~ 2008 Classes ~
Summer 2008 Permaculture Design Certificate Course
Toby Hemenway and Larry Santoyo • August 16-29, 2008
Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch • Woodbourne, New York in the Catskills
A Certificate Course for Urban and Rural Residents, Planners, Land Managers & Design Professionals. This training covers the fundamentals of ecological design, given by two of the country's most experienced permaculture instructors, and many local guests. Join us at a rural retreat center near Woodbourne, New York. Upon completion, attendees will receive a Permaculture Design Trainee Certificate from the Permaculture Institute.
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Natural Building Workshop Series
Epworth Camp and Retreat Center and Green Phoenix Permaculture are pleased to present a series of Natural Building Workshops as we construct a timber frame,straw bale farm house.
STONE FOUNDATION WORKSHOP Sat, Sun, May 16,17 Teachers Ethan Zickler, Stone Mason, Permaculture Designer, Jim Luckner, Structural Engineer, Wilton Duckworth, Architect.
TIMBER FRAME WORKSHOP and HOUSE RAISING Fri, Sat, Sun, July 11,12, 13 and Sat, Sun, July 26, 27. Learn the basics of timber framing while cutting, assembling and raising the frame on the farmhouse.
Our natural building workshops as opportunities to learn, create community and fun, while experiencing the beautiful surroundings of Camp Epworth’s 160 acres. Many of the workshops offer opportunities for children, as well as adults, to participate in the building process. The house will be available for tours in the future and we will share what we learn with others so we can give back to the community.
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What is Permaculture?
Permaculture is a term coined by Bill Mollison (pictured left) and David Holmgren (below) in Australia in the 1970's. It is a combination of the words “Permanent” and “Agriculture” or “Culture”. The focus is on the harmonious efficient synergistic sustainable relationships between human residences, the climate and microclimate you live in, landscape, animals, soil, water and plants. A high diversity of bioregional plant species is encouraged. Caring for the land, people and return of surplus resources is strongly emphasized.
Permaculture concepts are logical practices that cultures all over the world have been utilizing successfully for eons, mimicking naturally stable systems, compiled and designed specifically for each site. These precepts work in all climates and terrains; deserts and rainforests, mountains and valleys. Permaculture can even be used to repair badly damaged land. Permaculture principles can be applied to demolished building sites strewn with rubble, arid deserts or boggy land in urban, suburban or rural settings. Beautiful trees, berries bushes, herbs and vegetables can be grown with an emphasis on conserving water and building soil without the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers.