Here's some info on the "World Leaders in Sustainability"
series.
Common Vision has an epic line-up of permaculture and
sustainability workshops this summer/fall with some of the most
esteemed teachers in the world, namely Elaine Ingham, Darren Doherty,
and Michael Philips. All courses will be held at the M.A. Center
in Castro Valley with group camping options. We hope you can be
involved.
Soil Food Web w/ Dr. Elaine Ingham (August
2009)
August 10-14th 2009 @ M.A. Center in Bay
Area
Dr. Elaine Ingham PhD is revered internationally as the
preeminent teacher of soil micro-life and how human survival depends
on it. Her five day intensive course will transmit a
wealth of knowledge and teach hands-on compost and compost tea
strategies for organic gardens, orchards, and landscapes. Common
Vision and the GreenFriends have worked hard to offer this course at
almost half the price of Dr. Ingham's usual course tuitions.
In this course you will learn to:
* Understand Soil Microlife
* Make biologically powerful compost
* Brew and analyze Compost Tea
* Grow healthier plants and food
* Never look at soil the same way again
* Save the planet through top soil health.
http://commonvision.org/programs/courses/soilfoodweb/soilfoodweb.php
Fruit Forest: Orchard as Ecosystem (Sept 2009)
September 11-13 @ M.A. Center in the Bay Area
Michael Philips is author of
The Apple Grower, a
definitive guide to growing organic apples holistically. Michael's
knowledge of fruit trees, orchard management, companion plants, and
soil science has helped him to become well spring of information and
inspiration for orchardists and backyard gardeners alike. He
integrates the intuitive knowledge of our great-grandparents with the
fruits of modern scientific research and innovation. Michael shares
his breadth of wisdom woven through personal stories in a way of
amplifying a passion and inspiration for growing fruit trees and
'abetting Nature's way'. Using the MA Center orchards, Michael
will bring participants on an ecological journey that explores how we
can create an optimal "forest-edge- ecosystem" perfect for fruit
trees.
* Walking through the orchard season
* Moving beyond organic: The holistic
approach
* Creating a diverse, healthy orchard
ecosystem
* Managing understory plants,
nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms.
* Using plant medicines and compost teas to
boost tree immune resistance
* Evaluating strategies for the existing and
new hillside orchards at the MA Center
* On site Apple Harvesting and Juicing
http://commonvision.org/programs/courses/applegrower/applegrower.php
Permaculture Design Intensive with Darren Doherty
(Oct 2009)
October 2-4 @ M.A. Center in Bay Area
Darren Doherty (Australia) is one of the world's most experienced
Permaculture Design professionals and teachers. A
prolific designer, Darren has developed over 1100 properties across 4
continents and has co-taught with Bill Mollison & David Holmgren
(the co-originators of Permaculture) and Geoff Lawton. In this
workshop Darren will be bringing his immense experience in water
design, pasture regeneration, and species selection to the MA Center
to work with participants to create a working design that:
* Rapidly improves soil fertility for the new
orchards.
* Connects rainwater catching earthworks
across the landscape
* Employs Keyline design strategies for
orchards, paddocks, and reforestation
* Uses cow grazing to improve soil health.
* Plants trees within grazing patterns.
* Develop a productive and marketable
agroforestry system
* Exploring the food forest / orchard
edge
The M.A. Center is the US headquarters for the international
humanitarian and spiritual activities of an India saint, Mata
Amritanandamayi (known as Amma). The 180-acre grounds serve as
an educational hub for the Bay Area through demonstration of exemplary
sustainable design and practices. Drawn by the site's
beauty, accessibility by public transportation, and the center's
uncompromising dedication to using all proceeds to fund international
humanitarian aid projects, hundreds of volunteers have joined together
in service to plant the orchards and reforest the hillsides.