Dear Community,
We are so blessed with amazing land and nature here along the Central Coast. We love the land. We love the oceans. And we must tend to them both. And we must protect that which we love.
This message was brought to the large group of people who gathered at the SLO Botanical Garden yesterday for the Chumash Kitchen event. Violet Cavanaugh, Jeannette Acosta, Rosemary and also Fred Collins led us through a heartfelt connection to the plants that nourish us, to the medicine wisdom that plants possess and to the deep realization that we need to build a relationship with plants over time. And Josh Carmichael was honored as the guest chef. It was a wonderful way to share community around a bountiful harvest and beautiful meal.
It is time to reunite with the land. Please join us and put these SLO Permaculture Guild events on your calendar. Other community events are included below as well.
February 10 - Community work party at City Farm: 9am – 12noon. Potluck lunch at 12noon.
Together we growing our permaculture community by growing food and building a gathering space out at City Farm. Come be part of this community project. Work Party on the second Saturday 9am - 12noon with a potluck to follow. Together we can regenerate the land, our planet, and each other. Join us for our Valentine's month workday to help us lovingly plant new fruit trees & perennial crops in the food forest beds. In the food forest we'll show how to combine bare root fruit trees with an understory of edible vines, herbs, flowers, and bulbs to create a no-till, year-round food production garden. We'll also install drip irrigation, mulching, and gopher protection.
Families (All ages) welcome, please bring gloves and a water bottle. Wear protective shoes, dress for varying winter weather (cold, wet, to full sun) and enjoy a day on the farm.
Last month’s work party succeeded in completing our 330 foot-long seven foot high deer fence. (For a full report, see http://centralcoastgrown.org/2018/01/january-13-work-party-deer-fence-construction/ )
https://www.facebook.com/events/199837697232434/
March 24 – Restore and Renew Spring Equinox gathering at Our Global Family Village at City Farm: 11am – 5pm
- Peace Through Coexistence & Our Global Family Village present Renew and Restore Spring Equinox Gathering -
This gathering will be a collective work where we gather as a cOMmunity that would love to create the Kind of World we want to see. Regenerating the earth through regenerative agriculture, creating conscious ecosystems for food and health - both for our inner landscapes and outer landscapes. Our intention is to unite central coast locals, get grounded in mother earths blessings, set our intentions/ plant our seeds for the season, and share the land with you all.
LIVE MUSIC / LIVE ART / YOGA/ PERMACULTURE WORKSHOPS / COMMUNITY POTLUCK / & MORE
Suggested Donation - $10
( this will help raise money to get electricity on the land for future events and support community permaculture )
https://www.facebook.com/events/832076970315876/
June 26-29, 2018 FARMGIRLS Summer Camp: 8am – 12noon Tuesday – Friday
FARMGIRLS Summer Camp is Girl Power for our Future Food System! FARMGIRLS Summer Camp is held at Our Global Family Farm, a permaculture demonstration site located at City Farm SLO. It features food crops and indigenous food cropping systems from the four corners of the globe. FARMGIRLS Summer Camp will include farming, cooking, eating, making crafts, singing and nature hikes. The FARMGILRS summer camp is a place where women and girls of all ages can learn about how to grow food in an ecological approach that follows the ethics of permaculture: care for the earth, care for one another, and share the abundance. Together we can create a food system that is Regenerative, Healthy, Local, and Resilient. Let’s share the love of the land with young people, in this case, young women & girls. Let some families know about this upcoming summer camp. Registration is now open: http://www.permaculture.us.com/farmgirls/farmgirls-summer-camp
Show some love for our oceans too:
Protect our coast from off shore oil drilling!
On Feb. 3rd there was a meeting and film screening sponsored by our local Sierra Club and Surfrider Foundation on how to protest against Trump's plans of opening California waters to off-shore drilling. The effects of this decision would be devastating to our oceans and coastal communities. Here are actions you can do to help:
1. Attend the Coastal Commission Meeting on Wed., Feb. 7th at 9am in Cambria at the Cambria Pines Lodge to support the commission as they consider a draft letter to Interior Secretary Zinke to be delivered the next day in Sacramento. If you can't make it to Sacramento, this meeting is the best place to be heard.
2. Thursday, Feb. 8th - March in Sacramento at 1:30 at the State Capitol. This is right before the only public federal meeting on Trump's plan for off-shore drilling in California. A bus will be leaving from Santa Barbara at 6am ( this was the closest they could get a bus to SLO). Questions on the rally: Blake Kopcho: bkopcho@biologicaldiversity.org or 805-708-3435.
3. Attend the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary meeting on Saturday, March 17 at 1 pm at the Chumash Auditorium at Cal Poly. The designation of a marine sanctuary forbids all oil and gas exploration within the sanctuary.
4. Leave comments at these sites: http://savethecoast.org or www.regulations.gov (search BOEM-2017-0074 and fill out the form. Comments are due by March 8th.
February 13 – Ocean Friendly Garden Training with Surfriders Foundation: 6pm – 8pm Libertine Brewing Company
Ocean Friendly Garden Principles
- Create healthy, living soil
- Retain rainwater
- Install climate-appropriate plants
- Use efficient supplemental irrigation as needed
Our oceans, waves and beaches need you. You don’t need to be a Surfrider Foundation member to come to our meetings (though it’s always encouraged). Stop by and introduce yourself. Mingle, learn something, and take the first step towards getting involved.
Community Events:
SLO Seed Saver events:
Sunday February 4 - SLO Guild Hall grove from 11:15-1pm - first monthly meeting of Garden Gatherings
First Sunday every month get-togethers to discuss one selected garden topic, i.e. pollinators, bee keeping, seedsaving, etc. Topic for February 4 is a discussion about saving seeds. 2880 Broad St, SLO
February 15-17 in Corvallis Oregon - OSA, Organic Seed Alliance, hosts their 9th Organic Seed Growers Conference
Several SLO organic seed people plan to attend. Check it out at seedalliance.org/conference
February 22 at 2-4pm - Seed packaging fun at the Morro Bay Library Community Room - 625 Harbor. All are welcome!
M.B. is our 6th county seed library branch.
February 22 at Los Osos Library from 6:30-8pm - Elizabeth Johnson talk “Seed Stories & Basics of Seedsaving.”
2075 Palisades Avenue, Los Osos
March 10 at Santa Margarita Library from 4:30-6pm - Elizabeth Johnson talk “Seed Stories & Basics of Seedsaving.”
9630 Murphy Avenue, Santa Margarita
For more information contact Elizabeth Johnson stteresa@kcbx.net
Thursday, February 8th - Morro Bay Science Explorations: “Climate Change and Rising Seas on the Central Coast”: 6 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens. We have all heard the story of climate change. As the global average temperature rises, the polar icecaps continue to melt and sea level continues to rise, encroaching on beaches and inundating roads and other infrastructure. What does this mean for us on the Central Coast of California? How will our beaches, our well-preserved coastal habitats, our wildlife, and our communities fare? How do we prepare for the changes and challenges ahead? Come explore these scientific concepts and engage in the conversation with experts from across the state. Joanna Wu of Audubon California will discuss the effects of climate change on bird populations. Dr. Karen Thorne of USGS will present the results of her study of California coast tidal marshes and the projected impacts of sea level rise on these valuable habitats. Dr. Michael R. Boswell of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo will speak about mitigation and management of sea level rise locally and across the state. Website: http://www.mbnep.org/events/
February 17 & 18th 
SLO Guild Hall: 9am – 5pm
Sustainable Agriculture Starts with a Sustainable Business - This two-day series of interactive workshops will provide new and aspiring farmers with a solid introduction to the entrepreneurial skills needed to succeed, a valuable supplement to on-farm experience. Taught by a variety of educators, business experts and local farmers, this affordable program will provide upstart agrarians with the basic business tools to prepare you for a career in agriculture, as well as the peer-to-peer community support to keep you inspired and on track.
Register here: http://www.farmersguild.org/slo-february-17--18.html
February 17 – CA Rare Fruit Growers Scion Exchange: 1pm at Cal Poly Crops Unit
On Saturday, Feb. 17th, we will hold our annual scion exchange where members and the public are invited to bring their freshly cut fruit tree "prunings" to share with others. There will be HUNDREDS of different kinds of fruit tree scions on the tables... all for free!!! No citrus!! However, some top quality unusual avocado scions are coming this year!! Don't miss this fun event at Cal Poly.
Secondly, there will be a rootstock sale that same day. We will have a wide variety of rootstock for sale that you can buy... take home and graft... and build your own tree!! For a small fee, we will "can it up" for you!! Bring some $$ or a check.
Third... we will have a STORE open for business, selling all sorts of grafting supplies and materials. There will be grafting knives, bird net, and pheromone loops…tree seal, green garden tape.... all on sale!!! Bring your checkbook.
Fourth... Cal Poly students will be there too... selling fresh picked fruits and vegetables. We like to support these students by purchasing some of their products and asking them tough questions about how they grow the stuff!!
Finally... there will be 4 or 5 or 6 expert grafters.. demonstrating their favorite graft and answering your questions... all afternoon!! One of these expert grafters, Craig Righetti, will be demonstrating AVOCADO Grafting only!! You should go to all of these expert grafters...... watch and learn to graft... all for free!!!
Where? Meeting will be at the Crops Unit (Bldg. 17) at Cal Poly, corner of Highland and Mt. Bishop Road... right near the RR underpass. Free parking on Saturday!! Come early for best parking.
February 17, 9:30 a.m. – Fungus Foray
( http://www.elfin-forest.org/library/oakleaves/archives/2018-02.pdf )
Join fungophile Dennis Sheridan on a delightful exploration of the Elfin Forest floor for fascinating mushrooms such as wood bluetts, black elfin saddles, earthstars, golden caps, boletes, and poisonous amanitas. Dennis will take us on a trek to the lower oak grove next to the bay to find these marvelous fungi. Bring a magnifying lens and, if you have a mystery mushroom in your yard, bring a sample for Dennis to identify. This is not a mushroom collecting walk. All plants in the Elfin Forest are protected by law. Only a very heavy rain will cancel the walk. Walks in the Elfin Forest begin at times stated above at the north end (1100 block) of 15th Street off Santa Ysabel in Los Osos. Wear comfortable shoes, long sleeves and pants to avoid poison oak and mosquitoes. Park carefully, avoiding driveways and mailboxes, and leave pets at home. The easy paced walks last 1-1/2 to 2 hours. For more information call (805) 528-0392.
February 19th – Savage Grace: Living Resiliently in the Dark Night of the Globe book club with Linda Seeley
St. Benedict's Episcopal Church on Clark Valley Road in Los Osos: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
We will soon be starting the Savage Grace group! If you are planning to attend, please respond email Linda Seeley lindaseeley@gmail.com so that she can keep an accurate count. Based on the work of Joanna Macy. Here is what's motivating her to do this now, and Linda is sharing it with you here:
“In the course of last fall's retreat, I was seized more than ever by the conviction that, given the market forces driving the acceleration of extractive industries, we cannot stop or slow down the unraveling of living systems without a vitalizing and guiding experience of identity with the living Earth. We cannot do this by ourselves, only with Her in ongoing reciprocity. This renewed conviction will characterize my work the remaining years of my life. Some might find the book depressing. But I believe that working through its chapters will give us access to resources within ourselves that we don't even know we have. To be in reciprocal relationship with our Great Mother is our nature, and that is what we will practice during our time together.” – Joanna Macy
We will also engage in practices from the Work that Reconnects, developed by Joanna Macy, as a guide during our time together. If you're interested in learning more about the Work that Reconnects, you can order Coming Back to Life: Practices to Reconnect Our Lives, Our World, by Joanna Macy and Molly Young Brown.
Our first meeting will be February 19th from 6:30 to 8:30 at St. Benedict's Episcopal Church on Clark Valley Road in Los Osos.
Subsequent meetings will be on
March 5th,
March 19th,
April 2nd,
April 16th,
April 30th. (every other week - always at 6:30)
February 26 - The Ecology of Food: From the Field and the Ocean to the Table - Dr. James Brown
2018 Mind Walk Lecture Series
http://centralcoastparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2018_Mind_Walks.pdf
Mind Walks offers lectures on topics of interest to residents of the Central Coast that include cultural history, natural history, and current issues. All presentations take place at 10:15 am every Monday during the winter months at the Inn at Morro Bay, 60 State Park Road. Lunch specials available following lecture. Admission for CCSPA members and CA State Parks docents is free; others pay $3 per lecture.
Learn how various food products are stored, preserved, and transported from their points of origin to our tables to ensure quality and freshness. Dr. Brown will discuss modes of transport and the length of time necessary to prevent spoilage, and will discuss why Morro Bay did not become an important fishing port.
Dr. James Brown is a retired ecologist, residing in Morro Bay. He taught at UCLA and recently retired after 25 years of teaching at the University of New Mexico.
March 3rd, Meet local candidate Jimmy Paulding!: 2pm - 4 PM
Branch Mill Farm, 2815 Branch Mill Road, Arroyo Grande CA
Jimmy Paulding is a 4th District candidate for the SLO County Board of Supervisors. The 4th District covers Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, and Oceano. Jimmy wholeheartedly supports the sustainable growth of small businesses that benefit the local food economy here in SLO County. At the Meet and Greet, Jimmy will discuss his background and qualifications as well as answer your questions and concerns regarding important issues facing our community.
March 10th, 2015, 4th Annual Women’s Symposium: 9A.M. 4 P.M.
San Luis Coastal District Adult School, 1500 Lizzie St., Room J-2, San Luis Obispo, CA
Women's Symposium Facebook invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/182785729121094/
Women matter and our sacred gifts and inherent wisdom are needed now, more than ever, to bring about healing and transformation to our communities and planet. The divine feminine recognizes our oneness with all things, especially our precious Mother Earth, and how her wonderment is vital to our connection with psyche, body, soul and spirit. The keynote speaker is Nina Simons, an award-winning social entrepreneur, visionary thinker, Founder of Everywoman's Leadership and Co-Founder of Bioneers (www.bioneers.org ).
Her theme: "Finding Our Own Regenerative and Purposeful Sweet-Spot - Now, When It’s Needed Most."
HOPEDANCE films with Bob Banner:
Feb 6 (Tuesday) WASTED! about food waste in Morro Bay at Green Lotus Center. Details, trailer and flyer… Details: HERE
Feb 8-11 Cambria Film Festival: HERE
Feb 16, Friday, 7-9pm BANKING ON BITCOIN with Forrist Lytehaause
See trailer and flyer and bio of Forrist to make this a very exciting learning experience for all…
Click HERE for details and trailer.
Feb 20 (Tuesday, 7pm) Film about Big Oil & Whistleblower John Bolenbaugh
as well as many local solutionary activists to be part of the conversation after the hour long film…
Details HERE…
March 2 (Friday 7pm) The Animal Communicator with Suzan Vaughn
with some more shorts and conversation, Q&A with local animal communicator Suzan Vaughn
Details, flyer, trailer HERE
Save the date for Earth Day celebrations:
April 21st – SLO Earth Day at Laguna Lake - Join us at the 28th annual San Luis Obispo County Earth Day Fair & Music Festival on Saturday, April 21, from 11am to 5pm at Laguna Lake Park. Mark the date and invite others for a day of education, community and fun.
http://earthdayalliance.com/2018/01/2018-join-us/
April 28th – Branch Mill Organic Farm - We are celebrating Mother Earth and her bounty differently this year. The Spring Festival will focus on workshops and farm tours related to permaculture and organic farming. Our other concentration is on the retreat center with yoga and meditation classes all day. More details coming soon. Stay tuned!
http://branchmillorganics.com/events/
Farm Manager Opportunity in Paso Robles
Posted: 01 Feb 2018 01:37 PM PST
Windrose Farm in Creston is seeking a full-time employee with a desire to learn and take part in all aspects of its highly-diversified farming operation. Applicant must have good people and communication skills. Applicant must also have good driving skills, as one weekly task is delivering produce to the Santa Monica farmer’s market, something which involves a long shift. Farmers Bill and Barbara will help mentor, but some experience in and a passion for sustainable agriculture is preferable. This could be a great on-ramp to succession for the right candidate!
On-site housing is available and long-term options may be considered. Compensation is based on experience.
Check out Windrose Farm online. For more information, please contact Bill Spencer at: farmerbill63@gmail.com
Be regenerative!
Teresa Tree Lees, SLO Permaculture Guild