Quail Springs Learning Oasis & Permaculture Farm
www.quailsprings.org

PROGRAM and EVENT Announcements 2009

NEW! Educational Farm Tours of Quail Springs

4th Saturday of the month February through June, 10am to 2pm (February 28th, March 28, April 25, May 23, June 27)

Learn about permaculture design, natural building, and how sustainability touches the ground here at Quail Springs, and share lunch with us at the farm!  All ages are welcome, carpooling encouraged.  Suggested donation: $20/adult, $5/child - includes lunch and tour. Contact: info@quailsprings.org or 805-886-7239

Seeking Volunteers to help with Food Forest and Grounds Development

February 5 - April 5, 2009 (individualized dates, for a day or more)

Come help out with key projects during our winter weather of moist soil and comfortably warm days. We're working on developing a food forest and the grounds. Experience is not required, yet volunteers should be strong of body and heart as the work is moderately heavy (involves digging, lifting, and earth moving). Join us for community dinner, enjoy a walk in the canyon, or sit by the pond after a good day's work in the soil! Contact to learn more: Paul Swenson, paul@quailsprings.org or 805-886-7239.

Tree Planting Work Party

March 21-22, 2009

Please join us and the many contributors to Trees for Children (www.treesforchildren.org) in establishing and developing tree systems at Quail Springs. This will be a joyous weekend of tending the earth and community by planting trees. An tour of the farm will be offered to interested volunteers. All ages and abilities are welcome, and experience is not required. Camping nearby and potluck shared meals. Contact to sign up or learn more: info@quailsprings.org or 805-886-7239

West Coast Women's Permaculture Gathering

May 1-3, 2009

A casual gathering of women interested in Permaculture at Quail Springs, to include workshops, group sessions, skill shares, hands-on, networking, and more. Requesting your participation as leaders, teachers, planners... S self-organized and group-initiated retreat at cost pricing, estimated $100 -$150 per person. Please let us know if you are interested in participating. Contact: Joan Stevens, (323) 630-4673, mamabotanica@sbcglobal.net OR Camille Cimino, (213) 924-5238, camillecimino@gmail.com

Living Craft Project - Natural Building Training

July 10-October 10, 2009

Living Craft Project is a school of natural building that celebrates a handmade way of life. We will host a three month apprenticeship at Quail Springs this July to October to equip participants with skills necessary to build healthy, sustainable homes. Two spaces remain for anyone with or without building experience to learn the craft of load bearing strawbale and clay finish work. Visit to learn more: www.livingcraftproject.org

Permaculture Design Certification Course

With Robyn Francis, international permaculture designer and teacher (see * below for more info)

July 12-24, 2009

Permaculture is a holistic approach to land use design, based on ecological principles and patterns aiming to create stable, productive systems that provide for human needs, harmoniously integrating the land with people.  World-recognized, 72-hour certification course covers sustainable living systems design for all landscapes and climates - with everything from food systems, water harvesting, waste cycling, home design, to climate care, and much more. The course is appropriate for people with diverse backgrounds and interests. Details on cost and registration process coming soon! Details on cost and registration process coming soon! To join the initial interest list, contact: Kolmi Majumdar, info@quailsprings.org

Sustainable Aid Courses
With Robyn Francis, international permaculture designer and teacher

Part 1 - Working with Cultural Diversity and Indigenous Peoples

July 27-30, 2009

Part 2 - Sustainable Aid: Permaculture for the 2/3 World and Participatory Planning Facilitation

August 1-6, 2009

This program provides essential skills training for people working or intending to work in community development programs with indigenous and culturally diverse communities at home & overseas and in aid and development programs in the 2/3rds World. Inspiring, challenging and deeply empowering, learn skills and processes to work effectively in facilitating community-based planning, education and program development. Details on cost and registration process coming soon! To join the initial interest list, contact: Kolmi Majumdar, info@quailsprings.org

*Robyn Francis, Australian permaculture designer, educator, pioneer and presenter, Robyn has been working internationally for over 25 years, throughout Australia, New Zealand, India, Indonesia, USA, Germany, Cuba and Taiwan. The founder of Permaculture International, Erda Institute and Djanbung Gardens Permaculture, she was editor of the Permaculture International Journal, and one of the key architects of the Accredited Permaculture Training providing national vocational and trade qualifications in Permaculture. Her experience has encompassed all climate zones in projects ranging from outback communities to urban development, domestic gardens to public landscapes, ecovillage design to bioregional and state planning, with clients ranging from the grassroots to corporate and government sectors. One of permaculture's early pioneers, Robyn has conducted over 100 PDC's plus numerous advanced and professional development courses. She has developed one of permaculture's leading education and demonstration sites, Djanbung Gardens in sub-tropical NSW, where she has established a bioregional campus for vocational training in Permaculture. Robyn is also an accomplished musician, singer-songwriter and artist, an avid gardener and enjoys getting dirty walking the talk. For more information and full CV visit www.permaculture.com.au.

Sustainable Vocations - A Training Program for Teens

August 4-24, 2009

Sustainable Vocations prepares youth (ages 15-19) for diverse leadership roles that integrate sustainability into their communities, and provides an experiential introduction to the growing green jobs market. This is accomplished by building an educational foundation with youth, families, mentors and community partners, including:

· ecological literacy and regenerative design training

· leadership and community building training

· valuable hands-on experience in sustainable trades

· a Permaculture Design Certification

This is a new program growing out of the success of recent pilot projects (including Teen Apprentorship at Quail Springs, 2006, and a Permaculture Design Course for ex-combatant youth in Liberia, 2008), and connected to the roots of Quail Springs' work with youth and families. Cost: $1,500-2,500, sliding scale. Need-based scholarships are available through funding from Hutton Foundation, Towbes Foundation, and business sponsorships. Diverse youth and families are encouraged to inquire. Contact: Kolmi Majumdar at info@quailsprings.org or Cyndi Harvan at 805-886-7239.

Materiales completos en Espanol disponibles pronto! Complete materials will be available in Spanish soon!

Para informacion en Espanol, llamar a Maria Edith Eisenman at 805-886-7239 or email chrisandedith@quailsprings.org

Carbon Economy Course

Soil, Water, Carbon, Energy & Economy - Extensive problems require extensive solutions!

Series for the 1^st time across the USA

October 19 - December 15, 2009

Hosted at Orella Ranch and Quail Springs

Comprehensive Modules including:

· Holistic Management(R) (Kirk Gadzia, Terry Gompert)

· Soil Food Web (Dr. Elaine Ingham, Paul Taylor)

· Broadacre Permaculture (Darren Doherty, Brock Dolman, Brad Lancaster, Penny Livingston)

· Natural Building (TBA)

· Effective Aid (Rosemary Morrow, Howard Shapiro, Warren Brush)

· Pathways to Relocalization (Joel Salatin)

· Fungi, Pyrolysis, BioChar Energy Systems & More...

Take the Series OR Pick & Choose! Details are TBA soon, visit www.quailsprings.org/events to stay tuned or join the interest list by emailing info@quailsprings.org.