Tag: Permaculture

This Friday I leave for Philadelphia. I am going to take my Permaculture Teacher Training course with the wonderful Dave Jacke. For 10 days I will be immersed in permaculture teaching theory and practice at the Kimberton Waldorf School in Phoenixville.

It will be an intensive course, but well worth it. Of course I am running around trying to tie up loose ends here. Tim will beholding down the fort for the time I am gone. That means he has had a crash course in lambing, JUST in case one of our girls does lamb while I am away. Unlikely, but there is a slim possibility it could happen.

Last autumn we traded rams with a friend for a month. He was a beautiful shetland with a coal black coat. We didn't see a lot of action, but our fingers are crossed that all three ewes took. Our calculations estimate that lambing shouldn't begin until the beginning of April, but you never know. So we have been preparing our lambing pens (jugs) and water buckets, and the lambing kit, including the number of our wonderful vet in case of emergencies.

Chicks are also in the planning stages so I can hit the ground running when I get back. Figuring out who to isolate with whom is a big job. So far we will be hatching out some more Chanteclers and some penedesencas. This will be the first time that we have done this with two differnt breeds. We may even have a try with the marans as well. A full egg colour spectrum. Lastyear we just did the chanteclers. Our meat chick may have to wait anouther couple of weeks.

Oh and getting the seedling started, I can't forget about that...It is a busy time of year isn't it, but we LOVE it!

This past summer we had a very unique and wonderful experience. Amy Whitney, of The Inspirational, Transformational Network came to see us. Amy has a blog that features people that are forging their own paths through life. If you need hit of "feeling good" this is the place to go. You can find people from all walks of life that have followed their hearts and dreams. It is an honour to be included in this group of people.

Not only did she want to see what we were doing on our small piece of the earth, but she wanted to film us as well. Frankly, it was frightening. We now have whole different perspective for those who regularly stand in front of a camera.

Amy was patient with us. We told our story to her and she captured it all on film. Of course it is a fairly long story. Amy patiently whittled it down to a wonderful short film. Even Beauty got into the story!

Thanks Amy, it has helped see ourselves through a different lens!

Click here to check it out: The Inspirational, Transformational Network Channel

Come and join Tim and Jennifer at Karma Marketplace to learn about practical permaculture with a focus on perennial food forests.
Permaculture is a design system that looks to nature for guidance and information. It is a dialogue between you and the space you are in.

This day-long workshop will focus all aspects of permaculture with a focus on perennial food forests. Topics covered in the workshop include:
•    the ethics and principles of permaculture
•    how these are applied in daily life
•    nature awareness and observation
•    site analysis and assessment
•    forest structures and dynamics
•    plant functions and usage
•    inter-planting, guilds, and plant selection
•    local top 10 list of PC plants
•    the role animals (of all sizes) play in ecosystems
•    the $100 Food Forest
•    question and answer period

An illustrated hand out will be given out to take home including planting plans and plant lists to take home.

Facilitators:
Jennifer Osborn is an artist, farmer, and Permaculture Designer. Her background includes working extensively with animals and observing nature.She currently runs All Sorts Acre, a permaculture micro-farm with chickens, sheep, and forest gardens in various stages.

Tim Fisher is a composting specialist and co-farmer at All Sorts Acre. The list of things he has composted is impressive when he worked in large scale composting facilities. He now focuses on small scale composting and how to facilitate soil health using both permaculture and biodynamic methods.

Location: Penetanguishene, Ontario 40km north of Barrie
Time: Sunday September 11, 10am -5pm
For more information please contact: The Karma Marketplace