Quail Springs' April Newsletter, Part Two

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

ECONEST Press Release - see bottom of newsletter for full press release!

Sustainable and Healthy Homes for a Changing Climate.  Just In Time...

A healthy, sustainable home, estimated to last at least four hundred years, is to be built as a community supported demonstration project on the border of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties in Southern California.   The Santa Fe based EcoNest Group (www.econest.com)  is working with a local non-profit organization, Quail Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm, to introduce sustainable and healthy building systems to Southern California - not only as a formidable solution to the climate change crisis, but a sensible gift to future generations.

 

THANK YOU to the amazing people that planted trees that are the beginnings of restoring the forests during our April Service Learning !  

We had an overwhelming response with many spontaneous arrivals and beautiful surprises.  Hundreds of trees were planted, helping develop a food forest and crucial wind breaks.  A special thanks to Grandma Gloria for weaving the web of community, and to Richard for sharing his tree knowledge and experience. 

 

RECRUITING inspired earth caretaker interns for special Watershed Restoration Team project June 1^st-5^th  (first phase)

Are you a joyful worker, lover of watersheds and sleeping under the stars?   We are seeking a few dynamic people to join a special team of interns for 5 days of watershed restoration utilizing Permaculture principles to "plant water" back into this land, which was once a forest and has been denuded from a history of poor grazing and agricultural practices.   This project will also help create the foundation of a food growing system based on gravity fed water resources for a future with no-petroleum inputs.   The Watershed Restoration Team will live and work "out on the land" for a 5 day stretch and sleep out under the stars in the backcountry near our Spring.  Learn more by contacting Paul paul@quailsprings.org.

 

Motor Home or Tent Camper needed for Keyline and Permaculture Teacher, Darren Doherty and family, May 1-20^th

Seeking a Motor Home or Tent Camper for teacher Darren Doherty and Family of 4 from May 1-20^th .   We would be willing to trade for the Keyline Design Course, part of Permaculture Design Course, or future courses, or rent for a reasonable cost.  If you could provide a camper or Motor Home for any or all of these times/place this would be so helpful. Please contact Kolmi info@quailsprings.org.

Our Board Members - The Thompsons - seeking housing

Conscientious family of four seeks housing - 3 br / 2 ba for rent, lease, lease option. One dog and one cat, both house broken and non-destructive. We have stable employment and are a low-maintenance family that has rented in this area at only two locations in almost fifteen years. Rural / rustic setting near Carpinteria High School ideal, but will consider any workable situation in the Carpinteria / Santa Barbara / North Ventura County areas.  Must move out by June 15 due to landlord returning to live in current rental. Thank you for your consideration.  805.701.8655 mobile, 805.755.2610 work, 805.566.0843 home.

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Keyline Design Workshop at Quail Springs with Darren Doherty, Australian Designer & Teacher

May 1-2, Tues & Wed

Cost, $250 ($25 discount if paid by April 10 )  Camping with access to a kitchen (limited refrigerator space).  Meals during the workshop are provided for $25. Motel nearby in New Cuyama.

 

Contact for workshop bookings: Santa Barbara Permaculture Network:, email: margie@sbpermaculture.org  phone, 805-962-2571, www.sbpermaculture.org

The 2 day Quail Springs KDC is targeted at land managers who have an interest in applying Keyline Design techniques on their properties.

Topics will include:  History of Keyline Design, Scales of Permanence, Keyline Design Applications, Low Tech Cartography, Low ­ Medium Tech Survey Equipment, Site Analysis Techniques, Broadacre Soil Improvement Techniques, Keyline Soil Renovation & Pattern Cultivation, Keyline /Water Harvesting Earthworks Design &  Construction

 

DESCRIPTION OF WORKSHOP
The Keyline Design Courses (KDC) in Southern California will be an intensive blend of technical & practical sessions and are targeted at professional land managers & consultants, earthmovers & anybody interested in practical & cost-effective broadscale landscape restoration. The KDC's will outline all of the principles and techniques involved with the modern, practical application of Keyline Design. We have developed both short and longer term events in different landscapes so that we can cater to participant's different needs. A really great part of the three courses will be the demonstration of the famous Yeomans Keyline Plow - a multi-award winning implement that harvests water, halts erosion and creates soil in its wake. Not many plows can claim that! Carbon sequestration is also an important by-product of using a Yeomans Keyline Plow. We will also demonstrate how to use normal farm & earth moving machinery to harvest & store water on any farm. All of this has to start with a plan - the KDC's will take you through the simple and effective "diagnosis & design" process that we have used on over 1100 properties world wide with a blend of low & high tech solutions. Finally a quick acknowledgment of the kind assistance of our partners in making these courses possible: Santa Barbara Permaculture Network, Yeomans Plow Company, Nutiva Foods, Quail Springs Permaculture Farm & Earthflow Design Works.

 

Permaculture Design Course at Quail Springs with Renowned Australian Teachers, Geoff Lawton and Darren Doherty

"All the world's problems can be solved in the garden."

This course has gained attention from around the country and is already 2/3 full...if you are interested, do get in touch soon. 

Payment plans are available and we are willing to discuss partial work-trade, to happen outside of the course time.

Work-trade with the full-time kitchen crew is available for those who would not be students of the course or receive Certification, but would benefit in other ways.

 

MAY 14-27th, 2007

LOCATION: Upper Cuyama Valley in the Southern/Central California Mountains, approximately 2 hour drive from LA, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.

COST: $1,350 for full payment received by January 31, 2007, and $1,450 for payment after February 1, 2007. (camping and natural gourmet meals included)

*a $400 deposit upon registering to hold your space, with balance paid in full one week prior to course (May 7th)

What is Permaculture?

Permaculture is a holistic approach to land use design, based on ecological principles and patterns. It aims to create stable, productive systems that provide for human needs, harmoniously integrating the land with people. Permaculture principles can be applied to any environment, at any scale - from dense urban settlements to individual homes, from farms to entire regions.

To register or for more info, contact: Kolmi (805) 886-7239, info@quailsprings.org

 

INTERNSHIPS AND POSITIONS

Watershed Restoration Team - June 1^st-5^th

See announcement at top of newsletter.  Contact Paul for more info.  paul@quailsprings.org 

 

Summer and Fall Internships - more in depth volunteer service learning

Work and live "on the farm" through volunteer internships starting with up to one month. Assist with ongoing permaculture development of the farm and share in community life.  Contact info@quailsprings.org with your resume/storyline of experience, skills, and interests and for more info.

Quail Springs seeking part-time Development Director

We are seeking a part-time Development Director (DD) to join our team in an important time of capacity building for Quail Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm.  The DD would be responsible for developing new and ongoing relationships with foundations and individual donors and would assist with our Trees for Children program development.  We are seeking someone who is experienced in fundraising, passionate about our mission, highly creative and capable of working independently.  Specific roles would include grant writing and reporting, research, appeal development, major donor relationship building, event planning, and collaborating with the Board of Directors and Executive Director. The DD would work from his or her own home or office while keeping in regular communication with Quail Springs via email, phone, and periodic meetings.  This person will need to be familiar with aspects of the Santa Barbara or Tri-County philanthropic and nonprofit community and have 3 years or more fundraising experience or the equivalent skills.  This position would begin as soon as possible, with an initial 10 hour/week, 3 month contract with the intention to grow the position considerably.  Please direct inquiries to Warren Brush (Executive Director) at w@quailsprings.org or 805-886-7239. 

 

 

Quail Springs is a non-profit and exists because of the support of our community. 

Please consider giving a financial or in-kind donation to help us continue offering important services to the community. 

 

TO MAKE A FINANCIAL DONATION TO QUAIL SPRINGS ONLINE, GO TO http://www.quailsprings.org/support.htm

Or send in your contribution to PO Box 417, New Cuyama, CA 93254.   Thank you!

 

In-kind donation needs list: Graphic design services, Marketing consultation, Event planning services,  Farm equipment, Building materials, Trees and garden plants, Fencing materials

 

 

 

Press Release

 

Contact: Warren Brush Quail Springs Phone 805.886.7239 w@quailsprings.org

PO Box 417 Cuyama, CA  93254 Phone  805.8886.7239 Fax 866.321.1102 www.quailsprings.org

Sustainable and Healthy Homes for a Changing Climate.  Just In Time...

A healthy, sustainable home, estimated to last at least four hundred years, is to be built as a community supported demonstration project on the border of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties in Southern California. 

The Santa Fe based EcoNest Group (www.econest.com) is working with a local non-profit organization, Quail Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm, to introduce sustainable and healthy building systems to Southern California - not only as a formidable solution to the climate change crisis, but a sensible gift to future generations.

Ventura, CA, April 10, 2007:   The average life of a modern home being constructed in America today is estimated to be a mere forty years.  These short-lived buildings account for 39.4% of total energy use, 65% of electricity consumption and are responsible for over 38% of green house gas emissions contributing to the well recognized Global and Local Climate Crisis.  These buildings also account for 30% of raw materials use, 30% of the waste stream and 12% of potable water consumption, according to the U.S. Green Building Council and the US Department of Energy. How we approach the built environment is of vital importance in curbing the negative impacts of climate change and inevitable resource depletion. The time is now for sensible change in how we build...   

The EcoNest building system is considered by many building industry experts to be an important bridge between conventional construction practices and the urgently needed construction systems purported in the sustainable building movement.  This project will demonstrate energy and thermal efficiency, use of non-toxic and natural materials, local sourcing and sustainable harvesting of many of the building materials used, and the resulting healthy, breathable indoor environment. The Quail Springs EcoNest, involving construction techniques that have thousands of years of precedent and proven success, will also supply the context for an exciting apprenticeship program for youth, promoting much needed on-site career training in a quickly expanding and environmentally responsible field. This community supported demonstration project opens a door for Southern California to create healthier homes for our families for generations to come.  If you are interested in more information or to contribute time, services or funding, please contact Warren Brush at 805-886-7239 or at w@quailsprings.org.