March 6-8 ,2013

Escondido, CA

Increase your knowledge of permaculture earthworks during this hands on 3 day workshop taught by Paul Wheaton.   You will be able to watch a raw San Diego hillside side go through a permaculture design process.  From mapping to final construction to planting out of the installations.  It will all be done during these 3 days.  Currently an estimated 350,000 gallons of runoff water runs down through the property untouched.  Some of the earthworks designed and constructed in this class will be placed and designed to alter this erosive overland flow and to maximize water capture and retention in the landscape.  Earthworks will be constructed to create cool zones to give plants a reprieve from the hot summer sun and shield them from the local winds.  The earthworks will be mulched and the construction of a food forest will take place with the planting of cover crops, fruit trees, and support species trees.  Course participants will have the opportunity for hands on participation and to contribute during the design process and work on all of the earthworks.

The workshop will be held at the same site, and immediately preceding the 2013 Southern California Permaculture Convergence, March 9-10 .  You can visit the convergence page and register for the convergence HERE.

Capturing rainwater runoff

Siting a swale using a laser level

Site mapping and design

Pond construction and sealing.

Swale construction.

Hugelkultur building.

Cover cropping.

Planting fruit trees and support species into a food forest.

Hands on work include planting, mulching, design, and more.

Permaculture earthworks theory, design, and installation.  Help contribute to the sites ultimate design.

Pond Construction:  Site, dig, and seal a pond.  Theory on why the pond is located where it is.

Swale Construction: Site the swale using a laser level to capture rainwater on its way down the slope.  The swale will also be located to create cool zones on the property.  Cover crops and support species will be planted to build the soil and nurture the fruit trees along.

Hugelkultur Construction:  Creation of hugelkultur beds around the property to increase the local water storage capacity.

Some of the earthworks installations will be designed and built to help keep this water on site and stored in the soil.

Day 1 – Wednesday, March 6:  Theory and Design.  A lot of the day will be spent out on the property evaluating and mapping the site.  How can we manage the landscape to retain and conserve water and create cool zones.  Swales will be laid out using a laser level.  Ponds and hugelkultur bed locations will be surveyed marked off.

Day 2 – Thursday, March 7:   Construction will be started on all of the earthworks.  The swales will be dug using a tracked excavator.  The ponds will be dug and sealed.

Day 3 – Friday, March 8  : Construction will continue on any of the previous days earthworks.  The hugelkultur mound will be built.  All of the installations will be planted with cover crop seeds, fruit trees, and support species.  The earthworks will be mulched and drip line will be installed.

An emphasis will be put on maximizing the attendees experience and education over completing all of the projects in the allotted time.

Sky Mountain Institute Permaculture Demonstration Gardens is located in Harmony Grove, on seven acres on a west facing valley that grades down and incorporates the plains and riparian area of the Escondido Creek. Below are some of the features:

* Extensive terracing systems using dry stacked rocks, logs and urbanite
* Lawn conversion to infiltration basins planted with native plants
* Roof water run off captured in various barrels and storage tanks – the largest tank is 2600 gallons
* Swales
* Food forests using hugelkultur birms for harvesting water for the trees
* Hugelkultur beds buried and above ground
* Extensive greywater harvesting systems
* Porous patios and pathways made of urbanite
* Native plant perenial borders around kitchen gardens
* Native plant revegetation on hillside
* Earthbag dome
* Backyard chickens
* Composting worm bin
* Green house made of repurposed materials
* Extensive trellising and arches
* Dry farm food forests

There are many different plant communities on the property including chaparral, oak woodlands and riparian.  There are three houses on the property. Two of them have zones one and two developed with greywater and roof water run off collection systems.  One of the houses has a studio with a rest room and kitchen area that is used for workshops.  We have plans next year to build a cob oven and outdoor kitchen so we can host community events.

Paul Wheaton, The Duke of Permaculture, is a larger-than-life character and writer who is the operator of permies.com, a forum to discuss all things permaculture, and who also publishes hundreds of podcasts and YouTube videos. He is a Master Gardener, permaculture designer and a java software engineer.  Paul received his PDC in 2005.  He has visited hundreds of farms and sites using permaculture principles over the years resulting a wealth of permaculture knowledge.

$510 Regular Tuition

$400 Early Bird Rate (Paid in full by February 1, 2013)

Tuition includes course education, materials, coffee, tea & water, and snacks.

Registration is limited to 30 participants.

Some lodging is available nearby through a 3rd party.  Please contact me for more details.

For questions and information regarding the course.

e:  diego.crfg@yahoo.com

p:  760.542.8133

www.permafornia.com