Introduction to Permaculture

Guest presenter: Kirby Fry, Southern Exposure

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Growing Food in Your Backyard or Small Farm

Guest presenter: Marjory Wildcraft Glowka, Backyard Food Production

April 23 – 25, 2010 (Friday, Saturday & Sunday)

Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX 78701

On Saturday and Sunday, from 11:30 – 1:00, Design~Build~Live will be hosting several roundtable discussions, a new feature at this year’s Green Living Expo. Discussions will center around these important sustainable topics:

• Natural wall systems – Cob, Strawbale, Cordwood and more – Led by Ken McKenzie
  
• Sustainable water management – Rainwater, greywater, ponds – Led by Michele Hallahan
  
• Home energy efficiency - Ways to conserve energy in your home – Led by Effie Brunson
  
• Edible landscaping – Creating landscapes that look good and taste good too – Led by Kirby Fry

This is a great opportunity to talk directly with some of our “pros” about sustainable topics of interest to you. Grab some lunch at Concessions and join us at the Tables Reserved for DBL’s Educational Round Table Discussions.  Each topic will be discussed for approximately 20 minutes (discussion leaders will rotate tables):

Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Lance Armstrong Foundation, 2201 East 6^th Street, Austin, TX (Map)

The role of microbes in our soil has been neglected for decades.  Reliance on chemicals has resulted in poor nutritional quality in our food and in our public health, as well as a conflict in demand for fossil fuels.  DBL guest presenter Patrick Van Haren believes that the tools we need to meet the challenges of the future are currently available and that they are simpler than you might think.  We can satisfy our needs for the 7 F’s:  Food, Feed, Fiber, Fuel, Fertilizer, Fresh Water and Fresh Air and achieve harmony with our nature/ecosystem.  Through advances in compost technology, humus formation, compost tea extracts, and mob grazing, we can mimic the beneficial impacts of bison on the plains, restore rangeland, as well as the soil in our backyard, and garden beds.  It is something that we can all do, and which will satisfy some of the requirements for the new LEED site initiative.

Guest Presenter:
Patrick Van Haren offers earth-nourishing products and services through his companies, Microbial Earth and Sunergie. He holds a BS in Agriculture Economics and Business.

This presentation is free and open to the public. No reservation required. For more information contact Gayle through “Contact Us” or 512-478-9033.

Thursday, January 14 – #1: Introduction to Permaculture – A talk with Dick Pierce

Thursday, January 21 – #2: The Global Gardener, Permaculture Projects World-Wide – a video with Bill Mollison

For details, see the Austin Permaculture Guild website.

January 30 through April 3, 2010

Permaculture is a world-wide movement for creating sustainable human environments. Once Permaculture opens the door to understanding the connectedness of  site, building and living systems at all scales, you will forever look upon your human existence in a new light.

This important, information-packed Permaculture design certification course runs for 10 Saturdays and involves classroom work, outdoor projects, small group discussion, and several field trips. Many DBL members have attend/graduated from this life-changing course. If you want to learn how to design, build and live more sustainably, this course is for you. Cost and details on the Austin Permaculture Guild website.

Starting January 16, 2010

Now is the right time to take an Austin Gardening Course. Join the Austin Local Food Movement, become a home gardener, get great exercise, improve your nutrition. Pick one of the five 10-hour Courses. Pledge 10 hours of volunteer time with a CG Partner and the $50 Course fee is waived. See www.citizengardener.ning.com for details and to enroll.

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009,  7:00 Р8:30 PM

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009,  7:00 Р8:30 PM

All are welcome – attend yourself, bring/invite friends, neighbors – young, old, attentive youth, students, etc. These are fun and informative.

For more info, contact DickPierce at DickPierceDesigns@gmail.com or 512-992-8858
Also, please check out www.permie.us

Kerrmaculture is the Permaculture endeavor of Quiet Valley Ranch, home of the world famous Kerrville Folk Festival and Kerrville Wine and Music Festival. One of the goals of Kerrmaculture is to develop a master plan for Quiet Valley Ranch that integrates the best land management practices and best design system for a sustainable and living festival grounds and ranch. Ongoing Projects at the Ranch include:

• Rainwater Harvesting
• Composting
• Organic Gardening
• Natural and Green Building
• Campsite Enhancement
• Composting Toilets
• Water Conservation
• Soil Revitalization
• Erosion Control
• Beautification
• Resource Management

During this Permaculture certification course you will learn sustainability, green and natural from the source, not the corporate media hype. To learn more about the class, go to the Kerrmaculture website.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Guided by Gary Freeborg of BioDiversity

Suggested donation: $5. Registration required: www.designbuildlive.org (Directions will be emailed)

Join Gary Freeborg and Design~Build~Live as Gary takes us on a tour of one of his permaculture sites that utilizes many of the water-harvesting strategies discussed on Wednesday. We will see:

~ Biodynamic, French intensive gardens

~Permaculture swales

~Lined and unlined ponds

~Off-the-grid adobe home

Wednesday, February 18, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Guest presenter: Gary Freeborg of BioDiversity

Casa de Luz, Austin, Texas  РCielo Room

Free and open to the public; no reservation required

Strategies to capture and hold more water on your land, using land-based water harvesting strategies such as:

~ Earth shaping

~ Ponds & Wetlands

~Soil building

Details at www.designbuildlive.org Or contact Gayle at gayle@designbuildlive.org or 512-478-9033.