Below is a great collection of info on upcoming permaculture and sustainability events in the central Virginia bioregion, including upcoming education events and several job announcements.
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
www.blueridgepermaculture.net
1. FORREST GREEN FARM Spring Workshops Offerings
www.forrestgreenfarm.com
SEED STARTING INTENSIVE
March 10, 2012 12-5 pm
Topics Covered: Making and understanding soil and organic amendments. The basics of growing from seed including container choices, light, climate, temperatures, tips & techniques for seeds that require special treatments for germination.
Growing the seedling out to transplant size, hardening off, seed storage, and seed saving. We will also look at our vermicomposting bins and show you how easy they are to start and manage for organic fertilizer just using your kitchen scraps. This class will teach you all the basics of growing your own herb and vegetable plants from seed. Each participant will take home a sown flat of your choice of herbs and vegetables so you can get a jump start on this growing season. This is a very hands on class and you will get a chance to make different types of potting soil from scratch and practice sowing seeds. Cost is $50 and includes a flat of planted seeds, extensive handouts, herbal tea and herbal appetizers.
WHOLE LIVING FROM THE GROUND UP 2012 Session
12 classes from May-Oct a very in depth course on organic herbal living with the cycles of nature. This course is a hands-on course on gardening, cooking, and herbal medicine skills. You will work on deepening your knowledge and connection with the plants over a growing season. Through the use of this knowledge, you will learn how to make quality medicine from the plants. The herbs in combination with whole foods will provide you with a foundation for healthier living and fulfillment of a more self-sufficient lifestyle. This is a hands-on class! You will take home something from every project that we do. This is a learning opportunity, but also a chance to produce & start immediately using your new skills to enhance your lifestyle with the products that you make in class.
Check our website or call us for a detailed course description.
Forrest Green Farm
Rob and Krista Rahm
(540) 967-1165
(434) 882-2648 cell
www.forrestgreenfarm.com
2. Seeds! Saving Your Favorite Flowers and Herbs.
Saturday Feb. 18 & 25, 2012, 10a to12p at PVCC
Whether they’re from your grandmother’s heirloom garden or from the plants you bought this year, catch the excitement of harvesting and saving seeds from your favorite flowers. Share the experience with your own children, and save money next year by growing and saving seeds for family and friends.
This class will include practical hands-on experience using common household items. You’ll leave not only with seeds to plant but also knowing the essential steps to saving almost any kind of flower and herb seed, as taught by Terri Keffert.
Space is limited. Register now. For more info, call Piedmont Valley Community College at 434-961-5354 or visit www.pvcc.edu/workforceservices.
3. Head Gardener Needed
The Local Food Project
Airlie Center, Warrenton, Virginia
Job Description:
The Local Food Project at Airlie is seeking a Head Gardener for its four-acre organic vegetable garden located at Airlie Conference Center (www.airlie.com) in Warrenton, Virginia, one-hour southwest of Washington, DC.
The Local Food Project at Airlie is designed to demonstrate the benefits of eating local food and supporting local farmers by producing many of the vegetables served in the conference center. The Project aims not only to offer fresh, sustainably produced food to Airlie’s guests, who come from across the nation and the world to attend conferences at Airlie’s world-class facilities, but also to provide guests with opportunities to learn more about sustainable agriculture in local food systems.
The Head Gardener is responsible for maintaining all aspects of the vegetable garden and its hoophouse using sustainable and organic methods and delivering the resulting food to the conference center’s kitchen. This work includes determining the vegetable mix in conjunction with the Center’s chef, developing planting schedules and crop rotations, maintaining soil fertility, planting, harvesting and composting waste from the Center’s kitchen.
The Gardener is also responsible for developing and conducting educational programs for Airlie Center’s guests, including garden tours as well as discussions and seminars about sustainable agriculture and local food systems.
http://www.airlie.org/activities/foodproject.htm
4. Grow Appalachia Coordinator
High Rocks seeks a highly-motivated self-starter with agricultural experience and project management background to coordinate the Grow Appalachia program. The Grow Appalachia coordinator will work with 13 local families and organizations to grow as much food as possible. The coordinator will also work closely with High Rocks and the Greenbrier Valley Local Foods Initiative to create a strong network of local foods in the area. This position has variable hours throughout the year depending on the demands of the season.
What is Grow Appalachia? The basic purpose of Grow Appalachia is to teach and support the people of Appalachia to grow, preserve and sell their own food and feed themselves and their families. The Grow Appalachia Coordinator will work with first time gardeners, experienced gardeners, and support people to develop market gardens. Visit the Grow Appalachia website for more information. To Apply: Send your resume and cover letter to High Rocks Attn: Amy Cole HC 64 Box 438 Hillsboro, WV 24946 OR: Fax:(304) 653-4860 OR: email: amy@highrocks.org
http://www.berea.edu/appalachiancenter/growappalachia/default.asp
5. Sacred Plant Traditions workshop with Phyllis Light
March 30 - April 1, 2012
Friday - Appalachian spirituality
Phyllis will take us deep into the magical realms of Appalachian spirituality and the shamanic traditions that she learned form her elders and teachers.
Saturday & Sunday
- Natural Mental Health Approaches
With astronomical percentages of our population on some form of psychoactive medications it is time that the herbal community understand our place in this crisis.We’ll be discussing ADD/ADHD, depression, learning disabilities, OCD, etc, all as patterns of dysfunction not diagnosis. We’ll also be discussing them in relationship to constitutions.
www.sacredplanttraditions.com
6. Farm Work – Charlottesville area farm
Looking for a Farm Assistant for 2012 season. Would be responsible for all aspects of field work (seeding to harvesting of vegetables, flowers, and herbs) and selling at farmers' market. Season would be March-November. Minimum of 1 year farming experience is required. This position would be a good fit for a person with some experience who wants to have more responsibility and learn more about all aspects of running a farm while receiving guidance and mentoring. Compensation is a weekly stipend, produce for personal use, and participation in monthly CRAFT farm tours/workshops. For more information: contact Steph at: newbranchfarm@gmail.com
7. JRGBC-Charlottesville February 14th Luncheon:
"eco MOD and Affordable Housing"
Join the JRGBC in Charlottesville on February 14th for our monthly free luncheon, featuring eco MOD and speaker John Quale! ecoMOD is a multi-year research and design / build / evaluate project at the School of Architecture, in partnership with the UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science. Interdisciplinary ecoMOD teams create sustainable, prefabricated housing units for affordable housing organizations. Thus far, ecoMOD has created six affordable housing units for Habitat for Humanity and Piedmont Housing Alliance, and ecoREMOD has renovated three housing units for the City of Charlottesville, and Falmouth Heritage Renewal in Falmouth, Jamaica.
This luncheon will be held on February 14th at City Space, 100 5th St. NE, on the Downtown Mall, Charlottesville, VA. Doors open at 11:50 and the Seminar begins at approximately 12:10 pm.
Luncheons are free and open to the public; however, advance registration is required by Friday, February 10th. Lunches are ordered based on pre-registration, so please RSVP by the deadline and cancel your registration if you can’t attend before the deadline.
http://jrgbc.org/
8. Heartmoor Workshops
Natural Clay
‘Clean dirt’ is a gift from the earth used by native peoples in ceremonies and daily life the world over. Virginia’s rich deposits are so close to the surface farmers often complain. Join us to dig, re-constitute, and then create hand-built forms on 4 Saturday afternoons this fall. A final 5th Saturday is optional for participants to campout and tend the historically re-created pit firing of their wares.
Limit 8 participants, Ages 10-13, Cost $185
Saturdays 1pm-4pm February 25, March 3, 10, 17
Earth Art
Activate and install a site-specific message to the masses in this all day outdoor experience. Students will explore the characteristics of space, time, and materials while they design, gather, and build their own life-size, outdoor work of art. Bring a bag lunch.
Limit 6 participants, Ages 12-15, Cost $115
Sunday March 18 10 – 3pm
Wild Lenses
Perspective on the natural world can both connect and inspire each of us to care and consider our place, role, and responsibilities. For young minds, capturing the images of animals and plants in the woods surrounding us takes guidance and support. In this one day adventure through fields and woods, past barns and creeks, we’ll capture a sense of our external and internal landscapes. A digital camera with an XD, MS/DUO, CF, SD/MMC or a USB connection is required.
Limit 6 participants, Ages 12-16, Cost $65
Saturday March 24 1 – 3:30pm
Email seeyou@heartmoorfarm.org for registration and directions.
http://www.heartmoorfarm.org/5.html
9. EIGHT-DAY PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE COURSE
Join Wayne Weismen and the Permaculture Project for a weeklong ecological design immersion.
Sponsored by Solid Ground Farm, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Sand Ridge B and B, and Deep Garden Design.
Sunday March 18-Sunday March 25, 2012
Solid Ground Farm Athens, Ohio
Explore the concepts, theories, and practice of Permaculture design. Experience Permaculture applied directly to the Midwest, as you live and learn with practicing ecological designers on Solid Ground Farm. Discover the interrelations of natural building, sustainable agriculture, biomimicry, broad-scale site design, local economies, local ecosystems, earthworks and waterways. Sure to be an exciting week of on-site projects, lectures, special guest teachers, site walks around the area, and fun nightly activities from African drumming lessons, to Capoeira and yoga classes. Come join the fun.
Cost: $800-$1000 (sliding scale) base fee includes space for onsite camping, three meals a day, textbook and access to online resources, and a certificate from The Permaculture Project, LLC. For offsite accommodations please contact us. Pre-registration required. Register by sending a check written out to RAW (along with your name, address, phone number and email) to Solid Ground Farm, 13262 Liars Corner Rd, Millfield, Ohio 45761. For more information, contact Weston Lombard at 740-856-6299 or westonlombard@gmail.com or visit http://www.solidgroundfarm.com. Space is limited.
10. The Friendly City Food Co-op shares the following information and job announcement opportunity. Harrisonburg, VA
Job Opening: Marketing and Owner Services Team Leader (management level)
Do you see a world where food is locally sourced, sustainable, healthy, and clean? Where relationships are fair and friendly? Where consumers are conscientious and well informed? Where our economy is vibrant, and locally owned and operated? And where the environment is green and healthy? If you have this vision…and are committed to helping the citizens of Friendly City to share it, then we are looking for you! Friendly City Food Co-op is seeking a Marketing and Owner Services Team Leader with fresh ideas, collaborative communication skills, and the ability to see the big picture, as well as the details that combine to make it so.
Title: Marketing & Owner Services Team Leader
Reports to: General Manager
Status: Full-time, salaried
Location: downtown Harrisonburg, VA
Compensation: $30,000-34,000, negotiable
Start date: ASAP
(*Includes completed Team Leader application, resume and cover letter)
How to apply
1. Please download the full "Job Description" and “Team Leader Application” at www.friendlycity.coop/jobs.
2. Send completed application, resume and cover letter.
Email: jobs@friendlycity.coop with subject, Team Leader Applicant.
11.
Potomac Vegetable Farms is seeking FT, Seasonal Workers for the 2012 season
Potomac Vegetable Farms consists of two farms which grow vegetables, herbs and cut flowers. The Loudoun County branch of Potomac Vegetable Farms (PVF) is 45 miles NW of Washington, DC. In 2012, we will grow 8-9 acres of produce using organic farming methods. We are not certified organic, preferring the term "ecoganic" to market our produce. We make our own compost, grow cover crops and practice crop rotation to grow vegetables that are healthy for the environment, our workers and our customers.
We've been in business for almost 50 years and intend to continue to grow and succeed.
Each year, we hire 6+ seasonal workers to help us cultivate, harvest and market our vegetables through our CSA, roadside stand and Northern Virginia farmer's markets.
Start Dates: April or May
End Dates: October or November
Meals: All meals are on your own. Of course, workers may use produce from the farm.
For more information about the position or to apply, please contact Stacey at stacey@potomacvegetablefarms.com. Check out our website to learn more about the farm. www.potomacvegetablefarms.com.
12. Sunday Feb. 26 Seed Swap near Afton, VA = 4 pm at Blue Mountain Brewery patio
On Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 8:49 AM, Janie Schneider
Lets all get together this late winter before things start getting hectic in our gardens come March and April! I
would love to meet and get to know all of you local folks around here, and
also use a seed swap as the excuse!
I am going to shoot for Sunday, February 26th at 4pm. The location I'm
suggesting is the patio of Blue Mountain Brewery.
Hope to see you all soon!
13. Green Building Fellowship @ ECO City Farms
ECO City Farms is looking for an engaged and motivated individual to
assist with the development of our green building credentials at our
flagship urban farm as our first ever Green Building Fellow. A good
candidate should have a solid understanding of the principles of
sustainability and demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, solid
writing skills, experience with organizing events, a passion for
learning and a willingness to get dirty. Fellow must be available to
work one day a week with farm staff to assist with hands-on
sustainable building projects. Fellow will receive hands-on
experience with sustainable building and construction of shipping
container retrofits, greenhouse construction, small-scale greenroofs,
bioretention pond, greenhouse construction, solar energy systems,
solar hot water systems and grey-water systems.
The principle responsibility of the Green Building Fellow is to
administer our (DIY Institute: Green Building Series), a summer series
of hands-on green building classes to be held at our farm and taught
by our staff as well as other local expertise. Responsibilities will
include research, development, outreach and supervision of the
educational mini-series of courses. Contacting partner organizations,
inviting potential instructors and administering student signup are
included in the job responsibilities.
This is a great opportunity to gain a survey of the green building
industry for someone who wants to get into the field both in a
hands-on manner as well as through networking to others. The
fellowship runs from March through August and will not exceed 12 hours
weekly commitment, 8 hours on-farm and 2 to 4 hours on your own.
Compensation will be based on commission from course fees collected
for the summer series ($1000-2000). Interested individuals please
contact Adam Schwartz with cover letter and resume by March 1st.
Please visit www.ecocityfarms.org to learn more about our organization.
-
Adam Schwartz
Farm Manager, ECO City Farms
adam@ecocityfarms.org
301-275-2362
14. Announcing A New Intensive Weekend Course in Urban Agriculture (offered in March, May and September)
Register soon; Classes Fill Quickly
Prince George’s Community College and ECO City Farms are proud partners in the Certificate in Commercial Urban Agriculture program. The program is the first of its kind in the region and will give you a comprehensive introduction to starting your own urban farm or farm-related business.
AG 302: An Intensive Introduction to Urban Commercial Agriculture [Offered by ECO City Farms and Prince George’s County Community College, taught at ECO City Farms, 4913 Crittenden Street, Edmonston, MD 20781]
A maximum of 20 people can be accommodated, so please register early to assure your place. This 22 hour, very intensive weekend hands-on course will provide you with sustainable strategies you require to plan and design an intensive food production system, based on your needs, goals, and resources, and suited to your own individual urban space. It includes five (5) core modules. Starting Your Farm: Beginning with the foundational principles of sustainable farming, this module includes issues of soil fertility, nutrient and water management, crop plant families and crop rotation, and farm design to maximize the use of urban resources and infrastructure. Composting 101: Hands-on and detailed, this module includes all aspects of composting in order to produce healthy soil from waste products. Exploring a range of recipes for effective composting and comparing different approaches and strategies, this module will include vermiculture, biochar, bokashi composting and passively aerated windrows. Hoophouse Design & Construction: This module is a hands-on introduction to building a hoophouse and other structures that extend the growing season and enable year-round growing. It will cover construction techniques, such as solar orientation, materials, ventilation and irrigation, as well as strategies related to the effective use of the hoophouse. Intro to Urban Livestock: This module is an introduction to raising small farm animals in urban/suburban neighborhoods, focusing on chickens, ducks, bees, fish and worms. It addresses the requirements for caring for animals, determining which livestock are appropriate for your space and an overview of ordinances related to livestock. Harvest, Processing and Marketing: This module will cover what you need to know to select, harvest, process, prepare and present your produce for sale. Strategies for selling to restaurants, retailers and food co-ops, as well as direct-market strategies such as farmers markets, pick-your-own and community-supported agriculture will be discussed.
A continuing education certificate will be awarded upon completion. Lunch is included.
Two courses this Spring: March 23, 24, 25 and May 18, 19, 20, 2012
One course this Fall: September 7, 8, 9, 2012
Fridays and Saturdays 9:30-6:00 and Sundays 12:00-6:00. Each at $525, all inclusive
Directions for registering for our new urban agriculture class:
· Go to www.pgcc.edu
15.
This is a second invitation to all beginning farmers/ranchers and the farmer service providers across the state to participate a survey aimed at identifying the education and training needs of Virginia’s beginning farmer and rancher community. The first round of this survey was disseminated in spring 2011. If you or your stakeholders have not already taken this survey, we welcome your input at this time!
The survey was created with input from beginning farmer and service provider stakeholders who are part of the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Project. The goal of Coalition is to improve opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations in Virginia through the development and enhancement of innovative educational programs, services, and social networks. An important step to take in reaching this goal is to continue to identify the education, information, and resource support needs of Virginia’s beginning farmers and ranchers.
To complete the online survey, please click the following link:
virginiabeginningfarmersurvey_2012
To learn more, or for a PDF copy of the survey, please visit:
www.vabeginningfarmer.org
If you have any questions regarding the survey or the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition Project, please contact Kim Niewolny at (540) 231‐5784 or niewolny@vt.edu. Thank you for your consideration and participation.
16. April 3-4 Growing the Appalachia Food Economy Conference in Asheville, NC
A fast-growing demand for local food and the need for economic diversification today are moving Appalachian communities to use their food assets and sustainable agriculture in creative ways to help revitalize their economies. By providing support for local food systems, community leaders can help build stronger links between producers and consumers, keeping more income and wealth in the local economy.
To help expand the role of food assets in local economic development in Appalachia, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is hosting Growing the Appalachian Food Economy: A Forum on Local Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture on April 3–4, 2012, in Asheville, North Carolina. The forum will provide an opportunity for community leaders; economic development officials; farmers; food producers, processors, and distributors; and public and private funding partners to share ideas and learn practical ways local food systems can increase employment opportunities, spark entrepreneurial ventures, and build local wealth in Appalachian communities.
Forum participants will hear from practitioners and experts on topics including
· the economic and community impacts of supporting local food systems;
· why the "local food" economic development approach is particularly useful for Appalachian communities;
· how to take advantage of innovative models of capital and credit that support local food economies;
· how to develop and encourage a "buy local" community mindset; and more.
They will also have the opportunity to participate in local food and farm tours showcasing local food business ventures and sustainable farms.
Preliminary Agenda
Join your colleagues for this informative event! The forum will be held Tuesday, April 3, 2012–Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel, 31 Woodfin Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801 (phone 828.252.8211 or 1.800.359.7951).
REGISTER NOW—Online registration ends March 26.
Questions regarding the forum? Contact the Appalachian Regional Commission at conferences@arc.gov or 202.884.7700.
http://www.cvent.com/events/growing-the-appalachian-food-economy-a-forum-on-local-food-systems-and-sustainable-agriculture/event-summary-74b5cf43a1394edbbb34eda043f1d132.aspx
17.
The iLoveMountains.org team has just launched an innovative new web tool to illustrate the overwhelming amount of data that shows the high human cost of coal mining, and we invite you to check it out!
See it live now:
www.iLoveMountains.org/the-human-cost
18.
Appalachian Voices is seeking a talented and passionate professional with environmental policy experience to help lead and execute our work in Virginia from our Charlottesville office. Our Virginia program works to move the Commonwealth toward a clean energy future by combating the social and ecological impacts of coal mining, combustion, and waste disposal while advancing energy efficiency and other clean energy alternatives.
Responsibilities include:
* Public communication and education on our issues, including media outreach, online and social media tools, tabling, and public speaking engagements
* Grassroots organizing and mobilization, both in-person and utilizing action alerts and other online tools, including work with both our statewide base and specific affected communities
* Communications with decision makers, including lobby visits, fact sheets, and technical papers and reports
* Close coordination with, and outreach to, traditional and non-traditional partners
* Campaign strategy and planning
Qualifications:
* Strong collaborative spirit, sound judgment, and leadership potential
* Excellent time management, work ethic, and organization
* Environmental policy experience
* Experience with energy and/or coal-related policy a plus
* Ability to understand and analyze complex technical and policy issues
* Aptitude for communication with volunteers, members, activists, media, and the public
* Strong writing and oral communication skills
* Passion for the Central and Southern Appalachian region
Salary and Benefits: Salary commensurate with experience and educational background. Benefits include 3 paid weeks vacation, health insurance stipend, and 401(k).
To Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and three references by email to:tom@appvoices.org
Visit www.AppalachianVoices.org
19. Lower James Riverkeeper position open
Position Summary
The James River Association (JRA) is the only organization solely dedicated to protecting and restoring the James River,America’s Founding River. The James RIVERKEEPER® program, established in 2001, is an integral part of JRA’s efforts to protect and restore the health of the James River. With a base of operations in the lower James River watershed, the Lower James RIVERKEEPER® will focus on the unique needs and issues affecting the Lower James River and its tributaries, as well as the communities around them.
The Lower James RIVERKEEPER® will be responsible for Lower James RIVERKEEPER® Program to protect and restore the health of the James River and its tributaries. The Lower James RIVERKEEPER® and the Upper James RIVERKEEPER® divide activities within the James River watershed, with the Lower James RIVERKEEPER® responsible for activities from below the fall line to the mouth of the James in Hampton Roads, including all tributaries that enter into the tidal James River. Working with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors, the Lower James RIVERKEEPER® will be the eyes, ears and voice of JRA in the lower James River watershed and serve as a full time, on-the-water advocate for the conservation and responsible stewardship of the river.
To apply for this position, please submit your resume and cover letter with salary history by email to stribble@jrava.orgor by mail to:
Sherrie Tribble
James River Association
9 South 12th Street, 4th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
The position will remain open until filled, but candidates are encouraged to submit their applications by March 5, 2012. For more information visit our website at www.thejamesriver.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment