July 26 – 27 BACK TO THE LAND

A two day primer for those starting from scratch or improving their methods of close-to-the-ground living. (See Peter Light’s great bio at the end of this letter)

Info/registration call– (604) 885-4505.

Saturday – July 26 at Edible Landscapes (1732 Pell Road)

9:30 - 10:30 Water Wise Planting with Robin Wheeler ($20)

Includes “training” plants to follow the water table, and will discuss mulch, mini swales, low tech water collection and early season plantings and plant selection.

10:45 - noon Subsistence and Winter Gardening with Robin Wheeler ($25)

Start planning now to replace more of your needs from your garden. We will discuss food choices that reduce dependence on outside food sources, how to grow, harvest & preserve them, and how to stretch seasons and have good timing for winter planting.

Lunch - Brown bag or preorder a $6 snack lunch with herb teas.

12:45 – 2:15 Using Medicinal Herbs with Robin Wheeler ($25)

There is so much to learn about herb use. This class offers a starting point for selecting important medicinals, learning the different methods for getting them into your body, and for techniques of harvest, storage and preparation.

3:00 – 4:30 Bee Keeping with Al Cobbin ($25)

Al Cobbin has spent 40 years working with bees, and we will visit a couple of his hives and learn about life cycle, housing, feeding and potential issues of working with bees. Al will show equipment, hive siting and bee products as part of his class.

6 pm on - If desired, shared dinner and discussion at Edible Landscapes.

Sunday July 27 at Edible Landscapes (1732 Pell Road)

9:30 – 11:00 – Improving Marginal Soils with Alain Bergeron ($25)

Alain turned a raw forest clearing into a fine and productive working market garden using everything he could find around him. He will discuss quick soil analysis and materials needed for correcting typical soil issues, and will get everyone working on a patch of ground trying out his methods!

11:15 – noon - Making Herb Teas with Robin Wheeler ($20)

Robin will show various dried products she uses for teas and then we will meet, taste and harvest various plants for tea and taste some results. Drying and long term storage will be discussed.

Lunch – brown bag or preorder $6 snack lunch with herb tea

THEN – Off to Peter Light’s place! 2692 Highway 101 (Call him at 604-886-8527 for details)

1:30 onwards - From the Doorstep - How to Save Our Lives with Peter Light $55)

A four hour permaculture intensive with Peter Light.  Includes foundation principles, key working maxims, the eight design methods, and  examples and practices, Also covers voluntary poverty, dropping out and intentional community.  Dinner, firecircle and discussion to follow. Tape-recorders suggested.

Read Peter’s amazing bio http://slas.ca/peter-light/