What is Permaculture?
"A more current definition of permaculture is "Consciously designed landscapes which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fibre and energy for provision of local needs" The people, their buildings and ways they organize themselves are central to permaculture. Thus the permaculture vision of permanent (sustainable) agriculture has evolved to one of permanent (sustainable) culture."
Quoted with permission from website of David Holmgren & Su Dennett of Holmgren Design Services Australia
Check out their Website http://www.spacountry.net.au/holmgren
David Holmgren is best known as the co-originator with Bill Mollison of the permaculture concept following the publication of "Permaculture One" in 1978.

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:The SARC (Sustainable Ag Resource Center) 805-756-5086
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

May 2001 Newsletter Content:
1) List of May 2001 Events, SCPermaculture Video Discussion Group, Santa Barbara Organic Club Meeting
2) List of Future Events, Mushrooms and Permaculture, Ecovillage Slideshow/Workshop,Natural Building
3) Perma News  SARC in SLO, Hopedance Mag, Permaculture Credit Union
4) List of interesting Websites -Car Free Times , Permaculture Principles with David Holmgren
5) Subscribe to South Coast, Central Coast, San Diego Permaculture Guild Listserves
6)Please send listings and events for next email news by May 28 to lakinroe@silcom.com


1. MAY 2001 EVENTS
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May10, Thurs. 7pm Permaculture Discussion Group to Cover Permaculture Principles and Practises in Santa Barbara CA
Community Environmental Gildea Resource Center 930 Miramonte Dr Santa Barbara
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 3months and cover Design, Water, Natural Building etc
For more info contact Margie Bushman 962-2571 or email sbpcnet@silcom.com

May 12 Saturday from 10 to 3. Come Learn Natural Plasters
At Calpoly San Luis Obispo Ca Student Experimental Farm
The Straw Bale building at the Cal Poly Student Experimental Farm (in SLO) is
a local example of natural, affordable building at its best. Built from
reclaimed materials, sandbags, cob, bamboo, and organic wheat straw, the
building was constructed for approximately $3 per square foot
Join us for this work party and potluck lunch
Call Hunter Francis at 805-756-5086 for details

May 16 7 p.m The Joys of Vermicomposting with Michael Thompson
Community Environmental Council 930 Miramonte Dr Santa Barbara Ca
Santa Barbara Organics Club Meeting
Worms are our friends! They eat our garbage and turn it into food for our
plants!
Our featured speaker will be Michael Thompson, who has 40 years experience as
an Organic Gardener and "Worm Herder." Dr. Thompson holds a BA in Zoology
from UCSB, plus BS and DDS from SCSF. He'll describe the various types of
worms, teach us how to make or get vermicomposting bins, talk about how worms
can help us compost ALL kitchen wastes. Best of all, he'll provide FREE WORM
SAMPLES FOR ALL ATTENDING! Our moderator is Santa Barbara Organic Garden
Club member Kate Lundy.
For more information on this event or the club call Linda or Larry Saltzman
at 805/563-2089 or e-mail lbsaltzman@aol.com.

May 19-25 Cob Workshop near San Diego, CA
Cost is $560
Check out there website for more details www.deatech.com/cobcottage
Cob Cottage Company P.O. Box 123 Cottage Grove, OR 97424 phone/fax 541-942-2005
 
May 19-25, Permaculture Teacher Training Course
Course is Completely  booked planning a second course
Heartwood Institute in Garberville California
Teachers Jude Hobbs and Tom Ward and others
Tuition is $550 includes meals, lodging and instruction

This is the first Permaculture Teachers Training since Lea Harrison and Max Lindegger came from Australia in 1990. We hope to see a new generation of teachers rise up and step forward to the challenge of facilitating Permaculture Design Courses. there is a standard Course Curriculum and we will help everyone discover and improve their strengths and pick up new tricks to demonstrate and illustrate whole systems education..

Course Topics
*Teaching systems , principals and patterns
*teaching as an organism
*life long learning
*Staying Healthy
*Time and participation Management
*Adult learning styles
*Interns and apprentices
*Team Teaching
*Keeping up the spirit and more

Who should Attend?
Permaculture Design Course Graduate and individuals with permaculture knowledge and experience and who are interested in teaching Permaculture

Course Site
Is Heartwood Institute is a residential education facility of 80 - 100 people focusing on healing arts of massage and transformational therapies. The course site includes a cobb house, two strawbale buildings, several yurts , domes and ranch style classrooms and living spaces. The campus is 240 acres of rolling mountains , meadows and forest of douglas fir, oak and buckeye. and madrone. Permaculture has been practise on site since 1985.

Course is run by Island Mountain Institute. a non profit sustainable agriculture organization
For more info contact Shemaia at 707-923-1324 Shemaia_Skywater@hotmail.com

Send for brochure at
Island Mountain Institute
Att Shemaia Skywater
220 Harmony Lane
Garberville, Ca 95542


2. FUTURE EVENTS
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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 10-17 The third annual BUILD HERE NOW Natural Building and Permaculture Convergence
Lama Foundation in Taos County, New Mexico
Cost - Before May 1, 2001, $425; after May 1, $495. Children 5-16 half
price (childcare not provided). Cost includes three vegetarian meals per
day and on-site lodging.
Lodging options - At Lama yurt and tent with beds can accommodate 20 (bring
your own bedding or sleeping bag); RV and tent sites for 100 campers.
Hotels are available in Taos and Questa (at additional cost).

Schedule of events - The Convergence will begin June 10 with registration
from 3-5 PM, dinner at 6 PM and evening greetings and orientation at 7:30
PM. Days will be filled through June 17 with concurrent workshops in
natural building, permaculture, appropriate technology, and community
building. Afternoon field trips to Taos Pueblo and local natural building
sites are planned for midweek.
Travel information - The Albuquerque airport is 3 hours from the site.
Carpooling and shuttle service will be available. For more info contact the
Lama Foundation at (505) 586-1269 or see http://www.lamafoundation.org
A printable registration form is available at
http://www.strawhomes.com/build/here/now2001/registration.html

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

July, August, Sept  6 Permaculture Weekend Design Course at Calpoly SLO
Offered at Calpoly San Luis Obispo Extended Education Program over 6 weekends
With Permaculture Teachers and Designers Larry and Kathryn Santoyo
Participants may register
for all or some of the workshops. (Students who complete the series
are eligible for Permaculture Design Course Certification.) For more
info contact the CalPoly Extended Ed dep't (805.756.2053).
This course is for anyone interested in gaining practical skills and
perspective for sustainable living and productivity.

July 26 Thurs. 7 pm Crystal Waters Permaculture Ecovillage Australia Slide Show and Talk
Faulkner Gallery Main Library E Anapuma St  Santa Barbara Ca
Morag Gamble and Evan Raymond Ecological Design (Permaculture) Teachers and consultants
with Sustainable Futures Australia
Crystal Waters Permaculture Village in Australia is one of the most
established and successful examples that exists to date. It has received a
prestigious United Nations World Habitat Award for its "pioneering work in
demonstrating new ways of low-impact sustainable living" and has been listed
in the top 40 of the UN’s Environmental Best Practices database. Crystal
Waters offers a model for their successful development.
For more Info contact
Santa Barbara Permaculture Network  805-962-2571 sbpcnet@silcom.com
Crystal Waters Slide Show also happening in Ojai Friday evening July 27 and LA Ecovillage, Los Angeles more details later

July 28 9-5 Ecovillage Design Course , Taft Gardens Ojai
Morag Gamble and Evan Raymond Ecological Design (Permaculture) Teachers and consultants
Cost for all day workshop $100

Ecovillage Design is a new and innovative field of design that is emerging to address our current environmental and social crises in a holistic, integrated and positive way, providing sustainable and long-term solutions.

International ecological design teachers and consultants, Morag Gamble and Evan Raymond, from Crystal Waters Permaculture Village, Australia

This workshop provides an opportunity to explore the integrated approach of planning and designing ecologically sustainable human settlements and presents an overview of the design principles used in successful projects around the world.

Ecovillages are designed with ecology in mind and encourage people who live in and visit them to develop an understanding of the interconnectedness of the natural world- to create beneficial relationships between the ecological, social, economic and spiritual aspects of their lives. The aim is to engage people fully with their head, heart and hands.

Many aspects of ecovillages will be explored during this workshop including:
· What is an ecovillage
· Ecovillage design considerations
· Design for sustainable land management
· Infrastructure development for ecological settlements
· Healthy houses and low impact buildings
· Ecological waste management strategies
· Developing a sense of community belonging
· Community Structures
· Right livelihood and strengthening the local economy

The workshop will include images and case studies of international ecovillages, demonstrating the diversity of ways in which ecovillage design principles can be applied to meet the needs of local communities and environments.
For more Info contact and to register for the course
Santa Barbara Permaculture Network  805-962-2571 sbpcnet@silcom.com


Permaculture Design Certificate Courses Sept 30- Oct 13 2001
Permaculture On Ground Training 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

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
Permaculture Institute of Northern California 2001 Courses
PO Box 341 Pt. Reyes Station, CA 94956
(415) 663-9090

Pattern and Design Nov. 11-12
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
Permaculture Institute of Northern California 2001 Courses
PO Box 341 Pt. Reyes Station, CA 94956
(415) 663-9090

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 May/June  Affordable and Sustainable Housing, issue can be picked up free in Ojai , Ventura, SLO outlets
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

Sustainable Agriculture Resource Center (SARC) in San Luis Obispo Ca
This is a new organization  formed out of a year of fruitful activities at Calpoly Student Farm
This resource center was organized at the Farm  to help give the principles and
techniques taught there a wider audience through university curricula and
community based programs.
MISSION:
SARC's mission is to promote holistic paradigms for sustainable agriculture
through education, demonstration, investigation and facilitation of projects
aimed at promoting sustainability. We embrace the commonly held notion
that "sustainable systems" ought to be environmentally sound, economically
feasible, socially just and viable in the long term. Sustainable agriculture
includes, but is not limited to organic agriculture. SARC seeks to promote
other "holistic" approaches which attempt to conduct agriculture in the
context of "whole" systems, and which may, or may not, be strictly "organic".
Holistic Management, Permaculture, Biodynamics, agroecology, regenerative
agriculture, urban agriculture and other similar approaches are all seen by
SARC as having valuable roles to play. The Student Farm will continue to be
CCOF certified organic.

Extended-Ed summer courses...
- "Market Gardening" (5 Sat.s with Biodynamic farmer Steve Moore, starts July14)
- "Permaculture Design Series" (6 weekends featuring Eco-Designer Larry Santoyo)
- "Traditional Wisdom for Health and Healing" (eves w/Craig Lane, July 10,17,24)
- "Organic Certification" (3 day short course w/ Dr. Joe Montecalvo, 8/23-25)
CONTACTING SARC:
- SARC's temporary email address (as above) is: <wfrancis@calpoly.edu>
- Our office telephone number is (805)756-5086
- U.S. mail should be directed to:
Mr. Hunter Francis
Sustainable Ag Resource Center
c/o Crop Science Department
Cal Poly, SLO, CA 93407

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


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 May 2001 issue of Carfree Times is now available at:
http://www.carfree.com/cft/i019.html
Carfree Times #19 contains the usual World News Notes & Comment,
a Letter from Venice, and a review of David Engwicht's recent  Street Reclaiming

Check out http://www.spacountry.net.au/holmgren/PCprins.html#Header
This is a such a great and thoughtful writeup on Permaculture Principles and other ideas from the website of  Holmgren Design Services,  David Holmgren and Su Dennett. David Holmgren is a co-originator with Bill Mollison of the permaculture concept and Su Dennett is director of Fryers Forest Research and Development, she is active in local community planning issues. Her commitment and energy in pursuing a low impact, simple lifestyle is legendary in permaculture circles..
David has put these ideas into a new Permaculture Book called
"Permaculture Principles and other ideas". The book is approximately 300 pages of text and graphics
projected retail price $25 Australian pre-publication price $25. Can be ordered from

David Holmgren & Su Dennett  Holmgren Design Services
Hepburn Permaculture Gardens 16 Fourteenth St, Hepburn. 3461.
Australia. Ph/fax 0353483636 Email holmgren@netconnect.com.au



  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 May 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.

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.

The Movement
Permaculture is also a world wide network and movement of individuals and groups working in both rich and poor countries on all continents. Largely unsupported by government or business, these people are contributing to a sustainable future by reorganizing their life and work around permaculture design principles. In this way they are creating small local changes but ones which are directly and indirectly influencing action in the wider environment, organic agriculture, appropriate technology, communities and other movements for a sustainable world. After 20 years Permaculture may rank as one of Australia's most significant "intellectual exports".