MAY NEWSLETTER

Quail Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm

April showers have brought May flowers here and all around the area. Cold, wet days have turned into bright, sunny, warm days…and the pond calls for swimming as Quail Springs' life buzzes and hums, out of reach of the coastal fog J

Gardening Gratitude

Many thanks to the garden lovers who brought Quail Springs’ garden out of winter quiet. A special thanks to Brenton and Jan and Island Seed and Feed for your generous donations of enthusiasm, sweat, garden starts, soil and chicken food, and more. Much of this summer’s garden is in place, with many more seed starts looking forward to their lovely beds.

The Fires of Remembrance Burn Bright

We send a heartfelt bow for the beauty and spirit of the journey of all of those who came to Tending the Fires of Remembrance with Barry Brailsford. These were a magical few days in which each person played an integral part. Stay tuned as our friends from Aotearoa (New Zealand) intend to visit Quail Springs again this July to offer the community another opportunity to journey together!

SERVICE LEARNING WEEKENDS

No Cost. Food is potluck with kitchen facilities and community gathering space to share. Tent camping or camp ‘inside’ straw bale community building (under construction) if needed. Families welcome. RSVP (please include your phone number and email address) and receive directions at info@quailsprings.org or 805-886-7239.

Continuation of building a small, beautiful, cob cabin – Saturday June 10 & Sunday June 11

Come see the simple beauty of a cob home and experience cob building for yourself! Where May’s 10 day workshop leaves off, we’ll pick up…this may include finishing walls, creating details, plastering, preparing a living roof, earthen flooring…

September Service Learning – dates and topic TBA

COMPLETE COB WORKSHOP

Dates: May 21-31, 2006 Cost: $760 (includes meals and camping)

There are only a few spots left in this limited capacity workshop. Cob Cottage Company's most popular workshop teaches professionals and owner-builders the basics of cob construction in 10 intensive days. Even complete novices leave the workshop confident in their ability to build the cob parts of a building. Learn how to locate and test soil, sand, and straw, create the right cob mix for any situation, and build strong, durable, sculptural earthen walls. Get practical experience with foundations, windows, doors, arches and niches. Lectures cover site location, passive solar design, drainage, heating, plumbing and electric, natural roofing, and flooring. This workshop will be taught by Betty Seaman from the Cob Cottage Company and co-founder of Spirit Pine Sanctuary, and supported by the Quail Springs' resident caretakers.

SUMMER RESIDENTIAL TEEN “APPRENTORSHIP” PROGRAM

Dates: July 3-23, 2006 Cost: $1,500 (Some partial scholarships are available)

This unique and innovative 3-week intensive will offer the youth, aged 13-18 an opportunity to gain hands on personal development and vocational skills in natural building, permaculture design, sustainable food systems, composting, energy orders, simple aquaculture, ecological restoration, animal stewardship, wild animal tracking, healthy food preparation, nature appreciation and awareness, personal and community relationship building, “old way” earth skills, and many other activities and learning around the farm and in the surrounding wilderness. This program will have a limited capacity, keeping the group small to allow depth of experience for youth participants. See our website www.quailsprings.org for more info.

Summer Position at Quail Springs - Natural Building Coordinator

June-August 2006 live-in/full time

Quail Springs, a learning oasis and permaculture farm, is looking to hire that right person to join our caretaking team as a natural building coordinator with a focus on moving toward completion of our straw bale community building and natural plastering finish work for the summer months of June, July, and August, 2006. This position encourages someone with experience in natural building, natural plasters, carpentry, straw bale (helpful), and supervising volunteers to apply. You must have a good sense of humor, a community minded approach to life, an honorable work ethic, a great appreciation for the earth, and a willingness to share with youth and adults. This full time position will be responsible for: plastering of 2,400 square foot community straw bale building with scratch/discovery, infill, and finish coats with natural plaster, some cob finish work, coordinating the solar electrician work, other finish work, and the heartfelt supervision of two interns, who will assist and learn while they work on the project.

This is a full time, live-in position including camping accommodations, meals, community support and a $1,000 per month stipend. For consideration, please email your resume and cover letter to info@quailsprings.org or mail to Quail Springs, PO Box 417, New Cuyama, CA 93254.

Summer Internships at Quail Springs - Natural Building Interns

June-August 2006 live-in/full time

Two internship positions are available June through August 2006 to assist the Natural Building Coordinator. Shorter terms will be considered, although availability for 2-3 months will be preferred. Desire for hands-on work experience in natural building, particularly natural plastering, required. Experience or training in natural building or permaculture is beneficial, but not required. You must have a good sense of humor, a community minded approach to life, an honorable work ethic, a great appreciation for the earth, and a willingness to share with youth and adults. These are full time, live-in internships which provide meals and camping accommodations in a nurturing community environment. For consideration, please email your resume and cover letter to info@quailsprings.org or mail to Quail Springs, PO Box 417, New Cuyama, CA 93254.

CHALLENGE GRANT BUILDS MOMENTUM

Join the spirit of giving as every dollar offered to Quail Springs in the coming months will be matched by another dollar, up to $10,000! This needed funding will be used to continue building the infrastructure at Quail Springs so youth and families can learn and experience sustainability for generations to come. Please help us meet this challenge by making a donation. You can go to our website and make an easy donation with Paypal http://quailsprings.org/support.htm or you can send a check to: True Nature, PO Box 417, New Cuyama, CA., 93254. Thank you for your continued, generous support.

Sincereley,

Kolmi, Paul, Cyndi and Warren

Resident Caretakers
Quail Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm
info@quailsprings.org