(photo credit: Rene Michalak)
This is an introductory workshop on the design and installation of edible forest and pollinator gardens (aka "Food Forests") including hands-on education via planting of the 15,000sq.ft Canada 150 Edible Forest and Pollinator Garden at the Piper Creek Restoration Ag Project in Red Deer.
Cost: $250 (all proceeds to projects and programs of ReThink Red Deer)
Registration: online here - https://goo.gl/forms/g6aAkB9fplmJpo6J3 (deadline April 28)
Locations: Red Deer College (classroom May 5 & 6, outdoor classroom May 7) and the Piper Creek Project Community Garden project site (May 8 - 10 - site prep and planting)
Curriculum / Agenda (subject to change):
Weekend Workshop - Day 1 (Friday)
Weekend Workshop - Day 2 (Saturday)
Weekend Workshop - Day 3 (Sunday)
Trainer: Javan Bernakevitch (Permaculture BC) and lead volunteers of the Piper Creek Restoration Ag Project
Javan has worked across coastal and interior British Columbia, Canada, The Unites States of America (North West and North Central), Cuba, Kenya and Uganda on land based project design, management, training and installation. His career focus on regenerative retrofits of broad acre and small scale landscapes to re-establish working watersheds, ecosystems, productive landscapes and enterprises has taken him across North and Central America, Europe and Africa. Integrating Keyline Design, Holistic Management, Permaculture, the Soil Food Web, Myco-Integration and more he understands and emphasizes the importance of biological systems: soil, water-harvesting, landscape re-hydration, composting, growing food, greywater and biological waste-water treatment. The originator of Cultivated Life Design he works with clients focusing their lives to bring regenerative enterprises and productive landscapes to life. He operates Permaculture BC, an education and community hub for permaculture in British Columbia and All Points Land Design focusing on land design and installation. As a speaker for community events, non-profit groups and businesses Javan inspires and empowers audiences with a passion for change. He has been invited to guest lecture by the University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, Vancouver Island University, Simon Fraser University, and recent partnerships include Cowichan Green Community, Seven Ravens Permaculture Academy, and the Galliano Conversation Association.
Via EdibleForestGardens.com:
"Forest gardening is an idea whose time has come. We can consciously apply the principles of ecology to the design of home scale gardens that mimic forest ecosystem structure and function, but grow food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizer, "farmaceuticals," and fun."
"Forest gardens have much to offer on a practical level, and they have much to teach us about how to live in community as free and interdependent beings in a functional way."
Event made possible thanks to funding from the Canada 150 program of Heritage Canada