Greetings all,
Below is an amazing collection of upcoming events in the central Virginia bioregion, including a film about WV tomorrow night! Folks can sign up for the BRPN e-newsletter here. Send us announcements to: blueridgepermaculture@gmail.com, or click here to view this email as a webpage. And check out the BRPN on Facebook here.
Best,
Christine, Terry, and the BRPN team
www.blueridgepermaculture.net
1.
Now Hiring - CSG Teen Garden Educator in Charlottesville!
The City Schoolyard Garden cultivates academic achievement, health, environmental stewardship, and community engagement through garden-based, experiential learning and leadership development. City Schoolyard Garden is looking for a motivated candidate to work with youth in the garden as our Garden Educator for Teens starting this summer. This is a dynamic opportunity to build the garden program at Buford Middle School and to direct CSG’s Youth Leadership Program, including our summer teen interns. The Garden Educator is responsible for maintaining a vibrant, student-run garden and integrating garden-based curriculum ties at Buford Middle School; directing youth leadership programming for grades K-12; and engaging students, families, partners and community members to build equity and well-being for Charlottesville youth.
Applications will be accepted until April 18 or until the position is filled. Requested start date is June 1. This is a full-time, year-round exempt salaried position.
The complete job description and application details are listed below, and can be downloaded by clicking here:
CSG Garden Educator for Teens Job Description
For questions or more information regarding the position, email grow@cityschoolyardgarden.org.
2.
What Lies Upstream – film on Wednesday, April 18th
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, McIntire Room
Free and open to the public!
5:00pm – Food; 5:30pm – Film; 6:45pm - Forum (discussion with panel of specialists)
ZERO-WASTE EVENT: Look for the compost collection!
The 2017 documentary film What Lies Upstream uncovers the truth behind a massive chemical spill that leaves 300,000 West Virginians without drinking water. Viewers are taken into scientific cover-ups and political malfeasance across all levels of government, poisoning the entire system meant to protect drinking water. Variety wrote it's "a quietly devastating documentary" that "builds a persuasive case against not only industry and political figures, but also the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency." It won the Special Jury Prize for investigative filmmaking at the Seattle International Film Festival.
Panel featuring:
Beth Roach, Councilwoman, Nottoway Indian Tribe of VA, Vice-Chair, Governor's Advisory Council on Environmental Justice
Cale Jaffe, Assistant Professor of Law, UVA School of Law, Director, Environmental and Regulatory Law Clinic
David Sligh, Conservation Director, Wild Virginia
https://www.facebook.com/events/184702558827632/
3.
Farfields Farm events near Afton, VA
Ecological Illustration Workshop and Plant Sale
April 29th
Plant sale: 10 am to 3 pm
Illustration Workshop: 12 pm to 3 pm
Here is our facebook event page
Farfields Lane, Afton, VA
Admission: suggested donation of $5 to $20
We will open with a potluck style lunch during which artist Federico Parolo, along with Jorian Polis Schutz, will be discussing ecological motifs and techniques in his work. Federico is an artist from Buenos Aires who has been the cover illustrator for Argentina's most important illustrated magazine, Caras y Caretas, over thirty times. His specialties include watercolor and graphite.
Our nursery manager, Ben Kessler will then give a short tour of our nursery. Native and medicinal plants will be available to purchase along with our meat and eggs from 10am to 3pm
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Doniga Markegard talk and Q&A
May 6th
2 pm to 430 pm
Admission: $10 in advance, $15 at the farm
"Ever wonder how wilderness knowledge and permaculture can inform our farming practices?
Doniga Markegard, tracker, wilderness expert, rancher, permaculturist, has lived that intersection and tells about it in her fascinating book Dawn Again: Tracking the Wisdom of the Wild. With chapters on food, permaculture, and more, Dawn Again dives into Doniga’s real-life experiences while equipping readers with practical knowledge. Along with her husband Erik and four children, Doniga lives on a coastal ranch in San Gregorio, California. She’s passionate about finding ways to regenerate lands and community through practices that build soil, sequester carbon, capture and purify water, and enhance natural habitat. Doniga has a passion for the natural world and helping others live a life of balance with the earth. She will be giving a talk about her experience, followed by a q&a at Farfield’s Farm on Sunday, May 6th."
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Mushroom Education Series
Class 1: Basic Biology/ Ecology/ Identification of Fungi
Date: Wednesday May 9
5 pm to 8 pm
Admission: sliding scale $15 - $45
Location: Farfields Farm
Class 2: Planting a Fungal Garden
Date: Wednesday May 30
5 pm to 8 pm
Admission: sliding scale $15 - $45 Location: Farfields Farm
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Class 3: Foraging for Fungi: The human as an ecological participant
Date: Sunday June 10
10 am to 1 pm
Admission: sliding scale $25 - $70
Location: TBD based on weather
All will be listed on our events page on Facebook
4.
Earth Day Garden Party
Hosted by: Edgewood Gardens and Design & Perennial Love Nursery
Join Edgewood Gardens & Design at Longtide Wellness Collective, where we personally designed and installed all the garden spaces! This will be a Fun-Filled Garden Party and Plant Sale from our Nursery: Perennial Love!
April 21st 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
1219 East Market Street Charlottesville, Va.
We will have Family Friendly Games and Activities to enjoy while you check out our beautiful, organically grown Meadow and Woodland Plants from Perennial Love! While you enjoy our activities and check out our plant selection – we can also give you information on our business: we specialize in Creating and Maintaining Garden Spaces big and small at Edgewood Gardens and Design. We look forward to meeting and serving you all at our Earth Day Garden Party, while we celebrate this beautiful World we Live on!
For more information on this exciting event please visit our site and our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/edgewoodgardensanddesignllc/
https://www.edgewoodgardensllc.com/
5.
Register Now for Living Earth School classes
Family Medicine Kit and Leather working
Dates: August 3 – 5, 2018. Begins on Friday at 6:00
Location: Sugar Hollow
Ages: 8 years old with accompanying adult
Create an Herbal Medicine Kit for your Family! -OR- Make a hand crafted shoe made exactly for you, by…you! -OR- Create your very own bag, designed for your unique lifestyle!
Beauty and function combine in this amazing leather workshop offering! Choose your own adventure, and craftsman Peter Yencken will give you detailed instruction and guidance to create your own medicine kit, or a durable and comfortable bag, or a pair of shoes. Those who choose to make a medicine kit during their time will make a leather bag, a handmade salve, a tincture and an herbal tea bag to use as an herbal balm for cuts. Others may choose to make a pair of leather shoes that are specifically cut and designed to the particular size of their own feet. Finally some people may choose to use the time to work on a larger leather bag that is custom designed.
Basic tent camping is included, with options to sleep in our tent cabins or to bring your own tent. Participants will bring and cook their own food and are welcome to use our primitive camp kitchen with supplies. http://livingearthva.com/adult-courses/
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Family Archery: Making a Wooden Long Bow or Quiver and arrows
Dates: July 27 – 29, 2018. Location: Sugar Hollow Campground
Ages: 8+ with accompanying adult
This Weekend Camp is designed for families. Have you dreamed of making and shooting your own handmade bow and arrow, let alone making one with your child? What a gift to be able to do this together and to cultivate this shared skill as a family. This is for real and this is your chance to do it!
All materials needed to complete the project are provided. Each participant will go home with their own hand made bow and one arrow, or a quiver with several arrows. The camper and parent/adult a will make a wooden long bow from a piece of wood, carving it down, shaping it, and tillering the bow so it works optimally. Each participant will make their own string for the bow. Instead, they can choose to make a quiver out of leather to store arrows. Participants will learn how to make arrows, fletching, shaping, etc. They will leave with a few arrows to put in their quiver.
Basic tent camping is included, with options to sleep in our tent cabins or to bring your own tent. Participants will bring and cook their own food and are welcome to use our primitive camp kitchen with supplies. http://livingearthva.com/adult-courses/
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Family Knife Making and Leather Working
Dates: August 11-12, 2018. Location: Sugar Hollow Campground
Ages: 8+ with accompanying adult
Come get your hands in gear making your own stainless steel knife with sheath, or leather bags. Yes, you can do it all and you can use bags that you’ve made your self, or a beautiful hand crafted knife. This is for real and this is your chance to do it!
http://livingearthva.com/adult-courses/
6.
Sacred Plant Traditions - Upcoming Day Classes near Charlottesville, VA
FIELD BOTANY for HERBALISTS
Wednesday May 23 or Thursday May 24, 2018 9:00am – 5:00pm
This class will cover the basics of plant identification with an emphasis on medicinal plants that grow in the Charlottesville area. Participants will learn how to identify plants from visual characteristics and how to recognize the area’s most common plant families. Taught by botanist and herbalist, Holly Poole Kavana.
Herbal teas will be provided at all the one day workshops. Please pack a bag lunch or plan to eat a local eatery. Students will need to bring a loupe ) and, if you have it, Botany in a Day, by Thomas Elpel. Please choose Wednesday or Thursday below.
Fee for the class is $70.
MORE INFO AND REGISTRATION
https://sacredplanttraditions.com/event/field-botany-for-herbalists/
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KITCHEN APOTHECARY ~ First Harvest
Beginners welcome!
June 2, 2018, 10am – 3pm
In this class for those new to herbalism, participants will make an array of herbal preparations. These are safe and time-honored recipes to be used for the family. We will learn how to make salves, tinctures, oils and teas as well as how to stock our family medicine chest. We will harvest plants from the garden to make fresh preparations.This is an excellent class for those that are interested in learning sustainable ways of keeping selves and families healthy. 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 $80. MORE INFO AND REGISTRATION:
https://sacredplanttraditions.com/event/kitchen-apothecary-first-harvest/
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PHYTOCHEMICALS: What, Why and How?
July 18, 2018, 9am – 4pm
This introduction to phytochemistry as it relates to herbal medicine will be taught in simple and friendly terminology. Topics will include polysaccharides, polyphenols, alkaloids, tannins, resins, volatile oils, and many more! This will be tied in with Organoleptic Assessment – assessing through taste!
Fee for the class is $90. More information about Mimi and Class Registration
https://sacredplanttraditions.com/event/phytochemicals-what-why-and-how/
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HERB and PRESCRIPTION DRUG INTERACTIONS
July 19, 2018, 9am – 4pm
Mimi Hernandez, clinical herbalist and Director of American Herbalists Guild will take us through a perfect day of presenting these vital topics of herbal medicine with a clear and accessible power point that makes this necessary science for herbalism very understandable.
Fee for the class is $90.
MORE INFO & REGISTRATION
https://sacredplanttraditions.com
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Wild Routes Ireland Tour - Deadline May 30
This trip is filling and we are delighted with all who are joining us.
We are asking those that have questions to please get in touch with Chris or Tara, our trip the leaders. We would love all participants to sign up by May so we can get the best airfare prices. https://sacredplanttraditions.com/event/herb-and-prescription-drug-interactions/
7.
From our Friends at Transition Cville
Wednesday 4/18
Intersectional Sustainability with Nia Martin-Robinson 12-1pm at Newcomb Hall, Kaleidoscope Room, UVA Since 2001, Nia Martin-Robinson has been a strong advocate for environmental justice, working to bring the voices of people of color, Indigenous Peoples, and low-income communities to the climate policy debate. Nia will share her story and participate in facilitated dialogwhile attendees enjoy sandwiches and more from local caterer, Mona Lisa. Hosted by UVA Sustainability, Office for Diversity & Equity at the University of Virginia, University of Virginia Women's Center, the Carter G. Woodson Institute, Office of African-American Affairs, and Black Leaders in Environmental Sustainability (BLES). Free. www.facebook.com/events/136440657070010/
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Wednesday 4/18 -- Meadowcreek Trash Pickup 1-3pm along Meadowcreek
Join The Nature Conservancy as they clean up this important waterway. Not only will you find weird stuff, but you will help protect the critters there and downriver. Register at jdalke@tnc.org.
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Wednesday 4/18 -- Cville TimeBank Orientation
2pm at the Senior Center, 1180 Pepsi Place Everyone has something to give, and the TimeBank is a way to trade services and build community at the same time. Potential members set up a profile on the member portal, and attend an orientation prior to having their Timebank account authorized. Once your account is authorized, you can begin browsing current offers and requests – and post your own! Additional sessions are offered on 4/21, 12:30 at the Crozet Library, and 4/23 5:30 at JABA. cvilletimebank.com/membership-information/
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Friday 4/20 - Saturday 4/21 -- Tech Takeback Friday
8am-4pm and Saturday 10am-3pm at UVA The Park at North Grounds, 1015 Massie Road This is an e-waste recycling event hosted by UVA Information Technology Services to recycle old/unwanted personally owed electronics. E-waste represents 2% of America's trash in landfills, but it equals 70% of overall toxic waste. Check out the list of what's acceptable e-waste (no televisions!): its.virginia.edu/events/techtakeback.html
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Saturday 4/21 -- Gardening with Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms
9am-noon at Sharondale Farm, Cismont Diversify your gardens with gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. In this workshop, hands-on activities will include cultivation methods for annual, perennial, container, and forest gardens. There will be discussion on the biology of fungi, selecting species, evaluating your growing substrates, and more. $75. Register at www.sharondalefarm.com/shop/gardening-with-gourmet-and-medicinal-mushrooms-workshop-2018-04/.
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Saturday 4/21 -- Reservoir Tour and Trek
1-5pm at Ragged Mountain Reservoir, Reservoir Rd. Come out for a tour of Ragged Mountain Reservoir, Charlottesville's primary clean water source, led by Brian Richter of the Nature Conservancy. Learn about the sustainable design of the reservoir and the impacts of Charlottesville's water demand on local ecosystems. Afterwards, enjoy the beautiful landscape on a scenic hike of the natural area. A free round-trip shuttle will leave from the UVA Chapel at 1:00pm and return by 5:00pm - email sydney.applegate@virginia.edu to reserve a spot. Limited parking is also available at the Reservoir. Please carpool or take the shuttle. www.facebook.com/events/1777395062567673/?notif_t=event_calendar_create¬if_id=1521430934671861
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Sunday 4/22 -- Wild Mushroom Medicinal & Foraging
10am-3pm at the Living Earth School Come experience the mysteries of edible, medicinal, and fantastic fungi with Charlie Aller. A small feast will be had sampling the fruits of the unseen subterranean realm. Prepare to have your gustatory horizons expanded and learn some crucial mushroom cooking techniques that can turn any mushroom, wild or cultivated, into a savory delicacy that will wow your friends (and you)! $75. If you can't make this session, the class is offered again on 5/6. livingearthva.com/event/wild-mushroom-foraging-class-virginia/?instance_id=1110 ******************** Sunday 4/22 Earth Week Eco Fair 11am-4pm at IX Art Park Join Sierra Club and many others for the 17th Annual Cville Earth Week Eco Fair. Live music, food trucks, kids activities and all your favorite earth friendly businesses and non-profits. Join in on the fun and help grow your earth conscious community and knowledge. www.eventsinusa.net/event-2018-cville-earth-week-eco-fair-on-earth-day-charlottesville-14782055
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Sunday 4/22 Film: -- "Wasted! The Story of Food Waste"
7pm at Alamo Drafthouse The UVA Food Collaborative is hosting a screening of "Wasted! The Story of Food Waste", followed by a panel of local change agents in the food realm. This documentary features famous chefs Anthony Bourdain, Dan Barber, Mario Batali and Massimo Bottura. Through their eyes, the film shows how they make the most of every kind of food, transforming what most people consider scraps into incredible dishes that create a more secure food system. They discuss the measures that some individuals, organizations, and businesses have implemented, recognizing that problems exist all along the food chain, from production to distribution, to storage, to consumption, to disposal. Reserve your seat now: Free admission with the purchase of a $5 food voucher. www.facebook.com/events/197131501018566/
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Monday 4/23 -- A Climate Conversation
7-9pm at City Space, 100 5th St. States, local governments, businesses and individual citizens are the new face of American leadership on climate change as a result of the federal government's announced departure from the Paris Agreement. Learn what is being done in Virginia and here in our own community to address climate change, how it is affecting us now and will in the future, and what we can do in our daily lives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Conversation will empower our community to foster real change through education, engagement and action. Sponsored by Indivisible Charlottesville, the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, the UVA Office of Sustainability, the Charlottesville Climate Collaborative, Sierra Club, Appalachian Voices, Charlottesville Renewable Energy Alliance, the Local Energy Alliance Program, Charlottesville Earth Week, Cville100 and Wild Virginia, Sigora Solar. www.facebook.com/events/230724784155628/
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Tuesday 4/24 -- Insider's Tour with the Vegetable Gardener
11am-12:30pm at Monticello Discover great gardening ideas from Jefferson’s kitchen garden during this Q&A walk with Monticello vegetable gardener, Pat Brodowski. Learn techniques that never grow old, and examine heirloom varieties to spark your own kitchen garden. $18. www.monticello.org/site/visit/events/insiders-tour-vegetable-gardener
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Wednesday 4/25 -- Albemarle County Natural Resource Protection Plan
7pm at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 100 Alderman Rd. David Hannah, Albemarle County Natural Resources Manager, will describe this proposed plan. This biodiversity protection plan has been in the works for years and will soon be presented to the Albemarle Board of Supervisors. Additional comments will be made by Tom Olivier, Piedmont Group Conservation Chair.
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Wednesday 4/25 -- Wild Virginia Scenic Film Festival
7pm at the Violet Crown The Wild and Scenic Film Festival introduces attendees to wild and special places and to the courageous individuals who are working to protect and preserve them. The film festival not only highlights environmental concerns, but also provides solutions, reaching people through beautiful imagery. This annual festival is always an inspiring evening of empowering films. $15-25. wildvirginia.org/our-programs/recreation/film-festival/
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Thursdays 4/26 - 5/4 -- OLLI Course: "The End of Plastic-Covered Plastic Forks: Women, Waste, and the Legacy We're Leaving Our Kids"
11am-12:30pm at Homewood Suites Trash is piling up while our soil degrades, oceans acidify, and plants, animals, and even shorelines grow increasingly imperiled. Meanwhile, we've outsourced wage slavery so that we can buy, buy, buy more, better, faster all the time. The facts say this is unsustainable. Our hearts know it's true. But we feel small and helpless to stop it. Yet women are uniquely poised to help craft a better world if we’d just add our voices in greater numbers to the energy, consumption, and waste conversation. Join Lindsay Curren in finding out how and why. $50 OLLI Members/$100 non-members. olliuvaregistration.org/Home/Course/2582
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Friday 4/27 - Saturday 4/28 -- Hazardous Waste Day
9am-2pm at the Ivy Materials Utilization Center Here's your opportunity to safely dispose of those strange acids, oils, and fluorescent tubes that are accumulating in your garage or basement. Full list of acceptable items here: www.rivanna.org/hhw-acceptable-items/.
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Saturday 4/28 - Sunday 4/29 -- Wilderness Disaster
8:30am-6:45pm both days at Mountaintop Montessori School Learn how to save life and limb when mired in the wilderness of an urban disaster zone, rural area far from a hospital, or natural area miles from an access point. In this course, learn how to care for an injured/ill person during the critical minutes or hours before ambulance/hospital arrival. Blend of classroom instruction, and hands-on, problem-solving rescue scenario practice. Know your loved ones are safe wherever they are. $185. Register at https://www.solowfa.com/register-SOLO-disaster-wilderness-first-aid-course.htm
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Saturday 4/28 OR Sunday 4/29 -- Wild Edible Plants - Foraging and Feasting
10am-4pm at the Living Earth School, Afton In this class, you will be guided by expert wildcrafter Rain and taste the wild abundance right at your fingertips. Come learn what you can eat, basic plant i.d., advanced i.d. for those that want it, harvest basketfuls, and then gather to cultivate them into tasty offerings and cook them over the fire. If the timing is right, you will likely forage for the ever elusive morel mushroom! Add a little local flavor to your meals, connect with the earth in a more intimate way, and go home with skills that will feed you and your family and friends. The feast at the end of the class has had rave reviews! $75. More info. at livingearthva.com/event/wild-edible-plant-class-virginia/?instance_id=1101. ******************** Sunday 4/29 Casa Alma Spring Celebration and House Concert 6pm at 911 Nassau St. Come enjoy community, food, and a house concert with Claire Hitchins at Casa Alma, a unique urban homestead. This is a family-friendly, outdoor event - please feel free to bring friends. RSVP's appreciated to cvillecw@gmail.com. ******************** Tuesday 5/1 Medicine Maker Series: Fresh Tinctures 5:30-7:30pm at The Elderberry, 1917 Commonwealth Dr. Join herbalist Jan Wolfe for this useful class on herbal extract making. Learning how to make your own tinctures is an easy and essential skill you can use to start your home apothecary and to make herbal medicine more affordable. Demonstrations of how to make a fresh plant extract plus how to press one will be covered. Students will have the option of making a tincture to take home. $25.
https://www.elderberryherbals.com/event/medicine-maker-series-fresh-tinctures/
8.
DISCOVER THE HEART THROUGH PERMACULTURE
A Permaculture Design Course with a different approach
The PDC course content of Bill Mollisons 72 hours teaching, is embedded in an empowering approach to Self and others, leading to design and implement your own project with a heightened awareness and deepened values. It is offered in three parts. Each day is embedded in a morning yoga class and an evening heart meditation.
Encounter with Nature and Earth - May 1-3
PART I - A three day immersion learning to get to know yourself, unfolding the qualities of the heart. This initial experience will be extended to embracing others, nature and the earth. This will allow for a deepened experience in applying the PDC ethics, earth care, people care and sharing surplus, live, in action and the principles of multidimensional design (Part One can be taken independently). Cost $US 280.00.
Heart and Hands on to Soil and Nature – May 1-9
PART I+II - An additional five day facilitation of morning theory, techniques and lectures of PDC. Learn about connectivity, diversity and observation. The afternoon you will spend exploring the garden and applying the Heart energy directly through your hands to soil, plants and nature. Learn about laws and principles of design. Part I is prerequisite for Part II. Cost $US 560.00
Multifaceted Design, Concepts, including Time and Space – May 1-13
PART III - During three last days you will work with conceiving design and its application. Based onthe previous experiences and learning in part one and part two, the approach to conception and design becomes integrated and leads to a multi disciplinary and multidimensional approach. Part I+II is prerequisite for Part III. Cost $US 840.00.
Accommodation costs are separate; please see application at the link below.
http://www.jiwadamai.net/permaculture-design-course
9.
AMI Farm Manager Position -- Applicants can apply through the AMI website:
www.alleghenymountaininstitute.org
Please submit a single compiled .pdf file including a cover letter, resume, AMI application form, and list of at least 3 professional references No phone calls or mailed applications, please.
Or click here to apply today!
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PROGRAM: AMI manages a multi-faceted farm project on the main campus of Augusta Health hospital in Fishersville, VA. The farm includes educational gardens and a production farm to grow food for the hospital’s food service and the “Food Farmacy” program that serves at-risk patients. The farm supports AMI’s mission to promote sustainable agriculture and connect communities to local, nutrient-dense food.
GENERAL DEFINITION AND PURPOSE OF WORK: The Farm Manager is responsible for all operational aspects of the AMI Farm at Augusta Health, including managing vegetable production, education garden, and the farm team’s efforts. The Farm Manager assists and reports directly to the AMI Executive Director and works closely with AMI Board, Farm Operations Committee, Augusta Health partners, and consultants to install and maintain appropriate infrastructure to ensure smooth operation of the farm, and ensure adherence to sustainable, regenerative, organic practices.
Allegheny Mountain Institute Office (540) 886-0160
ANNOUNCING: The AMI Farm at Augusta Health, a new farm-to-hospital project to provide nutrition programming and improve food access. Visit www.alleghenymountaininstitute.org to learn more!
