What is permaculture?
"Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other materials and non material needs in a sustainable way. Permaculture design is a system of assembling conceptual, material and strategic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms.
        The philosophy behind permaculture is one of working with, rather than against nature, of looking at systems in all their functions, rather asking only one yield of them, and allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions"  words I think are Bill Mollison's one of the founders of Permaculture
        Taken from the Permaculture Research Institute pamphlet www.permaculture.org.au

South Coast Permaculture Guild Contacts and other Organizations of Interest

South Coast Permaculture Guild  Margie Bushman sbpcnet@silcom.com 805-962-2571
Santa Barbara Permaculture Network:  Margie Bushman sbpcnet@silcom.com 805-962-2571
Ojai Permaculture Guild: Dave White        artdetour@mac.com   805-646-9809
Central Coast Permaculture Guild: Rob Kimmel  zigge@aol.com  805-438-5745
San Diego Permaculture Center: San Diego Economic Conversion Council sdecc@igc.org (619) 298-8879
Cal Poly Student Farm in SLO:Alexis Pouillon   alexis@value.net
                                Hunter Francis    wfrancis@calpoly.edu
Long Beach Organics: David Krieger-DeWitt        dakd@earthlink.net  562-438-9000
Southern East Sierra: Tom Drummond                                       760-377-5011        
Pc Institute of Southern Cal: Bill Roley                DrRoley@aol.com       949-494-5843
Santoyo&Associates                         santoyo@earthflow.com        800-469-5857
LA EcoVillage: Lois Arkin                       crsp@igc.org             213/738-1254
Permaculture Activist Magazine Website  <http://www.permacultureactivist.net>
Permacultura    http://www.tortuga.com/permacultura/spanish/QueEsPermacultura.htm
PERMACULTURE CREDIT UNION               http://www.pcuonline.org

Hi everyone

March 2001 Newsletter Content:
1) List of March 2001 Events, Ojai "Seeds, Trees, and Mulch", EcoVarietyNight, Energy Saving Design
2) List of Future Events, Intro to Permaculture,Mushrooms and Permaculture, Earthaven Perm. Courses
3) Perma News  International Permaculture Gatherings, Meetings in Santa Barbara starting in April
4) List of interesting Websites -Earthflows of SLO, A Beginner Guide to Permaculture, Mycorrhizal
5) Subscribe to South Coast, Central Coast, San Diego Permaculture Guild Listserves
6)Please send listings and events for next email news by March 28 to lakinroe@silcom.com

1. MARCH 2001 EVENTS
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March 17-19 "Seeds, Trees, and Mulch"  in Ojai Ca
With eco-educator Akiva Werbalowsky and guest presenters.
The "Seeds, Trees, and Mulch" workshop on will explore
permaculture design, biointensive gardening, biodynamics, and leading
edge approaches for bringing delicious food to the table all year. We
will share practical seed saving and growing techniques best suited for California bioregions.
Special attention is given to fruit trees.
Comfortable overnight guest accommodation Saturday and Sunday nights is available for up to 12 people, with creek access, yoga space, and hot tubbing freely available. Bring good footwear and seasonal clothing for hands-on threshing, winnowing, planting, mulching, and touring in a vibrant garden-ecosystem.
Event Fees are $90 for locals sleeping and having breakfasts elsewhere; $160 for full accommodations. Barter-exchange is available if completed prior to event. A favorite feature at these events is the FIVE gourmet vegetarian organic meals known as "Temple Cuisine" by Andrea Rolston.

Participants may register by sending a check to
Ecospirit, PO Box 1766,Ojai, CA, 93024
For more information please see the
website at www.ecojai.org, or contact Andrea Rolston
[mudgoddess@usa.net] or phone (805)646-1136.
More experiential workshops will be held March 31- April 2, "Earthwork, Stone, and Water" and April 27- 30 "Riparian EcoManagement and Arundo Donax."


Saturday March 17, March 31, and April 28 EcoVariety Nights  in Ojai ,Ca
EcoVariety Nights are three community celebrations of art, music,
words, dance and food which begin each workshop. EcoVariety Nights are
presented from 7-10 pm on Saturday March 17, March 31, and April 28 at
a new organic food store and café "The Farmer and the Cook," 339 W. El
Roblar, in Meiners Oaks near Ojai. Performers are invited to call Eric
for a time slot (805) 652-1142 or email ewerb@aol.com. There will be
dessert goodies and surplus crafts, fruits and garden goods are often
shared. Requested donation is $3.


March 17-18 (sat&sun). Medicinal Herb Conference and Organic Farm Day
Medicinal herb conference Sat March 17 at Quai Botanical Gardens in Encinitas, California this event is a premier national event with over a dozen top teachers coming in from all over the country to offer a day of courses
For more information please call Greg and Gail Smith at 760/726-1204 e-mail them at eorganic@znet.com.

Second day event, Organic farm day, is scheduled for Sunday March 18 from 10:00 - 3:00pm. The cost is $10. The event is located in Carlsbad at the Buena Vista herbal sanctuary. to get there take highway 78 and exit at College Blvd. proceed south on college and turn right at the first light onto haymar drive. continue on haymar until it ends in a cul de sac.
Classes include: organic farming practices, seed saving and propagation, compost and mulching workshops, environmental stewardship, culinary and medicinal herb harvesting and processing, yoga garden, native and
cultivated herb walks
Presenters include: Greg Smith of Vista Organic, Scott Murray of Murray Farms, Richard Taylor of  C.C.O.F., Stephanie Caughlin of Sea Breeze Farm, Gabriel Howearth - Founder of Seeds of Change, James Greeen - CA School of Herbal Studies, Robert Nanninga - Environmental Provocateur. A gourmet organic lunch will be available or you are invited to bring your own picnic.
For more information please call Greg and Gail Smith at 760/726-1204 e-mail them at eorganic@znet.com.

March 23-25 Permaculture Workshop at on "Energy Saving Design"
Cost $85.00 per person, which includes lodging in 6-person rooms, with shared bath, and six meals.
The San Diego Permaculture Center and the Permaculture
Institute of Southern California are cosponsoring this weekend workshop at
Camp Stevens, Julian CA.

With energy prices skyrocketing and local utilities on the verge of
bankruptcy, now is the time to act to save yourself lots of money in the
coming months and years. This workshop will cover a variety of strategies
to redesign your home, work and church environments to cut your electric
and gas bills dramatically.
Using the designs for the new 3-bedroom staff home and the staff common
room at Camp Stevens as a model, we'll explore changes you can make to many
facets of your living, worship and work spaces. From lighting and
appliances to space and water heating to production of your own electricity
from sunlight, we'll cover all aspects of energy consumption and
conservation.
Architects and experts in energy conservation will provide presentations on
the latest advances in new energy-saving lighting and appliances and
practices, as well as passive and active solar water and space heating
strategies and equipment. They will also explain how you can install a
photovoltaic array on your house to have the sun provide much of your
electricity and sell any excess each day back to your utility at the market
price!
Considering remodeling or building? This workshop will also address new,
energy efficient ways of construction and of choosing your building
location. We'll look at the design considerations for optimal natural
heating and cooling at the sites for Camp Stevens' new buildings, and learn
about how these structures will be constructed from bales of straw covered
with plaster for maximum insulation and energy efficiency.
The weekend will begin
with supper from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 23, and conclude with
lunch on Sunday, March 25. To reserve a space send a non-refundable
deposit of $25.00 per person with your name, address, and phone. For more
information call Camp Stevens at 760/765-0028 or email:
info@campstevens.org.

Ongoing Permaculture Workshops organized by the San Diego Permaculture Center
For more info contact  SDECC and SDPC 619 298-8879 sdecc@igc.org website igc.org/sdecc

2. FUTURE EVENTS
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Permaculture Design Certificate Courses April 1-14 2001 and Sept 30- Oct 13 2001
Permaculture On Ground Training April 16-27 and Oct 15 -26
These course supports efforts to develop a North American demonstration
of sustainable agriculture and commerce at the deactivated Louisiana
Army Ammunition Plant, where plans are under way to renovate the area
using Permaculture practices. It is amazing place to learn permaculture.
Contact for more info
Northwest Louisiana Commerce Center
2618 York Ave
Minden, Louisiana 71055
877 459-5120 and 318-459-5185
www.nwlcc.com

April 28-29 Introduction to Permaculture  Instructors: Penny
Livingston-Stark, James Stark & Friends
Fundamentals of sustainable design Fee: $250.00
Permaculture Institute of Northern California 2001 Courses
PO Box 341 Pt. Reyes Station, CA 94956
(415) 663-9090

June 9 & 10Mushrooms & Permaculture Seminar
Davis Bynum Winery 8075 Westside Road Healdsburg, CA 95446
Cost $275 for both days,Sat. only - $175, Sun. only - $125.
Checks payable to: Davis Bynum Winery
Learn how to integrate mushroom cultivation into Permaculture gardens
and land restoration projects within the surroundings of a three acre
Mediterranean Food Forest. Hosted by Davis Bynum winery and Sonoma
Permaculture, this knowledge-filled weekend course will introduce
participants to highly talented mushroom authorities, permaculturists, and
cooks.
Saturday will feature Paul Stamets of Fungi Perfecti, author of
*Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms*. Paul will discuss both the
integration of edible & medicinal mushrooms into Permaculture gardens, and
the applications of mushroom cultivation to habitat restoration
On Sunday, Tom Alexander of Bemushroomed, and Charmoon Richardson of
the Wild About Mushrooms Co., will discuss how to build and operate a small
scale mushroom cultivation laboratory
Register soon. Participation will be limited to allow for individual
contact with the instructors.
For info Charmoon Richardson - seminar coordinator
phone: 707-887-1888
e-mail: charmoon@sonic.net
http://www.sonic.net/mycoperm



June 22-28 Building a Rural Off-the-Grid
Ecological Base Camp Fee: $350.00
Tom Watson, Penny Livingston-Stark, James Stark
An advanced permaculture workshop where you will learn to
Install a water tank and solar pump, Selectively harvest Douglas Fir trees
in a way that enhances the forest and build simple structures, Build a camp
kitchen, Install solar showers, Create a Biological treatment system for sewage &
grey water.
It is recommended that participants have taken an Introduction to
Permaculture Course or the Permaculture Design Course.
Permaculture Institute of Northern California 2001 Courses
PO Box 341 Pt. Reyes Station, CA 94956
(415) 663-9090

Oct. 27-28 Plaster and Cob Workshop
Penny Livingston-Stark
Come Explore the Magic of Mud. Learn how to buiild garden walls and benches
with cob. During this workshop you will also learn to make your own interior
paints and plasters using all non-toxic ingredients. These finishes surpass
most commercially available paints and plasters in quality and asthetics.
Fee: $250.00

Nov. 11-12 Pattern and Design 
Richard Feather Anderson & Penny Livingston-Stark
Our world surrounds us with patterns indicating the many processes that
created them. By applying natural patterning to design, we create
environments that are harmonious within the natural systems surrounding us.
In this course discover the many functions of patterns and learn how to
enhance or eliminate, diffuse or concentrate various energies through
pattern application. Fee: $300
How to Start a Successful Permaculture Design Business Nov. 17-18
Instructors - To be Announced
This course is primarily for graduates of the Permaculture Design Course who
want to develop a business as a permaculture designer. You will receive
advise and guidelines from experienced permaculture designers as well as
architects, business consultants, accountants and other professionals. We
will explore how to present a professional design proposal and contract,
develop a business plan and learn professional protocol working with clients
as well as working in interdisciplinary teams. Fee: $300
Permaculture Institute of Northern California 2001 Courses
PO Box 341 Pt. Reyes Station, CA 94956
(415) 663-9090

May 4-18, 2001 EARTH ACTIVIST TRAINING
With STARHAWK and PENNY LIVINGSTON-STARK
Learn how to create the world you want to live in.

A permaculture design course for visionary activists: Learn the skills
to transform a piece of land, a community, and our political and economic
systems. The tools we need to envision and design a just, free and
sustainable culture are the same ones we need challenge the vested interests
that keep destructive systems in place.
Permaculture is a system of ecological design. Spend two weeks in the
coastal California hills learning:
Nature and wilderness awareness.
Diversity in ecosystems and in our movement.
Pattern thinking in design, strategy, and movement building.
Solutions that exist: alternative energy, organic farming, natural
building, bioremediation and restoration.
Soil and forest ecology and ecological economics.
How to collect, conserve, and clean water.
Movement building, strategy and direct action principles and practices.
Consensus process, facilitation and conflict transformation.
How to transform fear, rage, grief and frustration into creative action.
How to stay grounded and centered in tough and challenging situations.
How to create ritual and weave magic into action.
ŠŠand more!
This program leads to a certificate in permaculture design.
Core facilitators:
Starhawk is a lifelong activist, direct action trainer, ecofeminist and
author of many books that link earth-based spirituality with political
struggle, including The Spiral Dance, The Fifth Sacred Thing, and The Twelve
Wild Swans: A Journey to the Realm of Magic, Healing and Action.
Penny Livingston-Stark is internationally recognized as a prominent
permaculture teacher and designer. Penny specializes in creating resource
rich landscapes, non-toxic natural building materials, site planning &
design, using ecologically sound principals and methods.
May 4-18, Western Sonoma County, California
Cost: We are actively fundraising to provide this on a pay-what-you-can
basis to activists. Work trades, payment plans and scholarships available.
For those who can pay, we estimate the real cost of providing this program
to be $1200 per person‹if you can pay more, that will help subsidize someone
who canšt. Please donšt let money keep you away‹wešll work it out!

To apply, or for more information, contact:
Madrone Productions
PO Box 410187
SF CA 94141-0187
415-789-7674
email: vetiwitch@hotmail.com

Permaculture Courses at Earth Haven Ecovillage in North Carolina
Contact: Culture's Edge, 1025 Camp Elliott Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711, 828-669-3937,
Courses in Permaculture Training , Design Courses ,Permaculture Residency Programs, Village Design, Sustainable Forestry, Natural Building and more starting March 17
http://www.permaculture.net/~EPTA/Culture'sEdge.htm


3.PERMA NEWS
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Hopedance Magazine Pathways to Sustainable Living and Positive solutions
A magazine that comes out every two months is a great source of information on activities for the Permaculture Community in Southern Ca and our activities we Santa Barbara Permaculture Network are involved as editors and distributors latest issue March/April is working with Energy
Please subscribe to support this great regional magazine at $20 per year 6 issues
P.O. Box 15609
San Luis Obispo Ca 93406
hopedance@aol.com   www.hopedance.org

Permaculture Discussion Group to Cover Permaculture Principles and Practises to Start  in April
South Coast Permaculture and Santa Barbara Permaculture Network will be holding meetings starting April going in Santa Barbara CA hopefully at the Community Environmental Center .
        This will be an interactive meeting showing video covering many parts of a lecture series on Permaculture Design by Bill Mollison one of the founders of Permaculture , audio tapes, other Permaculture Videos, slides and discussion each month. First series will last 4 months and cover Design, Water, Natural Building etc
        For more info contact Margie Bushman 962-2571 or email sbpcnet@silcom.com

Latinamerican Permaculture Congress for end-September of this year 2001.

Marsha Hanzi here from Brazil. We are organizing the Latinamerican
Permaculture Congress in a beautiful mountain valley in the state of Bahia
here in Brazil for end-September of this year. As you are in Southern
California, you may have contact with Spanish-speaking people who would be
interested in participating. It would be very good to have some
Spanish-speaking USA representatives present..."Marsha Hanzi" <hanzibra@svn.com.br>
You can see the Congress homepage at www.ecolinkvillage.net/permacultura
The homepage of the Bahian Permaculture Institute:
www.geocities.com/ipbbr

Plans for International Permaculture Conference 7
        A web based discussion group to plan for the International Permaculture Conference 7  has been formed, and can be subscribed to at http://www.egroups.com/group/IPC7 this conference is tentatively scheduled for March 2002 at Raglan, New Zealand. Anyone interested in helping build support for this event is invited to subscribe . Plans are afoot to collaboratively construct a web page for the event. For more info email IPC7@groups.com

The Natural Builders Network listserv
For those folks who are interested in a listserv that is primarily about
networking natural builders, please see the following:

The Natural Builders Network listserv was birthed after a half-day workshop
with Gary Duncan from smartshelter.com (on November 11, 2000). The listserv
is a way to keep the energy flowing and the communications moving regarding
creating a Network of Natural Builders in the area from San Luis Obispo to
San Diego. The idea is to create a network of engineers, builders,
architects, insurance agents, lenders, contractors, strawbale construction
folks and attorneys "to compete with the non-renewable toxic and
environmentally destructive aspects of conventional building." (Gary Duncan)
If you are interested in joining, simply send a message to
majordomo@omnipost.com and type in subscribe NBN.
thanks,
bob banner
temporary coordinator of the NBN listserv


SDECC San Diego Permaculture Center Newsletter and Fund raiser
The SD Permaculture Center is supported primary by membership dues and contributions. this year the center hopes to raise $12,000 to sustain the Permaculture Center. they are asking folks to become members of San Diego Economic Conversion Council which is the umbrella organization of the Permaculture Center. Become a member and get there great newsletter.
Memberships are $35 individual, $50 family, $100 sponsor, $500 retainer, $20 student/fixed income
Checks payable to SDECC mail to 4452 Park Blvd Suite 205 San Diego CA 92116 
Permaculture Center (619) 298-8879 fax (619) 298-2298 sdecc@igc.org www.igc.org/sdecc

Announcing the Opening of The Permaculture Credit Union
The Permaculture Credit Union is a reality. A new kind of environmentally responsive financial institution has been created and chartered. It is possibly the first credit union founded upon the Earth Care principles of Permaculture ethics, namely respect for natural systems, respect for people, and no waste ( which in banking will mean the reinvestment and recycling of surplus back into the community being served). Our mission is to pool the financial resources of people who subscribe to these ethical principles and provide a financial vehicle that will allow these resources to be put to work creating a sound sustainable, environmentally responsible future. We believe we have targeted a market that is severely unserved by existing financial institutions- those people who are committed to a cleaner environment, healthy food and water, sustainable energy use, and a more conscious lifestyle. It will create the opportunity for members to control the use of money in the community and contribute to the revitalization of local well-being.
Permaculture Credit Union
4250 Cerrillo Road
Santa Fe , NM 87505 (505) 954-3479 fax (505) 424-1624  perma@pcuonline.org
http://www.pcuonline.org/


4. WEBSITES OF INTEREST
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The Permaculture Learning Center, Los Osos, Ca.
Surrounded by hundreds of acres of open space, extinct volcanos and coastal bluffs, this
ten acre retreat features ancient oaks, coastal chaparral and riparian habitats. Mild winters
coddle a collection of rare food crops and sub-tropical fruits. Nearby activities include
hiking, biking, kayaking, birding, whale watching, wine tasting and more.
Non-residential education and apprenticeship opportunities include one, two and three
month-long programs in landscape design and construction, small-scale market gardening
and certificate courses in Permaculture Design. Contact santoyo@earthflow.com for more information or visit the website at http://www.earthflow.com Permaculture Designer and Teachers Larry And Kathryn Santoyo

A Beginner Guide to Permaculture  web page designed by Graham Burnett South East Essex Permaculture England
http://pages.unisonfree.net/gburnett/Perma/
This is a beautiful web page that uses visual drawings and explanations to convey all the parts of what is Permaculture to the ethics thru to the principles in Permaculture Design. The visual is so strong a learning tool. Thru over 25 beautiful drawings and explanations Graham captures with his drawings the heart and spirit of Permaculture. It is like taking a mini permaculture design course.
The website is extracts from his book 'Permaculture A Beginner's Guide' which is at the printers at this very moment and to find out about the book contact below 
Graham Burnett
35 Rayleigh Avenue
Westcliff On Sea
Essex  SS0 7DS UK
"Graham Burnett" <gb0063551@cableinet.co.uk>
 
Check out SCPG Member and Permaculture Designer Pierre Constans website, he has a business selling Mycorrhal Root and soil Inoculate for your garden and farm plants
http://www.biovam.org/


5.LISTSERVE
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To get Up to Date Permaculture Ongoing Announcements for courses , events and posting of articles of interest try subscribing to our local Permaculture Listserves ccpg serves San Lois Obispo ,scpg serves Santa Barbara down and including Los Angeles, and sdpg serves San Diego area. Below are the instructions how to sign up
thanks to John Howe for setting them up
this works the same for each separate list:
central coast list(ccpg@arashi.com), south coast(scpg@arashi,com), and the san diego
list (sdpg@arashi.com)

TO SUBSCRIBE to this mailing listserve

Basically, the info is more web based now so log on the each website you want to subscribe to
SoCal PCG subscription
http://www.arashi.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/scpg
SanDiego PCG subsciption
http://www.arashi.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/sdpg
CentralCoast Cal PCG subscription
http://www.arashi.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/ccpg

Please send listings and events for next email news by March 28 to lakinroe@silcom.com

Mail Address    South Coast Permaculture Guild and Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
                224E Figueroa ST #C
                Santa Barbara CA 93101

"What permaculturists are doing is the most important activity that any
group is doing on the planet. We don't know what details of a truly
sustainable future are going to be like, but we need options, we need
people experimenting in all kinds of ways and permaculturists are one of
the critical gangs that are doing that."
Dr David Suzuki geneticist, broadcaster
and international environmental advocate

Permaculture education includes principles and practices of
sustainable soil, water, crop, forest, architectural, business, and
finance systems ­ ethical investment, community loan support and small
business management.

Permaculture, from PERMAnent agriCULTURE, is an integrated system of
design including not only agriculture, horticulture, architecture and
ecology but also land access strategies and economic systems for small
businesses and communities.

Taken from the Latin, permanens, to endure or persist through time and
cultura, cultures - permaculture is an interdisciplinary design
science focused on sustainable system design. Sustainable systems are
defined as those that, over their lifetime, produce energy equivalent
to or in excess of what they consume.

Permaculture operates on three ethics: care of the earth, care of the
species and return of excess to the first two.