Monthly Archives: May 2014

Water Forum, Sat., 6/7, 9am-5pm, Boulder

Water: Rights & Nature, Exploring Water Use and Ecosystem Conservation
Unity Church, Folsom and Valmont Rd., Boulder
Saturday, June 7, 9am - 5pm 
Event Speakers:
Jo Evans on Colorado Water Law
Allison Holloran on Threats and Conservation of Ecosystems
Gross Reservoir Dam panel: Water implications and FINAL day for Public Comments
Steve Grace book signing for “Dam Nation”
Phil Doe and Wes Wilson on Fracking Hazards on Water and Ecological Destruction
Amy Burke on the new Colorado Water Plan and Important Citizen Input
Libby Comeaux on Earth Jurisprudence, Community Rights and Water Discernment
Dale Ball on Food and Dietary choices affecting your Water Footprint

This Water Forum addresses current regional water issues that threaten or negatively impact the health and presence of local water resources, and especially the ecosystems that provide that water. Possible solutions and choices are presented as we reflect on what we can do as a community to assure the purity of the regional water supply, by respecting and protecting the viability of the natural ecosystems that provide the water upon which all life depends. The Rights of Nature approach is one effective way to prevent degradation, abuse and misuse of water. For more information: boulderrightsofnature.org.

Regional Seed School with Gary Nabhan, 6/1-6/6/2014

From seedsave.org:

Seed School is a groundbreaking, six-day educational course in Prescott, AZ, that trains people from all walks of life to build local seed systems rooted in the ancient tradition of seed saving.  Practiced by farmers and gardeners for thousands of years, seed saving strengthens food security at the community level, empowering people to reclaim control over their food supply.  Students walk away from this innovative learning experience with the knowledge and inspiration to start their own independent seed initiatives, such as community seed libraries and exchanges, seed growers cooperatives, heirloom seed businesses, and participatory plant breeding projects.  Details here.

Seed School is designed to offer a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the science, business, and craft of seeds.  Appropriate for teens and adults at all skill levels, this course is for gardeners, farmers, chefs, entrepreneurs, NGOs, activists, policymakers and anyone interested in turning the tide on the industrialization of our food system.

Gary Paul Nabhan is an internationally celebrated nature writer, seed saver, conservation biologist and sustainable agriculture activist who has been called “the father of the local food movement.”  He is the author or editor of more than two dozen books, including Enduring Seeds and Renewing America’s Food Traditions.  Gary is co-founder of Native Seeds/SEARCH.

Sunday, June 1st – Friday, June 6

Prescott College Campus

Campus housing available at $22 a night.

Early bird deadline: May 9th $600

Regular tuition after May 9th $700

Some scholarships are available.

$200 deposit reserves your space.

nss flyer

Denver Permaculture Design Course Registration Now Open

Denver-PDC-2014-Banner-Logo

From Denver PDC:

The 2014 course will take place on the first weekend of every month beginning October 4th & 5th and concluding April 4th & 5th, 2015. The first weekend will be an overnight retreat at Woodbine Ecology Center in Sedalia. Most other weekends will be held at The GrowHaus here in Denver. For a complete course calendar please refer to our syllabus.
The Denver PDC is recommended for design professionals, urban farmers, community organizers, foodies, city planners, green entrepreneurs, homeowners, and anybody seeking a comprehensive framework for sustainable change. Course tuition is $1050 with a $250 deposit before July 15th, or $1250 after July 15th. Please click here to register today! Questions? Please see our FAQ page on our website or feel free to email us.
In gratitude and abundance,
Dakota Stranik
Denver PDC Coordinator
Denver-PDC-2014-Logo

Boulder County Water Tour, 6/7, Registration Now Open

Boulder County Water Tour 2014

Date:  Saturday, June 7, 2014

Time:  8:45 pm to 3 pm

Cost:  $20 (lunch included)

Registration Required:  https://watertour2014.eventbrite.com (tour has sold out every year so please make reservations asap)

Location:  Buses will pick up at Boulder County Fairgrounds (SOUTH lot off of Nelson Rd, near Longmont Humane Society)

Water is a critical component of agriculture in Boulder County. The Water Tour 2014 is a collaborative effort between Boulder County Parks and Open Space and Farmers Alliance for Integrated Resources (FAIR) with the support of local conservation districts, ditch companies and businesses.

Highlights

  • September 2013 Floods
  • Pre & Post Flood Comparisons
  • History of Water in Boulder County
  • Current Uses
  • Challenges
  • Opportunities
  • Ditch Systems
  • Lunch at Panama Reservoir

New stops for 2014 include the Highland Ditch Diversion and the Left Hand Water District Spurgeon Plant.  We will also revisit a couple stops from previous years but have no worries if you’ve attended in the past, after the September 2013 Flood, the landscape no longer looks the same.  There will be speakers on the bus as well as at each stop with time for questions and discussion.

Lunch is included in the $20 registration fee.  Pulled Pork sandwiches + sides will be served, with a vegetarian option available.

For more information please visit the registration site or www.BoulderCountyOpenSpace.org/ag or contact Meaghan Huffman, mhuffman (at) bouldercounty.org or 303-678-6181.

Earthship Gathering & Film Screening at Trident in Boulder, 6/6, 7pm

From Denver Earthship and Regenerative Lifestyles:

HAPPY SPRING!

There has been so much coming alive and we are so excited to share at our annual screening series, the film NEW SOLUTIONS with you all on the beautiful back patio of TRIDENT BOOKSELLERS and CAFE!  We will share Earthship enthusiasm and support Boulder’s best coffee shop.  This gathering is to open or continue the conversation with interesting people, like minded folks, update you on our movements, and watch a super inspiring film that’s just released!
JUNE 6, 2014
7pm-10pm
TRIDENT BOOKSELLERS
940 Pearl Street, Boulder
Back Patio

Cost: $5

New Solutions Official Trailer:

Permaculture Teacher Training with Sandy Cruz and Peter Bane, November 2014

Sandy Cruz will be traveling out of her home state of Colorado to co-teach a Permaculture Teacher Training Course with Peter Bane in Ann Arbor, MI.  The course is taking place November 9-13, 2014.  These master teachers have trained more than 2,000 permaculture students across the Americas.  As Peter says, “Lift Your Game”.  PDC is a prerequisite, and an application is required.  Course fee $800 by 9/1/2014.  See flyer below for course details and registration information.

Permaculture Teacher Training Flyer

You can read a review of Peter, Sandy and Becky Elder’s Permaculture Teacher Training course that took place last August in Colorado here.

June Permaculture Design Course in Woodland Park, CO

Residential PDC 2014 Flyer

Looking for a PDC in Colorado this summer?  There’s a residential course in Woodland Park, CO, taking place June 15-28, 2014.  Check out the link to the gorgeous flyer above!  Main instructors are Peter Bane, Marco Chung-Shu Lam, and Becky Elder.  Guest instructors will also join the course.  Cost $1500.  Fees include camping, healthy and delicious food, and all course materials, including The Permaculture Handbook, Peter Bane’s new book.  The course is taking place at Aspen Valley Ranch, and is the first residential course being offered by Pikes Peak Permaculture.  “Get inspired, get certified!”

Aquaponics Tour De Tanks, Boulder, May 16 & 18

From Avery Ellis of Integrated Aquaponics and Colorado Greywater:

There will be a tour at my house to see my aquaponics systems in action, my geodesic dome, and other fun permaculture science toys and connections to be made. The tours at my house will be on May 16 @ 2pm & 4pm and May 18 @ 10am & 2pm. There are other local tours in the Boulder area from some of my past students. The attached flier is for the tours at my house only, and I created a registration page for people to get their free tickets at integratedaquaponicstour.eventbrite.com The event is organized by the Aquaponics Association and includes tours of aquaponics systems across the country. This google tour map shows where the tours will be hosted (https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=ze_CTCF3_ZGE.kmTeHLCcF8Jc) Hopefully you can make it to one of my tours and invite some friends! Also, feel free to share this flier with your network.

Tour De Tanks Flier 2014

 

An update from Avery on Colorado Greywater law:

The Colorado Greywater law is developing slowly but surely. We finally have the state plumbing board in the conversation and this Friday morning will be our first workgroup to include the plumbing board and the dept of public health at the same table. I will be there with a group of permies to represent simple systems and the need for the law to be inclusive of many possible solutions. Please let me know if you have interest in helping with the development of this law, as I could use all the help I can get. And stay tuned for more info in the coming months.