[Sdpg] The Farm's Ecovillage Training Center in Tennessee

[sdpg-admin at arashi.com]

The Farm's Ecovillage Training Center (and its partner programs abroad) 
present a series of intensive courses:
http://www.thefarm.org/etc/courses.html

April 1-June 9, 2002 Ecovillage Apprenticeships

Summertown, TN, The Farm community. Apprenticeship program in organic food 
production. $2500 per ten week program includes board and lodging, 
participation in all courses, and training in organic gardening from seed 
through harvest. This year we will be continuing work on our 11,000 sq.ft. 
constructed wetlands, our cob visitors center, our cob, strawbale and 
earthbag sauna roundhouse, our 3-story strawframe storage building, and 
many other interesting projects within the Farm community.



March 22-24 Natural Building with Katey Culver and Howard Switzer (Straw, 
Cob, Earthbag, Round Pole) Mud and stone. Turf and timber. Build with 
straw, cob, wood and other natural materials. Earth plasters, passive 
solar, foundations, roofing, the works! Howard Switzer is an architect who 
has designed a number of straw homes and other structures in Tennessee. 
Katey Culver has been a life-long activist with a focus on ecology and 
natural systems. When she learned about the natural building movement she 
was drawn to its immediate application to healing ourselves and the planet. 
She has been teaching about, designing and building natural buildings since 
1996. $325 for weekend course includes books, food and lodging.

April 22-27 Solar Installation Course with Ed Eaton and Sue Turtle

Summertown, TN, The Farm community. Become a solar installer with this 
course from Solar Electric International, one of the foremost solar 
installation companies in the world. $550 plus food and lodging (Inn 
packages from $170). Ed Eaton, Sue Turtle and others. We will install a PV 
system.

May 15-19 Sustainable Village Design

Summertown, TN, The Farm community.  [picture] Site selection, master 
planning and pattern design for Ecovillage; consensus and conflict 
resolution, financial aspects, work issues, best practices. Live and work 
in an ecovillage for a week and get a sense of the issues. Albert Bates, 
Greg Ramsey and guests. $600.

May 24-June 1 Permaculture Fundamentals

Summertown, TN, The Farm community. The first half of the complete design 
certification course. Learn the low impact methodologies that are creating 
a holistic movement. $600 includes food and lodging, materials. Albert 
Bates, Patricia Allison, Sizwe Herring. The first half of the complete 
design certification course. Second half to be offered later in the year. 
Learn the low impact methodologies that are creating a holistic movement.

June 3-9 Permaculture Practicum

A small number of PC Fundamentals graduates return for the second half of 
the certification process. Work in teams to design homesites and 
neighborhoods. Combining the larger subjects of the permaculture curriculum 
presentations by experienced designers introduce mentored small group 
design projects. $600 includes food and lodging, materials. Albert Bates, 
Biko Casini, Sizwe Herring.

June 22 Organic and Biodynamic Gardening

Join "The Barefoot Farmer," Jeff Poppen, at Long Hungry Creek Farm, a 
community subscription agriculture project in Red Boiling Springs, 
Tennessee, to learn how The Barefoot Farmer grows abundant veges for 50 
families from 4 acres of organic gardens in northern Tennessee. $75.

July 15-21 Natural Buildings Immersion

  A week-long intensive: wattle and daub; mud and stone; turf and timber. 
Build with straw, cob, wood and other natural materials. Architect and 
builders Howard Switzer, Katey Culver, Albert Bates, Biko Casini. $600.

Wed, August 28, 2002, 6:00-10:00 pm
Ecovillage Dinner
World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa: Dine 
with progressive leaders in sustainability while hearing from visionary 
speakers in the ecovillage movement: Ross and Hildur Jackson, Rashmi Mayur, 
Max O. Lindegger, Albert Bates, Lucilla Borio, Helena Norberg-Hodge, Liora 
Adler, Vinja Ariyaratne, Marti Mueller, Mete Hacaloglu and others. $50, 
e53, R535

Fri, August 30, 2002, 6:00-10:00 pm
Ecovillage Dinner

World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg: 
<../farmgif/cheetah2.jpg> It is our honor to invite Dr. J.T. Ross Jackson, 
author of And We Are Doing It: Building an Ecovillage Future to be our 
Keynote speaker. Dr. Jackson is founder of the Gaia Trust and creator of 
the Global Ecovillage Network. His distinguished career has spanned three 
decades as a currency analyst, philanthropist, and social innovator. $50, 
e53, R535

Sun, September 1, 2002, 6:00-10:00 pm
Ecovillage Dinner

World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa: Dine 
with developing nation sustainability pioneers while hearing from visionary 
speakers in the ecovillage movement: Ross and Hildur Jackson, Rashmi Mayur, 
Marian Zeitlin, Souleye Ndiaye, Marti Mueller, Vinya Ariyaratne, Mete 
Hacaloglu and others.  $50, e53, R535


Friday, August 23 to Sunday August 25, 2002
Village Design Charrette

<../farmgif/anti_saltante.jpg> Tlholego Ecovillage, South Africa 
Participants will travel by bus to Tlholego Ecovillage Training Center near 
Rustenburg where they will stay in village group lodging. The charrette 
provides a multi-disciplinary exercise with developers, architects, 
engineers and others to create a truly integrated zero energy, free 
standing design, emphasizing sustainable practices. Take an actual village 
project from site to materials selection to energy and water 
considerations, conflicts and governance. Instructors include Max O. 
Lindegger, Albert Bates, Lucilla Borio, and Liora Adler. $400, e425, R4275

Saturday August 24 to Sunday August 25, 2002
Urban Ecology and Sustainable Communities <../farmgif/weaver-l.jpg>

  Johannesburg, South Africa Learn how to balance urban development and 
natural systems to maximize community livability. Progressive practitioners 
will discuss resource management and revitalization of human dominated 
landscapes. Discover how to rework urban infrastructure to preserve and 
restore green space, water supplies and other resources. Hear about 
cutting-edge projects and technologies: site selection, the market for 
sustainable community, why people chose to live in urban ecovillages, 
financial aspects, work issues, design process, restoring old sites, 
decisionmaking process, conflict and communications. $150, e160, R1600 
inclusive.

Monday August 26 to Tuesday, August 27, 2002
Creating Democratic Networks Johannesburg, South Africa.
<../farmgif/buff1.jpg>
Theory and case studies about organizing sustainable development from the 
ground up. Lucilla Borio, Liora Adler, Marian Zeitlin, Souleye Ndiaye, 
Marti Mueller, Vinya Ariyaratne, Mete Hacaloglu. $150, e160, R1600 inclusive.

Wed-Thur, August 28-29, 2002, Johannesburg
Introduction to Consensus
<../farmgif/giraffero1.jpg>
  Consensus decisionmaking can be a powerful tool for building group unity 
and strength and for choosing wise, creative courses of action. However, if 
attempted in the wrong circumstances or without good understanding of the 
technique, the consensus process can result in confusion and frustration. 
This course will lead the way for your group to smooth process work, 
structures and techniques. Meetings can be fun! Instructors include Liora 
Adler, Lucilla Borio, and others. $150, e160, R1600 includes tuition, two 
lunches and course materials.

Fri-Sat, August 30-31, 2002, Johannesburg
Ecovillages and Poverty Alleviation
<../farmgif/ele8.jpg>
  Economic disequality undercuts environmental sustainability. Ecovillages 
and their supporting networks can reverse the downward spiral of poverty 
and create success in business while building community. Instructors 
include Paul and Stephanie Cohen, Marian Zeitlin, Souleye Ndiaye, Marti 
Mueller, Vinya Ariyaratne, Mete Hacaloglu and others. $150, e160, R1600 
includes tuition, two lunches and course materials.

Sun-Mon Sept. 1-2, 2002, Johannesburg
Introduction to Permaculture

  "Permanent agriculture" or "permanent culture," terms coined by 
Australians David Holmgren and Bill Mollison in the 1970s, describe a 
design system for creating human settlements that function in harmony with 
nature. Incorporating traditional knowledge, modern science, and the 
ecological patterns of the living world, permaculture design is applicable 
to farms, gardens, organizations, housing developments, towns and villages, 
or city neighborhoods. Since 1978, tens of thousands of individuals on all 
continents have learned and taught to others the principles of energy flow 
and materials cycling, and the simple appropriate technologies of 
self-reliant living: gardening, shelter, water and waste management, 
aquaculture, forestry, and how to organize supportive local economies. The 
aim of this grassroots international movement is to liberate people 
everywhere to provide for their own and their communities' needs for food, 
energy, shelter, and a decent life without exploitation or pollution and 
from the smallest practical area of land. Max O. Lindegger, Albert Bates, 
Lucilla Borio, and Liora Adler. $150, e160, R1600 inclusive.

African Eco-tours and Thlolego Day Visits
African Ecotours: Aug 26, 28, 31, 2002
<../farmgif/zebrac1.jpg>
  DAY 1: leave Johannesburg at 10.30 am, arrival in Thlolego at lunch time, 
afternoon visit of ecovillage, slideshow and video, photo exhibit, 
traditional African dinner, cultural event (concert, performance, etc.). 
DAY2: Rise at 5.00 am, light breakfast at 5.30, leave for Pilanesberg Game 
Reserve, lunch catered in picnic area, get back to Johannesburg by 2.30 pm. 
$200, e215, R2140 includes local transportation from NGO Forum, meals, 
admission fees and lodging. Maximum capacity 40
Thlolego Day Visits: Aug 27, 29, 31

  DAY 1: leave Johannesburg at 1 pm, arrival in Thlolego at lunch time, 
afternoon visit of ecovillage, slideshow and video, photo exhibit, 
traditional African dinner, cultural event (concert, performance, etc.); 
$150, e160, R1600 includes local transportation from NGO Forum, meals and 
lodging. Maximum capacity 80.

About Our Courses

To make the transition toward a sustainable society it is imperative that 
we take responsibility for our own lives and meet our basic needs for food, 
shelter, energy, gainful employment, and supportive community. The purpose 
of our courses is to offer you practical training in ecological design 
principles so that you can begin the application of these skills within 
your own home grounds, workplace, and local community.  [picture]

We also focus on building the support systems, networks, and alliances we 
all need in our work of remaking our culture. We strive to create a balance 
between classroom time, hands-on experiential learning, and personal 
empowerment work. Our courses will be useful for people with varying levels 
of experience, from backyard gardeners to design and educational professionals.

At the ETC we are creating a holistic, comprehensivist, "total immersion 
school," co-evolving creative designs that move us toward sustainability. 
All projects and buildings on site provides a walk-thru visit to the 
future. You can walk through our strawbale cabin, dome, organic gardens, 
and soon-to-be-completed cob Visitors Center (the largest cob structure in 
North America, the first east of the Mississippi) and wetlands filtration 
system. We have a large creek flowing through the Center and the headwaters 
of the Swan watershed are located on the property as well. Over 1000 acres 
of The Farm are designated as wilderness preserve.

<../farmgif/strawbos.gif>

The Inn is an old Farm house that has been recently renovated and expanded. 
The house was originally constructed by members of the Farm in the late 
70's out of completely recycled materials. Our renovations have included 
three dormitories, two solar showers, rainwater collection, solar 
electricity, and wastewater recycling. We just added a 2-story greenhouse 
with a third story observation deck.

Class size limited so early registration is recommended.
Fee & Enrollment Prices include tuition, lodging, and vegetarian meals. 
Please send a (non-refundable) deposit to reserve your space. Substantial 
discounts may apply for advance registration. Balance is due at 
registration. Credit card users may register by phone. Shuttle service is 
available upon request from the Nashville Airport for $40 or less per trip 
depending on the number of people sharing the shuttle van.

[picture] Accommodations:
Bunk houses and tent sites are available for the entire course. There are 
showers and bathrooms nearby. Bedding is provided. A limited number of 
private rooms are available at typically $30 per night. Wheelchair access 
provided. Language translation services can be arranged. Bring rain gear, 
swim gear, comfortable walking shoes, flashlight and towels.
For more information, please write or call:
Ecovillage Training Center
PO Box 90, Summertown, TN 38483-0090 USA
ecovillage at thefarm.org
Telephone +01-931-964-4324
Fax +01-931-964-2200
What some past participants say about the courses:
This is a life philosophy and community support structure, not just land 
design - more than I expected! Those expecting a seven-day classroom course 
of study were abruptly shocked into entirely new dimensions - and loved it! 
This course drew together a good community which took me beyond the 
analytical to experiencing something different. When we built the swale and 
pond I saw differently.

  It was a safe place to take risks. Whole living can't be taught, as it 
has to be experienced and absorbed, so this week at The Farm was an 
experience of osmosis for most.

We accumulated knowledge and direction for our lives while absorbing some 
of the wisdom and spirit represented around us. I saw a catharsis in many 
of these individuals. An immediate sense of community and purpose. It was a 
seminal experience in my life and a reawakening to a journey ...  [logo]