upcoming events

Greetings All,

Below you will find info on upcoming permaculture and sustainability events in the near future in the central Virginia bioregion.

For more information about permaculture events, see our website: www.blueridgepermaculture.net (check out the blog as well). 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.
Put your Project on the Blue Ridge Permaculture Network website!

We would like to expand the “Members work” section of the Blue Ridge Permaculture Network website to help facilitate learning about each others’ project. The website gets a lot of visitors (including the almost 500 people on this listserve!).

http://www.blueridgepermaculture.net/members.html


Please email Christine at christinegyovai@gmail.com a photo, a description of about 120 words maximum, and a website link to your permaculture or sustainability project by Saturday, May 23rd to be included on the website.


2.
ORCHARDISTS!
I have a small, newly planted mixed orchard in Louisa Virginia and I'm looking for other orchardists, especially but not exclusively nearby that might want to share/trade expertise, support, knowledge, orchard visits. I have plant experience and plenty of reading, but nothing compares to having people to share ideas, questions and/or trade workdays with. Home orchards are a different experience than a commercial endeavor, and I'm interested in knowing folks who are doing it too. Anyone growing apples, pears, plums, persimmons, peaches, asian pears, or cherries who are interested in cultivating some community around their home orchard can email me at BrookeRemsonRay@gmail.com.


3.
Sat., May 16, 3pm on
Beat Juice Party at Juice hosted by Leslie Shay & Augusta Ober
1437 Ortman Rd., Afton
I-64, Crozet exit, 250 West, left onto Ortman, 3.1 miles on left
Park on street (parking limited; carpool if possible)
All ages welcome.

Please join us for a community gathering at our little farm in Afton. We'll supply the beats (music), you bring fruit & vegies for juicing, a potluck contribution, outside seating (chairs, blankets, etc.), African drum (if you have one), hoola hoop (if you have one), colored glass bottles you don't want (we're collecting for a ferrocenent project), and friends. Call Leslie at 540-456-6960 if you need more details.


4.
Forrest Green Farm is a small,family farm located in Louisa, Virginia. We
are committed to supplying you with naturally and ecologically grown
medicinal and culinary herb plants, vegetables, pastured chicken eggs, and
horse hay. Another specialty of Forrest Green Farm is registered Polled
Miniature Herefords. Visit www.forrestgreenfarm.com to learn more.


5.
Radical Roots Plant Sale & Open House - May 23
Vegetables, Herbs and Berries for the Organic Gardener

Wide Selection: 20 Varieties of Tomatoes, 5 kinds of Basil everything you need for your edible home garden
Certified Naturally Grown: All Organic soil mix and fertilizer
Open 10-5 Farm Tour at 3:00
Abundance From the Roots Up!

Radical Roots Community Farm
3083 Flook Lane
Keezletown, VA 22832
(540) 810-2587
For Directions go to
http://www.radicalrootsfarm.com


6.
Principles of Permaculture workshop May 16 in Jessup, MD
Permaculture is an ecological design method that includes topics such as observation and patterns in nature, and strategies to improve soil, grow food, harvest water, utilize renewable energy and regenerative building techniques, and build sustainable communities. This workshop will focus on fundamental permaculture ethics, principle and strategies to live more sustainably in your home, neighborhood or community. Participants will leave the workshop energized and with ideas that can be implemented in their home or community.

Instructor: Christine Gyovai
Christine Gyovai is Principal of Dialogue and Design Associates, a plant lover, and an avid permaculture designer. She is an environmental planner and educator with over twelve years of experience in facilitation and training with a focus on increasing community and environmental sustainability. Christine holds a M.P. in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Burlington College, and is certified in mediation and permaculture design. A native of West Virginia, Christine was an environmental education teacher and sustainability consultant in California before returning East. She is currently living in the straw bale house that she and her husband Reed designed at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains with their one year old son, Elijah.

Saturday, May 16, 2009
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Please arrive by 9:45 a.m.
Location: Green Building Institute @ The Enviro Center
7761 Waterloo Rd. (Rte. 175),
Jessup, MD 20794
Phone: (443) 733-1234

http://www.greenbuildinginstitute.org/


7.
Southern Traditional Herbal Medicine
with Phyllis D. Light
June 13-14, 2009 - Weekend 1

How exciting to have Phyllis back for more of her amazing Southern Appalachian Herbal teachings. With each passing weekend that Phyllis has been here, we realize that there is a depth of knowledge, lore and the simplest of traditions that truly reflects our culture. These weekends are designed for those that have never studied with Phyllis as well as for dedicated students who have been with us all along.
This series can be taken as a whole or each weekend separately. What is astounding about this work is the authenticity, ease and truthfulness this work holds for us as teachers, herbalists and individuals seeking to improve our health. Now, more than ever, learning about ‘simples’, backyard medicines and how to ‘read the signs’ is vital for the health of our communities. Don’t miss this opportunity!

www.sacredplanttraditions.com


8.
Hello Blue Ridge Transition Folk! We will be holding a Transition Blue Ridge meeting on Monday, May 18th at 7 p.m. and we will be showing a documentary called "A Renaissance of Local". This documentary highlights the efforts of the Colorado Transition movement and is an inspirational and informative showing of what people have been able to accomplish as they move forward with Transition goals. We will be showing this DVD at Woodfolk house, a local communal house where Charlottesville's Peak Oil Awareness guru Alexis Zeigler resides. If you would like to bring some cookies, or light refreshments to pass around, I am sure they would add to the enjoyment and enlightenment of the evening. Directions to Woodfolk house: Take Ridge St./ 5th St from downtown toward I-64. Just past the light at Cherry - Elliot, go Left on Ridge (aka "old Ridge"). Go past Lankford and Hartman's Mill. Go Left on Raymond. Left on Baylor. Right on Woodfolk. Address is 912 Woodfolk, 3rd house on left with shiny metal roof. Put the meeting on your calendars, bake some goodies and come see what our Colorado counterparts have already achieved, and discuss our own nascent efforts as we envision our own "Renaissance of Local"! http://www.transitionblueridge.org/


9.
The Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute (VNRLI) is currently accepting applications for its 2009-2010 year. VNRLI is a unique program consisting of six-three day leadership training sessions at a variety of locations across Virginia where a host of complex environmental issues are explored against the back drop of learning collaborative problem-solving techniques.

For more information on the VNRLI program, including an information packet and an application, please see the website: www.virginia.edu/ien/vnrli.

The deadline for applying is June 15th, 2009. Please note that scholarships are available as we don't want cost be a barrier to submitting an application -- please see the website for more information.

Please don't hesitate to contact Christine Gyovai at christineg@virginia.edu or 434-982-6464 with any questions about the VNRLI program.

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10.
Permaculture email listserve (different from this newsletter listserve)

Vicky Peterson, a grad from the first Permaculture Design Course, has set up a yahoo group for discussion of all things relating to permaculture in the Central Virginia region. From Vicky: With your help, the group will be a place to ask questions, share information and help permaculture take root in our area.
Here is a link to follow if you would like to join:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/BRPermaculture/

There should be a blue button that says "Join this Group!"

If you know of anyone else who might be interested in joining, please feel free to pass this info along.
Other questions? Email me.
Thanks!
Vicky Peterson
vickycp@ntelos.net


11.
Home Energy Auditor Training Class

May 18-21, 2009

BPI Building Analyst Training offered by VSBN with support from Virginia DMME. Trainer is Ray Walsh from SENCON. Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia. Class size is limited to twelve (12), so contact www.vsbn.org to sign up today or call Pam Vosburgh at VSBN, 703-486-2966.

BPI (Building Performance Institute) Building Analyst Training provides contractors who do home energy audits with a nationally recognized 3-year certification that can increase their visibility in the growing residential energy efficiency marketplace. Visit www.bpi.org for details on this training program.
www.vsbn.org.


12.
Other Charlottesville, VA Events

May 16, 2009: Planning Strong Communities: Rural Land Conservation and Your Role as a Citizen Promoting Smarter Growth in the Richmond Region. Midlothian, VA. Find out more at www.psgrichmond.org. RSVP@psgrichmond.org.

May 18-20, 2009: Local Climate Leadership Summit. Washington, DC. Find out more at www.localclimateleadershipsummit.org.

May 1 - June 5 Urban Places Rural Spaces
Opening Reception, Friday, May 1, 5:30-7:30 pm
The community is invited to visit this unique art exhibit that uses words, images and interactive
elements to explore the relationship between urban and rural environments in Charlottesville and
Albemarle. The exhibit features an installation designed by loc al artists and large-scale photographs
by Robert Llewellyn.Sponsored by Albemarle County, City of Charlottesville, Charlottesville Community
Design Center and Piedmont Environmental Council.

Photo credits: Robert Llewellyn

Month of May Charlottesville Community Design Center

Urban Places Rural Spaces Lecture & Discussion Series
Come join us for a series of events put on by Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and UVa Professor Bill Morrish highlighting issues presented in this month's exhibit!
May 14, 7-8pm: Urban Places Rural Spaces Discussion - Albemarle County planning staff will discuss the County's Neighborhood Model and County efforts to protect rural land.
May 21, 7pm: Growing Urban Habitats Lecture - CCDC presents a lecture by Bill Morris, UVA Elwood R. Quesada Professor of Architecture, on his upcoming publication "Growing Urban Habitats"
May 27, 7-8pm: How Our Creative City is Growing Stronger - Urban Places Rural Spaces Discussion by Jim Tolbert, Director of Charlottesville’s Department of Neighborhood Development Services: “How Our Creative City is Growing Smarter”

http://www.cvilledesign.org/