Backyard+Permaculture+Workshop

= = = = = = = = =**Backyard Permaculture Workshop**= = =

//** Workshop is now full **//
Check out the schedule for the day, read about our instructor, Gregoire Lamoureux of the [|Kootenay Permaculture Institute] or scroll down for an overview. Or [|learn some more about permaculture] first.



Photo by [|Josquin2000]


 * //Where do the kids play? Where does the food and medicine grow? Where does the wildlife roam? Where do we breathe deep?//**

Many permaculture texts and courses seem to take it for granted that we have access to acreage. But for those privileged enough to have one, a city lot typically only offers 33' X 120 feet of canvas on which to paint our dreams. This workshop will explore what permaculture offers the urban gardener.

What are some examples of useful guilds (groups of plants which work particularly well together) for a small garden? How can the permaculture concept of zones help us plan our backyard? What does it make sense to grow? How do we keep the neighbours happy...or even get them interested in a more sustainable landscape?

Perhaps you've been thinking about these issues for a long time and are eager to come share your ideas with others. Or maybe this is your first introduction to permaculture. Either way, come on over for an experiential permaculture workshop, right here in the city of Vancouver.

= = =**//Workshop is full- email if you'd like to be kept in the loop for others. keiramc@yahoo.com//**=

To Register: Print and mail [[file:backyardregistration.doc]] (address within).
//**Update as of March 8, 2007: There are a 4 more spots still remaining but please call or email first to reserve them. You then will have 3 days to pay to guarantee your spot.**//

//For more info call 604-707-0337 or email keiramc@yahoo.com//
**Schedule for the day**

9-10:30: Introduction and discussion on permaculture principles and ethics. The morning would involve the "class" time: ie the intro to permaculture and some of the key principles. How do zones apply to the small urban backyard?

10:30-11:00 Break and Outdoor Observation

11:00-12:00 Permaculture Techniques. Sheet-mulching, guilds for the backyard, basic mapping techniques.

12:00- 1:00. Lunch- bring your own or join us for a simple, delicious vegetarian lunch.

1:00-3:00: Hands-on in a relatively "raw" backyard. Everyone will get a chance to lay down a sheet mulch, plant a guild or develop a design map of the backyard.

3:00-4:30 Tour of a 5 year old garden that is a work-in-progress, attempting to marry permaculture concepts with elements of Asian design. It is the work of a landscaper with 15 years' experience in landscape construction and maintenance in Japan and Canada.

 His work experience includes market gardening, greenhouse production, orcharding, ecological land restoration using bio-engineering techniques, small-scale nursery management, landscaping, aquaculture and forestry work. He has written articles for Natural Life and Eco Farm & Garden magazines, a contributor in The Organic Companion, Gleanings from Canadian Organic Growers published in 2005. Gregoire has also studied alternative building and worked on straw-bale and cob house buildings. He has been a guest lecturer at many conferences including the BC Organic Agriculture Conference and the Guelph Organic Agriculture Conference. He is a mentor for the permaculture apprenticeship program.
 * Gregoire Lamoureux** is the director of the Kootenay Permaculture Institute. He is a permaculture designer, consultant and teacher. He has worked with permaculture systems for over 16 years and taught courses in many parts of the country. Gregoire taught the permaculture design course as a Summer Session at the University of Manitoba in 2005. He as served on the Board of Directors of Slocan River Streamkeepers and was on the Board of Directors of Seeds of Diversity Canada for seven years. He is a founding member of Kootenay Organic Growers Society and was on the Certifying Committee for three years.