upcoming events

Greetings All,

Below you will find info on upcoming permaculture and sustainability events in the near future in the central Virginia bioregion – lots of exciting happenings coming up including a permaculture potluck and community talk with Dave Jacke, author of Edible Forest Gardens, this Sat. Feb. 13, and Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia’s Garden, on Thurs. Feb. 11 in Harrisonburg! We hope to see you there!

For more information about permaculture events, see our website: www.blueridgepermaculture.net. 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.
PERMACULTURE COMMUNITY PRESENTATION and POTLUCK in Harrisonburg, VA

Come One, Come All!

With special guest Dave Jacke, for a talk on “Ecosystem Agriculture and Forest Gardens”

Sat. Feb. 13th, 2010
Potluck 6:30 -7:30 (bring a dish and utensils)
Talk from 7:30 – 9:00 pm

Location: Martin Chapel, located in the Seminary building at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA
Click on the Map link from the website:
http://www.emu.edu/map/sem.html

For additional information, see the website:
www.blueridgepermaculture.net

RSVP and Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required, by emailing Terry Lilley at:
tygerlilley@gmail.com


2.
Biomimicry: Our Plant Mentors,
Learning from the World’s Flora

with Toby Hemenway
Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7:00
James Madison University Arboretum in Harrisonburg, VA

Biomimicry is a new discipline that imitates nature’s best designs and processes to solve human problems in sustainable ways. Plants, in particular, are marvelous and ingenious teachers, showing us non-toxic ways to add color to industrial products, create waterproof, breathable fabrics, design biodegradable yet sturdy packaging, and inspiring our designs and goods in countless other ways. Using stunning images and clear lively explanations, Toby Hemenway will take us to the frontiers of ecological designs.

Mr. Hemenway is the author of the first major North American book on permaculture, Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home Scale Permaculture, an adjunct professor at Portland State University and a Scholar in Residence at Pacific University. His current project is developing urban sustainability resources in Portland, Oregon teaching and lecturing on ecological design.

This lecture is open free to the public. Visit the arboretum website at www.jmu.edu/arboretum to learn more information about the annual Frances Litten Lecture, or to learn about any of the many public events and programs offered seasonally, or call (540) 568-3194 weekdays from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm.


3.
Forrest Green Farm
Rob and Krista Rahm
www.forrestgreenfarm.com

2010 Full Time Apprentice

This position is for someone who is dedicated to working full-time on the farm May- September. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is serious about learning to become self-reliant and learn herb and vegetable farming. The apprentice will have the opportunity to work on all areas of the farm. Learning all aspects of herbal growing from seed to harvest, preserving, medicine making, culinary herbal cooking, vegetable growing, producing for and selling at farmer’s markets, helping with and attending group workshops (if desired), canning and preserving of vegetable & fruit crops.

The successful applicant should be independent, resourceful, hard working, passionately interested in herbs (culinary and medicinal) and vegetable growing. They should also be comfortable living in a family farm setting (children & animals…dogs, cats, horses, cows, and chickens) and dealing with the public. Serious folks only that are willing to make a season commitment. No drug users!
Tent camping or house space available, basic foods, access to on farm vegetable garden, and at least one cooked meal a day provided. Also included are the herbs for your medicine making to create your own herbal medicines.

2010 Part-Time Apprentice
This position is for someone wanting to work 1-2 days a week on the farm. We ask for a commitment of at least 6 weeks any time from March-October. This position is flexible and for the person who desires to gain some working knowledge in any aspect gardening at Forrest Green Farm. Focus can be concentrated on herbal knowledge or vegetable growing or any combination of the two.

A meal is included for the days you work on the farm, vegetables from our garden, and herbs for medicine making are included for this position. If desired, tent camping is available for the part-time position.

Please contact us to find out more about the apprenticeship positions and/or schedule an interview. 540-967-1165 or 434-882-2648


4.
February 15 Monday

7:30 P.M. "Regenerative Commerce: Healing the Planet and Her Peoples with Trade and Investment" by Greg Landua
Martin Science Building 315
Greg Landau is an eco-social entrepreneur whose interests lie in permaculture design, ecovillage design, teaching, and regenerative commerce. Learn about his project, Booyacacao, a "beyond fair-trade" chocolate business, and find out how sustainably farmed chocolate can help heal the world.

http://web.randolphcollege.edu/newsevents/calendar.asp
-scroll down to Feb 15th


5.
Sharondale Farm Mushroom Workshops:
www.sharondalefarm.com

March 20th or April 3rd - Growing Mushrooms at Home: an introduction to cultivating gourmet and medicinal mushrooms- Sharondale Farm, Cismont (http://shop.sharondalefarm.com/) $55.

March 27th- Got Mushroom? Growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms in urban and small spaces- Tricycle Gardens, Richmond (http://tricyclegardens.org/programs/). $50

April 10th –Got Mushroom? Growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms in urban and small spaces- Alexander House Cooperative, Charlottesville. $50.

April 17th - Got Mushroom? Growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms in urban and small spaces- New Community Project/ Muddy Bike Garden, Harrisonburg. $50.

Events and Classes:

February 20th- Specialty Mushroom Production- Virginia Association for Biological Farming Conference, Danville (http://vabf.org/)

Spring 2010- Introduction to Mushroom Culture – J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College- Goochland (http://www.jsr.cc.va.us/_schedules/2010_Spring/HRT.htm
www.sharondalefarm.com


6.
Common Good City Farm events (in Washington DC)

EVENT: Saturday February 20, all day long
ROOTING DC: A FREE forum for urban gardening and all people who eat food
You are invited to attend this forum designed to bring DC gardeners together to reconnect. Join us to share resources and foster partnerships between those who are working towards common goals of a greener, healthier DC! The day is filled with talks, workshops and lectures on almost every food and garden related topic. Lots of snack and free seeds provided.
More information at www.rootingdc.org


7.
Charlottesville Community Design Center

James River Green Building Council Luncheon: Transforming the Making of Things
Tuesday, February 9 at 12 pm
Tish Tablan and Emily McDermott of McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry will share their firm's perspective on a broad range of critical environmental health issues as they relate to material specification and environmentally preferable purchasing. The presentation will also feature a behind-the-scenes perspective on MBDC's innovative Cradle to Cradle Design paradigm. JRGBC lunches are free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Register http://www.jrgbc.org/

6th edition Olio
Friday, February 26 at 8 pm
Olio is an open forum for the presentation of creative pursuits that seeks to spark new collaborations, conceptions, and relationships in the Charlottesville art and design community. Each speaker has 20 slides and 20 seconds per slide to present their work. There are still three spots open for presenters, email Lowell at: contact@olionight.org if you are interested.

http://olionight.org/

UPCOMING EXHIBITION

Our Water Our Future | March 1 - 31
In March Charlottesville Tomorrow will share its independent analysis and history of Charlottesville-Albemarle's long-term water supply plans in an engaging and interactive exhibit. The public will get factual and objective information about our water supply goals, details of the 50-year water plan, the costs, the environmental advantages and disadvantages, potential alternatives, and an outline of the next steps that will move our community forward. Please join us for the First Friday opening reception on March 5.
http://www.cvilledesign.org/

COMPETITION ANNOUCEMENT
Stay-Space: 2010 James River Green Building Council Green Spaces Competition
This year’s James competition challenge is meant to provide real and inspiring solutions to the land-use questions that face the City of Richmond. Building off of last year’s Play Space challenge, this year’s entrants are asked to look at the remaining 34 +/- acres on the Greater Fulton Gas Works site and develop a plan or design for that land that provides space for living, working, recreation or something entirely different if it feels right. The site can be designed for residential, commercial, industrial or agricultural development or something different and unexpected. Students and professionals are invited to enter the competition. Individuals may enter although interdisciplinary teams are encouraged and may be composed of students and professionals. Entries are due by May 21.
http://www.jrgbc.org/green-spaces-competition-gallery-display/


8.
FIGHT TO KEEP OUR MOUNTAINS AND STREAMS

For the first time ever, the Virginia General Assembly has the opportunity to vote on a bill that would protect these treasures from mountaintop removal coal mining! The Stream Saver Bill - SB 564 - would end the burial of our headwater streams with strip mining spoil and curtail the destruction of our mountains in southwest Virginia.

Follow your heart and join us Thursday February 11th at 3:00 PM at the bell tower on the General Assembly grounds in Richmond for a RALLY FOR THE MOUNTAINS and a special Senate Committee hearing on the issue at 4:00 PM.

This is a rare opportunity to proclaim your love for the mountains and the clear mountain streams that flow from them. It is your opportunity to speak up for one of the Commonwealth's greatest treasures.

https://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5020/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=18300


9.
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


10.
FREE SOLAR WEBINAR

The Solar Living Institute Presents:

Opportunities in Solar: Business, Investment, Jobs
With Charles Liu, President of Everbright Solar
Join us for a Free Webinar on February 18

This Webinar is FREE!
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/533398536

The Solar Living Institute is proud to announce the launch of our new webinar series! Join us each month as we bring you high-value current information and insightful perspectives to advance your solar knowledge. Check our course calendar and newsletter as we add future topics.

http://www.solarliving.org/workshops/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_campaign=5b997c3c47-Solar_Business_Training_Series_Sept_20098_12_2009&utm_medium=email


11.
Shelter for Haiti Tent Drive through Blue Ridge Mountain Sports stores with assistance from Convoy of Hope.

Beginning January 27th, all Blue Ridge Mountain Sports locations began serving as drop-off points for the Shelter for Haiti tent drive. In an effort to provide critically needed shelter for victims of the January 12th earthquake that struck Haiti, Blue Ridge staff will be collecting tents in good working condition with all parts accounted for and any new tarps people are willing to donate.

All tents & tarps will be inspected and shipped to Convoy of Hope in Missouri, a 501(c)3 non-profit aid relief agency with staff working directly out of the Convoy of Hope warehouse outside of Haiti's capital city, Port-au-Prince. Since the earthquake, Convoy of Hope has shipped 12 shipping containers of badly needed food & supplies in addition to their staff providing medical aid to injured Haitians.

Following President Rene Preval's request for 200,000 tents, Blue Ridge
Mountain Sports contacted Convoy of Hope among other aid agencies
searching for an outlet to ship donated tents.

"Competition for the canvas homes has boiled into arguments and machete
fights, a sign of the desperation felt by the hundreds of thousands of people without homes struggling for shelter in this wrecked city. Haiti's president has asked the world for 200,000 tents and says he will sleep in one himself."

Next to food and medical supplies, shelter is the next primary concern as Haiti begins to see increased temperatures & rain moving into the spring months.

"Outside of the food area, the two prime worries are: one, medical services or medical equipment, and, two, shelter," said Lewis Lucke, U.S. special coordinator for relief and reconstruction."

As an additional incentive, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports is offering 20% off all tents & tarps with the donation of an old tent or new tarp for Haitian aid relief. Thanks go to Mountain Hardwear & MSR for their additional assistance.
To find the nearest Blue Ridge Mountain Sports location, visit
www.brms.com/insideBRMS.