The Art
of Permaculture; an Integrative Service Learning Journey
At Quail
Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm
Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of
agriculturally productive ecosystems that have the diversity, resilience, and
stability of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape
with humans in providing shelter, water, food, energy and other material and
non-material needs in a sustainable manner.
Learn
through service and immersion in day to day community life at a permaculture
demonstration site.
The Integrative Service
Learning Journey is an individually designed opportunity, including 25
hours per week dedicated service on the farm, with an optional emphasis in
natural building or farming/gardening. Participants will have opportunity to
learn through side by side mentoring with Quail Springs caretakers in a wide
variety of areas, including: natural building, permaculture design, food
systems, renewable energy, composting, watershed restoration, drylands water
harvesting, consensus decision making and community organization, beekeeping,
cooking, pottery, and much more! In addition to the service learning focus, one
will have time to pursue independent study or research in your area of interest
with support of Quail Springs' diverse team of resident caretakers, as well as
personal development, exploration of the land and enjoyment of community life.
Participants will have the opportunity to participate and support concurrent
events on-site at no extra cost, such as the Heart and Hands Skill Builders
(Cob Oven Building and Bread Baking, May 24-25. Moccasins and Leather Work,
October 4-5. Others TBA.)
Sessions in 2008: Begin on
Tuesdays every 2 weeks from April-June, and mid September-November.
Participants may arrive the Friday - Monday prior to each session starting.
(July offers our True Nature
Intensive one month study, see next page. August and early September, we host a
Permaculture Design Certification course, Convergence, and Advanced
Permaculture Workshop. Let us know if you are interested in these offerings.)
Length of stay: From 2 weeks up to 3 months.
Cost includes nutritious meals and camping nearby:
$280 for first 2 week session, $80-140 per week (sliding scale) thereafter for
up to 3 months.
Contact to apply: info@quailsprings.org or 805-886-7239
True Nature Intensive
in Permaculture, Nature Awareness and Community
At Quail
Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm
Permaculture is the conscious
design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems that have the
diversity, resilience, and stability of natural ecosystems. It is the
harmonious integration of landscape with humans in providing shelter, water,
food, energy and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable manner.
The True Nature
Intensive gives the participant a practical understanding of the
diverse wefts and weaves of the Permaculture and community living basket
through experiential learning opportunities, workshops, facilitated nature
awareness, and immersion in a supportive community. This course will be
supported by Quail Springs' diverse teaching team, as well as guest teachers.
Be a part of the healing change that is rooting
itself in the earth....
The intensive curriculum is delivered in a balance of
hands-on application and supportive presentation and includes:
Natural Building - Basic understandings
of design, site selection and resource identification. Building with cob,
strawbale, waddle and daub, and timber. Build a cob oven.
Sustainable Food Systems - Soil health
and regeneration. Nutrition farming and gardening. Food Forestry. Dryland
cropping. Perennial gardening. Planting, tending, seed saving, harvesting, and
storing of crops.
Water Health and Reticulation in a Drylands
Environment - Grey water systems. Rainwater harvesting. Building Gabions.
Bio-Swale systems both in macro and micro scale.
Closing the Waste Cycle - Thermophyllic
Compost toilet construction and safe use. Composting basics
Energy Systems - Introduction to solar
energy systems: PV, cooking, passive cooling and heating. Energy storage. Build
a small thermophyllic energy plant.
Watershed Restoration - Determining the
health of a watershed. Riparian regeneration design and application. Water
testing.
Permaculture Design - Methods of Design.
Basic introduction to all chapters of the Permaculture Designer's Manual
including: PC philosophy, Concepts and Themes in Design, Methods of Design,
Pattern Understanding, Climate, Trees, Water, Soils, Earthwork, Tropics,
Drylands, Temperate, Aquaculture, and Strategies of an alternative global
nation. Landscape tracking and observation. Permaculture design application.
Nature Awareness - Awareness awakening
exercises. Tracking. Landscape observation and journaling.
Personal Growth - Solo sit spot routine.
Solo Fire - Fast option. Community support.
Weaves and Wefts of Growing Community -
Council. Weaving Synergy. Gratitude as a foundation. Supporting the many while
tending oneself. Be a working member of a growing community.
Sharing Your Gifts - A multitude of
opportunities to share your gifts for the community to learn from and
appreciate.
Cost, includes meals and camping nearby: $1,000-$2,500 sliding
scale for the full month of July, 2008.
A deposit of $400 holds your space, with the balance due by one week
prior to the start date. We have very limited space for this unique
opportunity.
Contact to apply: info@quailsprings.org
or 805-886-7239