| For those of you who have never been to Quail Springs, it is quite a treat. These guys are doing some really nice things towards a more truly sustainable lifestyle. They have some excellent examples of water utilization and catching water, keyline agriculture (sending water through a field on contours of the hillsides), wilderness remediation, straw bale building, organic gardening, and much more. You must see their heated showers, using compost heat to heat their water. Quail Springs has brought the best of the best to teach and create sustainable patterns on the land; it is well worth the trip just to see these examples. Experiencing the group's respect and care for the land and each other and all fellow human beings and non humans is quite refreshing too. They are a two hour drive from Los Angeles. A number of my friends have visited and all of them loved it, without exception. Swim in their pond, hike in the beautiful canyon, camp under the stars, get your feet muddy in cob, enjoy great community dining and camaraderie, music around the campfire, etc, etc. And if you go, let me know how you liked it! For those with kids, be sure to call ahead and ask if it would be appropriate - different projects have different requirements. Quail Springs Learning Oasis
Upcoming Work Parties! Weekend Mud Slinging.....
Quail Springs is excited to host our third annual and sold-out Permaculture Design Course (PDC), and the First Annual So Cal Permaculture Convergence, this August. To accommodate the fifty students and attendees, we are excited to build a simple yet large teaching area that will be made with a process called "fence cob" over the next 5 weeks preceding the PDC. This structure will also serve as a milling area once we begin to build our EcoNest - Core Mentoring Center in the coming year.
We need your HELP to build this Classroom and Converging space! Come and cob during our three weekend work parties over the next month.
Weekend #1: July 18, 19, 20 Weekend #2 July 25, 26, 27 Weekend #3 August 1, 2, 3
If you have never cobbed before, come and learn, if you have some experience cobbing, come and share your wealth (and mud) with others. Join us and camp on the land, bring your families, work clothes, potluck foods, and music instruments. Please RSVP to info@quailsprings.org for each weekend you wish to participate.
"Home for Us to Grow" Campaign
The Quail Springs "Home for Us to Grow" Capital Campaign is in its preliminary formation stage, but that we are looking for able and energetic Quail Springs' friends and supporters who have the time to help with it to contact us. We are not yet asking for general contributions for this effort, but we would like the opportunity in the near future (in the next few months) to be able to sit down in person with each and every one of you to further explain the campaign and how you might be able to help us in that effort. Please contact Jan Smith, at jan@quailsprings.org if you are interested.
Living Building Committee This fall, we will be pioneering regulatory changes to allow for us to construct buildings that are ecologically equitable, have no toxicity, and use natural materials. Some of the people involved in "green building" movement recognize that there is need for a higher standard of sustainability and are introducing a new standard to the building industry called the "living building" designation. We are looking for people to work with us on a committee in organizing several big events this October that will be instrumental in informing professionals, politicians and the public about the issues of why we need to create living buildings here in Southern California and beyond. If you are interested, please contact our director, Warren Brush, at w@quailsprings.org.
Permaculture Design Course and So Cal Permaculture Convergence The Permaculture Design Course and So Cal Permaculture Convergence are full, a positive reflection of the growing popularity and value for permaculture in our region. We will continue to offer one or more Design Courses every year. The Convergence will hopefully become an annual event hosted by diverse groups in Southern California. Click on the links above to learn more.
Support our Efforts at Quail Springs with a monthly donation of $5 or more, please. For every $25 or more in monthly commitments, we will plant a tree in our next planting-weather-window in your honor. We need your generous financial support today! Donate Here Now! Thank You. |