Greetings all,
Below is an amazing collection of upcoming permaculture, sustainability and farming events in the central Virginia bioregion, including some wonderful upcoming classes and workshops this month. 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.
Also – post your own events on the BRPN Yahoo listserve or the BRPN Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/blueridgepermaculturenetwork/
Best,
Christine, Terry, Emily and the BRPN team
www.blueridgepermaculture.net
Best,
Christine, Terry, Emily and the BRPN team
www.blueridgepermaculture.net
1.
Dave
Jacke on Feb. 18, 2015
The
Piedmont Landscape Association invites you to attend our 32nd Annual
Seminar on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at the historic Paramount Theater in
downtown Charlottesville. Our speakers
this year include designer and author and Julie Moir Messervy, author and
professor Joan Maloof, and designer and author Dave Jacke. Topics in landscape design, native plants and
ecology, and permaculture techniques will appeal to professionals and
enthusiasts alike. In addition to our
daytime program, this year we are offering a separate evening cocktail hour
with Dave Jacke. Continuing education
credits are available for VNLA, VSLD, ISA, and ASLA. You may learn more about the event through
the PLA’s website http://www.piedmontlandscape.org. Registration for the event is provided by the
Paramount (http://www.theparamount.net).
2.
Capturing
Carbon in the Soil
Facing the challenge of climate change, water scarcity, & food
production.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015 7:00 p.m.
St. Mark Lutheran Church
(Corner of Ivy Rd. & Alderman Rd. in Charlottesville)
Peter Traverse is a regenerative agriculture practitioner. He manages a
diversified farm for Innisfree Village, a life sharing community of adults with
intellectual disabilities, located in Crozet, Virginia. Peter's work has evolved over the past few
years to include a strong emphasis on soil research. The regenerative capacity
of soil can play a major role in the big challenges we face in climate change,
water scarcity, food for a growing population and resilience in rural
economies. The purpose of the Innisfree
Farm Observatory is to study the effect of regenerative and adaptive land
management strategies on our local ecosystem. Peter will describe one of the
projects at the Innisfree Observatory, documenting
the change in soil carbon in a system being managed to sequester carbon.
Refreshments provided by the Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club
For more information please contact Suzanne at (434) 245-9898 or suzemichels@gmail.com
3.
The
Radical Roots Farm Apprenticeship is an exchange of time and learning between
experienced and new farmers. Apprentices’ learn the art and
craft of organic farming through hard work in the fields, observation of
successful farm ecosystems and participating in a mentoring relationship with
experienced farmers. This immersion into all aspects of organic vegetable
production gives new farmers valuable skills and experience to begin their
career in organic agriculture. Whether they start their own farm or go on
to work in public gardens, landscaping, school gardens or farm to table
restaurants, apprentices gain a firm foundation and confidence to succeed.
For more information and to apply check out www.radicalrootsfarm.com/apprenticeship/
4.
Casa Alma seeks a resident volunteer Farm
Manager for our .6 acres in the city of Charlottesville. Our community homestead
includes raised beds, a mini-orchard, berry patch, honeybees, chickens, and
dairy goats. The Farm Manager will help develop a comprehensive garden plan
(soil amendments, crop rotations and expanded planting areas), complete
seasonal garden tasks, select projects for seasonal volunteers, and assist with
community outreach efforts. This is a volunteer position of approximately
20hrs/week and includes housing in a detached 1-bedroom cottage onsite. Utilities
(gas, water and electricity) will be the responsibility of the volunteer.
Individuals who are bilingual (English-Spanish) and/or persons of color are
encouraged to apply. Couples will be responsible for a rental payment for
housing. If interested, send an introductory letter to Laura at cvillecw@gmail.com. Please tell us about
your skills and experience, interest, and availability; please include two
references. Thank you!
5.
Shenandoah Permaculture
Institute Spring 2015 Permaculture
Design Course to be held over 4 weekends in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley
near Staunton, VA.
Dates: Feb. 20-22, Feb. 28-March 1, March 21-22, April 11-12
This 72-hour certificate course is presented by the Shenandoah
Permaculture Institute and will be led by permaculture instructors Dr. Ted Butchart,
Ryan Blosser, Soula Pefkaros, and Trevor Piersol. Special guests will include
Dave O’Neill of Radical Roots Farm and Mark Jones of Sharondale Farm.
The cost of the course will be a sliding scale, including a
discount for early registration. If you register by January 1st the sliding
scale is $650-$1200. After January 1st the sliding scale is $750-$1200. Payment
plans are available.
To
register please contact Trevor Piersol at shenperminstitute@gmail.com.
A $200 deposit is required to reserve your spot in the course.
6.
Virginia
Association for Biological Farming Conference
JANUARY 29-31
Thursday January 29: Pre-conference Intensives
Keynote Presentation after Friday lunch, Sustaining the Sustainable
Agriculture Movement by John Ikerd, University of Missouri Professor
Emeritus of Agricultural Economics
Breakout sessions on Friday and Saturday include a Virginia organic
research update, a plant disease roundtable discussion, an update by on the
43,560 project (making a dollar a square foot in a one-acre market garden
managed with low tech low cost organic methods), beneficial insects and
farmscaping, biointensive market gardening in Quebec, integrated compost and
poultry production, and a presentation designed to help small and midscale
farms get ready for the new Food Safety Modernization Act regulations.
Breakout presentations also cover gourmet and medicinal mushrooms, pasture
based livestock husbandry, multispecies grazing, and livestockguard dogs;
orcharding, year round gardening, and more
Register now through Sunday, January 18th to take advantage of the
reduced Regular Registration Rate:v$145 for Member, $205 for Non-Members.
Late Registration Rates will increase on Monday January 19th to $170 for
Members, $230 for Non-Members.
Visit vabf.org/tickets
to purchase tickets or see the full program schedule at vabf.org/schedule
We are looking forward to an exceptional, delicious, and informative
Conference.
We hope to see you there! Questions? Please contact conference
registrar
Sara Schmatz at conference@vabf.org
or (804) 519-1620
7.
Virginia
Native Plant Society Meeting
Wednesday,
February 11th, 7:30 pm
Education Building, Ivy Creek Natural Area, 1780 Earlysville Rd,
Charlottesville
Naturalist and ecologist Charles Smith’s lecture: “Oh,
Deer! Managing Deer to Protect and Restore Plant Communities.”
White tail deer are native members of Virginia’s ecosystems; but without
effective predation, this large herbivore is removing native plants and
altering our plant communities for decades or centuries to come. We will
discuss the history of deer in Virginia, their current populations, and how we
can manage deer to protect and restore our ecosystems for the hundreds of
impacted plant and animal species.
Sunday,
February 15th, 2:00 pm
Learning
the Native Trees of Virginia
Meet in the parking lot of Ragged Mountain Natural Area to learn to
identify trees in the dead of winter using bark, branching, seed, and other
distinguishing characteristics. Join Ellen Powell of the Virginia Department of
Forestry on a Winter Walk at Ragged Mountain Natural Area. Meet in the parking
lot at Ragged Mountain.
Wednesday,
March 11th, 7:30 pm
Virginia
Native Plant Society Meeting
Education Building, Ivy Creek Natural Area, 1780 Earlysville Rd,
Charlottesville
Where
They Grow- Plants of the Coastal Plain and Beyond presented
by Helen Hamilton
Most botanists can describe soils by identifying the plants growing in a
specific habitat. Zigzag goldenrod, dog-violet and yellow lady’s-slipper
require limy soils, sea rocket grows only in sandy beach soil and arrow arum
requires tidal mud, frequently flooded. Species that tolerate clay soil,
salt spray, drought and heavy rains occur in every county in Virginia.
Some plants occur only in the Coastal Plain, others not at all, their range
including the Piedmont and Mountain regions. With slides and
handouts, many of the plants featured in Wildflowers and Grasses of the
Coastal Plain, coauthored by Ms. Hamilton and Dr. Gustav Hall, will be
discussed, with emphasis on species restricted to a narrow range in Virginia.
Saturday,
March 21, 9:00 am
Native
Plant Walk
Ivy Creek Natural Area, 1780 Earlysville Rd, Charlottesville
Come enjoy a walk with a member of the Jefferson Chapter of the Virginia
Native Plant. Meet by the kiosk near the parking lot of Ivy Creek Natural Area.
Wednesday,
April 8, 7:30 pm
Virginia
Native Plant Society Meeting: History and
Wildflowers—Charlottesville’s Old Mills Trail.
Ivy Creek Natural Area, 1780 Earlysville Rd, Charlottesville
The Old Mills Trail runs along the east side of the Rivanna south of Free
Bridge. It is an area where steep hillsides with rocky outcrops meet
river bottom, creating a particularly rich and varied habitat. Tana
Herndon and Mary Lee Epps have been participating in an on-going plant survey
of the trail from Pantops Shopping Center to the I64 bridge over the
Rivanna. They will present the trail’s varied flora, which includes both
exotic invasives such as Japanese knotweed and bush-honeysuckles and
infrequently encountered natives such as curlyheads and fragrant sumac. The
trail is also rich in history, and they will discuss remnants of an historic
dam, canal locks, and the old Woolen Mills, all of which are visible along the
way. There will be a follow-up field trip to the Old Mills
Trail on Sunday, May 3.
Sunday,
April 12th, 2:00 pm
Ivy
Talks: The Older Trees of Ivy Creek
Ivy Creek Natural Area, 1780 Earlysville Rd, Charlottesville
Tom Dierauf will present his findings on the trees of Ivy Creek. Over the
last few years Tom has been conducting a survey of some of the older trees at
the Ivy Creek Natural Area. After his presentation we will go on a walk to look
at some of the trees to better understand what he has found. No charge. Seating
is limited so come early.
SAVE
THE DATE: our annual plant sale will be April 26th!
8.
Allegheny
Mountain Institute Farm Fellowship
Applying for the AMS Fellowship is a competitive and detailed
process.
We look for future fellows that have ambition to make serious changes to
our country's food system. We want to see past experience in growing food,
raising livestock, education, culinary foundations, basic leadership skills,
and the desire to perfect these skills and apply them to our communities.
Join a Cohort. Become a Real Food Advocate. Learn to Lead. Garden.
Cook. Live Cooperatively.
Deadline Extended: February 15, 2015
9.
Permaculture Design Certificate Course in March 2015
The Mason Sustainability Institute (MSI) is an organization that
provides sustainability oriented education and skills development for George
Mason University and its surrounding communities.
On March 8th – 15th, MSI will be hosting a 72-Hour Permaculture
Design Certificate Course, taught by Wayne Weiseman of the Permaculture Project
LLC. This course will be open to all who are interested. No prior
experience necessary. The course will cover such topics as Plant Propagation,
Seed Saving, Healthy Use of Animals in Permaculture Systems, Aquaponics,
Renewable Energy and many more. Participants will earn a certificate in
Permaculture Design, as well as Continuing Education units if requested at the
start of class.
This intensive course will take place from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
with breaks for lunch, with some additional evening activities with served
dinner. Catered lunch and dinners from Everlasting Life Café will be provided,
and a light breakfast fare with snacks will also be available. The total cost
for this course is $1,000 with an early-bird special of $900 before January 31st.
More information on the instructor, Wayne Weiseman, go to:
http://www.permacultureproject.com/
More information on the course can be found here:
http://msi.gmu.edu/pdc.html
You
can register here: https://www.regonline.com/permaculturedesigncertification2014
10.
Cultivate
Kingdom Fungi
At Sharondale Farms workshop on
April 24-26, 2015
Mushrooms for People and the Planet ~ A Two and a Half Day Immersion
Workshop
11.
From
our friends at Transition Cville/ Ablemarle
Saturday
1/17 or Sunday 1/18 or Tuesday 1/20 StreamWatch's Bacteria Monitoring
Training
10-11:30am
Saturday, 2:30-4pm on Sunday, or 6-7:30pm on Tuesday. All training held
at the Central Library, Jefferson room
StreamWatch
monitors 10 to 14 sites in and around Charlottesville for fecal bacteria
levels, specifically Escherichia coli (E. coli). There will be three training
opportunities in order to volunteer to be a bacteria monitor. Please contact Anne Dunckel at 434-249-5306 or anne@streamwatch.org if
you would like to sign up. http://streamwatch.org/volunteers
********************
Sunday
1/18 TimeBank's Pie & Play at The Haven
2-5pm
at The Haven, 112 W. Market St.
The
monthly member Pie & Play will be a celebration of Cville TimeBank's 2nd
anniversary. Come on out and help a good cause and have some fun! http://cvilletimebank.com/2014/10/09/come-play-with-us/
********************
Tuesday
1/20 350 Central Virginia Meeting & Film: "A Fierce Green
Fire"
6:30-8:30pm
at the EcoVillage, 480 E. Rio Rd. (NOTE THAT THIS IS A LOCATION CHANGE FOR
JANUARY ONLY)
Come
and see the inspiring movie, "A Fierce Green Fire: The Battle for a Living
Planet", followed by a discussion about how to spread the fierce
green fire around. Popcorn! http://www.afiercegreenfire.com/about.html
********************
Saturday
1/24 Cville TimeBank Orientation
10am at the Central Library, McIntire Room
If
you're thinking 2015 is the year that you join the TimeBank, then jump right in
to find out more. Lots of new changes are happening -- no membership
fees, streamlined software, etc. http://cvilletimebank.com/
********************
Sunday
1/25 Charlottesville Area Grassroots Climate Training
10am-5pm at the EcoVillage, 480 E.
Rio Rd.
We look forward to a day of discussions and workshops to re-energize,
connect and expand the climate movement in our region. This is open to all
organizations and individuals committed to working on climate issues in our
part of Virginia, and we hope to see lots of new faces! No matter your skill
level and your main activities or area of interest, it's an opportunity to
develop as active volunteers! Whether you are already active in an environmental
or climate organization or have been thinking of getting involved and want more
background, this workshop is for you! Free. Sponsored by the
Sierra Club, Appalachian Voices, 350 Central Virginia, Transition
Charlottesville, the UVA Climate Action Society, Wild Virginia, and the Green
Grannies. Registration at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1hVomF-EOQyTW_5P70jxIRkODlcm8T2xnUZkHPWRssWI/viewform
********************
Monday
1/26 Virginia Coast Protection Lobby Day
9am-2pm
at the CenterStage, Rhythm Hall, 600 E. Grace St., Richmond
he Chesapeake
Climate Action Network is heading to Richmond to stand united with our
coastal Virginia neighbors to say to the Virginia General Assembly: Take action
on climate, pass the Virginia Coastal Protection Act! People are coming
together for a Conservation Lobby Day, a unique opportunity to speak directly
with your legislators about this critical issue and bring stories from the
front lines to the capitol building. $25. Food provided and
transportation to be coordinated. Sign up at http://chesapeakeclimate.org/event/virginia-coastal-protection-lobby-day/
********************
Monday
1/26 Transition Town Potluck
7-8:30pm
at the EcoVillage, 480 E. Rio Rd.
Drop
by for an informal meal and conversation about all things
sustainable. This month Kathy Kildea joins us from the Cville TimeBank to
enlighten us about the concept, and about the new improvements to the
TimeBank. If you can, bring a dish to share, and carpool or bike if
possible. All are welcome! http://www.transitioncville.org/
********************
Saturday
2/21 Organic Orchard Planning and Pruning
9am-3pm at 912 Woodfolk Dr.
Everyone LOVES sweet, homegrown
fruit! To have your own fruit, you have to know how to plan a successful
orchard. The workshop will be led by Michael McConkey of Edible Landscaping and
Alexis Zeigler of Living Energy Farm. For 35 years, Michael has run Edible
Landscaping, a successful nursery that focuses on “less care” plants that don't
need pesticides to thrive. Alexis has lived on fruit-producing farms all of his
life, and teaches propagation classes every spring. Cost: $50 suggested
donation, $25 minimum. Contact: Debbie Piesen, livingenergyfarm@gmail.com,
540-967-0433.
See flyer at http://www.livingenergyfarm.org/workshops/flyer2.pdf
********************
Wanted: SWIMBY Volunteers
with Transition Cville! (Something Wonderful In My Back Yard)
The
hard-working members of the Transition Cville Team have been organizing skill
shares, potlucks, rallies, seminars, field trips, and lots more (including our
awesome local events newsletter) since 2011. Recently, a bunch of our team
members have rotated out of the core group to attend to other areas of their
lives. And that's where you come in! Transition Cville is wide open for
you to join in and create something wonderful. Whether you're a new activist
looking for mentors... a born leader with tons of ideas... a teacher with sustainability
skills to share... a policy guru who wants to engage with local government...
or anyone else who is hearing the call to lead this community toward a
sustainable future..... We invite you to step up and become part of the
Transition Initiating Group. Want to learn more? Contact Joanie Freeman
at freeman.joanie@gmail.com or (434)
987-1026.
12.
Sacred
Plant Traditions workshops:
COMMUNITY HERBALIST TRAINING 3 YEAR PROGRAM
Year I: Foundations of Herbalism - Nine-Month Weekend Program
March 21 – November 22, 2015
Year I: Foundations of Herbalism - Six Month Day Program
September 15, 2015 – March 15, 2016
Year II: Clinic I - Therapeutics
April 15 – November 11, 2015
Year III: Clinic II - Practice
April 15 – November 12, 2015
13.
FIC
is hiring! The Fellowship for Intentional Community is a non
profit organization dedicated to helping people build sustainable communities.
You can read more about FIC here: http://www.ic.org/...ip-for-intentional-community/
Send in your applications by January 15. This is a part-time position,
which can be performed remotely or in Rutledge, Missouri. Compensation is
$18/hour, averaging 20 hrs/week.
The Development Director will be responsible for creating and managing
fundraising outreach efforts, including donation drives, crowdfunding, large
donor work, grants, etc.
Click below to learn more, and apply by writing office@ic.org. Please share this to people who
may be interested! Thank you!
About FIC link: http://www.ic.org/the-fellowship-for-intentional-community/
14.
Greater
Virginia Green Building Council
Richmond Luncheon
High Performance MEP Design Strategies for Higher Education
12:00-1:00PM, January 21, 2015
The GVGBC is pleased to welcome Patrick MacClenahan of Integral
Group. He will present on the importance of integrated design strategies
employed to successfully complete higher education buildings used for teaching
science, and technology. Participants will be introduced to a variety of HVAC,
lighting and plug load approaches specific to this type of building. Case
studies will review three projects at GMU, VSU and one under design at UVA.
Lunch will be $10 for members and $25 for non-members.
15.
Free Hike!
Who: General public. No membership necessary. Leader:
Matt Rosefsky, Wilderness EMT & Geo Medic
What: Hike to Waterfall (Hopefully Frozen!), 5 miles round trip,
1050 feet elevation gain. Pace 3.5 to 4 out of 5.
When: Saturday, January 24, 2015, 9:00am - 2:30pm = Charlottesville
carpool start / return times.
Where: White Rock Falls, Blue Ridge Parkway
How: Please follow ALL 4 STEPS::
1) At least 48 hours in advance, fill out this form: http://tinyurl.com/n5vuedu
2) Then email: mr (at) solowfa (dot) com to say you're coming and
have filled out the form (if people don't email 48hrs in
advance, leader will assume no one is interested and hike will be
cancelled)
Carpool leaves at 9:00am sharp from the bicycle rack on 2nd St. SW, near
Mono Loco, in downtown Charlottesville.
Everyone will be required to sign a liability waiver. Drivers
appreciated (85 miles total), riders welcome (bring gas money & give
directly to driver).
16.
Envision
Festival-Costa Rica announces Yoga/Movement and Speaker Lineup
Music and Arts festival Envision Festival-Costa Rica announced the
Yoga and Speaker lineup for their annual festival taking place in the scenic
jungles and beaches of Uvita, Costa Rica from February 26- March 1,
2015.
The magic of previous incarnations ofEnvision Festival - Costa Rica
2015 has driven adventurers of all types to the exotic festival grounds
each February for renowned international djs and musicians, epic surf,
adventure tours, world class yoga teachers, stimulating education on healthy,
holistic living and permaculture, and one massive celebration.
Take a peek into the Envision mystique with this breathtaking “Vive La
Experiencia!” 2015 video.
Tickets
are on sale now and
will sell out quickly.
Please visit
the Envisionwebsite and links below to find out
more. Pura Vida!
Envision Media
Links:
Envision Festival-Costa Rica announced the
Yoga and Speaker lineup for their annual festival taking place in the scenic
jungles and beaches of Uvita, Costa Rica from February 26- March 1,
2015.
The magic of previous incarnations ofEnvision Festival - Costa Rica
2015 has driven adventurers of all types to the exotic festival grounds
each February for renowned international djs and musicians, epic surf,
adventure tours, world class yoga teachers, stimulating education on healthy,
holistic living and permaculture, and one massive celebration.
Take a peek into the Envision mystique with this breathtaking “Vive La
Experiencia!” 2015 video.
Tickets
are on sale now and
will sell out quickly.
Please visit
the Envisionwebsite and links below to find out
more. Pura Vida!
Envision Media
Links:
