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2008, Living Mandala
creative services by: 360 Degrees
In Association With
Siskiyou Permaculture
Atlan Center
Portland Permaculture Meet-Up
Barrett Ecological
Instructor
Tom Ward
Course Overview
Basic surveying and layout are essential skillsets for every farmer, homesteader, designer, and consultant. In this six-day course (Sept. 8-13), Tom Ward teaches the use of many types of analog (non-battery operated) surveying tools, along with advanced skills in keyline, pond and swale layout, mapping skills, and other core competencies for design and execution of permaculture projects.
Students will become familiar with swale, terrace, ditch and pond layout, profile cross-section drawing, keyline and trail system locating, solar assessment, ditch and wiggle water way layout, small cabin orientation and pad layout, staking, note taking, and compass and map reading. We will use telescope-like devices and other hand tools such as sight levels, pocket transits, builders levels, A-frames and various vertical measurement rods, as well as measuring tapes and wheels. The course will include flagging for trails, swales and ponds, as well as observations on the landscape with mapping of topographic, ecological, and cultural data.
Prerequisite - PDC
Student Testimonials - Reviews from the 2010 Optical Surveying for Earthworks
“The course provides a good overview of optical surveying for permaculture in a a real-life setting where some of these concepts can be understood and internalized. It comes close to an immersion program. Thank you.” Would you recommend this course? “Yes”
“I feel this course was a very unique opportunity for me to get more professional with landscape design, and it gave me a lot of ideas, inspirations and practical methods to apply the ideas.”
Would you recommend this course? “Of course! “
“Tom weaves wisdom, technical and local historic knowledge into a course that expands the basic practices of optical surveying for earthworks into a truly integrated survey skill set for permaculture and whole systems design. Thank you gratefully for being you, and being so damn inspiring, and such an artful teacher.”
Would you recommend this course? “Yes!!”
“Tom Ward's Optic Surveying Course is a mind filling educational experience. Learn how to use surveying methods to use for assessing, designing and laying out permaculture earthworks. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, stories, experience and expertise.”
Would you recommend this course? “yes”
“Great skills building and deepening of how to use hand tools. Great referencing of permaculture principles and projects.
Great weaving of energy descent future and practical ways to prepare for it. Great overview of permaculture counseling and quick fixes, retrofit and optimal permaculture design--how to point out what is necessary while not limiting or compromising your opportunities. Bravo!! I'll be back.”
Would you recommend this course? “Absolutely.”
“Great course. Just what every new permie needs to know in order to get out and break some ground. I would have liked a third and fourth weekend with some hard labor. A more advanced surveying course would be awesome. I found Tom's house extremely interesting. I would love to have a whole course devoted to learning about all that is going on there.”
Would you recommend this course? “Definitely. I think it is critical knowledge for PDC grads.”
Thanks to Tom for giving me direction. I felt a bit lost and stagnant with my own permaculture practice. This course challenged me in more ways than I ever thought possible and that's good! I also want to thank Tom for making the course affordable and making himself and his experiential knowledge available. He is a permaculture elder to admire. Thanks to Melanie for helping with my own logistics. Without her help this experience might not have been possible for me. Keep up the good work Tom! Truly amazing. It makes me happy to know that this much earth is under your watch”.
Would you recommend this course? “Yes definitely! I'm not going to shut up about it.”
“At the end of the first weekend, my mind was swimming with information and tools I didn't quite understand. By the end of the second weekend, I felt confident to go out and survey keylines, trails, water drops and more. Everything was tied to practical permaculture usage and filled out with fascinating stories.”
Would you recommend this course? “Yes. Essential skills.”
“Great hands-on experience with an energetic and qualified instructor! Please do more advanced permaculture courses.”
Would you recommend this course? “Yep.”
“I came to the class because I have a small property where I want to improve the spring fed irrigation system and lay out trails in a forest. I have used some of the surveying equipment 10 years ago while doing habitat surveys, but was not at all confident about how to tackle my project. This class has helped refresh my old skills and expanded my understanding of surveying theory and practice. I feel confident that I have the surveying skills I need now. I also really appreciated learning more of the technical requirements and surveying methods for other types of earthworks.”
Would you recommend this course? “yes”
“This was a great course, with tons of great information, teachers and students. Well done--great job.”
Would you recommend this course? “yes”
“Provides a great foundation to familiarize students with optical instruments so they in turn can develop expertise for their own surveying needs.”
Would you recommend this course? “yes”
Watch a Video of Tom Ward on Permaculture Keyline Water Systems
Tuition & Registration
A deposit of $250.00 is due with registration. At time of registration, you can indicate when you will be ready to pay the remaining balance. Remaining balance required to secure early bird pricing will be due by the following dates:
* Early Bird (Before 9/1): $995.00
* Full Price (After 9/1): $1195.00
Snail Mail
To complete your registration via mail (which is preferred), register on-line and send the full name of the course registrant(s) with a check or money order out to "Gaiascapes Inc." and mail to:
Gaiascapes Inc.
Attn: Optical Survey Course
717 SE 48th Ave.
Portland, OR 97215
Required Tools
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•Pocket Transit: You need a pocket transit for this course. A pocket transit combines a compass and clinometer. We have tried many, but we are now recommending the Silva Ranger 360 (not the Quad). As of 3/22/12, available from Amazon for $36.95. We have also used the Brunton Eclipse 8099 and found it reliable. We found the Brunton Pro to be flawed.
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•Hand Level: We recommend the Johnson Hand Level which has thinner lines and a split screen ($16 at Amazon).
Other Handy Items to Bring
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•Pencils, clip board with rain protection, and 1/4 inch graph paper pad.
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•Engineers rule or wooden ruler, 100 meter/foot tape, walking wheel, transit, jacob's staff or tripod.
The course facilitators will provide much of this, but if you have any of these tools, please bring them and you will have more practice with your own tools. We will check the accuracy of levels by back and fore shots. A surveying vest with pockets galore would be great.
Refund Policy
If in the event the course is cancelled, re-scheduled, or for cancelations before August 1st, participants will be given a full refund. After August 1st, a $100 cancellation fee will apply. After August 15th, the full registration amount is non-refundable.
(A portion of the tuition minus the registration fee may be credited towards another Living Mandala workshop within two years). Not all courses apply.
Site Details - Atlan Center
Atlan Center is an aspiring ecovillage situated on 150 acres of - 90 year old Grand Fir forest and White Oak woodlands. The site offers a topographically, ecologically, and geologically diverse site that provides a compelling living laboratory for the exploration of advanced curricula in permaculture design. More information on this site and emerging community can be fond at:
Vicinity
The course site is located in rural Washington, about 10 minutes from the City of White Salmon, WA, and 15 minutes from Hood River, OR. Additionally, Atlan Center is located in an oasis of recreational opportunities. There are extensive kayaking/rafting, single track mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, and other recreational opportunities within walking/biking/short driving distance of the site.
Camping Options
We will provide improved campsites in a communal camping area, with a rustic outdoor kitchen, picnic tables, potable water, and toilette facilities. Participants will be responsible for their own tents, sleeping bags, camp chairs, etc. (Participants will be provided with a comprehensive list of things to bring for maximum comfort.)
Weather
Average weather for early September at the site are highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s. That said, daytime temperatures could easily be in the 90s, and night lows could reach into the 30s. Rain is not common in September, but a rainstorm or two is certainly possible. Please bring camping gear and clothing that will allow you to be comfort at any of these possible extremes.
Other Lodging Opportunities
If for any reason tent camping is not feasible for you, there are opportunities for indoor accommodations adjacent to the site that may be available at an additional cost. Please inquire if you would like to explore this option.
Food
Delicious and hearty vegetarian lunches and dinners will be provided every day of the course. Soy, wheat, and dairy will be included in some meals, but avoided where practicable. We will do our best to meet additional dietary constraints.
Contact
For questions and more information regarding the course
e-mail: education@livingmandala.com or
call: (707) 634-1461
Instructor
Tom Ward
Tom Ward has taught dozens of permaculture design courses, advanced permaculture courses and permaculture teachers training courses in Southern Oregon and Northern California over the last 25 years, as well as occasional jaunts farther afield. He is a frequent guest instructor with Toby Hemenway and other instructors in the Northwest. In conjunction with Siskiyou Permaculture, he teaches a weekend PDC each winter in Southern Oregon and advanced permaculture courses at his site in the Little Applegate. He is the author of Greenward Ho! Herbal Home Remedies: An Ecological Approach to Sustainable Health. Tom gives talks on all aspects of Permaculture with recent topics being Social Forestry, Ecological Opportunities and Constraints of the Upper Bear Creek Basin and Becoming Indigenous to the Siskiyous.
Lead Instructor
Affiliate Organizations
Become a sponsor or affiliate of this course!
For details email: affiliates@livingmandala.com
Optical Surveying for Earthworks and Water
Advanced Permaculture Course
With Tom Ward
September 8 - 13, 2012
Atlan Center, Nester Peak Rd., White Salmon, WA
