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

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