Design may be granted at the
successful completion of this course.
Greg Clark <culturesedge@mindspring.com>
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