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Fall 2010 Courses in the Principles of Permaculture and Sustainable Living:
I. Introduction to Permaculture Ethics, Principles and Design
with Steve Moring, Vajra Farm
Description:
As a community we are entering a period of energy depletion and the resulting decline in our global economy. Learn how the sustainability movement known as Permaculture promises to create an ecologically sound and economically viable system which neither pollutes nor exploits our planet. This course consists of 48 hours of lecture, video and field work covering topics including food security, permaculture ethics, ecological principles, system design, sustainable soils, food production, earth works and construction of human habitats.
Texts: Gaia’s Garden, Toby Hemmenway
Permaculture: a Designer’s Manual, Bill Mollison, Chapters 1 -6
Permaculture: Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability, David Holmgren
Course Objectives:
- Describe the dependence of our agricultural economy on the availability of cheap and abundant fossil fuel energy.
- Explain the impact of declining energy resources on the sustainability of food production.
- Define sustainable agriculture in terms of ecological principles, resource conservation and systems design that emulates natural ecosystems.
- Review the history of permaculture, its ethics and goals.
- Describe the ecological principles guiding permaculture design and practice.
- Describe permaculture design principles, planning and implementation.
- Explore the dynamic aspects of biologically rich and diverse soils, soil building and conservation.
- Describe perennial polyculture agricultural systems from no-till raised bed gardens to cultivation of food forests.
- Explore creation of landscapes that harvest water, influence microclimates and build soil structure.
- Describe energy efficient approaches to home heating, energy conservation and renewable energy generation.
Sessions:
1. September 23, 2010 Food Security and Energy Depletion, lecture & video (Power of Community). 6 – 9:00 pm, Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park, KS
This presentation explores our agricultural dependence on fossil fuels and how we might meet the challenge of energy depletion to make a successful transition to sustainable future.
2. Sept. 30 Introduction Permaculture Principles and Ethics, lecture and video (Sepp Holzer, Farming with Nature, 37 min.). 6 – 9:00 pm, Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park, KS
Introduction to principles, ethics and applications for the urban and rural landscape. The lecture will be followed by a group discussion of permaculture applications, resources, organizations and community projects.
3. Oct. 7 Ecological Principles in Practicing Permaculture, lecture & video (Last Stand of the Tall Grass Prairie). 6 – 9:00 pm, Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park, KS
This lecture will explore the inter-relationships of life forms on the planet and how humans can create sustainable and balanced ecosystems that provide an abundance of food while maintaining species diversity and environmental stability.
4. Oct. 14 Introduction to Permaculture Design, lecture & video, (Lawton, Introduction to Permaculture Design, part I, 45 min.).
6 – 9:00 pm, Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park, KS
This lecture will examine natural patterns and living systems so that we can learn to mimic nature in creating sustainable landscapes and food production. We will explore the basic design principles as taught by David Holmgren and Bill Mollison, and will outline the basic steps in planning, assessing land resources, designing and implementing projects including earthworks and swales.
5. Oct. 21 Cultivating Sustainable Soils, lecture & video, (Lawton, Introduction to Permaculture Design, part II, 35 min.). 6 – 9:00 pm, Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park, KS
This presentation will focus on living and biologically diverse soils that support abundant life. We will examine basic soil types, their chemistry, nutrient cycling, and dynamics of interaction of life in the soil. We will learn the basics in creating productive soils without the use of petrochemical inputs, and the use of unconventional methods including biodynamic farming.
6. Oct. 28 Food Production: Polyculture gardening, Lecture & video (The Synergistic Garden, 30 min.). 6 – 9:00 pm, Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park, KS
This presentation will explore the creation of gardens that rely on organic inputs and methods that involve growing annual and perennial plants in dynamic association to enhance nutrient recycling, soil building and ecosystem health. Emphasis will be given to no-till raised bed cultivation methods.
7. Nov. 4 Food Production: Creating Food Forests, Lecture & video (Lawton, Establishing a Food Forest, 80 min.). 6 – 9:00 pm, Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park, KS
Introduction to the concept of polyculture forest garden systems, which include creating ecological guilds and tree stacking with nitrogen fixing species. Emphasis will be given to the development and maintenance of fruit and nut tree food forests.
8. Nov. 11 Earth Works: Water catchment, swales, dams and terraces, lecture & video (Lawton, Water Harvesting). 6 – 9:00 pm, Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park, KS
A major component of the creation of sustainable human environments is the capture or water in the soil and on the land for irrigation and aquaculture. Construction and control mechanisms will be explored to enhance the positive and mitigate the negative effects of sun, wind and water in terms of erosion and soil building.
9. Nov. 18 Sustainable architecture and construction, Lecture & video(Green Architecture), 6 – 9:00 pm, Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park, KS
This lecture will survey the different approaches to the construction of energy efficient structures and the construction of buildings using sustainably produced materials. We will explore the construction of passive solar, berm, cob, chord and Sips structures.
The Matt Ross Community Center is located at 8101 Marty St. in Overland Park, KS, near 80th and Metcalf. Call 913-895-6390 for more information about the MRCC location.
Course Fees:
Nine Session course: Introduction to Permaculture Ethics, Principles and Design, $240.00
Individual Lecture Sessions: $30.00
Registration: Please contact Steve Moring at smoring@grasshoppernet.com for a registration form, or call Steve at 785-691-7305
