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How to Transform a Northeast Homestead
into a Model of Sustainability
August 24th-August 28th, 2009
New Lebanon, New York
As our awareness grows of humanity’s harmful impact on the Earth, it is ever more important to learn the principles and skills necessary not only to lessen our negative impact on the planet, but to learn to enhance the vitality and beauty of the natural world, working instead with Nature’s genius.
In this revealing, five day workshop, we will use hands-on design and implementation of Permaculture and Biodynamic principles to transform a 6.5 acre homestead in New Lebanon, NY, the site of The School of Living Arts, an ecological consciousness center in the Berkshire/ Hudson Valley region of New York.
This workshop will be a rewarding experience for all levels and is open to everyone, from beginners to graduates of the Permaculture Design Certification program. *
* Advanced techniques for site assessment and whole site design.
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Day 1:
Morning: Permaculture Principles
Afternoon: Walk the property, Demonstration of Site Assessment, Design & Goals Articulation
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Day 2:
Morning: Working with Water Systems
- water catchment
- solar pumps
- grey water sumps
- constructed wetlands
- living machines
- gravity fed systems
- reeds, rocks and other plants for filtration
- the role of oxygen in water quality
- swales
- pre-silt sediment catchment ponds
- Also composting toilets & outhouses
Afternoon: Hands-on Activity: TBA
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Day 3:
Morning: Building Soil for Healthy and Productive Gardens and Orchard
Afternoon: Building the Elegant Compost Pile
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Day 4:
Morning: Bioregionalism - Design, History & Economics
Naturally occurring local features as the basis of design. The natural history of Eastern woodlands—an understanding of bioregionalism (as opposed to politically mapped out territories) and where we are; designs that cooperate with their regeneration and create opportunities for locally based economies.
Afternoon: Field Trip to the “Shaker Swamp”-- historical wetlands in New Lebanon explored by the Indians and then taught to the Shakers. Here we will identify wild varieties of herbs, as well as trees and other features. We will do the same on the property and consider cultivation of under story crops (ginseng, cohosh, goldenseal, medicinal mushrooms which can be the basis of cottage industries); grants for this; sustainable forest management practices (selective cutting and logging). . .
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Day 5:
Resource Day: Integration: Where do we go from here?
How to follow through applying what you have learned in your own lives. Career change, goals articulation, counseling students, land development, networking, apprenticeships, resources. Give out contact sheet.
For more information, contact and enrollment, please visit the course profile at The School of Living Arts...
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