Interview with Transition Town Founder + Permaculture & Academia + Early Birds End!

Weekly offerings, happenings, and know-how of Ashevillage and friends.


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Greetings,

What if access to education in regenerative and ecological design, systems thinking, earth skills, entrepreneurship, and community and planetary service was as common as college? What if all college students, or for that matter, anyone wanting to do good in the world, were able to learn through this lens? What might our world look like if each of us could identify our unique gifts and design our life's work within this framework? What if those getting an "education" were mentored by a group of passionate peers, experienced practitioners, and world-class advisers who supported the clarification of their vision, and further, placed value putting coherent planning into action. We envision this world -- where each of us have the skills, support and courage to step into our authentic power on behalf of our earth and humanity.

We believe that this is not only possible, but that it is essential if we are going to create the more beautiful world that our hearts know is possible. Inspired by this vision, we recognize that our calling --as an organization-- is to create these very opportunities. Because of the experienced practitioners who are at the forefront of this work in our region, we find ourselves in a position to offer learning opportunities with top level teachers who can support the best in our students. We find great joy in offering this, not only to young people, but to people of all ages. In addition, we recognize that access to this kind of 'education' must cost a fraction of what many colleges charge. If our students are going to be of service, follow their calling in the world, and put their visions into practice -- they must be able to do so without decades of debt on their shoulders.

Carl Fritschel, Site Manager & Apprenticeship Mentor:
“I went to architecture school and was starting to get depressed about my profession, my path, and the world. Coming to Ashevillage's Natural Building program was like a full 180! I feel so inspired, alive, excited again for how I can give back and literally make my dreams come true. This was a significant experience for my soul. I learned more in one week than all my years in school, and now I can't wait to share this knowledge with others."


If what we have shared speaks to you, we encourage you to have a look at the opportunities below, pass this on, support our scholarship fund, and be in touch directly if you feel called. We'd love to work with and support you. Please consider joining us as we build the bridge between academia and what is oft referred to as "alternative education." As we see it, this will one day be the norm.

Two gateway programs in the season ahead are:
1) Eco-Urban Homestead & Building Apprenticeship
, with the Ashevillage Sanctuary
2) Permaculture School: Design Ecology & Living Skills, with Whole Earth Institute



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Eco-Urban Homesteaders & Builders will learn!



Includes: Permaculture Certification + Water Retention Landscape Course + Natural Building Workshop + Firefly Gathering, the Southeast's largest earth skills event. Water Systems: You will learn from, troubleshoot and refine an existing living water system, including: analyzing, revising, and bringing the 30,000 gallon open rainwater-living pond catchment system to full optimization. Natural Building: You will be immersed in projects that cover: Building systems Structural designProject management Optimization on small sitesSite selection & passive solar designMaterial collection & processings Intermediate carpentry Intro to natural walls Earthen plasters & paints Living roofs Wood-fired systems Timber-framing basics Deck construction Drystack stone & urbanite walls Window & door installation, and more. You will also participate in the preparation for, and week of the Natural Building Workshop. Join an instructor team that brings 100+ years of collective building experience!

>> Learn by doing with Carl + Brock Dolman (water expert) + Kate Hanford (garden guru) + Keri Evjy (permaculture pro).

>> Apply by February 13th and receive a $600 Early Bird discount.

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Permaculture School is for students who want to make a difference in the world & who will learn how!

Permaculture School student Christelle from Switzerland:

"After having studied the scientific and social aspects of environmental challenges in college and how to manage natural resources in graduate school, the missing piece of the puzzle for me is to get hands-on experience by studying permaculture and natural building. I’ve finally decided to take one year off to dedicate my time to learning more about these sustainable living techniques. I am hoping to gain sufficient experience to be able to implement these methods into my job. I would like to be able to design and implement permaculture projects for the communities I work with in Ecuador. Additionally, I'm hoping to meet inspirational individuals at the Permaculture School, and am excited to learn in a high-energy environment with teachers and students passionate about nature and sustainable living."

>> Find out more about how to get involved & don't miss the Early Bird Specials.

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Embark on a year-long ecological learning journey with a 12-week residency in Asheville, NC --> Permaculture School: Design Ecology & Living Skills.

Permaculture & Ecological Design: Students will learn about ethics, principles, observation, patterns, zones, sectors, micro-climates, site assessment and analysis, mapping, draft planning and computer modelling — all as strategies for creating landscape and habitat design that enhance the long-term resilience, beauty, and quality of ecosystems. Read more

Program Coordinator: Keri Evjy
Permaculture Design Projects integrate the learning journey throughout the twelve weeks. With guidance and review by instructors and staff, students will work in teams to develop two site designs, presenting them mid-way through the school and the other at the end. The goal is for students to demonstrate comprehension and practical application of the curriculum, as well as mapping and professional presentation skills. Read more

Track Leader: Annie Price
Personal Learning Journey & Business Development grounds your vision into your life. Students will be mentored on the creation of a personal vision and/or career path. Identifying and mapping interests & goals, as well as participating in an accountability process will support each student’s personal learning journey and accomplishments throughout the year. Students will also gain skills in budget planning, organizational structures, marketing, and client cultivation. Read more
Track Leader: Brock Dolman
Wise Water Stewardship, Systems & Use are an integral part of ecological design and land management. Students will gain an understanding of designing on contour with swales, berms, keyline, and terraces; rainwater catchment and use; stormwater best management; water conservation practices; understanding how irrigation, greywater, blackwater, ponds and dams work in a landscape; and the pro’s and con’s of aquaponic and hydroponic systems. Read more
Track Leader: Becky Beyer
Organic Gardening & Cultivation practices are a foundational part of sustaining health, well-being and life on our planet. We will explore gardening and food production strategies including crop planning and planting, soil ecology, fertility and nutrient flow, vegetable, worm and humanure compost systems, mulching and cover cropping, pest & disease management, bee and chicken keeping, mushroom cultivation, and seed saving. Read more

Track Leader: Zev Friedman
Generative Food Forests, Ecosystems & Land Management integrates agricultural and natural systems, including holistic land and forest management, agroforestry, milpas, polycultures, plant guilds, perennial plants and propagation, pest and disease management, integrated animal systems for healthy soil, bio- and myco-remediation, and fruit and nut tree tending and grafting. Read more

Track Leader: Natalie Bogwalker
Food Fermentation & Preservation, Wild Edibles & Earth Skills shows students how to preserve and enhance the harvest, add value to food, make delicious goodies, and skill up in hands-on practices. Some projects include vegetable ferments, mead, wine, kombucha, wild greens pesto, mushroom and wild food walks, identification and harvesting, and other earthy skills. Read more

Track Leader: Asia Suler
Herbal Medicine-Making, Nature Awareness & Botany orients students to place and helps deepen one’s relationship with the tame and wild lands around us. Plant patterns, identification and uses, top usable medicinal herbs in the landscape, harvesting and drying techniques, making herbal tinctures and medicinal teas will all be included. Read more


Instructor: Carl Fritschel
Natural Building utilizes local and abundant clay, sand, straw, bamboo, wood, and other affordable materials to create structures that are beautiful, functional, and place-based. Students will learn the basics of earth and straw wall systems, natural finishes and details, wood-fired systems, living roofs, site selection, passive solar design, and understanding current building codes and the larger movement that is revitalizing and refining these ancient building technologies. Read more

Instructor: Brian Winslett
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Technology helps address local and global climate issues by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creates a necessary transition toward a healthier future for life on this planet. Included will be an introduction to solar, hydro, biogas, wind, and passive solar design, and how these systems fit into integrated infrastructure design. Other topics include energy evaluation & efficiency, retrofits, greenhouse gas emissions measurement and mitigation. Read more

Other topics include: Village and human settlement models such as ecovillages and Transition Towns; governance, communication, and facilitation systems; sustainable economics and currency systems; emerging social and community networks and models for creating a resilient future. Read more

>> Learn with stellar teachers. Registration is about half full. Apply soon.

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FREE PERMACULTURE INTERVIEW

STARHAWK & ROB HOPKINS ON PERMACULTURE: Listen to this exclusive interview for FREE.


Listen to this fascinating conversation with two of the world's leading permaculture teachers. Excerpt from Whole Earth Summit. Starhawk leads Earth Activist permaculture trainings and is one of the most respected voices in modern earth-based spirituality. Rob Hopkins is co-founder of the Transition Town Network and author of The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependence To Local Resilience.
Click here to listen to the free interview.


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POSITIONS AVAILABLE

LIVE-IN STAFF POSITIONS: Check it out & share with others who are a good fit.

Ashevillage Sanctuary LLC has several staff positions available: 1) Garden & Site Assistant, 2) Building & Carpenter's Assistant, 3) Hospitality & Program Assistant, 4) Lead Carpenter, and 5) Communications & Media Manager. For details: www.ashevillage.org/staff-positions


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EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS

WILD FOOD & FERMENTATION WORKSHOP WITH SANDOR KATZ: Save $334 before February 28. Sign up soon - we're already HALF FULL!

This immersive workshop is led by the world renowned fermentation expert, and New York Times best selling author, Sandor Katz. He will lead you in daily hands-on fermentation projects and classes. Along with Sandor, five of Asheville’s top wild food experts will take you on field excursions to discover, taste, and learn how to work with nutritional edibles you can find most anywhere. Demonstrations, lectures, food tastings, and a community soiree are all included. In this workshop, you will learn how to nourish yourself and heal your body with fermented foods, as well as identify and prepare wild and medicinal edibles that you can integrate into your kitchen and daily diet. If you are a food connoisseur, aspiring naturalist, chef, health professional, urban homesteader, or hungry student, you will gain life-long wisdom from this week-long workshop. May 24-30, 2015. www.ashevillage.org/wild-food-fermentation-workshop

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WATER RETENTION LANDSCAPE COURSE: Apply Before February 27 for the Earliest Bird Discount.

Want to learn how to work with water in the landscape with Brock Dolman, one of the country's leading experts? This course offers basic principles and theory; observations of patterns in nature; techniques for rainwater harvesting including dams, swales, terraces, and keyline; a water retention landscape tour; design considerations for differing soil types, vegetation, watersheds, regions, and climates; overview of aquaculture vs. aquaponics; and more. June 2-6, 2015.
www.ThePermacultureSchool.org/
Water-Retention-Landscape-Course
.

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NATURAL BUILDING WORKSHOP: Apply Before February 13. #MudLove

Interested in Natural Building? This year’s Natural Building Workshop, in conjunction with the Permaculture School, will teach the basics of earth and straw wall systems, natural finishes, wood-fired ovens, living roofs, site selection, passive solar design, and more. If you would like to be considered, please read the description and fill out the application survey. July 6-10, 2015. www.ThePermacultureSchool.org/Natural-Building-Workshop

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COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS

JOEL SALATIN WEBINARS: The knowledge you need to get growing.
Joel Salatin Webinars
The lunatic farmer, Joel Salatin, is offering live webinars on growing eggs, chickens, pigs and direct marketing. Learn the tricks of the trade from this third generation alternative farmer. When: February 22-23, 2015. Special discount for subscribers to our newsletter: Use coupon WHOLE to save.

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BIODYNAMIC EXPERTS IN ASHEVILLE

Biodynamic farming experts Jeff Poppen and Hugh Lovel are offering FREE events in Asheville. Jeff Poppen is known as the Barefoot Farmer and is the owner and operator of one of the oldest and largest organic farms in Tennessee. Hugh Lovel is a biodynamic farmer and author of A Biodynamic Farm, for Growing Wholesome Food. Workshop: Biodynamics for Beginners When: Sunday February 15th, 2-5pm at the French Broad Food Coop. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Workshop: Applying Biodynamic Preparations at Green Toe Ground Farm in Celo. When: Monday, February 16th, 10am-5pm. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Click here for details.


Ashevillage Sanctuary is honored to provide lodging for their visit.
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ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL
Who: For healthy eaters, home growers, & farmers! What: This much-loved annual event provides practical, regionally-appropriate workshops on organic growing, permaculture, homesteading, urban farming, and rural living. When: March 7-8, 2015. Where: UNCA in Asheville. Details: www.ashevillage.org/organic-growers-school

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The greatest change we need to make is from consumption to production, even if on a small scale, in our own gardens. If only 10% of us do this, there is enough for everyone. Hence the futility of revolutionaries who have no gardens, who depend on the very system they attack, and who produce words and bullets, not food and shelter. - Bill Mollison

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...Permaculture School is an affiliate partner of...



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