Big Bend Ecovillage Permaculture Design Course PDC 2010

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2008, Living Mandala
creative services by: 360 Degrees

Including

PERMACULTURE & ECOVILLAGE CURRICULUM

INTEGRATIVE ECO-SOCIAL DESIGN

WHOLE SYSTEM SUSTAINABILITY

SOCIAL PERMACULTURE

COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE

INNER ECOLOGY

GROUP PROCESS

HANDS-ON ACTION LEARNING

& MUCH MORE

In Association With

Big Bend Hot Springs Project

Herb’n Wisdom

Regenerative Design Institute

Center for Visionary Leadreship

Mendocino Ecological Learning Center

NorCal Aquaponics

Barrett Ecological Services

Facilitators, Instructors & Consultants

Penny Livingston-Stark

Rick Valley

Marisha Auerbach

Jay Ma

Greg Landua

Max Meyers

Jon Young

Gordon Davidson

Corinne McLaughlin

Additional Guest Instructors to be Announced Soon!

Course Inspiration

In this era of great transformation, falling oil supply, and global warming – we are on the edge with an empowering ability to design our world to be the change we wish to see. A growing number of people are tiring of a life of disconnection from nature, from the monotony of corporate jobs, and from the inherent unsustainability of their lifestyles. From retiring baby boomers & business executives, to younger people disinterested in careers without true ecological and humanitarian ethics, to indigenous peoples, to people of third world countries... people from all walks of life are recognizing permaculture, green technologies, and sustainable communities as solutions to some of the most challenging problems facing humanity at this time. People are not only seeking the practical solutions, tools, and skills they may need to adapt to these changing and uncertain times, but also are genuinely desiring to implement these technologies as a way of life. Imagine a world where humans live harmoniously and abundantly with the natural systems of the Earth... where food, medicinal, and useful plants grow everywhere ... where adults, children and elders give their gifts fully & rejoice in celebration from the blessing of living in community in balance with Nature. This is the life of an ideal Permaculture Homestead or Ecovillage - whether in the county, city or somewhere in between.

Course Description

We are excited to announce this first Holistic Permaculture Design Certification Course with a focus on InterGenerational Ecovillage Development. With a focus on tending the inner, outer, and community landscapes... this course will include the standard 72-hour permaculture design curriculum based upon the original Mollison and Holmgren ideas and design philosophies published in The Permaculture Designer’s Manual, as well as be a nourishing retreat and hands-on immersion experience in Ecovillage Design & Development. In addition to the standard Permaculture Design Certification curriculum, we recognize permaculture as a holistic design philosophy expanding in symbiosis with many related fields. Accordingly, this permaculture design course will integrate additional content and activities such as nature awareness, indigenous wisdom, holistic nutrition, embodiment practices, inner work, group process, and much more. During this intensive 17-day course participants will be immersed into an amazing and nourishing learning environment practicing skills to transform our lives and our communities into regenerative systems while contributing to the design & activation of an exciting Ecovillage project, living in community as a village, and experiencing profound personal renewal at this oasis of natural beauty and magic.

Topics to Include:

Permaculture Design

Permaculture Principles

Natural Pattern Recognition

Nature Awareness

Reading the Landscape

Pattern Design & Biomimicry

Bird Language

Maps & Mapping

Designer Tools

Design Process & Methods

Zones & Sectors

Site Analysis

Maps & Mapping

Urban Permaculture

Social Permaculture

Invisible Structures

Tropical, Arid & Cool Climates

Whole Systems Design

Design Projects

Hands-On Activities

Sustainable Systems

Water Cycles

Water on the Landscape

Earthworks & Pond Building

Soil Food Web

Soil Ecology & Soil Building

Forest Ecology

Plants & Home Gardens

Agroforestry & Food Forests

Rain Harvesting & Catchment

Natural Building

Renewable Energy

Appropriate Technology

Humanure

Fungi & Myco-Remediation

Integrated Animal Systems

Aquaculture & Aquaponics

Wildcrafting

Ecovillage Design & Community Building

Village Scale Design

Land Access & Legalities

Regenerative Real Estate

Community Governance

Democratic Decision Making

Compassionate Communication

Cultural Mentoring

Group Process & Facilitation

Community Building

Transition Towns

Ecovillage Design Charettes

Education

Cooperatives & Non-Profits

Intentional Communities

Holographic Org Design

Green Business

Green Economics

Alternative Currencies

Bio-Regionalism

Indigenous Wisdom

Personal Renewal

Health & Healing

Heart Circles

Holistic Nutrition

Yoga & Embodiment Practices

Inner Ecology

Zone Zero Work

Improvisation

Ritual & Ceremony

Personal Empowerment

Rites of Passage

Deep Ecology

Music & Song

Story Telling

Hot Springs Soaking

Who Should Attend?

The word “permaculture” itself came from the notion of establishing not only “permanent agriculture” but “permanent culture.” This course is meant for people from all walks of life, young and old, who are looking to learn the fundamentals of permaculture and the powerful solutions if has to offer not only in land stewardship, but across many sectors of society and the culture at large. We recognize and honor the wisdom that comes from cultural, gender, and age diversity as the true alchemy and wisdom of the Village. It is in the spirit of re-creating the Village that we are organizing this course and putting out the call to youth and elders alike. This course will be attended by ecovillage developers, retiring baby boomers, green business pioneers, professional landscapers & engineers, counter-cultural youth, visionary adults and many more who will together weave the alchemy of the Village.

What is Permaculture?

The word ‘Permaculture’ was originally coined by University professor Bill Mollison and environmental design student David Holmgren in the 1970’s and was first taught as “Applied Systems Design “ in 1981. The word “permaculture” itself came from the notion of establishing “permanent agriculture” or “permanent culture”; in other words, permaculture is a practical set of ecological design principles and methods for human settlement that provide for humanity’s needs of food, energy, shelter, water and other material and non--material needs in a way that is sustainable and regenerative with the Earth’s natural ecosystems. Over the last 30 years, permaculture has grown to become a global grassroots movement of healing and re-connection with the Earth penetrating many different fields, continents, and cultures. Though often thought of as just a set of gardening techniques, permaculture is in fact a whole systems design philosophy. As a methodology for whole systems thinking, Permaculture is being applied towards business, economics, government, group process, and more. It is in this spirit of permaculture as a holistic design philosophy encompassing many fields that we are truly excited to gather in one place such a diverse spectrum of teachers and facilitators and offer this course to the public.

Certification Applicability

Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a Permaculture Design Certificate. Design Certification has been valued for course credit at many colleges and universities.

Contact

For questions and more information regarding the course

e-mail: education@livingmandala.com or

phone: (707) 634-1461

Ecovillages & Intentional Communities

Over thee last 50 years, the international Ecovillage and Intentional Communities movement has birthed communities all over the world and connected together communities that already exist or have existed for thousands of years. Some of these communities include eco-towns like Auroville in South India, the Federation of Damanhur in Italy and Nimbin in Australia; small rural ecovillages like Gaia Asociación in Argentina and Huehuecoyotl in Mexico; urban rejuvenation projects like Los Angeles EcoVillage and Christiania in Copenhagen; permaculture design sites such as Crystal Waters, Australia, Cochabamba, Bolivia and Barus, Brazil; and educational centres such as Findhorn in Scotland, Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, Earthlands in Massachusetts, large networks like Sarvodaya (11,000 sustainable villages in Sri Lanka); EcoYoff and Colufifa (350 villages in Senegal); the Ladakh Project on the Tibetian plateau; and many more.

International & Intergeneration Movement

People across the globe are hearing a drive to find the land and the community on which and through which they can sustain their means of local sustainability for food, water, shelter, and other material and non-material needs. One of the most prominent regions where this “back to the land” movement is taking off in the western world is in Russia, where since the fall of Communist Soviet Union, millions of people have been moving out of the cities into clustered small, rural plots and forming ecovillages to live together as more intentional., sustainable communities. In the United States and internationally, we are on the brink of a back to the land and back to community movement, the likes of which are just beginning in Russia today. Where is your water source, food source, and community?

Big Bend, California

The course is being held in the small town of Big Bend, California, situated in the Cascade Mountain Range in Shasta County, nestled right between the peaks of two majestic volcanos: Mount Shasta & Lassen Peak. Mount Shasta is believed by some to be one of the world’s most sacred mountains, and includes California’s largest watershed and some of the best quality water in the world. Just over an hour’s drive from the nearest major city of Redding, Big Bend is a little known oasis of natural beauty. Home to eagles, river otters, foxes, bears, mountain lions, and many other specatular wildlife, Big Bend has a population of only around 150 human residents. In the 1930s and 1940s, the population of Big Bend was reportedly nearly ten thousand people. The abundance of good water, soil, vegetation, microclimates, and other natural resources in the area provided a large portion of the food for the people living there. Looking further back, Big Bend was the residence and sacred grounds to an indigenous population known as the Achomawi. The Pit River, which flows through the heart of Big Bend, was at one time the 3rd largest Salmon run on the west coast of the USA, and now has a native Rainbow Trout run that remains healthy. One of the most extraordinary resources in the area is the geothermal activity. Big Bend is situated on top of a geologic fault line that allows ground water to flow down to the hot rocks and to bring lots of hot geothermal water to the surface. Because of this, Big Bend is home to some of the most amazing geothermal activity on the west coast and enjoys incredible abundance of hot water and renewable energy.

Site Details - Big Bend Hot Springs Project

Big Bend Hot Springs is an extraordinary geothermal springs and place of natural beauty located in the small town of Big Bend, CA on the pit river, midpoint between two volcanos: Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen.

The Big Bend Hot Springs Project Core Goals are:

1. To preserve and protect the land and water resources as a natural area and wildlife sanctuary.

2. To re-open the small-scale public camping and soaking business (closed since 2006).

3.To develop a model sustainable permaculture facility with geothermally heated greenhouses to grow food.

For more information visit: www.bigbendhotsprings.org

Tuition & Registration

Tuition includes instruction, basic camping accommodations, hot springs soaking, and 3 delicious and highly nutritious meals per day for the 17- day duration of the course. Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a Permaculture Design Certificate with a focus on Ecovillage Development.

Standard Tuition: $1750 (for those making over 50 K annually) Be honest! This is the true cost of the course, and helps us to offer spaces for those who are earn less income.

Supplemented Tuition: $1500 (for those making under 50 K annually)

Early Bird: $1388 (those who register and pay in full before June 18).

Struggling Couple's Discount: $1250 each

Day Rate: $100 per day. Partial participation in this course is available for a day rate of $100 per day (including meals). Please inquire for the detailed schedule and let us know what days you wish to attend.

InterGenerational Discount

InterGenerational Discount - $1250 Register with a parent, grandparent, child, family member or friend with at least 15 years in age difference. Register Here.

Worktrade & Scholarships

Limited worktrade opportunities and partial scholarships are available. To inquire and apply please email: education@livingmandala.com.

Children

We currently do not yet have a children’s program running alongside and as part of this course, but children are welcome to attend and participate. The Village setting of the course provides a wonderful space supportive of children, but we expect the parent or guardian to be responsible for supervising the child at all times during the course. Children under 6 are free, children between the ages of 7 - 8 can attend for $200, and children between the ages of 9 -14 for $450. Please email us or call us for more information about bringing a child to this course email: education@livingmandala.com.

phone: (707) 634-1461

Refund Policy

A minimum $750 deposit is required to hold your space in the course with $125 non-refundable. Tuition in full is due no later than July 6th. Full refunds minus the non-refundable $125 deposit are given up until 3 weeks before the start of the course on July 6. No refunds are given after July 6th, though in the event of cancelation after July 6th, we may apply the credit towards a future course. If in the event the course is canceled, tuition will be refunded minus the $125 non-refundable deposit or can all be credited towards a future course.

Instructors, Facilitators & Guests

Penny Livingston-Stark

Director & Founder Regenerative Design Institute

Penny Livingston-Stark is internationally recognized as a prominent permaculture teacher, designer, and speaker. She is the founder of: Sustainable Living Designs (SLD) - a professional permaculture design/build firm integrating landscapes and structures with water, soil, plants and energy efficiency; The Permaculture Institute of Northern California (PINC) - an educational and research organization promoting sustainable technologies and methodologies; and Regenerative Design Institute (RDI) - a non-profit education program focusing on hands-on skills development. Penny has been working professionally in the land management and development field for 25 years and has extensive experience in all phases of ecologically sound landscape design and construction as well as the use of natural non-toxic building materials. She specializes in site planning & design of resource-rich landscapes, integrating rainwater collection, edible landscaping, pond and water systems, habitat development and watershed restoration for homes, co-housing communities, businesses and diverse-yield perennial farms. Penny is currently on the board of the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, California and has served on the Redwood Empire Chapter of the Green Building Council. She co-created the Ecological Design Program and its curriculum at the San Francisco Institute of Architecture and co-founded the West Marin Grower’s Group, West Marin Farmer’s Market, and the Community Land Trust Association of Marin.

Veteran Instructor

Rick Valley

Rick has been practicing Permaculture, Forest Gardening and Sustainable Forestry in the foothills of the Cascades for more than 17 years and carries the expertise of a master nurseryman form one of his previous incarnations as the owner of a nursery business. From an interest in new crops and ethnobotany, Rick began his study in Permaculture starting at a bamboo nursery in 1981. He took his first Permaculture Design Certification course with Bill Mollison in 1986 and began teaching with the first Permaculture Design Certification courses in Canada offered at Linnea Farm, Cortes Island, BC. Rick taught regularly with the Linnea Farm Community for 10 years, co-taught the first permaculture design courses in Canada, Oregon and Belize, and introduced Permaculture to the Lost Valley Ecovillage & Educational Center in Dexter Oregon, where he began teaching in 1990. Rick moved from Portland, OR to the S. Willamette Valley in 1997, and has been the primary land steward and lead permaculture instructor at Lost Valley since 2004. His special interests in Permaculture include hands-on education, tree crops, earthwork for water harvesting, and broadscale design for farms and communities. Rick holds a BA in anthropology from Antioch College, an MA in teaching from Reed College, and a diploma in Permaculture Design in teaching and site implementation from the Permaculture Institute of Australia.

Veteran Instructor

Marisha Auerbach

Marisha Auerbach has been practicing, studying, and teaching permaculture in the Pacific Northwest for the past decade. She is involved with many communities around Cascadia including Lost Valley, Tryon Life Community Farm, and City Repair. As an itinerant permaculture designer, Marisha calls the greater Olympia area home, especially the Wild Thyme Farm, a 150 acre permaculture demonstration farm and FSC certified forest in the northern Willapa Hills. Marisha encourages sustainable futures through sharing knowledge with others on a variety of topics including: permaculture, polyculture gardening, seed saving, flower and gem essences, local economics, community building, ethnobotany, herbalism, edible landscape design, and organic gardening among others. She is enthusiastic about creating perennial forage systems and building local community. Marisha’s interest in local economics and creating useful items using her resources has manifested as several projects: past work on local community marketplaces in Olympia, Queen Bee Flower and Gem Essences, Herb'n Wisdom for permaculture consulting and herbal products, and Growing Greetings which produces plantable greeting cards and other products. Marisha has a small plant nursery which focuses on edible flowers and other gourmet specialty food items. Marisha graduated from the Evergreen State College in 1998 where she focused on ethnobotany, ecological agriculture, and sustainability studies. She continues to interact with students from the Evergreen State College by offering internships.

Instructor, Facilitator

Jay Ma

Jay Ma is a permaculture designer, facilitator, and community organizer committed to cultural healing through Peacemaker Principles. He received his first permaculture design certification through Naropa University in 2001, a B.A. through New College of California in Culture, Ecology, and Sustainable Community with a concentration in Eco-Dwelling/Natural Building, and is a graduate of the pioneering two-year training intensive in Regenerative Design & Nature Awareness. Jay has facilitated educational programs, retreats, workshops, and events as well as community land development projects with organizations including the Regenerative Design Institute, the Institute of Noetic Sciences, Earth Circle, Gaia University, Harmony Festival, and others. Jay is co-founder and director of programs and development of Living Mandala - an emerging collective of educators, designers, and consultants, and works with other regenerative educators and institutions organizing educational courses, workshops, and events for ecological and social regeneration in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. He is currently an associate with Gaia University in Organized Learning for Eco-Social Regeneration. Jay is also a certified Permaculture Teacher, a Fire Walk Instructor through Sundoor International, and is passionate about renewing Rites of Passage experiential programs for people of all ages.

Instructor, Facilitator

Greg Landua

Eco-Village Training Center Program Coordinator

Greg Landua has studied marine and terrestrial ecology and evolutionary biology in the Galapagos Islands, translated for Amazonian rainforest guides, fought wildfires in the wilderness of Alaska, and studied the nuances of ecology and ethics. Greg has B.S. in Environmental Science and Ethics from Oregon State University, and is receiving a graduate diploma in Organizing Learning for Ecosocial Regeneration from Gaia University. He is currently the Program Coordinator for the Ecovillage Training Center on The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee. He is an active permaculture and ecovillage design educator, founding partner of the Nemawashi Partnership, and core member of the Living Mandala Design Collective. Along with teaching and practicing permaculture, Greg is an active bioregional organizer and NextGEN fellow helping to craft avenues and pathways for intergenerational dialog and collaboration in the shared enterprise of earth regeneration. Greg is also a member of the coordination team for the 10th Continental Bioregional Congress, and author of the blog Gaia Emerging which explores regenerative solutions for the well being of our planet.

Instructor, Facilitator

Jon Young

Jon Young grew up in Monmouth County, New Jersey, and was mentored from from the age of 10 as a naturalist, tracker, survivalist, and mentor in a Native American tradition by the tracker and author Tom Brown, Jr. He received his BS in Environmental Science in 1983 from Cook College, Rutgers University, with particular emphasis on natural history and anthropology and a focus on how native cultures helped their children understand and connect with the natural world. From 1984 to 1994, Jon was mentored as naturalist, tracker, cultural specialist and mentor by the African Akamba elder Ingwe. Inspired by his mentoring with Tom Brown, Jr., fueled by his studies in natural history and anthropology, and guided by the elder Ingwe, Jon has pioneered blending Native mentoring and cultural techniques from around the world with a broad array of tools for connecting with nature, and developing refined and holistic tracking skills. Jon co-founded the Wilderness Awareness School with the support of the honored elder Ingwe in 1983, and has created several popular training tape series, including being the principal author of both The Kamana Naturalist Training Program and The North American Master Shikari Sequence for CyberTracker. Out of the Wilderness Awareness School, Jon developed a system that is now called “8 Shields Cultural Mentoring”. This system tracks processes and mentoring techniques that are built into the design of one-on-one mentoring programs, family mentoring practices, community-based mentoring, and more traditional modes of education. The 8 Shields Cultural Mentoring model has now influenced well over 100 nature and eco-community programs in the United States, Canada and Europe, and is also used in his consulting for organizations, government agencies and communities worldwide. Jon has utilized the 8 Shields Cultural Mentoring model to develop and enhance community development for communities interested in working with peace-making as it relates to nature connection. This has evolved into a world-wide network of practicing communities. Jon has given over 1000 public presentations and has helped many PhD and Masters students as well as undergraduates with the completion of their degrees on topics ranging from native education to wildlife tracking. Jon is married and has six children, and truly wants his children and future grandchildren to experience the joy and benefits of living in a whole and healthy world and as part of a remarkable community of mentors! For more information on Jon Young visit www.jonyoung.org

Guest Instructor

Corinne McLaughlin

Corinne McLaughlin is co-author of The Practical Visionary, Spiritual Politics, and Builders of the Dawn and is co-founder of The Center for Visionary Leadership in California and North Carolina. She coordinated a national task force for President Clinton’s Council on Sustainable Development and is a Fellow of The World Business Academy and the Findhorn Foundation. She is also a co-founder of Sirius Community, a spiritual/environmental center in Massachusetts, and she taught politics at American University.

Guest Instructor

Gordon Davidson

Gordon Davidson is President and co-founder of The Center for Visionary Leadership and co-author of Spiritual Politics (Foreword by the Dalai Lama) and Builders of the Dawn. Gordon served as the Executive Director of the Social Investment Forum and The Center for Environmentally Responsible Economies, and he is a Fellow of the World Business Academy and the Findhorn Foundation. He consults with many organizations, and offers personal coaching for leaders.

Guest Instructor

Chris Byrne

Chris Byrne is a sustainability consultant bringing technologies to market and make operations more efficient and effective through the perspective of “Green Business” and Whole Systems Design. Chris received a GreenMBA in Sustainable Enterprise (“Green Business Development”) from the Institute for Ecological Entrepreneurship at New College of California in May 2005. Over the course of his studies and experience he has has become well versed in ecological technologies (including their adoption challenges) and business development strategies, including approaches to finance, marketing, and leadership for sustainability. Aware of impending resource supply challenges and their drivers, specifically in terms of energy, food and carbon, Chris uses strategic risk calculations into new whole systems and true cost business models. Chris Byrne's work has been further edified with masters coursework in Holistic studies at JFK University (prior to transfer to the GreenMBA), certification by the Cascadia Permaculture Institute as a Permaculture Design Consultant and Instructor, and self-study and participation in the 2006 Integral Sustainability Conference at Integral Institute. Chris has also completed a Small Farm course at the Oregon State University Extension Center, studied Garden Management and Micro-Farming workshops with John Jeavons, and most recently attended 2008 MacArthur Fellow Will Allen and Growing Power’s “From the Ground Up” workshop in February 2010 focusing on Compost and Vermiculture, Aquaponics, and Micro and Field Green Marketing and operations. Chris has consulted with a diverse group of clients, and has a personal interest and focus on bio-regional food production and distribution (including alternative currency strategies and design).

Guest Instructor

Marcela Castillo

Marcela Castillo, aka Lotus Fairy Marcela, was born in Honduras and came to California to find her path in yoga. She has been studying yoga since 1998, starting at the Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco. She continued her studies and personal sadhana (practice) in 2004 in Lago Atitlan, Guatemala and in 2005 in Ibiza, Spain. In 2006 she returned to San Francisco with the focused intention to study yoga and find her teachers, which would help her blossom into her unique heart-centered vinyasa style. Marcela studied various styles of yoga and with many well-known teachers, such as: Ashtanga Yoga with Clayton Horton, Para Yoga with Rod Stryker, Yin Yoga with Sarah Powers and Christy Brown, Anusara/Vinyasa and Buddhism with James Higgins, and Pre-natal and Post-natal Yoga with Jane Austin. And it wasn't until she met her main teachers of inspiration, Jasmine Tarkeshi and Dana Flynn at the Laughing Lotus School of Yoga in San Francisco, that she finally felt like she found a hOMe through which she could explore the deeper realms of the subtle body with poetic mystic twists. She is devoted to teaching to her friends and family, at private events, and festivals, where the wisdom and beauty bliss of yoga is transmuted through devotion and not through the status-quo of monetary exchange. Her inspirations are collected from her personal and travel experiences in life, yogic texts, plant wisdom, heart-centered practices, and Earth devotion. Marcela lives at Big Bend Hot Springs with her partner, Seabrook Leaf. She dreams of an intentional community that lives respectfully and with reverence to the Earth, of Art and Yoga and Plant Wisdom as a way to expand our consciousness towards oneness, and of forming her own family in unity with the wild wilderness of her surroundings.

Yoga Instructor

Max Meyers

Maximillian Meyers is an Ecological Designer, Permaculture Teacher, Commercial Aquaponic System Designer/Installer, Rainwater and Greywater System specialist, Farmer and the Executive Director of the Mendocino Ecological Learning Center a nonprofit educational organization and ecological reserve offering green job training and sustainable living skills to the public free of charge. In addition to the work at MELC, Mr. Meyers provides Ecological design services to the public, organizations and schools through his businesses Osiris Designs and NorCal Aquaponics. He is passionate about all things related to a more just and sustainable world. He has been studying, practicing and teaching Permaculture and Ecological Design for 12 years. Since graduating from College with a B.A. degree in Culture, Ecology and Sustainable Communities, Max has become a certified Permaculture designer/teacher, water systems specialist and working professional. He has been fortunate enough to study with people like Bill Mollison, Geoff Lawton, Sepp Holzer, Tom Ward, Jude Hobbs, John Valenzuela, Penny Livingston, Tim Mann and many others in places like the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and Hawaii. Some of his fields of study and practice include: Natural Building, Organic Farming, Integrated Rainwater Harvesting, Alternative Transportation, Mushroom Cultivation, Sustainable Forestry, Beekeeping, Animal Husbandry, Renewable Energy, Biogas Production and use, Greywater Systems design and installation, Vermiculture, seed saving and many other sustainable technologies, methods and skills. He has experience teaching Permaculture, Natural Building, Cob Construction, Renewable Energy, Organic Farming, Beekeeping and others. His work has been featured in the best selling book Gaia’s Garden, radio and television programs.

Guest Instructor

Leonard Barrett

Leonard Barrett is a permaculture designer, consultant, and teacher based in Portland, Oregon. Leonard teaches at Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR and at other Permaculture Design Courses in the Pacific Northwest; writes for the Permaculture for Renters blog, and runs his permaculture design and consulting firm - Barrett Ecological Services. Leanord’s designs are featured in the #1 best selling permaculture book: Gaia's Garden: A Homescale Guide to Permaculture by Toby Hemenway.

Guest Instructor

Saga Mata

Sage Mata is a Permaculture designer, educator, natural builder, and community organizer – inspired by the harmonious and regenerative patterns of healthy ecosystems. She began her studies and practices of organic gardening and Permaculture while receiving her BA in Ecopsychology at U.C. Santa Cruz. She received her Permaculture design certification in 2004 and completed a Permaculture Teacher’s Training Course at the Bullock’s Homestead, WA.

Sage has led natural building projects in Vancouver Island and various projects in CA – with her newest passion in building cob ovens! She worked as a natural building site leader at O.U.R Ecovillage (www.ourecovillage.org) and co-manager of the bountiful gardens at GingerHill farm/retreat center on the Big Island of Hawai’i (www.gingerhillfarm.com). Sage has worked for several organizations, such as the Homeless Garden Project (www.homelessgardenproject.org) and the Garden Path Project of Berkeley Youth Alternatives (www.byaonline.org/heat). Sage is also passionate about our inner ecology and about relationships in our communities – and is a practitioner and and facilitator of Compassionate Communication, World Cafes, Kriya Yoga, and Holistic Nutrition. Sage is a Programs Facilitator for Living Mandala and has been organizing, facilitating and teaching Permaculture design courses, natural building workshops, and food forest gardening workshops since 2004. Sage also currently does regenerative landscape and natural building consulting in Sonoma County, CA.

Facilitator

ChoQosh Auh’Ho’Oh

ChoQosh Auh’Ho’Oh was named by the Seneca and Chumash elders. She is herself an elder of Coastal Native Indian descent. She is a giver of spiritual tools, divine and practical, and a messenger of ancient prophecies and sacred stories. ChoQosh taught for the Cross Cultural Communications program at University California Berkeley for 19 years, and classes in the great teepee at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, California. Having lived in the Canadian wilderness for many years, she passes on the knowledge of how to harvest the wild for food and medicine. She is the teacher of the moving prayer “The Dance of Life”, which will be offered in her workshop. ChoQosh was host for KAZU-FM’s award winning radio program Songs For The Earth/ Mending The Sacred Hoop (1985-1990). In 1990, at the invitation of the Maori King Hukapa Mateau of Aotearoa/ New Zealand she was asked to come to share her knowledge and sacred stories. It was there she received the name “Te Wahini O Nga Ho O E Wah- Woman Of The Four Directions Who Call The People To Action”. Sky Eagle, the Chumash elder, caller her one of the great teachers of these times. She teaches a primary course in Wisdom of the Elders. Her words have been published in many books, including Ceremonial Circle, The Feminine Face of God and the magazine Women of Power. ChoQosh will bring to us the Blanket of Hope*, its knowledge, comfort and challenge.

Special Guest Elder

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Big Bend Ecovillage Permaculture Design Certification Course

InterGenerational Ecovillage Development

July 27 - August 13, 2010

Big Bend Hot Springs, Shasta County, Northern California