Online Organic Transition Course

Vai the good folks at Colorado Local Sustainability, found this link to an online organic farming training course. Cost: free.

Permaculture at 9000 feet

Here's a great video about Tomten Farm, an off grid demonstration farm at 9000 feet in the mountains of southwest Colorado.

Takeaway quote: "If you can learn to grow here, you can grow anywhere."

Update on Colorado College Garden

I wrote previously about the Colorado College Permaculture Garden.

I just recently stumbled on the Colorado College Sustainability Virtual Tour, which describes more than just their garden, but does have a nice video about it.

Broomfield Community Garden Website

Here's a great site about community gardens in Broomfield. This includes the Grange Heritage Garden ("located on the grounds of historic Crescent Grange #136"), which has been the focus of some recent efforts from the Transition community, including plans to build a hoop house.

More on the DU Gardens

Last fall I posted about the DU permaculture gardens. Now, here's a blog post about the installation with more pictures, and a link to a website all about the DU "Garden Scene".

Business Permaculture Class on Jan 26

Greenspaces, apparently a green entrepeneurial shared space (like The Hive or Carbon Space, but for green businesses), is having an open house on Jan 26. Part of it will be a 30 minute presentation about Permaculture and business.

Business Permaculture Class with Adam Brock of Wild Green Yonder. Learn about the fundamentals of permaculture, a system of design based on patterns of nature, and see how it can apply to make your business grow.

More details about the open house here.

List of Self Sufficiency Books

What’s a wannabe dirt farmer to do when stuck in a duplex during a Colorado winter with no tools, no garden and no livestock?

Apparently come up with a great list of books!

Willow Way PDC Hearing Scheduled

As I mentioned here, Willow Way Permaculture Design is running into some issues with the Boulder County Commissioners.

I received an email from Michelle Soule letting me know that the application had been pulled off the table and was set for a hearing.

From her email:

Willl [sic] WILLOW WAY PERMACULTURE be given permission to continue to teach Permaculture?

This question will be addressed by the Boulder County Commissioner's hearing at the Boulder County Court house at 3 pm on January 28 at the Boulder County Courthouse on Pearl between 13th and 14th.

...

You can review the application and supporting documents, including the 113 page staff recommendation (PDF) and decide whether you should send a letter of support or appear at the hearing.

Front Range Permaculture Institute up and running

This just came on my radar. There's a new Permaculture Institute up in Fort Collins, the Front Range Permaculture Institute. You can also follow them on Twitter, or on Facebook (they have posted a number of interesting videos on their Facebook page).

The main force behind the FRPI appears to be Chris Washa, and he's already put on an "Introduction to Permaculture" talk on Dec 12 in Fort Collins. They're now a 501(c)(3) organization....

I emailed Chris to ask him specifics about the FRPI, but he never got back to me.

Permaculture priniciples for business

Just read an interesting post about how you can apply Holmgren's 12 design principles to create a sustainable business.

This is an interesting exercise, but the issue I have with it is that while these are great guiding principles, actual application is harder. Just for instance, he says "Internalize your costs". What does that mean? Does it mean that you should provide a living wage for all employees? Health insurance? Buy carbon offsets? Realize what effect your business has on the greater world?

It's a bit unclear. Still, a good starting point, because permaculture really needs to grow beyond landscape design and teaching--the two careers to which a PC certificate really seems to lead folks.

Boulder Culinary Gardeners Free Classes

Including one on permaculture:

Permaculture - 1-3 p.m. March 21, presented by Barbara Mueser. Permaculture is an ecological design system that is based on nature's wisdom and interrelationships. We'll discuss creating microclimates, guilds, food forests, water catchment, and chickens and bees in the garden.

More here, including classes on CSAs, seed saving and native plants.

Sandy Cruz speaking at Estes Park Earth Fest

High Altitude Permaculture’s, Sandy Cruz will offer the workshop “Clarity and Opportunity in Turbulent Times.” Changes are afoot! Participants will consider their options and take some first steps toward strategic transformation. Cruz has been gardening at 9,200 feet and experimenting with plants for over 30 years. She founded High Altitude Permaculture in 1992 and holds a Diploma of Permaculture Design from the International Permaculture Institute. Sandy currently teaches Permaculture and consults on site planning and design in the Boulder area.

More here.

Panel: The Winter Harvest

Time: January 13, 2010 from 7pm to 9pm
Type Group: Boulder Meadows Community Room
Organized By: Transition Colorado

Event Description:
FREE EVENT with Sandy Cruz, Barbara Mueser, Jason Gerhardt, Jeff Graef, and Natalie Shrewsbury.

Please join us in considering how we can eat locally at this time of year. Bring your questions!

Meet some of the local permaculture teachers who are sponsoring courses and workshops this year.

More, including RSVP form.