Greetings
All,
Below is an amazing collection of info on upcoming
permaculture and sustainability events in the central Virginia bioregion,
including a great workshop and garden meeting today. If you know anyone else
that would like to sign up for this newsletter, or if you have an announcement,
email Christine at christinegyovai@gmail.com for the next update, which are sent
monthly.
Best,
Christine and the Blue Ridge
Permaculture Network team
1.
Local Food Hub near Charlottesville
Edible Landscaping
for Garden & Farm
Take your yard from ornamental to edible! Join us for a workshop on home fruit
production, taught by Michael McConkey from Edible Landscaping. During
this three-hour course, Michael will discuss:
· the kinds of fruit that grow well in this region,
including native and exotic choices beyond typical orchard varieties.
· planning your edible yard: choosing and preparing a
site, pest management, upkeep for optimal success.
· propagation techniques and future steps.
Michael
will also bring plants available for purchase after class.
More info here:
2.
If you’d like to learn more about permaculture and how you can
integrate permaculture methods into your own farm, garden, or homestead, then
join us for this Permaculture Workshop on June 24, 2012!
Taught by none other than Dave O’Neill of Radical Roots Farm, the
workshop will cover:
·
What is Permaculture? —
Ecological Design
·
How to live More Sustainable
& Abundantly? — Integration
·
Radical Roots Farm Tour
Permaculture for Homestead
and Farm
Date: Sunday, June 24, 2012
Time: 9am – 4pm
Location: Radical
Roots Farm, Keezletown VA
Cost: $40 for general public
(free for Local Food Hub partner producers)
RSVP: info@localfoodhub.org or
(434) 286-2176
3.
Advanced
Soil Regeneration Workshop:
An
Ecological Approach for Farmers and Food Growers
A fundraiser
for two excellent non-profit organizations: the Urban Agricultural Collective of Charlottesville and the Hummingbird Project.
Sunday June
3rd : 9am-4:30pm
UACC Office, 405 Avon Street
in Charlottesville, VA
This
intensive one-day workshop focuses on the tools and methods needed by farmers
and growers to analyze and interpret the biological and nutritional profiles of
soils; and includes ecological strategies for amending and growing agricultural
soil and promoting plant health.
With Marilyn McHugh and Chris Kennedy, Todd Niemeier, Gary Scott ,Lisa Taranto and Mark Jones.
Cost for this workshop is based on a sliding
scale of $105-150. Both UACC and the Hummingbird
Project are open to accepting additional tax deductible donations. Participation in the workshop includes lunch
and entry into a drawing for: a Soil
Food Web Analysis with Marilyn and Chris, and a Soil Nutrient Analysis with
Todd, and more. Space is limited, so
register early.
4.
Sacred
Plant Tradition classes in Charlottesville
Designing a Medicine Garden – Permaculture and Herbalism
One-Day Class: Saturday, June 30
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.
Kitchen Apothecary - First Harvest
One-Day Class: Sunday, July 1
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.
Herbal teas will be provided at all the one day
workshops. Please pack a bag lunch.
Fee for the class is $75. Deposit $30.
Digestive Wellness - Late Summer Sweetness
One-Day Class: Saturday, August
11, 10am - 2pm
All traditional medicine cultures know that the
first step to good health begins with digestion. This introductory class will
describe this vital system, ways to maintain good digestive health and some
common remedies used to help correct imbalances. We will make our own
digestive bitter/cordial during the class.
In Chinese medicine, the element of late summer is
earth and it's the perfect time to contemplate and fine-tune how we nourish
ourselves.
Herbal teas will be provided at all the one-day workshops.
Please pack a bag lunch.
Fee for the class is $75. Deposit $30.
The Art of Fermentation
One-Day Class: Sunday, August 12
10am – 2:30pm This is a perfect balance to the
Digestive Wellness class as fermented foods are a staple to good health. 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.
5.
Transitions Charlottesville Ablemarle upcoming events
Got
mad skills? Join the TCA Skill Share Work Group
Do you like
learning new skills, or teaching others new skills? How about reclaiming
the skills we’ve lost in recent generations? Transition Charlottesville
Albemarle is now organizing monthly “Skill Shares” and other reskilling events,
and we’re looking for folks who want to help lead this initiative. Want to
build a culture of skill sharing in our community? Contact Drew Moore - moore.andrew1219@gmail.com
or (703) 627-6323.
Saturday,
May 19th, 10am-1:30pm - Tour de Coop by Community Bikes in Charlottesville
A
family-friendly bike ride through city neighborhoods to visit “poultry
Americans” and tour their abodes. The Tour begins and ends at Random Row Books,
315 West Main St. Registration is 9:15-9:45, $5 suggested donation. Don’t
forget your bike helmet. The ride is 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a potluck
noon-1:30 p.m. For more info visit www.cvillecommunitybikes.org
or email cville.community.bikes@gmail.com.
Saturday,
May 19th, 2-5pm - Casa Alma Spring Work Day
Join
the Charlottesville Catholic Worker at Casa Alma, 911 Nassau St., for their 3rd
spring work day. Help prepare and plant ecological gardens, take care of baby
goats, and continue transforming this spot into a beautiful and abundant place.
Learn more about Casa Alma at http://cvillecatholicworker.blogspot.com/
or contact cvillecw@gmail.com
with questions.
Sunday,
May 20th, 12:30-2pm - Ecovillage discussion
You’re
invited to an Ecovillage Cohousing Discussion & Potluck at Silver Sage
House and Studio, 387 Rocky Hollow Road (5 miles North & East of downtown
Cville). Agenda: Visioning process and get to know each other better. Douglas
will also give a brief update on the status of the 6.5 acres at the 480 Rio
property. We're open to see where others may join us now ... envisioning complementary
sustainable communities. More info is at www.GreaterStonehenge.org
and in the Transition Cville community calendar. RSVP to
Douglas, Doug@480Rio.com,
434-996-9911 -OR- Linda, linda@naturewellnessprograms.com,
434-296-1338.
Sunday,
May 20th, 6-8:30pm - Potluck to Re-Invigorate the Vegetarian Festival
The
Charlottesville Vegetarian Festival needs new leadership in order to continue.
Interested individuals will meet for a vegetarian potluck and planning
discussion on Sunday, May 20th, at 609 E. Market St. #207. For more info call
Dave Redding or Joanie Freeman, 434-826-9505.
6.
On
Tuesday, June 5th, at 7:00PM at Victory Hall in Scottsville, the Piedmont
Environmental Council will behosting a free
workshop on Land Management and Conservation.
If
you are a landowner interested in tax credits and breaks for land stewardship,
please feel free to come out to this brief workshop.
Presenters
will include the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Virginia Outdoors
Foundation, the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, and PEC.
RSVP's
are encouraged but not required to Rex Linville at (434) 977-
7.
One
year ago the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, University of Virginia
& Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission kicked off the Livable
Communities Planning Project. Please join us for an open house celebration
marking the one year anniversary of the project. Held in conjunction with
First Fridays, this information expo will highlight accomplishments and
findings from the first year and provide a glimpse of what comes next.
Bring your parking ticket with you for two hours of free parking in the
Market Street or Water Street parking garage.
Many
Plans One Community One Year Celebration
Friday,
June 1, 5:30-7:30 pm
Thomas
Jefferson Planning District Commission
401
East Water Street
Charlottesville,
VA 22902
8.
Thursday,
May 17th, 7pm - Community Gardens Networking Meeting #2 in Charlottesville
Gardening
folks had a great start with the wonderful help of CNE. Our next meeting to
continue the networking of our gardens will take place May 17th, 7pm. at
Mountaintop Montessori School. The community room is located in the back. We
will have someone directing parking if you arrive before 7pm.
Who:
Community and school gardeners, and community members who want to support their
efforts
Where:
440 Pinnacle Place, Charlottesville, VA 22911 (formerly 305 Rolkin Road, same
location - different assigned address)
What:
Move ahead with plans for developing an online community gardens hub; sharing
tools, seeds & knowledge; building capacity with funding, volunteers and
outreach; and providing for needs like water sources & fencing.
9.
Thursday, May 24th, 8:30 am - 8:00 pm - EPA public hearing in
Washington, DC: Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants
The
EPA recently announced that a public hearing for the new rule on Carbon
Pollution Standards for coal-fired power plants will be held on May 24th in
Washington D.C. Power plants are the single largest individual sources of
carbon pollution in the US. This rule marks the first national
limits on carbon pollution from new power plants, a huge step toward slowing
climate change. Free transportation will be available from
Charlottesville to the EPA’s headquarters in DC. Contact Whitney Byrd of
the Wise Energy For Virginia Coalition for more details - 434-202-7952, whitney@wiseenergyva.org
- or visit http://wiseenergyforvirginia.org/epacarbonpollution/
10.
Urban Permaculturists
Wanted
I
am hoping to find someone in the Charlottesville area to share about local
urban permaculture. As a co-presenter for this statewide neighborhood
conference, you’ll be showing your work to neighborhood leaders from across the
state.
My
name is Ron McCorkle and for the last three years, I have
presented at the
Neighborhoods USA conferences in Little Rock,
Anchorage and Indianapolis. Each
time, I have collaborated with
local permaculture people to share concepts that
are applicable
to most every neighborhood/village scale. It’s an opportunity
to
show your local municipal leaders the value of what you’re
doing, too. Last
year, the local co presenter connected with the
city council of Anchorage, who
attended our workshop and left
with a “new perspective”. This year, we are
presenting in Indianapolis with leading urban permaculturists. I live in
Roanoke, VA.
So,
if you’re involved with organizing community projects, like gardens or bike
sharing,
eco system living, teaching permaculture, social permaculture or
anything related, let me know! I’d love to connect with you and plan something. The event is September 20th or 21st, during the day. The workshop will take
place at The Holiday Inn University & Conference Center. The final date and
time will be available soon. It will require a phone meeting for one hour
sometime prior to the date, (soon).
I’m
a permaculture teacher and associate at Gaia University living in the southern
blue ridge bioregion. I specialize in urban planning. I have connected well
with my local governments and am integrating permaculture projects in my town.
Please
email me or call me soon! ron@urbiculture.org (preferred)
or 540 982 8289. Thanks!
Ron McCorkle, The
Urbiculture Foundation
11.
Common Ground
City Farm events in Washington DC
Growing
Gardens Workshops - 2012
Workshops
Herbalism 101
What
does it mean to use herbs to support health? Learn to harness the power of your
garden! This workshop covers the basics of harvesting and drying herbs and
making teas, poultices, compresses. We'll also explore the history of herbal
medicine around the world. Bring a mug for sampling teas, paper bags for
harvesting, scissors or clippers if you have them, and paper & pen if you’d
like to take notes. Teacher:Tricia McCauley is an herbalist and health
coach specializing in digestive issues, food sensitivities, and stress
management. She works with individual clients at Healing Arts of Capitol Hill, teaches
workshops around the DC area, makes lotions and lip balms, and is the resident
herbalist at Common Good City Farm. She’s also a yoga teacher and actor. Sign
up for her newsletter, read her blog, and find out more at http://www.nutriciaconsulting.com or http://www.leafyhead.com.
May
19th, 2012 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM — Register
Let's Compost! Standard and Worm Composting 101
Learn
to use your garden, yard and kitchen waste to create rich soil. We will focus
on methods easy and suitable for small yards and apartments and include bin
composting and vermiculture methods. Teacher: Niko
Welch has a background in microbiology and experience with various types of
compost systems and brings his knowledge to Common Good City Farm.
May
26th, 2012 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM — Register
Drip ... Drip — Drip Irrigation for the Patio and Small Garden
A
hands-on workshop for your own drip irrigation system guaranteed to stop your
"water worries" on those long weekends or vacation in August.
Participants will learn how to assemble a low cost drip system. Participants
will evaluate a variety of dripper and mini-sprinklers suitable for patios and
small gardens. Participants should be able to go home, order, and install a
small custom system for less than $125. Participants will tour Common Good City
Farm's drip system which was installed by the instructor. Principles learned
will be adaptable to larger gardens and orchards. Teacher: Murray Schmechel is a retired lifelong
gardener who has been "dripping" for the last 15 years. He has helped
numerous neighbors become "drip" enthusiasts. He is currently a
volunteer at Common Good City Farm.
June
2nd, 2012 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM — Register
Decoding Nutrition Labels
Calories?
Saturated fat? Cholesterol? 20% DV? Are you confused about nutrition labels and
what all of the information means? You are certainly not alone! Come and
participate in this engaging workshop and you and the other participants will
learn more about what’s in food and get rid of some of the misconceptions about
nutrition labels. Bring one of your favorite packaged food items to be used in
an interactive activity. Teacher: Alison
Brown is a passionate health and wellness educator on a mission to empower
individuals to become more proactive about their health through sustainable
diet and lifestyle changes. She emphasizes the importance of making small
changes toward better health and in line with this created the website and blog http://www.gaingreathealth.com.
Feel free to contact her atalison.g.m.brown@gmail.com.
June
9th, 2012 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM — Register
Herbalism 101
What
does it mean to use herbs to support health? Learn to harness the power of your
garden! This workshop covers the basics of harvesting and drying herbs and
making teas, poultices, compresses. We'll also explore the history of herbal
medicine around the world. Bring a mug for sampling teas, paper bags for
harvesting, scissors or clippers if you have them, and paper & pen if you’d
like to take notes. Teacher:Tricia McCauley is an herbalist and health
coach specializing in digestive issues, food sensitivities, and stress
management. She works with individual clients at Healing Arts of Capitol Hill,
teaches workshops around the DC area, makes lotions and lip balms, and is the
resident herbalist at Common Good City Farm. She’s also a yoga teacher and
actor. Sign up for her newsletter, read her blog, and find out more athttp://www.nutriciaconsulting.com or http://www.leafyhead.com.
June
16th, 2012 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM — Register
Preserving Summer's Bounty — Canning
How
to preserve tomatoes, pickles, jams and jellies. There's nothing better than
opening up a jar of home-preserved tomatoes or jam on a dark winter night, and
remembering the tastes of summer! This class will cover basic canning for the
beginner, using simple, inexpensive equipment. You will get to participate in
making some strawberry jam, and we'll also discuss how to preserve tomatoes and
pickles. Class size limited to 10 people. Teacher: Bradley
Kennedy first learned to can 8 years ago from a friend's mother. She was hooked
instantly, and every year since she has put up enough tomatoes and jam to last
through the winter.
June
20th, 2012 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM — Register
June 23rd, 2012 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM — Register
Summer Herb Walk
Are
you curious about the herbs growing on the farm? An “herb walk” is the
traditional way to learn about herbs: bring your questions and we’ll walk and
talk, focusing on what’s in season. Teacher: Tricia
McCauley is an herbalist and health coach specializing in digestive issues,
food sensitivities, and stress management. She works with individual clients at
Healing Arts of Capitol Hill, teaches workshops around the DC area, makes
lotions and lip balms, and is the resident herbalist at Common Good City Farm.
She’s also a yoga teacher and actor. Sign up for her newsletter, read her blog,
and find out more at www.nutriciaconsulting.com orwww.leafyhead.com.
12.
Second
VABF Farm Tour of 2012 - All Farm Organics - Grains, Seed, Compost
Louisa,
VA - Sunday June 10, 2:30 pm - 6:00 pm.
Rain
date is June 17 at the same time
William
Hale of All Farm Organics will host and lead a farm tour featuring his
commercial scale composting operation, organic crop seed production, and
organic grain production.
All-Farm
Organics is the current result of a ten-year search for a profitable and
soil-sustaining small farm producing grain and seed under Organic
Certification. Beginning with compost production for sale and use, and
growing old-fashioned heirloom popcorn varieties for popping and then wholesale
seed sales William Hale is currently tending 23 certiffied organic acres.
There is a mixture of cover crops and grains being grown for seed harvest and
organic soil improvement. He also has several acres committed to
commercial compost production and will demonstrate both his windrow method and
explore alternative methods of composting and soil amendment with participants.
This
operation is mechanized and mostly single handed. The means of doing so
largely with farm machinery of the 1970's will be a
part
of the tour, as well as weeds, soil issues, and the quest for profitable grain
production on a small and sustainable scale.
The
tour is offered FREE to all current VABF members, and costs $20 per individual
or family for non-members.
The
tour will take place at 249 Baker's Branch Lane, Louisa VA 23093
Directions:
take I-64 to the
Shannon Hill exit (Exit 148, Route 605), and proceed north for 3 miles. Turn
sharp right onto Route 640 = East Old Mountain Road (we will have a sign
there). Proceed 1 mile to Baker's Branch Rd (Route 754), turning left and
proceeding straight through the End State Maintenance sign, going on our farm
road around a big turn to the right, through a fork keeping the to main (right)
fork, and to the top of the hill, where the farm operation is straight ahead.
From
northern Virginia: come to Mineral via US 522 from Culpeper (or from I-95 by Rt.
208 near Spotsylvania Courhouse)
From
Mineral proceed south on 522 through Pendleton (saw mill, trucking, gas
station) and turn right not long after on 605. 605 crosses US
33
not far east of the Town of Louisa. From 33 proceed south on 605 for several
miles, cross the South Anna river, and after topping the hill
after the river,
East Old Mountain Rd (rt 640, our signage) will be the third road on the
left. Turn left and follow the signs to the farm.
13.
EQIP Organic Initiative Still
Open for Sign-up
Closing date for 2012: June
1
Those of you who are USDA
Certified Organic or are making a transition to certified organic will want to
seize this opportunity. Plenty of funds remain in the Organic Initiative,
so you can obtain financial and technical assistance from NRCS with
conservation issues such as:
-
Managing stubborn runoff / erosion problems on sloping fields - with practices
such as Grassed Waterway, Contour Buffer Strips, Contour Farming,
Conservation Crop Rotation.
-
Improving soil organic matter with Cover Cropping, Conservation Crop
Rotation, Conservation Cover, Mulching, No-till, Mulch-till, and Composting.
-
Building habitat for pollinators, natural enemies of pests, and wildlife, with
practices like Field Border, Conservation Cover, Riparian Buffers, Hedgerow
Planting (Asian pear growers Paul and Youngsuk Estabrook have had great success
with this!), and others.
-
Optimizing livestock and pasture management with Prescribed Grazing, Fencing,
Forage and Biomass Planting, and Stream Crossings for livestock.
From the Organic Farming Research
Foundation:
Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. This is the final submission period for
2012.
Period
3 Submission Deadline: Friday, June 1, 2012
OFRF
has created a comprehensive info site for applicants, including links to
all of the necessary documents for the program.
Conserve
Organically!
14.
Coal
River Mountain Watch and our allies have several events coming up this month,
in West Virginia and beyond!
Green
Walk for Jobs and Justice, April 30 - May 16
Philadelphia to
Pittsburgh, PA
Our allies with the
Earth Quaker Action Team in Philadelphia have organized a 16-day, 200-mile walk
from Philadelphia to PNC Bank's headquarters in Pittsburgh, to get PNC out of
the business of financing mountaintop removal. Learn more at www.eqat.org/walk
Mountain
Justice Summer Action Camp, May 19-26
Appalachian
South FolkLife Center near Pipestem, WV
Mountain Justice Summer is a week-long program of
education, workshops, entertainment, sustainable living techniques and
more. Workshops will range from mountaintop removal 101 to campaign and
community organizing, science and SMCRA (Surface Mine Control and Reclamation
Act), and Appalachian community economics. Mountain Justice welcomes
parents, kids, families and people at all ages and stages of life. Learn
more and register at www.mountainjustice.org.
Test
the Waters Day, May 19
Coal
River Valley
Coal River Mountain Watch's Tadpole Project is
organizing a day of water testing and stream clean-up along one of the
tributaries of the Marsh Fork of the Coal River. This event will kick off
a more concerted effort to analyze water quality of the Marsh Fork and its
tributaries in order to better understand how safe our streams are and what
need to be done to improve them. Through stream clean-ups and water
testing, the Tadpole Project aims to raise community awareness about the
condition of our local streams and figure out how to better protect the
watershed for fishing, swimming and other uses. Call our office (304-854-2182)
for more details if you're interested in participating.
Update:
Surface Mine Board allows strip mining permit on Coal River Mountain
As
we have mentioned in previous emails, Coal River Mountain Watch appealed the
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)'s decision to
approve the Collins Fork permit, a 250-acre strip mining permit on Coal River
Mountain approved in October. We argued that the DEP failed to properly
evaluate the cumulative effects of strip mining in the watershed of the Clear
Fork of the Coal River, including the impact on human health. DEP also
refused to grant CRMW an inspection of the permit prior to the permit hearing
and the agency also blatantly disregarded a statute requiring the permit
hearing to be held within 3 weeks of the public comment period; instead the
hearing was held 3 years later.
The
Surface Mine Board issued its decision yesterday after nearly every DEP
employee acknowledged that they violated the statute. Despite agreeing
that the DEP "flagrantly" violated the law regarding public input and
comment on the permit, the Board did not reverse the DEP's approval of the
permit. We are considering appealing the case to the state Supreme Court.
