Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Upcoming events - July

Greetings all,

Below is an amazing collection of upcoming permaculture and sustainability events in the central Virginia bioregion, including a MapLab on July 5th and several canning classes, and an Edible Fest in Orange, VA (details below). If you know anyone else that would like to sign up for this newsletter, they can sign up here.  If you have an announcement, email us at blueridgepermaculture@gmail.com for the next monthly e-newsletter. Click here to view this email as a webpage.  Happy Summer!

Best,
Christine and the BRPN team
www.blueridgepermaculture.net  


1.
Sacred Plant Traditions – classes in Charlottesville

Designing a Medicine Garden – Permaculture and Herbalism
Saturday, July 6 - 10am – 2pm 
Join us for a day of instruction on how to set up medicinal gardens and botanical sanctuaries. We will begin with sheet mulching, look at garden layout and simple design and talk about the needs and growing conditions of common herbal medicines. We will wander back to the woodland sanctuary that has been created and talk about conservation and ecological harvest issues as they relate to United Plant Savers. We will also look at drying roots, flowers and leaves of our favorite plant allies.
Herbal teas will be provided at all the one day workshops. Please pack a bag lunch.

Fee for the class is $75. Deposit $30. REGISTER NOW


Kitchen Apothecary - First Harvest
Sunday, July 7 - 10am – 2pm
This class can stand-alone or be a wonderful conclusion to the garden class taught the day before. In this class, participants will make herbal preparations harvested from the day before. These are safe and time-honored recipes to be used for the family. We will learn the art of making salves, tinctures, oils and teas as well as how to stock our family medicine chest.

This is an excellent class for those that are interested in learning sustainable ways of keeping selves and families healthy.
This class will be taught by community herbalist, Heather Wetzel
Herbal teas will be provided at all the one day workshops. Please pack a bag lunch.
Fee for the class is $75. Deposit $30. REGISTER NOW

The Art of Fermentation
Saturday, July 27 - 10am – 2:30pm
Learn to make delicious lacto-fermented foods in this hands-on workshop. Fermentation is a traditional way of food preparation that not only preserves the harvest but also yields greater nourishment, a healthier digestive system, and thus increased vitality. We will make kimchi, brined garlic, lacto-fermented beets and ginger carrots as well as fermented and cultured beverages including kombucha, honey wine and sodas that are good for you. You will leave with the skills necessary to begin lacto-fermenting foods at home.

This class will be taught by community herbalist, Suzanna Stone
Herbal teas will be provided at all the one day workshops. Please pack a bag lunch.
Fee for the class is $75. Deposit $30. REGISTER NOW



2.
Excellent events from our friends at Transition Charlottesville-Albemarle

*******************
Wednesday 7/3 Better World Betty 5% Day at Whole Foods
If you shop at Whole Foods in Charlottesville, Weds. 7/3 is a good day to go stock up! Five percent of the day’s sales will be donated to support Better World Betty’s 100% LOCAL work to promote recycling, support sustainability initiatives, and encourage businesses to go green with the Better Business Challenge.

Betty is recruiting volunteers for summer and fall events - including a New Belgium Beer & Film event in September! - as well as ongoing support and special projects. Email betty@betterworldbetty.com to find out how you can help.

*******************
Friday 7/5 MapLab, a Balloon Mapping Workshop
5-8pm at The Bridge PAI, 209 Monticello Rd.
MapLab is an inaugural program to create a participatory snapshot of Charlottesville.  Throughout July and August the Bridge PAI is inviting the greater community to tell them what they know about the City of Charlottesville using all their senses. The residents are asked to visit The Bridge to share their insights and participate in a series of events to map, talk, draw, and walk about the city. The Bridge PAI aims to use the information as a means to stitch unique connections throughout the community as a way of infusing art and culture into the city in new ways.  

*******************
Sunday 7/7 TimeBank Member Picnic
5pm at McIntire Park
Join Cville TimeBank at picnic shelter #3 (closest to the softball field) to share a meal together, talk about TimeBank, and hear an update from the organizers. Family-friendly - kids welcome! Bring games if you like. Please bring a dish to pass and your own plate, cup, utensils.
Questions? Contact timebankcville@gmail.com.

*******************
Monday 7/8 Skill Share: Repair Café
7-8:30pm at The Bridge PAI, 209 Monticello Rd.
Need a small repair? Bring your broken thingamajig to the Repair Café, and we’ll take a look together! Handy fixer-people will be there with toolboxes, sewing kits, glue, etc. If your item has an owner’s manual, please bring it with you.

Do you have a skill to share or know someone who could lead a workshop? Our skill share crew would love your help to organize an upcoming event. Contact Ann Marie, annmarie.hohenberger@gmail.com or (434) 981-2004.
Requests for workshops include foraging, canning, soap making, sewing, first aid, and many more DIY/homesteading skills. Workshop leaders need not be professionals, just folks who know how to do something cool.

*******************
Cooking Classes from Market Central
Tues. 7/9: Easy as Pie
Sat. 7/20: Cooking with a Whole Chicken
Sat. 7/27: Canning 101
Sat. 8/3: Pressure Canning
Sun. 8/11: In a Pickle
Plus - check out Market Central’s new seasonal recipes.

*******************
Wednesday 7/10  Seminar:  Agricultural Landscape of the Piedmont
6:30-7:30pm at Rebecca’s Natural Food, 1141 Emmet St.
Sue Ellen Johnson is the Director of Agriculture and Rural Economies for the Piedmont Environmental Council.  She will talk about the state of agriculture in the Piedmont and discuss the barriers and many opportunities that our local producers and food system faces.

*******************
Thursday 7/11 Storyline Project
10am-12pm at the Community Chalkboard in front of Charlottesville City Hall
The Storyline Project guides rising 4th-6th graders from the Charlottesville Parks & Rec summer camps through unique walking expeditions that culminate in the creation of a mural on the Community Chalkboard. This year’s theme is Transit, utilizing boats, bikes, and buses.
On July 11, campers' sketches will coalesce with the creation of a mural on the Community Chalkboard on the Downtown Mall. The public is invited to observe the mural creation and celebrate the Storyline Project. Watch a time lapse video of last year's mural here.

*******************
Saturday 7/13 Wayside Commons
From Wayside Center for Popular Education: Come to Wayside for our celebration with community organizers and activists from all over the region as we indulge in an opportunity to network, eat, workshop, socialize, share our talents, and most importantly HAVE FUN! Childcare and interpretation provided.

*******************

Tuesday 7/16 350.org Central Virginia Meeting
6:30-8:30pm at Charlottesville Friends Meetinghouse, 1104 Forest St.
350 CVA, the first officially recognized Virginia chapter of international 350.org, meets on the third Tuesday of each month. At least one hour of the monthly meeting is set aside for activist program work.  Everyone is welcome, from high school students up to adult seniors.  Light refreshments are provided.  350.org seeks to grow in numbers and effectiveness, specifically effectiveness for changing our future to one that is safe from the looming, catastrophic amount of climate change that science predicts, unless we quickly and greatly reduce or replace our use of coal, oil and gas for energy.

*******************
Thursday 7/18 Art21 Screening & Discussion Series: Ecology
12-1:30pm at CitySpace, 100 5th St. NE
From Piedmont Council for the Arts: Pack a brown bag lunch and join PCA for a film and discussion. This film delves into the work of four artists who explore the relationship of nature and culture. How is our understanding of the natural world deeply cultural? “Ecology” attempts to answer this question through the work of artists Robert Adams, Mark Dion, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, and Ursula von Rydingsvard. This event is FREE and open to the public.

*******************
Friday 7/19-7-26 Walk for our Grandchildren:  Camp David to DC
From July 19-26th, grandparents, parents, young people and children will walk from Camp David to Washington.  Through the march, we’ll remind President Obama that his legacy depends on what he does to confront the climate crisis and protect a livable future for all of our grandchildren. Walk for all seven days, join the main leg departing from Harper’s Ferry on July 22nd, or join for one day. The walk will culminate on July 27th, as we walk the last 2 miles to the White House for a rally.   The walk is organized by CCAN, 350.org, and a group of elders from North Carolina.  http://2013walkforourgrandchildren.org/

*******************
Monday 7/22 Transition Town Potluck
7pm in the Madison Room at Central Library
An opportunity to informally share a meal and share how your individual and group Transition projects are coming along.    

*******************
Wednesday 7/24 Fungal Feast
Join Angel from Sharondale Farm for a mushroom cooking class at the newly renovated Jefferson Community Center kitchen.  Offered through Piedmont Virginia Community College.

*******************
Wednesday 7/24 Cville TimeBank Orientation
6 or 7pm at the Central Library in Charlottesville (choose from either one hour session)
With enrollment at 125 members, Cville TimeBank members have already been part of hundreds of transactions — everything from dog-sitting to yoga lessons, portrait sitting to conversational Spanish — just think how awesome it will be when the membership grows!

*******************
Thursday 7/25 Our Town Charlottesville Community Meetings:  Greenbriar, Woodhaven & Rugby Road
6-8pm at Charlottesville High School
"Our Town Charlottesville" brings town hall style meetings to every City neighborhood throughout the year so that residents may discuss emerging issues and voice concerns and preferences about their respective communities. Each meeting is attended by citizens, City Council and many other City officials, giving everyone a chance to talk personally in a relaxed, informal environment about the things which matter to them most

*******************
Tuesday 7/30 Brewing Culture: How to Make Kombucha
6:30-7:30pm at Rebecca’s Natural Food, 1141 Emmet St.
Ethan Zuckerman, Master Brewer at Barefoot Bucha, will share recipes and expertise from his tried and true home brewing method, a process that is easy for participants to replicate at home.  He will also talk about Barefoot Bucha's low waste business model, and encourage creative thought amongst participants of how to take similar steps in their own lives or businesses. This session is appropriate for beginning and seasoned kombucha brewers, those interested in conscious consumerism, and local food aficionados.


3.
August 2-3 Save the date! Two events with Charles Eisenstein, author of Sacred Economics and The Ascent of Humanity in Charlottesville, VA
From Deeply.Be, organized by Ben Coe: Civilization's transition mirrors that of many individuals: an old world falls apart and eventually we step into a new. Vast new possibilities arise, even miraculous possibilities, yet we may also go through periods of loneliness and doubt. The purpose of these events is to ground ourselves more solidly in the new world, so that we may more fully believe -- and enact -- what we know in our hearts.
Friday night talk, 6-8pm at Bon Cafe, 100 West South St. http://www.deeply.be/Charles-Eisenstein-Talk.html
Saturday workshop, 8:30-5pm at the Baldwin Center on Bundoran Farm: http://www.deeply.be/Charles-Eisenstein-Workshop.html
10% discount for Permaculture Folks: use code CVPERMAC
 when you register. Or, contact Ben at benjacoe@gmail.com if you're inspired to attend these events but the ticket price is out of reach.


4.
DESIGNING FOR SUSTAINABILITY: LIFE CYCLE THINKING AND ASSESSMENT

A PRESENTATION BY DUSTIN HEILER
TUESDAY, JULY 9TH
The James River Green Building Council is pleased to welcome Dustin Heiler of Steelcases’ Global Environmental Sustainability team who will talk about how we as individuals can use life cycle analysis to promote environmental stewardship in our own careers and lives. 


5.
The Communities Conference at Twin Oaks Community is a chance for people interested or involved in intentional communities and other community-oriented projects or businesses to share ideas, network, and enjoy a weekend together.  There are formal workshops, open space, as well as many informal opportunities to cross-pollinate with other community minded folks.  Held Labor Day Weekend, Aug 30 - Sept 2, basic registration fee range is $75 - $175, depending on accommodations.  

This year's theme: Community Vs. Uncertainty
What role can community play in preparing for an uncertain future?  How can cooperation and resource sharing be leveraged to create equitable, sustainable and satisfying solutions to local and global crises?

Monday program:
This year’s Monday program will take a multi-faceted look at Solidarity/New Economics, both the ideas and the groups that are the human-scale, driving force behind this national movements.


6.
Customer Support Position for Green Tech Company Organic Mechanic

Become an integral part of a company with a lot of potential. Currently we are receiving a great deal of traffic for and interest in some of our products. Over 100 leads are requesting quotes or for more information every month. This is where your position comes in, to handle all of the interest mostly through email, some through phone, from your own home office. You will be paid great commissions ($3-6,000+ per month) on green solutions that people purchase with your assistance.

Your skills, interests, and experience ideally includes: Customer satisfaction, service roles, or sales. Passion and knowledge about green technology. Comfort in conversing about and finding people the right technology solutions. Certification or experience in diesel vehicles, generators, diesel conversion kits, biofuels. Comfort and aptitude with gmail, google docs, google voice. Entrepreneurial, Management, and/or Academic experience in business a plus. If you are interested, please email your resume and why you think you are the best person for this job to Office@OrganicMechanic.com.


7.
COMMON GOOD CITY FARM in D.C.
New Garden Project in Ward 8
Common Good is partnering with the District of Columbia Housing Authority to build raised beds at the Highland Dwellings public housing complex in DC’s Ward 8.  After the beds are built and planted, we will be providing educational workshops to the residents on how to maintain the gardens and enjoy the bounty.  Stay tuned for updates on our progress.
Our Youth Education programs were highlighted in a Global Looking Glass article about creating healthy eating habits for DC school children.  Click HERE to read more about how DC is keeping our kids healthy.


8.
Living Mandala presents a live, on-line, interactive, (and super affordable!) course - Empowerment Through Collaboration: How to Create Transformation Community with Starhawk and special guests in co-production with Evolver beginning July 2nd, and going into the summer!  (If you can't make the first session… no problem. Sessions will be recorded).

This is a rare opportunity for you to take part in a super affordable, in-depth training that goes to the heart of visionary community making with some of the leading experts in the field. Learn how to make your participation in groups, in all of its aspects, an expression of your highest ideals.  In this live, interactive video course, Starhawk will share tools for clear communication, conflict transformation, constructive critique, and facilitating group decision-making.  

Drawing on insights from her latest book, The Empowerment Manual: A Guide for Collaborative Groups, we will discuss ways of how we learn to work together more skillfully and become even more effective agents of change.

Who This Course Is For:
       Leaders and participants in any activist group, including permaculture groups, spiritual circles, occupy groups, transitions towns, and intentional communities
       Anyone who wants to improve their communication and relationship skills
       Meeting planners and facilitators
       Anyone working in non-profits or social change organizations
       Managers of alternative and green businesses
       Anyone who works with others in community. Creating healthy community is essential for any visionary enterprise.



9.
Upcoming Free Webinar:
Re-Designing the Commons: Urban Transformation, Placemaking, & Village Building
With Mark Lakeman
Wednesday, July 10   - 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm PDT




10.
Better World Betty resource

Tired of seeing STYROFOAM takeout containers at your favorite local restaurants? We are, too!  Join us in encourage restaurants to switch to better products for the planet!  DOWNLOAD the letter below and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!



11
Heritage Harvest Festival – September 6 & 7
Celebrate the harvest and the legacy of revolutionary gardener Thomas Jefferson at the 7th annual Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello. Thomas Jefferson, America’s “First foodie,” championed vegetable cuisine, plant experimentation and sustainable agriculture.
Taste a bounty of heirloom fruits and vegetables and learn about organic gardening and seed-saving during this fun, affordable, family-friendly festival — unlike any other — held on the breathtaking West Lawn of Jefferson’s Monticello.


12. Get ready for the second annual Edible Food Fest in Orange!
August 10, 2013 - 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.





No comments: