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. 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.
Stop by and see the Blue Ridge Permaculture Network table, with permaculture demonstrations, at this year's Heritage Harvest Festival, which will take place Saturday, September 11, 2010, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on the West Lawn of Monticello and the new Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center in Charlottesville, VA. Thanks to Vicky, Terry, Denise and the BRPN crew for being at the table!

For more info, see: http://heritageharvestfestival.com


2.
Appalachia Rising. A mass mobilization to end mountaintop removal.
Announcing the nation's largest summit and day of action to end mountaintop removal:
Appalachia Rising
September 25 to 27, Washington DC.
Mountaintop removal has already destroyed over 500 of the world's oldest mountains, more than 2,000 miles of streams, and has contaminated our nation's waters. Stand for the abolition of mountaintop removal with the named and unnamed heroes of coalfield organizing and celebrities Woody Harrelson, Ashley Judd, Gloria Reuben, Ed Begley Jr., Kathy Mattea, Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon, Darryl Hannah, author Silas House, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and climate scientist James Hansen on the Monday, September 27 Day of Action!

Register Now! Click here or go to www.appalachiarising.org/registration/reg1.php
Join people from across Appalachia and America in building the movement to abolish mountaintop removal and create sustainable economies from the ground up: mobilize your friends, family, and community for Appalachia Rising by filling out this 5 question form by clicking here.

________________________________________

Solutions Journal has dedicated an issue to MTR
For a Sustainable and Desirable Future
See the article on Coal River Wind in the Appalachia Issue of Solutions.
On newsstands, by subscription and freely available Online - a Special Appalachian issue of Solutions….

Appalachia is a special place—one of the most biologically diverse and culturally rich regions on the planet. Central Appalachia has the potential to become a national model of the positive transition to America's clean energy future. Please visit www.thesolutionsjournal.com.

Please help support Coal River Wind
www.CoalRiverWind.org


3.
Join us August 12th for music and a movie at the Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville!

Appalachian Voices Board and Staff along with NRDC invite you to a gathering to celebrate how far we have come and to keep us fired up to win the battle against those who would tear down our mountains and pollute our water through mountaintop removal coal mining.

Come be inspired by the award-winning documentary, Coal Country followed
by music from the Judy Chops, a great local family band whose music is
featured in the film.

Help us build momentum by coming out to our "music, movie and movement-
building" event. If you have already seen the film, introduce a friend to the issue with some great music and company!

Get tickets (only $5) before it sells out!

7 PM - Doors open, cash bar opens
7:30 - Abbreviated showing of Coal Country
8:15 - Music from "The Judy Chops"
Get tickets at jeffersontheater.com or by calling 800-594-TIXX

More on the movie and musical entertainment:
Coal Country reveals the high cost of America's electricity, focusing on
mountaintop removal coal mining, in which the tops of ancient mountains are blown off to expose coal seams, and the rock and dirt dumped in valleys, obliterating headwater streams. In the film, we hear from activists who are fighting to stop this controversial practice, which is devastating water quality, forests and communities in the region, and from coal miners and officials who are fighting for their jobs and way of life.

The Judy Chops are a family band who were raised immersed in music, living through sound. Their music spans generations and genres. Music that moves your souls and makes you move.

See you there!

Kayti Wingfield
Wise Energy
Coalition Coordinator
540.470.0643
www.WiseEnergyForVa.org
www.iLoveMountains.org


4.
Between now and August 15th, Transition Studio [an educational sustainability organization started by one of the previous graduates of the Blue Ridge Permaculture class] is in the running for a 5,000 grant and needs YOUR help!

Please vote for Transition Studio, a non-profit start-up in Blackstone, VA who has been selected among many organizations across the country to be in the top 10 of Brighter Planet's 5,000 grant for this month!! Each Person can vote 3 times! [you can even click on the green bar at the top to sign in through facebook REALLY easily! (otherwise it takes less than a minute to create an account)]

please vote for us!!! we have been selected among many organizations across the country to be in the top 10 and have a real chance of winning with YOUR help!

http://projectfund.brighterplanet.com/projects/TransitionStudio

thanks for your help! [tell all your buddies] + feel free to follow us on facebook at "Transition Studio"


5.
Edible Landscaping Chicken Tractor workshop

Chicken tractor workshop will be at Edible Landscaping in Afton on Saturday August 28 at 10:00 A.M. Pierre Constans will be talking about chicken and their behaviors. We will be drilling and hammering. There will be chicken: Araucanas, black Australops, Cukoo Marans. For further information call Janet or Michael at 434-361-9134 to register.
www.ediblelandscaping.com
361 Spirit Ridge Lane Afton, Virginia 22920.


6.
Betty's 2nd Annual Potluck Picnic!
Riverview Park, Sun, Sept 12, 2010 3-5pm

Join us SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, from 3-5pm at RIVERVIEW PARK for a free family-friendly celebration of earth-water and all things green! Bring your own reusable bottle, place setting, and a side-dish to share. We will be giving away FREE water saving kits and a RAIN BARREL, Brita filter, Relay Foods gift basket and a dual flush toilet converter to lucky raffle ticket winners (5$ each or 5 for $20). We will have music and fun for kids including trash bowling! Riverview is near the new Onesty pool in the Woolen Mills area at the end of Chesapeake past Questions? email betty@betterworldbetty.org.

www.betterworldbetty.org


7.
Join CSBA, the Regional Manufacturing Institute (RMI), U.S. Green Building Council Maryland, B Lab and Senator Jamie Raskin on September 13, 2010 to celebrate the end of summer and Maryland’s passage of the nation’s first Benefit Corporation legislation.
Learn more about this innovative, first-in-the-nation legislation that will permit Maryland businesses to assume a new corporate form called the “Benefit Corporation” allowing investors and entrepreneurs to make money while making a difference. Hear brief remarks from and have a chance to ask questions of local business and political leaders about this landmark legislation and how it meets the needs of sustainable business leaders:
What’s a Benefit Corp and why would I want my business to become one?
How could it help my business and why is it important for our movement?
How does it actually work and what are the legal pros and cons for my business?
Come network with other sustainable business leaders and learn how you can benefit from this new legislation! Pre-register online by September 10, 2010.
WHENMonday, September 13, 2010
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM networking, heavy hors d'oeuvres, wine and beer
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM program and Q & A
8:30 PM – 9:00 PM networking and informal discussion
WHEREPSA Financial
11311 McCormick Drive, 5th Floor
Hunt Valley, MD 21031-8622
Free parking in front of the building
COSTCSBA/BLB/RMI Members $20 on or before Sept 10th / $30 thereafter
Guest/Non-Member $30 on or before Sept 10th / $40 thereafter
Student Member $20 on or before Sept 10th / $30 thereafter

http://www.csballiance.org/pages/monthlymeeting.html


8.
Market Central invites you and your family to experience the sounds, smells, and tastes of small farms in the Charlottesville area. The City Market is home to these growers on Saturday mornings, but the rest of the week, they are hard at work on their farms, and on Labor Day, they invite you to visit their farms, and to “Meet Yer Eats!”

This year, we have 18 farms to choose from! From apples to zucchini, these growers provide a bountiful supply of vegetables, fruits, cheeses, meats and plants to the Charlottesville City Market community. They are proud of the work they do, and rightly so! These growers work hard at raising their crops while being responsible land stewards.

We encourage you to browse the website for more information on the farms, many of which have special programs and tours scheduled on tour day. Whether you’re looking for tips to improve your home garden, or just want to get the kids outdoors, this tour is for you! Whichever farms you choose to visit, you’re sure to enjoy getting this unique, inside look at some of your favorite City Market farms!

So c’mon -- Meet Yer Eats!
Kathy Kildea
Market Central
Farm Tour Coordinator

www.marketcentralonline.org

10 AM to 4 PM
18 Farms
$10 per car in advance
$15 per car day of event
marketcentralonline.org

We're also in need of volunteers to staff greeting tents on tour day.
Volunteers get a free car pass for the tour! Sign up for either a morning or afternoon shift, and get the rest of the day to visit other nearby farms! Email us for more information and do it quickly while you can have your first choice of farms!

Radical Roots in Keezletown is also participating in the tour, and they have a guided farm tour scheduled at 2:00 on 9/6/10 http://www.marketcentralonline.org/market_central_site/Radical_Roots_Farm.html

The Innisfree Village Farm Environmental Services (near Crozet) projects are an exploration into the potentials of developing a farm business model that will focus primarily on providing environmental services through land husbandry.

The Environmental Services Tour at Innisfree Village will include a walking and talking presentation of a soil carbon sequestration project. We will look at baseline tests that have been performed by a third party verifier and talk about the challenges and opportunities presenting themselves at are current stage of the project.

As part of our walking tour we will watch a demonstration of a Keyline subsoiler and discuss the unique elements of Keyline large Acre Permaculture Design. In addition to the keyline subsoiling, we will visit areas of the farm that we are experimenting with compost teas, sea minerals, and applications of raw milk. Finally, we will watch a demonstration of Holistic Planned Grazing, a system of grazing management that builds soil fertility and contributes in substantial ways to the carbon sequestration project.

This special tour will last approximately 2 hours and will happen rain or shine (there are some fascinating things to see when it rains!) All “Meet Yer Eats!” car pass holders are welcome to attend.

Please RSVP to Peter at farm@innisfreevillage.org for this special tour so that we can plan for handout materials.


9.
Common Good City Farm in D.C.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Common Good is happy to celebrate the summer’s bounty in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Red Fruit Festival, highlighting regional farmers and connecting them with local chefs. This year’s fruit is an easy hit: the tomato! The Festival is holding a recipe contest open to food bloggers, home cooks, gardeners and tomato-enthusiasts – prizes will be awarded for best use of local tomatoes!

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Find more information and registration links at our Growing Gardens page.

August 14: Uncommon Uses for Common Herbs (third in a series of four herb workshops). 11am-1pm. Parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme -- you grow them in your garden and use them to flavor your cooking, but how else can they benefit you? Learn medicinal uses for the herbs in your spice rack, including fennel, mint, oregano, chamomile, and catnip by making teas and brews in this hands-on workshop. Teacher: Tricia McCauley of http://www.nutriciaconsulting.com/.

August 23: Preserving Summer Bounties. Monday, 5pm - 7pm. Naturally fermented pickles, sauerkraut and kimchi - Learn how to make healthy, naturally fermented foods in just a few days with simple tools and supplies. You won't believe how easy it is to make delicious crocks of sauerkraut and jars of pickles! No cooking is required - a great way to preserve food during the head of summer.

September 11: Preserving Summer Bounties. 11am-1pm. Canning: How to preserve tomatoes, pickles, jams and jellies - There's nothing better than opening up a jar of preserved tomatoes on a long, cold, dark winter night, and remembering the summer! This class will cover basic canning for the beginner. You'll learn how to safely preserve tomatoes, pickles, and jams with inexpensive equipment.

http://commongoodcityfarm.org/


10.
Win a $10,000 Home Energy Makeover and Help VDM

It’s not often that you have a simple, fast way to 1) have a chance to win $10,000 in home improvements 2) contribute to a sustainable community and 3) help VDM win $1,000.
From now until August 20, you can go green and help us win green!
The Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) is running the Charlottesville Home Energy Makeover Contest where two local homeowners will win up to $10,000 each in home energy and water efficiency improvements. To help spread the word about this exciting contest, LEAP teamed up with the Center for Non-Profit Excellence to give local charities like the Virginia Discovery Museum the opportunity to win $1,000 – three charities with the most contest entries (based on small, medium and large budget categories) each win the cash prize.
Please take 5 minutes today to go to www.cvillesaves.org and register for the Home Energy Makeover Contest*. Be sure to enter “Virginia Discovery Museum” in the “Non-Profit Challenge Organization” box on the form. Forward this email to friends and family and help VDM win $1,000 to support our important work. Act fast as the contest closes August 20.
*Contest open to residential property owners in Charlottesville and Albemarle. See the contest website for rules


11.
The Art of Fermentation
One-Day Class: September 25, 2010 in Charlottesville, VA
10am – 2:30pm
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, all of which can be easily incorporated into meals. We will also make some fermented and cultured beverages including kombucha, honey wine and sodas that are actually good for you. There will be a wide array of samples and 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

http://www.sacredplanttraditions.com/onedays.html


13.
GREAT OPPORTUNITY for COMMUNITY:

Permaculture community – 3 houses with acreage for sale near each other near other permaculture folks; contact Christine Gyovai at christinegyovai@gmail.com if wanting more info on neighborhood.

http://www.trulia.com/property/1092972430-2622-Pea-Ridge-Rd-Charlottesville-VA-22901

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2620-Pea-Ridge-Road_Charlottesville_VA_22901_1120388173

http://www.trulia.com/homes/Virginia/Charlottesville/sold/469382-2599-Pea-Ridge-Rd-Charlottesville-VA-22901


14.
Teaching Permaculture Creatively:
An Intensive Professional Permaculture Teacher Training Course
with Dave Jacke, Kay Cafasso, Chris Jackson, Kim Almeida and Trent Rhode
With an integrated 3-day course in Financial Permaculture!!!
September 16–27, 2010
The Farm, Summertown, Tennessee
Sponsored by The Financial Permaculture Institute and Gaia University Southeast.

Permaculture Teacher Training:
Given that events make the best teachers, it follows that our role as educators is to design learning events. In this teacher training, we will explore how to create events that teach permaculture, applying ecological principles and processes to the design of permaculture workshops, courses, and other experiences.

Learn how to create effective learning environments based on quick assessments of students and their learning modalities, eight intelligences, and other niche characteristics. Each student in this course will design and run short classes and exercises, speak in public, plan and budget for an event, and coteach a series of workshops during the integrated Financial Permaculture Course. What do whole learning systems look, feel and sound like? Come find out! The best way to learn is to do, and to have fun doing it! Join us!

To see what past course graduates are saying about this course, see the attached Student Outcomes document.

Limited to 30 certified permaculture design course graduates; significant pre-course preparation required. NOTE: This course has a prerequisite. Applicants must have received a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC).

Financial Permaculture Course:
The Financial Permaculture Course provides an organized and supportive container for permaculture designers, financial planners, business people, and regular folks looking to build a financially viable life to work together, share skills and information, and develop new models for creating viable livelihoods that regenerate planet, people, and communities. This year the course will offer a focus on creating viable permaculture teaching businesses, as well as permaculture workshops run by this year’s Teaching Permaculture Creatively trainees. You don’t need to be an expert in permaculture, finance or business to benefit from integrating permaculture principles with financial and business planning!

Course objectives:
• Participants experience and develop the complete suite of skills needed to begin successfully teaching short permaculture workshops and other events on their own.
• Participants leave able to contribute significantly to teaching certified permaculture courses under the mentorship of an experienced permaculture teacher.
• Participants experience taking the seat of the teacher multiple times during the course in a variety of settings, both within the course and in a public venue. We all grasp the essence and significant details of what it means to create effective learning environments and effective learning events.
• Participants come prepared to collaboratively co-create the teacher training course and teach a one day public permaculture workshop (specific requests for how to prepare will be laid out after acceptance into the program).
• Participants collaborate to create a community of learning teachers and teaching learners:
o we cocreate a safe, supportive, fun, healthy, and whole learning environment;
o we support each other to take risks, share ourselves, grow deeply, move through edges and perceived restrictions, explore new ideas, and try new teaching styles and approaches;
o we share and constructively evaluate each others’ work;
o we cooperatively develop shared resources for the larger permaculture teaching community.
• Participants clarify, articulate, and evolve their beliefs about what a teacher is and what is their teaching philosophy. We all experience putting that philosophy into practice consciously. We all have the opportunity to deprogram beliefs that inhibit our effectiveness as teachers and learners.
• We experience all of the above through learning events and experiences that express, embody, and demonstrate the principles of permaculture design in action.
• We engage in co-creating the Financial Permaculture Course (FPC), sharing our knowledge and experience, learning from and with others, and observing and evaluating the FPC as a whole and each part of it individually.
• We have a total blast doing all of the above.

Course Fee:
Course fees include tuition, room and board for both the Teacher Training and the Financial Permaculture Course: sliding Scale $1,800 - $2,100; $1,700 if registered before June 30. Some partial scholarships may be available; please inquire.

We are raising funds for scholarships to support folks who cannot afford this course to attend. If you would like to donate to this fund, please contact Dave Jacke, 308 Main St. #2C, Greenfield, MA 01301, 603-831-1298, davej@edibleforestgardens.com. We have also developed a Community Supported Educators program to assist you to raise your own funds for the course. Please contact Jennifer or Sheila at info@financialpermaculture.com or Dave at davej@edibleforestgardens.com for an information packet on this program.

For More Information or to apply:
Visit: http://www.financialpermaculture.com
Or contact: Jennifer or Sheila at The Financial Permaculture Institute at info@financialpermaculture.com 88-878-2434 ext. 2 or 913-796-1808


15.
Dear BuildingGreen Colleague,

In the seven years that BuildingGreen has partnered with the Boston Architectural College (BAC) on its online Sustainable Design Certificate Program, this is the most exciting list of courses we've yet offered! I'm thrilled to be part of BAC's effort and to pass along this invitation to participate.

BAC's continuing education curriculum in sustainable design is the largest and most comprehensive in the country. We are offering 29 different courses during the two fall sessions. These courses can be used to help fulfill four different BAC certificate programs in sustainable design, or they can simply help expand your background in various aspects of green building.

Take a look at the list of courses below for Session 1 (August 30th through October 23rd) or Session 2 (October 25th through December 17th). Some of these courses may fill up quickly, so if you're interested, I'd suggest you sign up as soon as possible.

To learn more (and register) go to www.the-bac.edu/green, call 617-585-0101 or send an email to the BAC's Director of Sustainable Design, Lance Fletcher, AIA, LEED AP.