[Lapg] SoCal Permaculture Convergence March 9-10 & Permaculture Earthworks Workshop March 6-8

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2013 Southern California Permaculture Convergence: March 9-10, 2013 

at the Sky Mountain Institute in Escondido, CA
Featuring Keynote Speaker Paul Wheaton (permies.com) 

Tickets $75.00 - Buy Tickets HERE
Space is limited.

Southern California Permaculture Convergence Homepage
Visit our Facebook page
Contact: Michelle, info at edgeandelement.com

Permaculture Earthworks Workshop with Paul Wheaton: March 6-8, 2013 
at the Sky Mountain Institute in Escondido, CA



$400 Early Bird Rate (Paid in full by February 15, 2013)TO REGISTER CLICK HERE
Space is limited.
Contact: Diego, diego.crfg at yahoo.com

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 (swales, ponds) 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.
FULL WORKSHOP DETAILS HERE



Southern California Convergence Lectures and Workshops

Keynote Speech- Paul Wheaton- 60 Permaculture Tinkers in 60 Minutes, HUSP and More

Native Edibles Cooking Class- Alden and Ann Hough 
Enjoy a wild edible plant walk around Harmony Grove with Alden and Ann 
Food preparation class and find out how to:
   * Safely identify and respectfully forage wild edible plants 
   * Incorporate these plants in their food forests
   * Prepare delicious, nutritious recipes
   * Discover how our health can benefit from including these plants in our dietto add text, images, and other content
Fruit Tree Grafting & Care Workshop- Ben Kotnik 
Learn about fruit tree propagation through 
grafting.  Class will cover basic grafting principles and techniques 
applicable to many trees, as well as some more advanced aspects not 
shown in books or videos.  A limited number of dwarf Apple trees will be available for participants to graft, and purchase if desired.  We will 
also field graft a few established trees on the property to fit multiple varieties on one tree, conserving space in the garden and allowing for a progressive harvest.  Grafting is fun and the best way to keep 
heirlooms and other rare varieties from disappearing forever.  
Permaculturists should also be propagators; after all it’s a generative 
process!
Passive Buliding Design- Candace Vanderhoff 
Strategies and techniques to heat and cool buildings without using mechanical 
systems. Presentation is a hands-on, design workshop that will allow 
everyone to participate and contribute with the final outcome some very 
interesting ideas.
San Diego Water and Agriculture:  Past, Present, and Future- Josh Robinson 
Water and food go hand in hand and are 
inexplicably linked to habitation of Southern California. This slideshow will look at how people have lived and settled in the San Diego region 
from indigenous to early immigrants to modern day society as a means to 
understand how San Diego could look in the future
The Sun Crop Spectacular- San Diego Seed Company
Learn what plants grow best in our hot 
summers, how to care for them and what to watch out for.  Learn the keys to year-round production and the secrets of pollination and seed 
saving.  
Introduction to Permaculture Design- Michelle Bernson 
Come learn the basic design principles to start planning a permaculture design. We'll go over the key concepts and 
design principles surrounding this vast subject.  We'll dive into what 
is needed to start your design and how you can begin to change your 
landscape into a more earth friendly, responsible place.
The Importance of Including Wildlife Habitat- Diane Kennedy 
What is the difference between dirt and 
soil?  In this session we will examine soil samples, discuss the 
planting combinations in a food forest, and explain how plants 
communicate. We will also talk about why planting natives and providing 
for habitat is vital.  Most importantly we will explore how you can use 
this knowledge to activiate your own garden soil organically without 
spending huge amounts of money.
Making Money Selling Directly to Eaters- Mark Wall 
Learn how to generate income selling in your community and at local events including farmers markets.  Testing what 
will sell, gathering information from customers and potential customers, and taking advantage of the new cottage food law that allows some home 
processing.
Uncovering Authentic Community- Raffi Aftandelian 
Come for a short presentation and then a 
conversation based on the ideas presented.  We are going to be talking 
about what a complex time we are living in, which requires more and more capacity for very different people and groups to be able to collaborate effectively. We are currently working on an unspoken assumption that if you bring people together who care about something, that it will all 
work out. But will it really? There is certain something, perhaps it can be called "authentic community", that is necessary.  Community - in a 
sense- is soil for human life. Yet, it is worth examining what we mean 
by community, how it is created and how it is sustained. 
Urban Backyard Chickens- Britt Cool 
An overview of raising chickens in an urban yard, including explanations about:
    - local laws and codes
- needs and requirements of chickens
    - building a chicken coop
    - proper feed for the birds
    - care and feeding of urban chickens
    - what to do with a sick chicken 
    - use of chicken poop in the garden
Tai Chi Flow- Claudia F. 
Get "in the Zone" through flowing gentle 
movements like Tai Chi and other arts, that will stretch your body and 
awaken your senses. Tai Chi is an ancient Martial Art originated from 
China, practiced for self-defense and for its health benefits. No skills needed for this easy-to-follow class. Focusing the mind solely on the 
slow movements helps achieve a state of mental calm and clarity similar 
to deep meditation.
Become a Sustainable Family- Amy Hite 
A sustainable family creates a safe, 
positive, and supportive environment allowing all family members to 
thrive and develop their fullest potential.  Topics of discussion will 
include communication, parenting, and growing food, reducing waste, 
finances, self-sufficiency, holistic health, community and more.
Introduction to Fertility Awareness- Hannah Ransom 
This talk will include what fertility awareness is, discussing the difference between fertility awareness and the 
rhythm method, the hormones of the menstrual cycle, how the hormones 
change biologic markers that are apparent to you (thus forming the basis of the use of this method as birth control or pregnancy achievement), 
how to learn the method, benefits you can get from charting, and who is 
an appropriate candidate for using fertility awareness as birth control.
Hillside Gardening- Connie Beck 
There is more to planting a slope than ice 
plant!  This class will help you choose wisely for hillside plantings 
relying on a variety of types of plants for interest, beauty, and soil 
stabilization.   Pathways, steps, mulching and irrigation methods will 
also be discussed.  The PowerPoint presentation features many photos to 
illustrate examples of good ways to handle slopes as well as less 
successful plantings you will want to avoid.
Companion Planting- Michelle Bernson 
Companion planting throughout the landscape 
is an important part of integrated pest management.  Learn how to use 
Companion planting as a holistic concept that will fit perfectly into 
your permaculture designs.  By using companion planting, many gardeners 
find that they can discourage harmful pests without losing the 
beneficial allies.  Companion planting can combine beauty and purpose to give you an enjoyable, healthy environment.
Greywater Reclamation- Bob Lloyd 
Get a Virtual tour of an experimental 
greywater reclamation system that includes a constructed wetland which 
supports a wide diversity of aquatic life including dragonfly larva, 
tadpoles, frogs, diving beetles, and many other native aquatic 
organisms.  Water from the constructed wetland is used for all current 
irrigation needs, supplying a drip system to a garden and 50 small fruit trees.  Along with a 10,000 gallon pond/rainwater catchment/Koi system. 1 inch of rain yields about 1000gal. Get a peek at a liner that was 
designed to withstand sunlight exposure and has other superior 
characteristics to commercially available liners.  We’ll wrap up with a 
brief presentation on environmental toxins and even look at some water 
samples!
Peak Phosphorous and N-Pee-K:  Urine in Agriculture Today and Tomorrow- Charles Anacker 
The class will present the facts about Peak Phosphorus and how this 
critical resource to our agriculture is only found in significant 
quantities in the United States, China, and the disputed territory of 
the Western Sahara that is currently controlled by Morocco. Even this 
supply is running out and the cost to agriculture is going to 
significantly decrease and crop yields will go down and people will be 
without food. Currently, we are literally flushing this valuable 
resource away as we have broken the bicycle and we harvest minerals and 
other nutrients from the soil, never returning them, and so we are 
depleting our top soils at a frightening rate. Sweden and Finland, two 
countries that have no phosphorous to mine, have taken a leading role 
with creating systems to collect and recycle urine as a fertilizer, 
capturing significant quantities of NPK and other valuable and plant 
absorbable nutrients and have also shared this information along with 
the World Health Organization with third world countries that cannot 
afford chemical fertilizers and other imported agricultural inputs. The 
result has been an increase in crop yields, improved soil fertility, 
improved sanitation, and prosperity. The class will suggest easy methods to apply this to home gardens, aquaculture, and farms.
Raw Food Class-Jenn Shultz 
Join Raw Food Chef Jenn Shultz as she teaches you to make two Alchemy & Craft dishes with local & raw ingredients! 
The class includes a step by step demonstration of how to prepare a 
delicious meal with organic, vegan, gluten free and raw ingredients. We 
will make a creamy hummus dip and a delicious, filling wrap with local 
ingredients, many of which you can grow in your food forest or while 
wild foraging! Each participant will receive written instructions, 
recipes and samples.
Holistic, Local, Seasonal Foods-Jessica Kramer 
Come join me for this super fun, hands-on discussion focusing on the health 
benefits of eating local, sustainable foods! Emphasis on "Spring 
Cleaning", how to use the abundant foods of spring to feel like a 
million bucks! You will learn where to get these amazing foods and how 
to turn them into magically delicious treats for you & those you 
love. We will also discuss the dangers of processed foods, labeling 
deceptions and how to avoid them.
Building a Beehive and Introduction to Bee Keeping- Erik Collins 
Come for an Introduction to Bee Keeping and get some hands-on experience on building your own bee hive!  
The Secret Life of Plants:  How Plants Control the World Around Them- Jill Richardson 
Puke, Purge and Sweat: The Logic of Western Herbal Therapeutics- Joanne Odenthal, Cindy and Rebekah
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Learn 
the logic behind Western herbal practice and the types of herbs that 
induce different reactions in the body. In order to choose the 
appropriate herb or herbs for a condition, it’s important to know 
whether the effect will be diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative, purifying or tonifying (to name a few actions). We’ll discuss the actions of a 
number of important Western herbs, share samples, and demonstrate one 
way to create an herbal formula. 
Beginning Herbal Remedies Demonstration Workshop- Joanne Odenthal, Cindy and Rebekah 
Level: Beginner
Learn how to make basic herbal remedies for yourself and your family. Joanne, Cindy and Rebekah are Clinical Herbalists who believe in grassroots, community herbalism. We’ll demonstrate techniques and share samples, including some of our 
favorite remedies to add to your home remedy toolkit. Recipes provided!
Tour of Sky Mountain Institute's Permaculture Demonstration Gardens- Alden Hough 
Join Alden for this tour when he will show 
you the many permaculture  features that have been created in the Sky 
Mountain demonstration  gardens.  These include rainwater harvesting 
earthworks, grey water  systems, roof water catchments, ponds, food 
forests and many more! 

Aquaponics: an Introduction- Rob Howard 
Aquaponics is a sustainable food production system that combines raising fish and 
plants in a symbiotic environment. Fish waste accumulates in the water, 
increasing the ammonia content. Water is pumped through material 
friendly to bacteria, breaking down the ammonia into nitrates and 
nitrites for the plants to grow. The plants absorb the nitrogen and 
leave clean water to flow back for the fish.  

Rob’s system is a series of ponds and waterfalls that lead water through 
planting areas. It is heated with a rocket stove mass heater. It was 
created using cement ponds, holes lined with rubber, and modified food 
storage “totes.” Topics will include creating water flow, types of fish 
and plants to use, best materials for bacteria, use of worms, 
application of permaculture principles, construction of the mass heater 
and rocket stove, and water collection.  Time will be made for group discussion and sharing of experiences and trial and error. 
What We Can do to Help the Bees- Geoff Kipps-Bolton 
Bees are absolutely vital to provide 
abundant, varied food. Beekeeping is a rare example of mankind 
introducing a non-native species for his own benefit and it not becoming a disaster.  Geoff believes that not only are the bees at risk, 
beekeepers are also under threat. If we don’t allow, no, encourage, 
people to accept bees and even learn how to keep bees, a valuable skill 
will be lost, one which mankind may not be able to do without! 
So you may ask, ‘What can we do to help the bees?’  Come and find out!
Ruminations on Environmental Remediation- Ryan Unmack 
Ryan has begun to put together a new talk 
about environmental remediation for a permaculture audience.  It will be sure to include information about the conventional remediation process 
with shared practical experiences with ground water cleanup, soil gas 
mitigation, and soil remediation.  I will also pull in divergent 
experiences in low cost bio-remediation for the developing world based 
on experiments being conducted as part of a PhD study by Henry Haller 
Co-founder of Finca Montesano.  In presenting an approach for the 
developing world and conventional remediation practices for the 
developed world, it is sure that some interesting and perplexing 
permacultural questions will be raised.  
Building a Food Forest- Joey D'Elia 
Let's explore the layers and function of a forest. Come for an outdoor look 
at a food forest and how to create one. If you like trees this class is 
for you! Learn about the needs and wants of trees and how they enjoy 
living together. Looking to the wisdom of the forest is a very nice path to permanence.
Practical Perspective for Homescale Water Design in Southern California- Brook Sarson


Remember the first Principle of Permaculture Design: Long and Thoughtful 
Observation.  Let's observe how rainwater tanks, greywater systems, and 
earthworks can Work together to empower Southern California homeowners 
to work towards water consciousness. 
There are many elements to assess when designing for home-scale water 
resources in Southern California.  As Permaculture Designers, we want to ensure that we aren't simply picking a "cool" strategy as a 
one-size-fits-all solution.  We can present the best options to our 
clients and our communities by careful observation and a deeper 
understanding of our area's water portrait.
We will explore some common, simple solutions that are working in San 
Diego including costs, materials, best practices, and resources.
Basic Ecology for Permaculture- Jane Higginson 
As defined by Bill Mollison, founder of permaculture, it is the “conscious design … of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the 
diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems … 
Permaculture design is a system of assembling … components in a pattern 
which functions to benefit life in all its forms … working with, rather 
than against, nature.”  
But what are ecosystems, especially “natural” ecosystems? What makes them 
resilient? What could be meant by “benefit life in all its forms”?  This lecture will explore these and other pertinent questions you may be 
asking yourself such as: “Why are there so many gophers in my yard?” “Am I at the tippy-top of the food chain?” “Ouch -- am I in a biodiversity 
hotspot?” “What is ‘edge’ and how can I get more of it?” Does energy 
flow -- or does it cycle, or does it loop the loop?” “What habitat is 
that?” “Is my site succeeding in succession?”
Your observations, questions and comments will be (briefly) entertained.
Becoming a Sustainable Family- Amy Hite


A sustainable family creates a safe, positive, and supportive environment allowing all family members to thrive and develop their fullest 
potential.  Topics of discussion will include 
communication, parenting, and growing food, reducing waste, finances, 
self-sufficiency, holistic health, community and more.
Riparian Landscapes- Jacob Hatch 
This will be a hands-on class on the 
installation, maintenance and importance of the Riparian Landscape in a 
natural pond setting.
Using Native Plants in a Permaculture Landscape- Greg Rubin 
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